Device and method for connecting two printed circuit board plug connectors via coupling elements

Abstract

In order to reduce the expenditure required for reversibly mechanically connecting at least two printed circuit board connectors to each other, a device (1) is proposed. The device (1) has at least one insertion opening (100 ') for inserting at least one coupling element in an insertion direction. The device (1) also has at least two insertion openings (10 ') for inserting the at least two printed circuit board plug connectors in an insertion direction, each of the two insertion openings (10') being connected to the insertion opening (100 ') in order to be able to mechanically fix a coupling element to each of the two printed circuit board plug connectors.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for reversibly mechanically connecting two printed circuit board plug connectors via a coupling element according to the preamble of independent claim 1 .

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for reversibly mechanically connecting two printed circuit board connectors via a coupling element by means of a device according to independent claim 1 .

[0003] Such coupling elements are required in order to mechanically connect two printed circuit board connectors together for a common, particularly convenient mounting on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board connector is provided to be connected to the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board with its plug contacts on the one hand and to make contact with mating contacts of a mating connector on the other hand on the plug side. The mating connector can be a printed circuit board mating connector mounted on another printed circuit board.

[0004] The printed circuit board plug connector can each consist of a plurality of individual printed circuit board plug connector modules and / or have a plurality of individual printed circuit board plug connector modules. For this purpose, the printed circuit board plug connector modules can each be arranged on at least one connector and reversibly fastened thereto. Background Art

[0005] Document DE 10 2019 109 471 A1 discloses an assembly consisting of a first modular printed circuit board plug connector and at least one second modular printed circuit board plug connector for joint mounting on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board plug connectors each consist of a plurality of individual plug connector modules. The plug connector modules are each arranged on at least one connector and reversibly fastened thereto. The first printed circuit board plug connector and the second printed circuit board plug connector are reversibly connected to each other via a coupling element.

[0006] A disadvantage of this prior art is that the connection of two printed circuit board connectors via a coupling element is undesirably expensive and requires manual dexterity, since each of the two printed circuit board connectors must be manually fastened to the coupling element, which generally requires precise positioning. Therefore, automatic connection by means of robotics would be extremely complex, if possible at all.

[0007] In the priority application of the present application, the German Patent and Trademark Office searched the following prior arts: DE 10 2017119 287 A1, DE 10 2019 109 471 A1, DE 10 2019 125 797 A1 and DE 20 2004 007 857 U1. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a device which is suitable for reducing the effort required to reversibly mechanically connect at least two printed circuit board plug connectors to one another via one or more coupling elements. A further object is to provide a method by which the above connection can be performed with the aid of the above device.

[0009] This object is achieved by the respective subjects of the independent claims.

[0010] The device serves to realize a reversible mechanical connection of at least two printed circuit board connectors to one another via at least one coupling element.

[0011] The device has at least one insertion opening for inserting at least one coupling element in an insertion direction, and the device also has at least two insertion openings for pushing at least two printed circuit board connectors in a push-in direction. Here, the at least one insertion opening is connected to the two push-in openings in order to be able to mechanically fix the at least one coupling element to the two printed circuit board connectors in each case.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0013] The invention has the advantage that the connection of the printed circuit board plug connector is significantly simplified by means of the device.

[0014] The present invention has the following particular advantage, that is, two, but also more than two, printed circuit board plug connectors can be connected to each other, so that they can be significantly simpler to install on a printed circuit board than a plurality of individual printed circuit board plug connectors. In addition, as already mentioned, each of the printed circuit board plug connectors can have a plurality of printed circuit board plug connector modules arranged in a row. Each printed circuit board plug connector module can have different functions and can be assembled separately. For example, in the document DE 10 2019 125 797 A1, a suitable mounting device for connecting the printed circuit board plug connector modules of a printed circuit board plug connector with a connecting element is also disclosed. Through the present invention, it is now also possible to arrange these modules into a planar array by connecting a plurality of printed circuit board plug connectors (the printed circuit board plug connectors can each have a plurality of modules) with very low cost, and thus only with a small cost to manufacture an array with rows and columns composed of plug connector modules, and the array is also only with a small cost as a compact unit mounted on a printed circuit board.

