Connector and printed circuit board with connector for automotive applications

Abstract

A connector is provided, comprising a first housing part with a first side and a second side, wherein the first housing part is configured to be connected to the first side at least to electrical and optical signal connections of a printed circuit board, wherein the first side of the first housing part has an interface for connecting at least one electrical and at least one optical signal connection, and wherein the first housing part is configured to supply at least signal-carrying lines to the first side via a second side, which serve as signal connections for connection to the printed circuit board.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of data transmission in the automotive sector.

[0002] Connectors come in a wide variety of designs. In the automotive sector, connectors that are connected to control units are very important in order to enable a power supply and signal connection for electrical lines to and from the control unit. Typical connectors have a large number of interfaces on one side in order to be able to contact a large number of connections arranged on the circuit board. On the other side, they are connected to a large number of electrical lines that lead to or from a wide variety of components, e.g. for the voltage / current supply or for signals for data transmission. Connectors are already known that provide a large number of interfaces in one housing. Such connectors are also known as multi-header connectors. These multi-header connectors allow many individual connectors to be grouped together, thus reducing the space required on the circuit board.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved plug connection which also enables fast data connections while requiring as little space as possible.

[0004] This problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] A connector is provided, comprising a first housing part with a first side and a second side, wherein the first housing part is configured to be connected to the first side at least to electrical and optical signal connections of a printed circuit board, wherein the first side of the first housing part has an interface for connecting at least one electrical and at least one optical signal connection, and wherein the first housing part is configured to supply at least signal-carrying lines to the first side via a second side, which serve as signal connections for connection to the printed circuit board.

[0006] In one embodiment, the connector further comprises a second housing part which is connectable on a first side thereof to the second side of the first housing part and which serves on a second side as an input for at least signal-carrying lines, wherein the interfaces of the first housing part extend to its second side in order to provide a connection to signal-carrying lines of the second housing part.

[0007] In one version, several types of electrical signal connections are provided.

[0008] In one embodiment, electrical signal connections comprise at least one of an interface for connecting a coaxial cable, a twisted pair cable, a twisted shielded or twisted unshielded sheathed cable, and a pin.

[0009] In one embodiment, the connector is additionally designed such that it has at least one interface for connecting a supply connection.

[0010] In one embodiment, at least one electrical shielding device is provided in an area on the first side or continuously up to the second side of the first housing part and between interfaces for connecting signal connections and interfaces for connecting supply connections.

[0011] Furthermore, a printed circuit board is provided, comprising supply connections and electrical and optical signal connections, as well as a plug-in area to which at least the signal connections are led, as well as at least the first housing part of the connector fastened to the plug-in area with a first side thereof, wherein the arrangement of the interfaces of the connector corresponds to the arrangement of the connections of the printed circuit board arranged in the plug-in area, so that the connections are in engagement with the associated interfaces of the connector.

[0012] In one embodiment, the printed circuit board has an electrical-optical translator which serves as a functional layer for connecting the optical signal connections of the printed circuit board to the associated interfaces of the connector, wherein the electrical-optical translator is arranged after assembly in an area on the printed circuit board which is located within the connector.

[0013] In one version, an optical lens is integrated into the connector, which is directly in contact with the electrical-optical translator.

[0014] Furthermore, a control unit for use in a vehicle is provided, comprising a plurality of components to be connected by means of supply or signal connections, as well as the printed circuit board.

[0015] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures of the drawing, which illustrate details of the invention, and from the claims. The individual features can be implemented individually or in combination in a variant of the invention.

[0016] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 to 3 each show a plan view of a first side of a first housing part of a connector according to different embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 each show a plan view of a basic structure of a connector and the connection to a printed circuit board according to different embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 each show a sectional view of a basic structure of a first housing part of a connector and the connection to a printed circuit board according to different embodiments of the present invention.

