Connector element of a shielded cable

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector element (30) of a shielded cable (50) with one or more conductors (46, 48) serving as signal lines (52, 54), wherein the connector element (30) is mounted at an insertion side (16) into a housing body (14) of a connector system (12). One or more of the signal lines (52, 54) contacts at least one terminal strip (20). The connector element (30) includes a ground connection in the form of a shield termination (34). The shield termination (34) is part of a sleeve-shaped section (32) of the connector element (30) and comprises shield pins (42) between which at least one of the signal lines (52, 54) runs. The invention further relates to the use of the connector element (30) for contacting a control unit, particularly at low communication data rates in the range of 10 Mbit / s to 100 Mbit / s.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a connector element of a shielded cable with one or more wires serving as signal lines, which is plugged into a housing body of a connector system on a plug-in side, wherein the one or more signal lines contact at least one male connector, wherein the connector element comprises a ground bridge in the form of a transfer shield. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the connector element for contacting a control unit, particularly at low communication data rates. State of the art

[0002] WO 2020 / 213702 A1 relates to a connection module comprising a connection cable with a connector, as well as to a connection assembly. A connection module is received at one end of a communication cable with a communication rate of 100 Mbit / s or faster. The connection module comprises a first connection terminal and a connecting member receiving a first connection terminal, as well as a cylindrical shielding element surrounding the outer periphery of the connecting member, wherein the shielding element is designed as a cast body.

[0003] DE 103 12 276 A1 relates to an electrical cable connector for a shielded cable. An electrical cable connector for a shielded cable comprises an at least partially electrically conductive, in particular metallic, connector housing and a cable shield connection to which the cable shield of the shielded cable can be connected. The cable shield connection is connected to the connector housing via a plurality of capacitors, which are arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the cable shield connection or the connector housing.

[0004] DE 41 16 138 C2 relates to a connector for a coaxial cable. This connector, in particular, has a small diameter, further comprising a conductor and a shield with a tubular housing made of electrically conductive material that is open at the opposite end, a signal contact that can be connected to the conductor and is mounted in an insulated manner within the housing, and a ground contact that is in conductive connection with the cable shield and the housing. An inner housing made of insulating material is provided, consisting of two parts that can be joined together parallel to the plug-in direction of the contacts and inserted into the conductive tubular housing from the end. The inner housing's outer dimensions correspond approximately to the inner dimensions of the conductive tubular housing, and the inner housing has recesses in which the signal and ground contacts are securely seated and spaced apart from one another.

[0005] High-speed signals are usually transmitted using shielded cables, either coaxial cables or STP (shielded twisted pair) cables. This requires the use of connector systems with an appropriate design to ensure the shielding transitions to the connected device. To achieve good shielding quality, especially in the connector area, 360° shielding is generally required. Furthermore, only holes with a minimal diameter are permitted in this context. Cable shielding is necessary to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMC), for example, at the vehicle level. In the case of low communication data rates, for example, in the range of 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps, shielding is usually omitted. However, there are applications where shielding is helpful, especially when the data rate is not too high.This can occur, for example, with cables that run near an antenna. In these cases, it is advantageous to use a shielded cable, although it is not absolutely necessary to implement a 360° shield connection to the device. Shield transfers using pins or plug-in pins to a standard male connector are known from the aforementioned WO 2020 / 213702 A1, but require complex solutions on the cable harness side, which represent a significant cost factor. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] According to the invention, a connector element is proposed for a shielded cable with one or more wires serving as signal lines, which is mounted on a plug-in side in a housing body of a connector system, wherein the one or more signal lines are contacted with at least one male connector, and the connector element comprises a ground bridge in the form of a transfer shield. The transfer shield is part of a sleeve-shaped part of the connector element, which comprises shield pins between which the at least one signal line runs. The solution proposed according to the invention makes it possible to provide a ground bridge element that enables low manufacturing costs for large-scale production and, at the same time, represents extremely effective shielding.

[0007] In an advantageous development of the connector element proposed according to the invention, the two shielding pins run parallel to each other within a single plane. This results in a particularly flat design of the connector element on the connection side to the connector body. In an advantageous development of the connector element proposed according to the invention, the two shielding pins protrude from two sleeve end points of the sleeve-shaped part. This allows for a particularly simple one-piece manufacturing option.