[0015] A particularly great advantage is the increased degree of automation. Finally, for example, it is much easier for a robot, in particular, to push a printed circuit board connector into an insertion opening provided for this purpose (the insertion opening is also provided with an insertion bevel in particular) and to latch and / or clamp it with a coupling element previously inserted into the device than to perform this process purely manually or even with a robot arm and corresponding sensor devices.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the insertion direction and the push-in direction can extend at right angles to each other. This is particularly advantageous because in this way, fastening, for example clamping or latching, on the coupling element is achieved in the simplest manner. For example, latching and / or clamping devices on the corresponding coupling element and on the printed circuit board connector can thus be implemented very inexpensively.

[0017] In a preferred design, the device has at least two insertion openings, namely at least one narrow insertion opening and at least one wide insertion opening. The at least one narrow insertion opening is provided for inserting at least one narrow coupling element. It is arranged on a first side of the device. The at least one wide insertion opening is provided for inserting at least one wide coupling element and is arranged on a second side of the device. The first side and the second side may be opposite to each other.

[0018] Furthermore, the device can have at least four insertion openings, namely at least two narrow insertion openings and at least two wide insertion openings.

[0019] The wide push-in opening is arranged on a first side of the device and is connected to the narrow insertion opening. Each of the wide push-in openings is provided for pushing in a wide printed circuit board plug connector. The narrow push-in opening is arranged on a second side of the device and is connected to the wide insertion opening. Each of the narrow push-in openings is provided for pushing in a narrow printed circuit board plug connector.

[0020] In an advantageous development, the device has a base plate, which is particularly advantageous because the device can be placed stably with the base plate on a flat mounting structure, such as a workbench, a desk or the like.

[0021] Furthermore, the device can have a guide body, which is formed on the substrate. The first side and the second side are components of the guide body. The guide body can preferably have a substantially square basic shape. The first side and the second side can be components of the guide body. In particular, the first side and the second side can be opposite to each other, preferably parallel to each other. This is particularly advantageous, because in this way the device is particularly compact. The preferably square basic shape has a top surface on the side facing away from the substrate, which top surface ideally extends parallel to the substrate.

[0022] The push-in openings, i.e. the narrow push-in opening and the wide push-in opening, are open toward the top side. In addition, they can have an insertion chamfer on their top side opening. This makes it possible and easier to push in the corresponding printed circuit board plug connector, in particular to push in automatically.

[0023] In a preferred design, the two wide insertion openings are open not only to the top surface but also to the first side surface. This has the advantages of saving material and space, reducing friction and improving operability. This also simplifies the removal of wide printed circuit board connectors, especially wide printed circuit board connectors connected to each other, or, depending on the design, makes it possible to remove (wide printed circuit board connectors) first.

[0024] In another preferred embodiment, the narrow insertion opening is open not only toward the top side but also toward the second side surface. This has the advantages of saving material and space, reducing friction and improving operability. This also simplifies the removal of narrow printed circuit board connectors, in particular narrow printed circuit board connectors connected to each other, or, depending on the design, makes it possible to remove them first (narrow printed circuit board connectors).

[0025] The device is preferably arranged to insert the narrow coupling element into the narrow insertion opening at the first side. In particular, the device is arranged to push one wide printed circuit board plug connector into each of, for example, two wide push-in openings for respective fastening on the narrow coupling element in order to thereby mechanically connect the two wide printed circuit board plug connectors to one another via the narrow coupling element.

[0026] Preferably, the device is arranged to insert the wide coupling element into the wide insertion opening at the second side and to push one narrow printed circuit board plug connector into each of, for example, two narrow push-in openings for respective fastening on the wide coupling element in order to mechanically connect the two narrow plug connectors to one another via the wide coupling element.