[0017] In the following descriptions of the figures, the same elements or functions are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0018] As already mentioned at the beginning, connectors with a large number of interfaces are an important component in the automotive sector. Currently, more and more data is required to control and monitor a vehicle, and data rates are also becoming ever higher, but the available space is limited. Due to the use of electrical cables, particularly copper, silver, or silver-plated cables, it is becoming increasingly difficult to provide the space available for the required data rates while simultaneously providing adequate shielding against interference. There is a risk of electrical and thermal interactions between the electrical cables, e.g., the pins, and other systems at the circuit board level. This can lead to significant signal attenuation and a reduction in the efficiency of component supply. Signal pins that transmit n-Gbit / s are particularly affected (e.g.,HMTD or HFM concept) with the consequence of bandwidth reduction, shielding equalization currents between the components, etc. This problem is solved by the invention described below.

[0019] Provided, similar to known connectors, is a connector 1 with a plurality of interfaces, wherein at least interfaces for signal transmission 110-112, 114, e.g., for controlling or data transmission, are provided. Electrical interfaces 110-112 are, for example, a connection of a coaxial cable, a twisted pair cable or a twisted shielded or twisted unshielded sheathed cable or a pin, preferably a combination thereof, as shown in the Fig. 1 to 3. Additionally, interfaces for supply connection 113 (i.e., for voltage / power supply) can be provided.

[0020] In contrast to the prior art, however, not only electrical interfaces 110-113 (supply / signal) are provided, but also at least one optical interface 114, which serves for signal transmission via an optical fiber. This creates a matrix connector consisting of different interfaces 110-114, in which, in addition to the already known electrical interfaces 110-113 used in conventional connectors, optical interfaces 114, also known as coupling points, are present.

[0021] The novel connector 1 can have interfaces 110-112, 114 exclusively for signal transmission, as well as interfaces for signal transmission 110-112, 114 and for the transmission of electrical energy 113, i.e. a supply connection for the current / voltage supply.

[0022] The interfaces 110-112, 114 for connecting a signal connection can be arranged in groups of similar connection types, as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. However, it can also be provided that optical interfaces 114 are arranged between groups of similar electrical interfaces 110-112, as in Fig. 3. Similar interfaces 110-112, 114 can also be arranged in a distributed and mixed manner. Furthermore, interfaces for connecting supply connections 113 can be provided, as shown in the figures. Advantageously, at least some of the optical interfaces 114 are then arranged close to the supply connections 113, since optical signal lines are not influenced or disturbed by, for example, electromagnetic radiation.

[0023] The novel connector 1 advantageously comprises two housing parts 11, 12, as in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The first housing part 11 has a first side, with which the first housing part 11 is attached to a printed circuit board 4 via the already described electrical interfaces 110-113 in a known manner. The connection of the optical interface 114 to the printed circuit board 4 will be described in more detail later with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. Thus, as in the prior art, the first housing part 11 is arranged at an edge region of the printed circuit board 4, and the interfaces 110-114 are routed to a surface of the printed circuit board 4 and contacted at a plug-in area 40 thereof. The signal lines of the components of the printed circuit board 4 and, if applicable, also the supply connections 113 are routed to this plug-in area 40 in order to be contacted with the connector 1.

[0024] The connector 1 further has a second side, which serves to connect to a first side of the second housing part 12. For this purpose, the interfaces 110-114 extend continuously to the second side. Furthermore, the second side of the first housing part 11 and the first side of the second housing part 12 are formed correspondingly (in the manner of a plug / socket) to enable a connection to be established with one another.

[0025] A plurality of lines 3 (signal-carrying and possibly current-carrying) are introduced into the second side of the second housing part 11, which are then routed further into the first housing part 11 to the first side thereof (either directly as a line or via the intermediate step of a plug / socket connection at the transition between the first and second housing parts 11, 12) in order to be contacted at the end regions thereof with the associated lines on the printed circuit board 4 (interfaces 110-113). Thus, a cable harness is introduced into the second side of the second housing part 12, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The end protruding from the first side of the first housing part 11 or the contact elements (interfaces 110-113) present there serve for fastening to corresponding contact areas of the printed circuit board 4. The first and second sides of the housing parts 11, 12 are opposite one another in one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4 (and Fig. 5 for the first housing part). However, it can also be provided that the first and second sides are arranged at an angle to each other, as in Fig. 5 for the second housing part 12.

[0026] The first and second housing parts 11, 12 are engaged with each other only after the first housing part 11 has been mounted on the circuit board 4. A variety of connection options are available for this purpose, which are known to those skilled in the art. The two-part design facilitates assembly. In one embodiment, a sealing element (not shown in the figures) is provided between the first and second housing parts to protect the interior of the connector 1 from external influences.

