Connector part with a resistor coding

Abstract

Connector part for transmitting a charging current, comprising: - at least two contact elements (50-54) for establishing an electrical contact with associated contact elements of another connector part, - a carrier element (200) on which the at least two contact elements (50-54) are arranged, and - a resistance device (4) which is electrically connected to the at least two contact elements (50-54), wherein the resistance device (4) comprises a printed circuit board (43), an electrical resistor (40) arranged on the printed circuit board (43), and a first and a second contact spring (41, 42) arranged on the printed circuit board (43) and electrically connected to the resistor (40), wherein the printed circuit board (43) is held on the carrier element (200), and the first contact spring (41) electrically contacts a first of the at least two contact elements (50-54), and the second contact spring (42) electrically contacts a second of the at least two contact elements (50-54).such that the resistor (40) is electrically connected to the at least two contact elements (50-54) via the two contact springs (41, 42), characterized in that the circuit board (43) has a first side (430) and a second side (431) facing away from the first side (430), wherein the first contact spring (41) is arranged on the first side (430) and the second contact spring (42) is arranged on the second side (431), so that the contact springs (41, 42) project from the circuit board (43) on different sides (430, 431).

Description

The invention relates to a plug connector part for transmitting a charging current according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for producing a plug connector part.Such a plug connector part comprises at least two contact elements for establishing an electrical contact with associated contact elements of another plug connector part. The at least two contact elements are arranged on a carrier element of the plug connector part and are held in position via the carrier element. Furthermore, such a plug connector part has a resistance device, to which the at least two contact elements are electrically connected, wherein the resistance device has a printed circuit board, an electrical resistor arranged on the printed circuit board, and a first and a second contact spring arranged on the printed circuit board, which contact spring is electrically connected to the resistor, wherein the printed circuit board is held on the carrier element. The first contact spring makes electrical contact with a first of the at least two contact elements and the second contact spring makes electrical contact with a second of the at least two contact elements, with the result that the resistor is electrically connected to the at least two contact elements via the two contact springs.Such plug connector parts are known from DE 34 40 748 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,984 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,053 A and U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,937 A.Plug connector parts of the type described here are used for transmitting a charging current, in particular for charging an electric vehicle. Usually, an electric vehicle is charged via a charging station, wherein the electric vehicle has, for example, a plug connector part in the form of a charging socket, which can be connected to the charging station via a suitable charging cable.An electric vehicle can basically be charged in different ways. Accordingly, for connecting an electric vehicle to a charging station, different connecting devices are also known, which can have different plug connector parts. For example, a connecting device for transmitting an alternating current can be designed to supply a charging current in the form of an alternating current to the electric vehicle. When an electric vehicle is connected to a socket, a single-phase alternating current is transmitted, for example. However, a three-phase alternating current can also be fed in via a charging station. Alternatively, the charging can also be effected by means of a direct current. Depending on the current type and current intensity, the plug connector parts are therefore designed for connecting the electric vehicle to a charging station or a socket.In order to ensure that, when an electric vehicle is connected to a charging station via a charging cable, a charging current fed into the electric vehicle does not exceed a permissible maximum current intensity for which the charging cable and a charging system of the electric vehicle are designed, resistance coding is used on plug connector parts, as described, for example, in DE 10 2010 053 074 A1 and DE 20 2012 100 613 U1 and is also standardized in relevant standards, for example IEC 62196. For example, a resistor can be connected in a plug of a charging cable between a so-called proximity contact and a protective conductor contact, the resistance value of which resistor can be measured via the charging station when the plug is connected to a charging station in order to identify the type of the connected charging cable on the basis of the resistance value. In this case, specific types of charging cables or charging devices are assigned to different resistance values, so that this type can be identified on the basis of the resistance value. In particular, in this way, a permissible maximum current intensity, which can be transmitted, for example, via a charging cable (for example, 16 A or 32 A), can be identified, so that the charging station can accordingly limit an introduced current.For a similar purpose, resistance coding is used, for example, on a plug connector part in the form of a charging socket on an electric vehicle. In this case, a maximum permissible charging current for which the charging system of