[0027] A method for reversibly mechanically connecting at least two printed circuit board connectors to one another via at least one coupling element to form at least one printed circuit board connector pair by means of a device of the type described above comprises the following method steps: A. inserting a wide coupling element into a wide insertion opening of the device and / or inserting a narrow coupling element into a narrow insertion opening of the device; B. pushing two narrow printed circuit board plug connectors into one of the two narrow push-in openings of the device and / or pushing two wide printed circuit board plug connectors into one of the two wide push-in openings of the device; C. reversibly fastening two narrow printed circuit board connectors together on a wide coupling element, for example by latching or clamping, and thereby connecting them to form a narrow printed circuit board connector pair and / or reversibly fastening two wide printed circuit board connectors together on a narrow coupling element, for example by latching or clamping, and thereby connecting them to form a wide printed circuit board connector pair; D. Remove the narrow and / or wide printed circuit board plug connector pairs from the corresponding narrow and / or wide push-in openings.

[0028] Preferably, the above-mentioned removal can be carried out in method step D parallel to the substrate.

[0029] In this way, the printed circuit board plug connectors can each be mechanically connected to one another at least on one side to form a plug connector pair.

[0030] In particular, the narrow and wide PCB connectors have an elongated basic shape with two narrow sides and two long sides. The narrow sides of the wide PCB connector are wider than the narrow sides of the narrow PCB connector, but are still much narrower than the long sides of the narrow PCB connector.

[0031] The narrow printed circuit board plug connector and the wide printed circuit board plug connector can advantageously be plugged into each other. Therefore, their lengths also correspond to each other accordingly. The narrow printed circuit board plug connector can, for example, be geometrically plugged into the wide printed circuit board plug connector. For example, the wide printed circuit board plug connector can have pin ("male") contacts and the narrow printed circuit board plug connector can have socket (female) contacts. In particular, the wide printed circuit board plug connector can have a printed circuit board plug connector module with pin (male) contacts and the narrow printed circuit board plug connector has a printed circuit board plug connector module with socket (female) contacts. Due to its geometry, it is self-evidently advantageous that two wide printed circuit board plug connectors are connected to each other via at least one narrow coupling element and two narrow printed circuit board plug connectors are connected to each other via at least one wide coupling element, thereby forming corresponding printed circuit board plug connector pairs respectively.

[0032] In particular, more than two printed circuit board plug connectors can also be connected to form an array by means of a device having exactly two narrow push-in openings and exactly two wide push-in openings as well as exactly one wide insertion opening and exactly one narrow insertion opening. After removal, the already connected printed circuit board plug connector pair can finally be pushed back into the device, but offset, so that one of the two printed circuit board plug connectors is again connected to the other printed circuit board plug connector via the additional coupling element. The three printed circuit board plug connectors are then mechanically connected to one another. This process can of course be repeated until the desired array is finally generated.

[0033] In addition, the device can also be provided with more than one insertion opening and more than two narrow and / or wide push-in openings, wherein the push-in openings are arranged at equidistant intervals from one another on the first side and / or the second side, respectively. Therefore, although the material consumption and manufacturing consumption of the device are increased, the method consumption when mechanically connecting the entire array of printed circuit board plug connectors is reduced, because in this way more than two printed circuit board plug connectors can also be connected to each other at the same time. For a specific application, that is to say, the optimal number of push-in openings can be determined, and a suitable device, in particular a device for automated connection, can be provided to the customer. As a manufacturing method, an additive method is provided for small batches in order to meet unique customer needs, such as 3D printing. For large batches, injection molding methods can also be considered as a preferred manufacturing method. Usually, for cost reasons, the device can be made of plastic anyway in order to take advantage of the advantages of cheap and simple manufacturing.

[0034] For manual operation, it is advantageous to design the device in one piece. However, it is also useful to design the device in multiple pieces, for example when the connection is to be performed automatically by a robot or the like, so that the different components are arranged separately in position at suitable locations in the corresponding facility. In particular, the wide push-in opening can then belong together with the narrow insertion opening to the first part of the device, while the narrow push-in opening can belong together with the wide insertion opening to the second part of the device and can be arranged independently of one another in the production facility for individual assembly.