[0027] In one embodiment, the first and second housing parts 11, 12 can also be formed in one piece, so that only a first housing part 11 is present, on the second side of which the cable harness (the lines 3) is introduced.

[0028] In one embodiment, a shielding device 2, e.g. in the form of a shielding plate or a shielding trough, can be provided in the area of ​​the interfaces 110-114. It may be sufficient to provide the shielding device 2 only between interfaces for the supply connection 113 and an adjacent interface for connecting one or more signal connections 110-112, 114, as shown in the Fig. 1 to 5. However, groups of interfaces for connecting one or more signal connections 110-112, 114 can also be surrounded by a shielding device 2, e.g., in a trough-like manner. In principle, such a shielding device 2 can be arranged on the top side of the first side of the first housing part 11. However, it can also partially penetrate into the first housing part 11. In a further embodiment, it can extend completely through the first housing part 11, as in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The shielding device 2 can reduce so-called common mode interference or crosstalk to other data pins.

[0029] As already mentioned, the connection of the optical interface 114 to the circuit board 4 is described with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 described below. Optical cables are generally contacted via a so-called electrical-optical translator (converter) 5, i.e., an optical, physical network layer that can also serve as a transceiver for receiving and transmitting data. Part of the electrical-optical translator 5 or connected to it is a converter that converts the optical signal into an electrical signal that can be processed by the associated component on the circuit board 4 or to convert an electrical signal emitted by an associated component on the circuit board 4 into an optical signal in order to achieve a fast transmission rate. The connection to the associated optical interface 114 of the connector 1 is established from the electrical-optical translator 5.Likewise, electrical, physical layers (electrical translator 6) can be provided, from which a connection to an electrical interface 110-112 of the connector 1 is established. These translators 5, 6 are currently located at a free location on the circuit board 4 and can therefore also be arranged at some distance from the connector 1, so that conductor tracks must be routed from the translator 5, 6 in / on the circuit board to the connector 1, i.e., the associated interface.

[0030] In one embodiment, the electrical-optical translator 5 is provided in the plug-in area 40 of the printed circuit board 4, so that it is arranged within the first housing part 11. This saves space on the printed circuit board 4. The electrical-optical translator 5 can be mounted on the printed circuit board 4 before the first housing part 11 is attached. However, it can also be mounted in the first housing part 11 and arranged together with the first housing part 11 on the printed circuit board 4 and connected thereto.

[0031] In one embodiment, an optical lens 50 provided in the first housing part 11 is integrated directly into the electro-optical converter 5. An optical lens 50 serves to facilitate coupling of the light signals at transfer points, e.g., from connector to connector, from converter to the optical conductor. With the help of an optical lens 50, the light beam can be specifically modified and adjusted, e.g., it can be widened or focused.

[0032] The optical interface 114 can be configured as a socket for receiving a plug-terminated end of an optical cable routed into the second housing part 12. Alternatively, an optical cable routed into the second housing part 12 can be inserted directly into the first housing part 11 and secured there, e.g., by crimping.

[0033] In Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shows a sectional view through a first housing part 11 of the connector already connected to a printed circuit board 4 (for example the one shown in Fig. 1 shown version, shown with dashed line AA). In Fig. 6 shows an embodiment in which the optical interface 114 is formed as the lowest level, so that the electrical interfaces 110-112, 113 are routed above it. In Fig.Figure 7 shows an embodiment in which the electrical interfaces 110-113 are formed as the lowest levels, so that the optical interface 114 is routed above them. In an advantageous embodiment, the electrical interfaces 110-113 are connected via pins, for example, that are pressed into corresponding openings in the circuit board 4 (a so-called press-fit method), although the invention is not limited to this type of attachment. The electrical-optical translator 5 is connected as known from the prior art, e.g., by a soldering process.

[0034] In a further embodiment, the electrical lines 3 guided in the connector 1 (at least those in the first housing part 11) can be covered with electrically conductive sleeves in order to provide protection against heat radiation.