the electric vehicle is designed can be identified in particular on the basis of a resistance value.Conventionally, the arrangement of such a resistor on a plug connector part for the purpose of resistance coding is comparatively complicated and requires, for example, a connection of a resistor to associated contact elements by crimping or the like.EP 1 094 566 B1 discloses a plug connector in which a metal sheet with a resistor chip arranged thereon is arranged between two contact pins and is connected between the contact pins.In an electrical connector known from DE 10 2009 023 292 A1, a contact bridge is provided which short-circuits two contact pins.It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector part and a method for manufacturing a connector part which easily allow integration of a resistor device into a connector part for the purpose of resistance coding.This object is achieved by an object having the features of claim 1.Accordingly, the printed circuit board has a first side and a second side facing away from the first side, wherein the first contact spring is arranged on the first side and the second contact spring is arranged on the second side, such that the contact springs protrude to different sides from the printed circuit board.The present invention is based on the idea of forming a resistor device in modular fashion using a printed circuit board and a resistor arranged thereon. The resistor device can be arranged on the carrier element of the plug connector part in a simple manner and is held firmly on the carrier element in an assembled state. Because a contact between the resistor and an associated contact element is formed via a contact spring arranged on the printed circuit board, the electrical contact of the resistor with the associated contact element can be produced in a simple, easily assembled manner by bringing the contact spring and the associated contact element into contact with one another. In particular, this eliminates the need for a connection of the resistor to an associated contact element, which is complicated in terms of assembly, for example by crimping, so that the assembly of the plug connector part is simplified overall.Two contact springs are arranged on the circuit board, of which a first contact spring electrically contacts a first of the at least two contact elements and a second contact spring electrically contacts a second of the at least two contact elements.The resistor is thus electrically connected to the associated contact elements via the two contact springs, so that the resistor is electrically connected between the contact elements. The contact springs are designed to be elastic at least in sections and can be brought into contact resiliently with the associated contact elements, so that, when the contact springs are in contact with the associated contact elements, the contact springs are prestressed and a reliable, low-resistance contact is thus produced between the contact springs and the associated contact elements.The contact springs are arranged on different sides of the printed circuit board. Thus, the printed circuit board has a first side and a second side facing away from the first side. The first contact spring is arranged on the first side and the second contact spring is arranged on the second side facing away from it, so that the contact springs protrude from the printed circuit board on different sides. On one of the sides, for example the first side, the resistor is also arranged here. On the printed circuit board, suitable conductor tracks extend which electrically contact the contact springs with the resistor.The printed circuit board ("printed circuit board") implements a carrier for electrical components in the usual way and consists, for example, of an electrically insulating base body on which conductor tracks are arranged.In order to produce the electrical contact between the contact spring and the associated contact element, the contact spring preferably has a contact surface which, in the assembled state of the plug connector part, is in contact with a cylindrical contact section of the associated contact element. The contact surface of the contact spring is remote from the side of the printed circuit board on which the contact spring is arranged and thus lies away from the side. The contact surface is connected to the associated side of the printed circuit board via a spring arm and is thus held on the printed circuit board in a spring-loaded manner.The contact section does not necessarily have to be cylindrical, in particular circular cylindrical, but can also have another shape, for example a rectangular or otherwise polygonal cross section.In an advantageous embodiment, the printed circuit board is held in a form-fitting manner on a holding device of the carrier element. The printed circuit board can be inserted into the holding device, for example, so that the holding device engages around the printed circuit board at least in sections and the printed circuit board is thus attached to the carrier element in a plugging manner. This results in a simple assembly process, in which the resistance device with its printed circuit board can be fixed to the carrier element in a simple manner by being inserted into the holding device.The resistor and / or the at least one contact spring of the resistor device can advantageously be designed as SMD components and can be fastened to the printed circuit board by means of soldering. SMD components, in contrast to components for through-hole mounting, do not have wire connections, but rather are soldered directly onto a printed circuit board by means of solderable connection pads. The fastening of such components to the printed circuit board is thus carried out in surface mounting without connecting wires having to be passed through mounting holes