[0035] However, according to the above method, the printed circuit board connectors of each printed circuit board connector pair are initially connected to each other only at one narrow side. However, the printed circuit board connector pair (or array) that has been connected on one side can also be rotated 180° and re-plugged into the device previously provided with another coupling element, so that the printed circuit board connectors of the printed circuit board connector pair are mechanically connected to each other in a similar manner also at their other narrow side.

[0036] Therefore, in particular, the method may also additionally have the following method steps: E. inserting another narrow coupling element into the narrow insertion opening of the device and / or inserting another wide coupling element into the wide insertion opening of the device; F. Rotate wide and / or narrow printed circuit board connectors 180°; G. Pushing the wide and / or narrow printed circuit board plug connector pair forward together into the wide and / or narrow push-in opening with the side facing away from the coupling element already fastened thereto; H. additionally mechanically connecting two narrow and / or two wide printed circuit board plug connectors to one another via a respective further coupling element on their side which has not been previously connected; I. Removing the wide and / or narrow printed circuit board connector pair together again from the wide and / or narrow push-in opening of the device.

[0037] Preferably, this is carried out in method step I in parallel to the substrate.

[0038] If, as described above, an entire array of more than two printed circuit board connectors is to be connected to one another, these printed circuit board connectors can advantageously first be connected to one another in pairs on their first side / narrow side and then rotated completely through 180° and connected to one another on their second side / narrow side. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It is shown in the drawings: Figure 1a , 1b The device is shown from two different perspectives; Figure 2a , 2b The device is shown with the coupling element inserted; Figure 3a-3c An arrangement with a pushed-in printed circuit board plug connector is shown.

[0040] The drawings include partially simplified schematic representations. In some cases, the same reference numerals are used for identical, but possibly different, elements. Different views of the same element may be scaled differently. Directional indications such as, for example, "left", "right", "upper" and "lower" are to be understood with reference to the corresponding figures and may vary in the individual illustrations relative to the objects shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Figure 1a and Figure 1b A device 1 for the reversible mechanical connection of two printed circuit board connectors 2, 2' to one another is shown. Figure 3a-3c Shown in. Figure 1a shows a view of the device 1 from a first side of the device 1 , Figure 1b A view of the device 1 from a second side of the device 1 is shown.

[0042] The device 1 is designed in one piece and has a base plate 12 and a guide body 14 constructed on the base plate 12. The guide body 14 has a substantially square basic shape, in which two, i.e., a total of four, push-in openings 10, 10' are arranged on both sides, i.e., on two parallel sides opposite to each other. In addition, one, i.e., a total of two insertion openings 100, 100' are arranged on both sides near the base plate 12. More precisely, two wide push-in openings 10 are arranged on the first side and two narrow push-in openings 10' are arranged on the second side. Here, the first side and the second side are the opposite sides of the substantially square guide body 14 and are not shown in detail for reasons of clarity. The guide body has a top surface 16 opposite to the base plate. The push-in openings 10, 10' are open to the corresponding side on which they are arranged. In addition, the push-in openings 10, 10' are open to the top surface 16 and an insertion chamfer is provided on the opening.

[0043] Figure 2a and 2b The device 1 is shown in a view from the first or second side with the coupling elements 3, 3' inserted therein on both sides, i.e. the narrow coupling element 3 and the wide coupling element 3'. As can be easily seen from the previous illustrations, the coupling elements 3, 3' are each arranged in one of the aforementioned insertion openings 100, 100', i.e. the narrow coupling element 3 is arranged in the narrow insertion opening 100 and the wide coupling element 3' is arranged in the wide insertion opening 100'.

[0044] Figure 3a-3c The above-described arrangement is shown with two in each case, ie a total of four, ie two wide PCB connectors 2 and two narrow PCB connectors 2 ′ which are inserted into the respective insertion openings 10 , 10 on both sides.