[0008] In an advantageous development of the plug element proposed according to the invention, the plug element is pulled over a stripped end of the shield cable as a plug-on ground bridging element and is crimped or integrally connected to the latter and / or the at least one signal line.

[0009] In the case of a material-to-material connection, the material-to-material connection between the shield cable and the connector element is designed as a solder connection.

[0010] In the connector element proposed by the invention, the signal lines and shield pins can be arranged, for example, in a single plane and provided with contacts; a star-shaped arrangement with multiple signal lines and shield pins is also possible, for example, in three-phase applications. Advantageously, the contacts can be used to create a connection option, for example, to press-in pins or the like, which represents an extremely robust electrical connection.

[0011] In the plug element proposed according to the invention, the contacts are pushed onto the shield pins and the signal lines in a horizontal orientation in the sliding direction.

[0012] Alternatively, it is possible to produce an angled orientation in the plug element proposed according to the invention with respect to the shielding cable and the male connector of a plug body in which angled press-in pins are used.

[0013] In the connector element proposed by the invention, the signal lines are designed in such a way that they include stripped areas. Crimp connections can advantageously be created within the stripped areas of the signal lines, thus providing a robust and easily manufactured electrical connection option.

[0014] The connector element proposed according to the invention is further characterized in that the sleeve-shaped part and the shielding pins are manufactured as a single component, in particular as a stamped and bent part made of metallic material or as a die-cast component, or as a coated plastic component. The manufacturing options listed enable large-scale production of the connector element, thereby favorably reducing manufacturing costs.

[0015] In the connector element proposed according to the invention, the sleeve-shaped part is crimped onto a stripped end of the shielding cable and / or the shielding pins have crimping areas. This allows the connector element to be prepared for the production of crimp connections, which can be provided at the correspondingly preconditioned points of the one-piece connector element proposed according to the invention during its manufacture.

[0016] In one embodiment, the plug element proposed according to the invention can be designed such that the sleeve-shaped part of the plug element comprises a bridge which has two shield pin outlets arranged in an eccentric position relative to a central axis of the shield cable.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the plug element for contacting a control device, in particular at low communication data rates between 10 Mbit / s and 100 Mbit / s, or to the use of the plug element in electric motors with shielded three-phase cables. Advantages of the invention

[0018] The plug element proposed according to the invention can be used using standard plug systems for bus systems and represents a simple solution for use on shielded single- or multi-core cables.

[0019] In a particularly advantageous manner, no modification is provided in the area of ​​the plug system with regard to the connection plug and its at least one male connector, but only minimal modifications are made to the plug element proposed according to the invention, since the same contacts can be used.

[0020] If the plug element proposed according to the invention, preferably formed as a single piece as a stamped and bent part, is provided with two shielding pins lying in one plane, a simple contact plane is created, which in particular enables easy insertion of the plug-in side of the plug element proposed according to the invention into a plug body of a plug system with a male connector. The plug element proposed according to the invention can provide a ground bridging element which is formed as a single piece and in a sleeve-like manner and comprises ground pins protruding from two opposite sleeve edge points as shielding pins, with the at least one signal line of the shielded cable running between these. The sleeve-shaped ground bridging element is pulled over the shielding of the shielded cable and is either crimped or integrally joined to the shielding and the signal cable, for example by means of a solder connection.The sleeve-shaped ground bridging element ensures both the ground transfer within the plug connection and also represents its own housing.

[0021] Advantageously, the one-piece plug element can be mass-produced by stamping and bending, or by die-casting, or as a coated plastic component. When manufacturing the plug element proposed by the invention with the shield pins extending from its sleeve-shaped part, a simple and cost-effective plug connection can be created. If the stamped and bent part proposed by the invention is made of metallic material, the sheet thickness is advantageously selected so that, on the one hand, the crimping areas have the optimal cross-section and, on the other hand, the shielding transfer, i.e., the ground bridging, is realized with appropriate quality.

[0022] The solution also enables exceptionally good scalability, so that if shielded cables are not used, a non-modified connector system can be used. Short description of the drawings

[0023] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings and the following description.