of the printed circuit board.In principle, however, the components can also be arranged on the printed circuit board by means of through-fitting.The resistor of the resistor device is used in particular for resistor coding. Accordingly, the resistor preferably has a resistance value which is associated with predetermined identification information, so that the identification information can be identified on the basis of the resistance value via another connector part connected to the connector part. If the plug connector part implements, for example, a charging plug of a charging cable, then, when the charging plug is connected, for example, to a charging station, the resistance value of the resistance of the resistance device in the charging plug of the charging cable can be measured by means of a suitable measuring device of the charging station. On the basis of the measured resistance value, which is assigned to a predetermined characteristic information item, for example, in a standardized manner, this characteristic information item can then be identified. The identification information can indicate, for example, a maximum permissible charging current (for example 16 A or 32 A), type information of a charging cable or a charging device of an electric vehicle or also other information about a plug connector part or a charging system.The object is also achieved by a method for producing a plug connector part for transmitting a charging current, wherein the plug connector partat least two contact elements for establishing an electrical contact with associated contact elements of another plug connector part,a carrier element on which the at least two contact elements are arranged, anda resistor device electrically connected to the at least two contact elements,has. It is provided here that the resistor device has a printed circuit board, an electrical resistor arranged on the printed circuit board and a first and a second contact spring arranged on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the resistor, wherein the printed circuit board is arranged on the carrier element and then the at least one contact element is attached to the carrier element in such a way that the first contact spring electrically contacts a first of the at least two contact elements and the second contact spring electrically contacts a second of the at least two contact elements, such that the resistor is electrically connected to the at least two contact elements via the two contact springs. The circuit board has a first side and a second side facing away from the first side, wherein the first contact spring is arranged on the first side and the second contact spring is arranged on the second side, such that the contact springs protrude to different sides from the circuit board.For advantages and advantageous embodiments of the method, reference is made to the above statement, which analogously also applies to the method.The idea on which the invention is based is to be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an electric vehicle which is to be connected to a charging station via a charging cable; FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary mating portion of a connector part; FIG. 3 shows a view of a carrier element of a plug connector part with contact elements arranged thereon and a resistor device; FIG. 4 shows a view of the carrier element without the contact elements; and FIG. 5 shows a separate view of a resistance device with a printed circuit board, a resistor and contact springs for contacting two contact elements.FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle 2 which has an electric drive and an electric charging system with a storage device in the form of rechargeable batteries for supplying the electric drive (colloquially also referred to as "electric vehicle"). The vehicle 2 can be connected to a charging station 1 via a charging cable 3 for charging its batteries, wherein both on the vehicle 2 and on the charging station 1 a respective plug connector part 20, 10 in the form of a charging socket is provided, which can be brought into engagement with plug connector parts 30, 31 in the form of charging plugs of the charging cable 3. If the vehicle 2 is connected to the charging station 1 via the charging cable 3, electrical current for charging the batteries of the vehicle 2 can flow to the vehicle 2 via a cable 32 of the charging cable 3.A charging current can in principle be transmitted as direct current or as alternating current, and correspondingly the charging cable 3 and the plug connector parts 10, 20, 30, 31 used can be configured in different ways.FIG. 2 schematically shows a plug-in region 5 of a plug-in connector part 20, which can be arranged as a charging socket, for example on a vehicle 2, and can serve for transmitting a charging current in the form of a single-phase alternating current. The plug connector part 20 comprises five contacts in its plug-in region 5, of which two contacts K 1, K 2 serve as load contacts for transmitting the alternating current to the vehicle 2. A single-phase alternating current can be transmitted via the load contacts K 1, K 2, for example, from a conventional socket to the vehicle 2, so that the vehicle 2 can be supplied by connection to a socket and thus via the conventional energy supply network (the load contacts K 1, K 2 are also referred to as L and N conductors in this case). The plug region 5 further comprises a protective conductor contact PE connected to a protective conductor, a pilot contact CP for transmitting control signals and a proximity contact PP.It should be noted at this point that the plug connector part 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 is to be understood with the configuration of its contacts K 1, K 2, CP, PE, PP merely by way of example. In principle, a