[0045] Two wide printed circuit board plug connectors 2 are arranged in the wide insertion opening 10 of the device 1 and two narrow printed circuit board plug connectors 2' are arranged in the narrow insertion opening 10' of the device 1 by previously inserting the printed circuit board plug connectors 2, 2' from above in the figure into the corresponding insertion openings 10, 10'. Here, they are connected together via the inserted coupling elements 3, 3' by clamping and / or latching them on the end sides on the coupling elements 3, 3', respectively. They can therefore be removed in particular parallel to the base plate 12 of the device 1.

[0046] It is obvious that the printed circuit board plug connectors 2, 2' are provided with a coupling element 3, 3' not only on one narrow side, but even on two narrow sides opposite each other. For this purpose, they are previously pushed into the corresponding insertion openings 10, 10' separately in order to be fastened to each other by means of the narrow or wide first coupling element 3, 3', respectively. They are then rotated 180° and pushed back into the insertion openings 10, 10' in order to be additionally fastened to each other on their second narrow side opposite the respective first coupling element 3, 3' already fastened thereto, via another coupling element 3, 3' inserted into the respective insertion opening 100, 100' at the center side.

[0047] For fastening, the printed circuit board connectors 2, 2' can have two Figure 3c The latching and / or clamping lugs 23, 23' are shown in Fig. The coupling elements 3, 3' can each have a latching and / or clamping window 30, 30', by which they interact in a reversibly secure manner.

[0048] If it is desired to form an array consisting of more than two printed circuit board plug connectors 2, 2', two printed circuit board plug connectors 2, 2' that are currently already connected to form a printed circuit board plug connector pair can be moved one slot / push-in recess 10, 10' and inserted into the device 1 again and mechanically connected with another printed circuit board plug connector 2, 2' in the above-mentioned manner. This process can be repeated until an array of the desired size is generated.

[0049] The wide printed circuit board plug connectors 2 are male (“male”) plug connectors, that is to say they have, for example, pin contacts.

[0050] The narrow printed circuit board connectors 2 ′ are female (“female”) plug connectors, that is, they have socket contacts.

[0051] Furthermore, the plug connector is a modular printed circuit board plug connector 2, 2', i.e., it has a plurality of printed circuit board plug connector modules 41, 41', 41", 42, 42', 42" arranged in a row. The male printed circuit board plug connector 2 has male printed circuit board plug connector modules 41, 41', 41", and the female printed circuit board plug connector 2' has female printed circuit board plug connector modules 42, 42', 42".

[0052] The male printed circuit board connector 2 is configured to correspond to the female printed circuit board connector 2' and can be plugged therewith. Thus, the printed circuit board connector pairs and the entire array of the plug connector module that can be individually and comfortably assembled can be assembled in a particularly comfortable manner in the form of printed circuit board connectors and printed circuit board mating connectors on two printed circuit boards to electrically connect the printed circuit boards.

[0053] Reference numerals list 1 Device 12 substrate 14 Guide 16 Top 10, 10' wide and narrow push-in openings 100, 100' narrow, wide insertion opening 2, 2' male and female printed circuit board connectors 23, 23' Locking and / or clamping lugs 3, 3' narrow and wide coupling elements 30, 30' latching and / or clamping windows 41, 41', 41'' male printed circuit board plug connector module 42, 42', 42'' Female PCB Plug Connector Module

Claims

1. A device (1) for reversibly mechanically connecting at least two printed circuit board plug connectors (2, 2') to one another via at least one coupling element (3, 3'), in, The device (1) has at least one insertion opening (100, 100') for inserting the at least one coupling element (3, 3') in an insertion direction, and the device (1) also has at least two push-in openings (10, 10') for pushing the at least two printed circuit board plug connectors (2, 2') in the push-in direction, wherein the at least one insertion opening (100, 100') is connected to two of the push-in openings (10, 10') so that the at least one coupling element (3, 3') can be mechanically fixed to two of the printed circuit board plug connectors (2, 2').

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, in, The insertion direction and the thrust direction extend at right angles to one another.

3. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The device (1) is designed as a single piece.

4. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, in, The device (1) is designed in multiple parts.

5. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The device (1) is made of plastic.

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, in, The device (1) is produced using an additive manufacturing method such as, for example, 3D printing.