[0024] They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a plug body with male connectors arranged one above the other, Fig. 2 a rear perspective view of the plug body according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a perspective top view of the plug element proposed according to the invention, Fig. 4 the plug element according to Fig. 3 supplemented by shielded cables and signal cables, Fig. 5 the plug element Fig. 4 supplemented by contacts, pushed onto the shield pins and the signal lines running between them, Fig. 6 an addition of Fig. 5 angled press-in pins inserted into the contacts, Fig. 7 the plug element according to Fig. 4, inserted into a plug body according to Fig. 1, Fig. 8 a perspective top view of the plug element provided with contacts in the plugged-in state and Fig. 9 a variant of the plug element as a plug-on element with an eccentrically arranged bridge and pin outlets. Embodiments of the invention

[0025] In the following description of the embodiments of the invention, identical or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals, whereby a repeated description of these elements is omitted in individual cases. The figures only schematically illustrate the subject matter of the invention.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows an interface 10 of a connector system 12 in the form of a housing body 14. The housing body 14 is open at a plug-in side 16 and at its Fig. 2 shown rear side 18. In the housing body 14, male connectors 20 are arranged, which in the embodiment of the housing body 14 according to Fig. 1, for example, run one above the other. At least one locking clip 22 is located on an outer side 26 of the housing body 14, and at least one locking clip 22 is provided on the inner side 24 of the housing body 14. The blade strips 20, which are arranged in the housing body 14 as shown in Fig. 1 are arranged one above the other, are connected via a plug element 30, as shown in Fig. 3 is electrically contacted.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a rear view of the interface 10 of the connector system 12, designed as a housing body 14. On the housing body 14 there is said, at least one locking clip 22. On the rear side 18 of the housing body 14 according to the perspective view in Fig. 2 shows the outlets of the male connectors 20 arranged one above the other in the housing body 14. The housing body 14 represents a connection point of a connector system 12, for example, a wiring harness in motor vehicles or the like.

[0028] Fig. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a pluggable plug element 30 proposed according to the invention. This comprises a substantially sleeve-shaped part 32, which has a closed surface or a surface provided with a longitudinal cut and having resilient properties. The plug element 30 further comprises a shield transfer 34, which in the embodiment according to Fig. 3 is formed by two shielding pins 42 extending parallel to one another in a common plane. Each of the shielding pins 42 comprises a crimping area 38, at which a crimp connection for electrical contact can be created automatically by suitable handling devices. In the crimping area 38, the shielding pins 42 have a cross-section 40 advantageous for forming a crimp connection. From the illustration according to Fig. 3 shows that the sleeve-shaped part 32 can be formed by a sleeve 36 which is either made of metallic material or, in the case of a sleeve 36 made of a plastic material, can be provided with a metallic coating 44.

[0029] The Fig. The connector element 30 shown in Figure 3 can be manufactured in large-scale production, for example, as a stamped and bent part made of a single piece of metallic material with a low sheet thickness, but can also be manufactured by means of the die-casting process or can also be manufactured as a plastic component. Fig. 3 is made of plastic material, parts of the plug element 30, in particular the sleeve-shaped part 32 or the sleeve 36, can be covered with a coating 44 made of metallic material; the same applies to the shielding pins 42, which extend parallel to one another in a plane, for example the XY plane.

[0030] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the plug element 30 proposed according to the invention according to Fig. 3, supplemented by a shielding cable 50. The plug element 30 is plugged onto a stripped end of the shielding cable 50 and is received on the outer surface of the shielding cable 50, for example, crimped or with a press fit. The shielding cable 50 comprises a first wire 46 and a second wire 48, which merge into signal lines 52, 54, which are enclosed by the plug element 30 proposed according to the invention. The plug element 30 according to the invention, which is preferably manufactured as a built-in part, is designed such that the at least one signal line 52 or two adjacent signal lines 52, 54 run essentially between the shielding pins 42. The signal lines 52, 54 according to the illustration in Fig. 4 are provided with insulation and each have stripped areas 56, at which, analogous to the shield pins 42, a crimp connection for electrically contacting the signal lines 52, 54 can be made within crimp areas 38.

[0031] Instead of the first and second wires 46, 48 embedded in a cable filling 70, the shield cable 50 can also be designed as a single wire. The two shield pins 42 running parallel to each other and the signal lines arranged between them, namely the first signal line 52 and the second signal line 54, form a four-wire connector strip 68, which, when plugged in, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 is shown in more detail.