different contact configuration can also be provided, for example for transmitting a three-phase alternating current or for transmitting a direct current, wherein the number of contacts K 1, K 2, CP, PE, PP can vary depending on the design of the plug connector part 20. A connector part 20 for transmitting a three-phase alternating current typically has, for example, four load contacts for transmitting the three-phase alternating current and a total of seven contacts.In the case of charging plugs and charging sockets, resistance coding is usually provided, which serves to code identification information of a plug connector part 10, 20, 30, 31 or of a charging system, such as, for example, the charging cable 3 or of a charging system of the vehicle 2. For example, the resistance coding can be used to code for which charging current a charging system, for example the charging cable 3, is designed, for example 16 A or 32 A. By means of such resistance coding, which can be read out, for example, by the charging station 1, the charging station 1 can identify which charging current is maximally permitted, so that a charging current transmitted via a charging cable 3 can be limited and it is thus ensured that the charging cable 3 or a vehicle 2 connected via the charging cable 3 is not overloaded.For the purpose of resistance coding, as is shown in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 to 5, a resistance device 4 is connected to a carrier element 200 of a plug connector part 20 in such a way that a resistor 40 arranged on a printed circuit board 43 is electrically connected between two contact elements 50, 51 assigned to the contacts PP and PE (see FIG. 2 ). The resistance value of the resistor 40 can be read out via the contacts PP, PE, wherein a characteristic information item, for example a maximum permissible charging current, is encoded on the basis of the resistance value, so that the characteristic information item can be deduced by measuring the resistance value.In the exemplary embodiment shown, a total of five contact elements 50- 54 in the form of contact pins for providing the five contacts K 1, K 2, CP, PE, PP are arranged on the carrier element 200. The contact elements 50- 54 are each designed substantially rotationally symmetrically and are inserted with a collar 501- 541 into an associated receiving opening 202- 206 of the carrier element 200, so that the contact elements 50- 54 are held in position in a fixed position via the carrier element 200.The contact elements 50- 54 are arranged on the carrier element 200 in a form-fitting manner in such a way that the contact elements 50- 54 project beyond a base 207 of the carrier element 200 in a pin-like manner. With their protruding ends, the contact elements 50- 54 can be electrically contactingly brought into engagement with an associated other plug connector part, so that another plug connector part, for example a plug 31 of a charging cable 3, can be connected to the plug connector part 20 via the contact elements 50- 54.The resistor device 4 is inserted with its printed circuit board 43 into a holding device 201 of the carrier element 200, so that the resistor device 4 is held on the carrier element 200 in a form-fitting manner. The holding device 201 is arranged on the bottom 207 of the carrier element 200, so that the resistance device 4 is held on the bottom 207 of the carrier element 200.As can be seen from the separate view according to FIG. 5, the contact springs 41, 42 which are formed elastically resiliently from metal spring strips are arranged on different sides 430, 431 of the printed circuit board 43 such that the contact springs 41, 42 protrude from the printed circuit board 43 on different sides 430, 431. Each contact spring 41, 42 has a contact surface 410, 420 which is spaced apart from the side 430, 431 of the printed circuit board 43 on which the respective contact spring 41, 42 is arranged. The contact surfaces 410, 420 thus lie away from the respectively assigned surface of the printed circuit board 43 and are connected to the printed circuit board 43 in an elastically resilient manner via a respective spring arm.In the exemplary embodiment shown, the contact springs 41, 42 and the resistor 40 are designed as SMD components and are thus mounted on the respectively associated surface of the printed circuit board 43. Suitable conductor tracks for electrically contacting the resistor 40 on the one hand with the first contact spring 41 and on the other hand with the second contact spring 42 are provided on the printed circuit board 43, so that the resistor 40 is electrically connected to both contact springs 41, 42.In the mounted state, illustrated in FIG. 3, the printed circuit board 43 is inserted into the holding device 201 of the carrier element 200 and is thus held on the carrier element 200. When the contact elements 50-54 are attached to the carrier element 200, the contact springs 41, 42 are in contact via their contact surfaces 410, 420 with cylindrical contact sections 500, 510 of the associated contact elements 50, 51 (contacts PP, PE), wherein the contact takes place under at least slight spring prestress, so that reliable electrical contact of the contact springs 41, 42 with the associated contact elements 50, 51 is ensured.The contact sections 500, 510 of the contact elements 50, 51 abut the respective collar 501, 541 of the associated contact element 50, 51 and project beyond the base 207 of the carrier element 200, so that the contact springs 41, 42 can be brought into contact with the contact sections 500, 510 in an electrically contacting manner.The carrier element 200 is made of an electrically insulating material, for example a plastic material. The printed circuit board 43 can be produced from customary printed circuit board materials, for example from a glass fibre