[0035] The combination of electrical (usually copper-based) transmission with optical solutions makes it possible to transmit high data rates with high interference immunity (>10 Gbps). Furthermore, optical interfaces enable further miniaturization at the connector level. Furthermore, a reduction in components is possible, as the use of optical systems means fewer passive electronic components need to be installed on the circuit boards. The possibility of flexibly arranging the various transmission media in the described matrix connector allows for greater freedom in the design and arrangement of the data transmission channels at the circuit board level and in the connector itself. The optical interfaces ensure galvanic isolation of the data transmission channels between two components, which is particularly advantageous for sensitive data.Sensitive data can be transmitted with high signal integrity via the optical interfaces directly next to the power supply pins. As already mentioned, the various interfaces 110-114 in the matrix connector can be arranged and combined, expanded, or reduced as desired. It is also possible for the individual electronic pins to be shielded individually or collectively for copper-based high-speed data transmission.

[0036] However, copper-based systems will continue to be used for data transmission, especially for lower bandwidths. This provides a hybrid connector that is tailored to the need for data transmission speed while still leveraging the advantages of electrical transmission. The intelligent use of existing interfaces in combination with optical interfaces allows for both cost containment and the transmission of high data rates when needed.

[0037] The described connector is used, for example, on circuit boards that are part of a vehicle's control unit. List of reference symbols 1 plug connector 11 First housing part 12 Second housing part 110 Interface for electrical signal connection, coaxial cable 111 Interface for electrical signal connection, twisted pair cable 112 Interface for electrical signal connection, pin 113 Interface for supply connection 114 optical interface 2 Shielding device 3 Wiring harness, signal / power lines 4 circuit board 40 plug-in area 5 electrical optical translator 50 Optical Lens 6 Electric translator

Claims

[1] Plug connector (1), comprising a first housing part (11) with a first side and a second side, wherein the first housing part (11) is designed to be connected to the first side at least to electrical and optical signal connections of a printed circuit board (4), wherein the first side of the first housing part (11) has an interface (110-112, 114) for connecting at least one electrical and at least one optical signal connection, and wherein the first housing part (11) is designed to supply at least signal-carrying lines (3) to the first side via a second side, which serve as signal connections (110-112, 114) for connection to the printed circuit board (4). [2] Connector (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a second housing part (12) which is connectable on a first side thereof to the second side of the first housing part (11) and which serves on a second side as an input for at least signal-carrying lines (3), wherein the interfaces of the first housing part (11) extend to its second side in order to provide a connection to the signal-carrying lines (3) of the second housing part (12). [3] Connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of types of electrical signal terminals (110-112) are provided. [4] Connector (1) according to claim 3, wherein electrical signal terminals (110-112) comprise at least one of an interface for connecting a coaxial cable, a twisted pair cable, a twisted shielded or twisted unshielded sheathed cable, a pin. [5] Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (1) is additionally formed such that it has at least one interface for connecting a supply connection (113). [6] Connector (1) according to claim 5, wherein at least one electrical shielding device (2) is provided in an area on the first side or continuously up to the second side of the first housing part (11) and between interfaces for connecting signal connections (110-112, 114) and interfaces for connecting supply connections (113). [7] Printed circuit board (4) comprising supply connections and electrical and optical signal connections, as well as a plug-in area (40) to which at least the signal connections are led, as well as at least the first housing part (11) of a plug-in connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, said first housing part being fastened by a first side thereof to the plug-in area (40), wherein the arrangement of the interfaces (110-114) of the plug-in connector (1) corresponds to the arrangement of the connections of the printed circuit board (4) arranged in the plug-in area (40), so that the connections are in engagement with the associated interfaces of the plug-in connector (1). [8] Printed circuit board (4) according to claim 7, comprising an electrically optical translator (5) which serves as a functional layer for connecting the optical signal connections of the printed circuit board (4) to the associated interfaces (114) of the plug connector (1), wherein the electrically optical translator (5) is arranged after assembly in an area on the printed circuit board (4) which is located inside the plug connector (1). [9] Printed circuit board (4) according to claim 8, wherein an optical lens (50) is integrated in the connector (1) and is directly contacted with the electrical optical translator (5). [10] Control device for use in a vehicle, comprising a plurality of components to be connected by means of supply or signal connections, and a printed circuit board (4) according to one of claims 7 to 9.

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