[0032] According to the illustration Fig. 5 shows that the plug-on connector element 30 is plugged with its sleeve-shaped part 32 onto a stripped end of the shielding cable 50. The connector element 30 can be attached to the shielding cable 50 either by crimping or by a material bond, for example, by soldering. In the illustration according to Fig. 5, the shield cable 50 is provided with the first wire 46 and the second wire 48, which are embedded in the cable filling 70. The plug element 30 according to the invention is provided with contacts 58 on its plug side 68, which is also designed as a four-wire connector. The contacts 58 are as shown in Fig. 5 are designed as shoe-shaped contacts, which are pushed onto the two shielding pins 42 arranged parallel to one another and onto the stripped areas 56 of the two signal lines 52, 54 running parallel to one another in the sliding direction 60. With the shoe-shaped contacts 58 mounted, the Fig. 5, ie the four-wire connector strip 68 of the connector element 30 proposed according to the invention lies in a plane in which it can be positioned, for example, as shown in the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the male connector 20 in the housing body 14 of the connector system 12 is electrically contacted. In this context, it should be mentioned again that the pluggable connector element 30 proposed according to the invention can be manufactured as a stamped and bent part from a thin metallic material of low sheet thickness and can be manufactured by means of the die-casting process and as a plastic component, wherein its sleeve 36 can be provided with a coating of metallic material.

[0033] Fig. 6 is the arrangement according to Fig. 5, wherein the shoe-shaped contacts 58 pushed onto the open or stripped areas 56 of the signal lines 52, 54 as well as onto the shielding pins 42 in the sliding direction 60 are mounted. Angled press-in pins 86 are pushed into the sides of the shoe-shaped contacts 58 facing away from the plug element 30 according to the invention. The representation of an angled orientation 64 may be necessary in individual applications due to the more or less limited installation space available. While the shoe-shaped contacts 58 have a substantially horizontal orientation 62 with respect to the four-wire plug strip 68, the angled press-in pins 86 represent an angled orientation 64, in the representation according to Fig. 6, for example, at a 90° angle 66. Instead of the Fig. In addition to the 90° angle 66 shown in Figure 6, the angled press-in pins 86 can also be designed at a different, obtuse or acute angle, depending on the available installation space. This, in turn, depends on the specific application.

[0034] Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of an enlarged insertion side 16 of the housing body 14 of the connector system 12, which forms the interface 10 for representing an electrical connection. From the perspective view according to Fig. 7 shows that the plug element 30, including the shoe-shaped contacts 58 arranged on its four-wire plug connector 68, is plugged into one of the male connectors 20 provided in the housing body 14 of the connector system 12, thus making electrical contact with it. The plug element 30 proposed according to the invention can, on the one hand, represent the shield transfer 34, so that the plug element 30 proposed according to the invention, plugged onto the shield cable 50, serves as a ground bridging element, while at the same time the two stripped areas 56 of the first and second signal lines 52, 54, provided with shoe-shaped contacts 58, are plugged into the upper male connector 20 on the inner side 24 of the housing body 14. Fig. 7 further shows that the plug element 30 is plugged with its sleeve-shaped part 32 onto the shielding cable 50 and partially covers its stripped end, the shielding cable 50 in the perspective view according to Fig. 7 comprises the first wire 46 and the second wire 48.

[0035] The perspective view according to Fig. 8 shows that - similar to Fig. 7 - the plug element 30 proposed according to the invention is plugged into a correspondingly configured male connector 20 located on the inner side 24 of the housing body 14. The plug element 30 has a four-wire connector 68, which is defined by the two shield pins 42 extending parallel to one another and the signal lines running between them, namely the first signal line 52 and the second signal line 54.

[0036] Also in the Fig. 8, the four-wire connector strip 68 with the above-mentioned components is provided with shoe-shaped contacts 58, which, for example, are connected to the terminals 58 shown in the illustration according to Fig. 7 can be enclosed in sleeves made of elastic material that perform a sealing function. Even in the design variant according to Fig. 8, the plug element 30 proposed according to the invention is plugged onto a stripped end of the shielding cable 50 as a pluggable ground bridging element 72 and firmly connected thereto via a crimp connection or a material connection, for example a solder connection. The shielding cable 50 can be single- or double-core, or even multi-core, with the individual cores 46, 48 being embedded in a cable filling 70. The illustrations according to the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, a locking clip 22 can be removed partially or completely on the outer side 26 of the housing body 14, by means of which the housing body 14 can be closed on its insertion side 16, for example with a cover element or the like.