mat impregnated with epoxy resin, it being possible for conductor tracks to be arranged on one or both sides 430, 431 of the printed circuit board 43. If necessary, further electrical or electronic components can also be arranged on the printed circuit board 43.The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can also be realized in principle in embodiments of entirely different types.In particular, the provision of resistance coding of the type described here is conceivable and possible in principle in any desired configurations of plug connector parts for the transmission of direct current or alternating current. Resistance coding can also be used in so-called combo connectors, which can be used both for transmitting alternating current and for transmitting direct current.List of reference characters1 Charging station 10 Socket 2 Vehicle 20 Socket 200 Carrier element 201 Holding device 202- 206 Receiving opening 207 Base 3 Charging cable 30, 31 Plug 32 Cable 4 Resistance device 40 Resistor 41, 42 Contact spring 410, 420 Contact surface 43 Printed circuit board 430, 431 Side 5 Plug region 50-54 Contact element 500, 510 Contact section 501- 541 Bund CP Pilot contact K 1, K 2 Load contact PE Protective conductor contact PP Proximity contact

Claims

Plug connector part for transmitting a charging current, having - at least two contact elements (50-54) for establishing an electrical contact with associated contact elements of another plug connector part, - a carrier element (200) on which the at least two contact elements (50-54) are arranged, and - a resistor device (4) which is electrically connected to the at least two contact elements (50-54), wherein the resistor device (4) has a printed circuit board (43), an electrical resistor (40) arranged on the printed circuit board (43) and a first and a second contact spring (41, 42) arranged on the printed circuit board (43) and electrically connected to the resistor (40), wherein the printed circuit board (43) is held on the carrier element (200) and the first contact spring (41) electrically contacts a first of the at least two contact elements (50-54) and the second contact spring (42) electrically contacts a second of the at least two contact elements (50-54), such that the resistor (40) is electrically connected to the at least two contact elements (50-54) via the two contact springs (41, 42), characterized in that the printed circuit board (43) has a first side (430) and a second side (431) facing away from the first side (430), wherein the first contact spring (41) is arranged on the first side (430) and the second contact spring (42) is arranged on the second side (431), such that the contact springs (41, 42) protrude to different sides (430, 431) from the printed circuit board (43).Plug connector part according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one contact spring (41, 42) has a contact surface (410, 420) which bears against a cylindrical contact section (500, 510) of the associated contact element (50-54).Plug connector part according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the printed circuit board (43) is held in a form-fitting manner on a holding device (201) of the carrier element (200).Plug connector part according to Claim 3, characterized in that the printed circuit board (43) is inserted into the retaining device (201).Plug connector part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the resistor (40) is designed as an SMD component and is fastened to the printed circuit board (43) by means of soldering.Plug connector part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one contact spring (41, 42) is designed as an SMD component and is fastened to the printed circuit board (43) by means of soldering.Plug connector part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the resistor (40) has a resistance value which is associated with predetermined characteristic information item, so that the characteristic information item is identifiable on the basis of the resistance value via another plug connector part (31) which is connected to the plug connector part (20).Method for producing a plug connector part for transmitting a charging current, wherein the plug connector part comprises - at least two contact elements (50-54) for producing an electrical contact with associated contact elements of another plug connector part, - a carrier element (200) on which the at least two contact elements (50-54) are arranged, and - a resistor device (4) which is electrically connected to the at least two contact elements (50-54), wherein the resistor device (4) comprises a printed circuit board (43), an electrical resistor (40) arranged on the printed circuit board (43), and a first and a second contact spring (41, 42) arranged on the printed circuit board (43) and electrically connected to the resistor (40), wherein the printed circuit board (43) is arranged on the carrier element (200) and then the at least two contact elements (50-54) are attached to the carrier element (200) in such a way, the contact spring (41) electrically contacting a first of the at least two contact elements (50-54) and the second contact spring (42) electrically contacting a second of the at least two contact elements (50-54), such that the resistor (40) is electrically connected to the at least two contact elements (50-54) via the two contact springs (41, 42), characterized in that the printed circuit board (43) has a first side (430) and a second side (431) facing away from the first side (430), wherein the first contact spring (41) is arranged on the first side (430) and the second contact spring (42) is arranged on the second side (431), such that the contact springs (41, 42) protrude from the printed circuit board (43) to different sides (430, 431).

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