7. The device (1) according to claim 5, in, The device (1) is produced by an injection molding method.

8. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The device (1) has at least two insertion openings (100, 100'), namely at least one narrow insertion opening (100) configured to insert a narrow coupling element (3), the at least one narrow insertion opening being arranged on a first side of the device (1), and furthermore, the device (1) also has at least one wide insertion opening (100') configured to insert a wide coupling element (3'), the at least one wide insertion opening being arranged on a second side of the device (1).

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, in, The device (1) has at least four push-in openings (10, 10'), namely at least two wide push-in openings (10), which are arranged on the first side and connected to the at least one narrow insertion opening (100), and the device (1) also has at least two narrow push-in openings (10'), which are arranged on the second side and connected to the at least one narrow insertion opening (100').

10. The device (1) according to claim 9, in, The device (1) comprises a base plate (12) and a guide body (14), wherein the guide body (14) is formed on the base plate (12), and wherein the first side surface and the second side surface are components of the guide body (14).

11. The device (1) according to claim 10, in, The guide body (14) has a substantially square basic shape.

12. The device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 11, in, The insertion opening (10, 10') is open toward the top surface (16) of the guide body (14) facing away from the base plate (12), that is, is open on the top side.

13. The device (1) according to claim 12, in, The insertion opening (10, 10') has an insertion bevel at its top opening.

14. The device (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 13, in, The device (1) is configured to insert a narrow coupling element (3) into the narrow insertion opening (100) at the first side and to insert a wide coupling element (3') into the wide insertion opening (100') at the second side, and wherein the device (1) is further configured to push wide printed circuit board plug connectors (2) into two wide push-in openings (10) respectively to be fastened together on the narrow coupling element (3), thereby mechanically reversibly connecting the two wide printed circuit board plug connectors (2) to each other via the narrow coupling element (3), and further, to push narrow printed circuit board plug connectors (2') into two narrow push-in openings (10') respectively to be fastened together on the wide coupling element (3'), thereby mechanically reversibly connecting the two narrow plug connectors (2') to each other.

15. A method for reversibly mechanically connecting at least two printed circuit board connectors (2, 2') to one another via at least one coupling element (3, 3') to form at least one printed circuit board connector pair by means of a device (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 14, comprising the following method steps: A. inserting a narrow coupling element (3) into a narrow insertion opening (100) of the device and / or inserting a wide coupling element (3') into a wide insertion opening (100') of the device; B. pushing two wide printed circuit board plug connectors (2) into one of the two wide push-in openings (10) of the device, and / or pushing two narrow printed circuit board plug connectors (2') into one of the two narrow push-in openings (10') of the device; C. reversibly fastening the two wide printed circuit board plug connectors (2) together on the narrow coupling element (3) and thereby connecting them to form a wide printed circuit board plug connector pair, and / or reversibly fastening the two narrow printed circuit board plug connectors (2') together on the wide coupling element (3') and thereby connecting them to form a wide printed circuit board plug connector pair; D. Remove the wide printed circuit board plug connector pair and / or the narrow printed circuit board plug connector pair from the corresponding wide push-in opening (10) and / or the narrow push-in opening (10').

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the following steps: E. inserting another narrow coupling element (3) into the narrow insertion opening (100) of the device (1) and / or inserting another wide coupling element (3') into the wide insertion opening (100') of the device (1); F. rotating the wide board connector pair and / or the narrow printed circuit board connector pair by 180°; G. Pushing the wide printed circuit board connector pair and / or the narrow printed circuit board connector pair forwards into the wide push-in opening (10) and / or the narrow push-in opening (10') with the side facing away from the coupling element (3, 3') already latched thereon; H. mechanically connecting the two wide printed circuit board connectors (2) and / or the two narrow printed circuit board connectors (2') to one another again via a respective further narrow coupling element (3) and / or a wide coupling element (3') on their previously unconnected side; I. The wide printed circuit board connector pair currently connected on both sides and / or the narrow printed circuit board connector pair currently connected on both sides are removed jointly again from the wide and / or narrow insertion opening (10, 10') of the device (1).

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