[0037] Fig. 9 shows a variant of the plug element 30 proposed according to the invention, wherein the latter is designed as a pluggable ground bridging element 72 and comprises a pin bridge 74. The pin bridge 74 is arranged in an eccentric position 80 with respect to the sleeve-shaped part 32 of the plug element 30 proposed according to the invention, represented by the sleeve 36, with respect to a central axis 84. In this variant as well, the shielding pins 42 extending from the pin bridge 74 at a first pin outlet 76 and a second pin outlet 78 run essentially parallel to one another. The illustration in Fig. 9 further shows that the shielded cable 50 shown here is two-core, and the first signal line 52 and the second signal line 54, which extend essentially parallel to one another, emerge from its cable filling 70 at its open end. In this embodiment, the signal lines 52, 54 also have stripped areas 56, at which a crimp connection can be formed. The plug element 30, designed as a pluggable ground bridging element 72, comprises, in the embodiments according to Fig. 9 essentially the sleeve-shaped part 32, for example formed by a full-circumferential sleeve 36 or a longitudinally slotted sleeve 36 with elastic properties, on the edge of which the pin bridge 74 is arranged in said eccentric position 80. Arranged at this, in turn, are the shielding pins 42, which extend essentially parallel to one another and extend from the pin outlets 76, 78.

[0038] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described here and the aspects highlighted therein. Rather, numerous modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, which are within the scope of one skilled in the art. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2020 / 213702 A1 [0002, 0005] DE 103 12 276 A1

[0003] DE 41 16 138 C2

[0004]

Claims

[1] Connector element (30) of a shielded cable (50) with one or more conductors (46, 48), which is mounted at an insertion side (16) into a housing body (14) of a connector system (12), wherein the one or more conductors (46, 48) contact at least one terminal strip (20) as signal lines (52, 54) and the connector element (30) includes a ground connection in the form of a shield connection (34), characterized by , that the shield connection (34) is part of a sleeve-shaped part (32) of the connector element (30) and includes shield pins (42) between which at least one of the signal lines (52, 54) runs. [2] Connector element (30) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the two screen pins (42) run parallel to each other and are arranged in one plane. [3] Connector element (30) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by , that the two shield pins (42) protrude from two sleeve edge points of the sleeve-shaped part (32) of the plug element (30). [4] Connector element (30) according to claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the plug element (30) is fitted as a pluggable ground bridging element (72) over a stripped end of the shield cable (50) and is crimped or metallurgically connected to this and / or to the at least one first conductor (46) or the second conductor (48) of the shield cable (50). [5] Connector element (30) according to claim 4, characterized by that the material-bonded connection is executed as a solder joint. [6] Connector element (30) according to claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the signal lines (52, 54) and the shield pins (42) lie in one plane and are provided with contacts (58). [7] Connector element (30) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the contacts (58) are pushed onto the shield pins (42) and the signal lines (52, 54) in a horizontal orientation (62) in the sliding direction (60). [8] Connector element (30) according to claim 6, characterized by that the contacts (58) are provided with press-fit pins (86) having an angled orientation (64). [9] Connector element (30) according to claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the signal lines (52, 54) include stripped areas (56). [10] Connector element (30) according to claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that the sleeve-shaped part (32) and the shield pins (42) are designed as a single component, in particular as a stamped and bent part made of metallic material, as a die-cast component or as a coated plastic component. [11] Connector element (30) according to claims 1 to 10, characterized by , that the sleeve-shaped part (32) is crimped onto a stripped end of the shield cable (50) and / or the shield pins (42) have crimp areas (38). [12] Connector element (30) according to claims 1 to 4, characterized by, that the sleeve-shaped part (32) has a pin bridge (74) which has two pin exits (76, 78) arranged in an eccentric position (80) with respect to a central axis (84) of the shield cable (50). [13] Use of the connector element (30) according to one of claims 1 to 12 for contacting a control unit, especially at low communication data rates between 10 MBit / s and 100 MBit / s.

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