Cable card connector with one shield element

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a printed circuit board connector according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] Printed circuit board connectors are required in device connection technology. They are typically soldered to a printed circuit board (PCB) on the connection side, which is located inside the housing of an electrical device, i.e., a device enclosure. A corresponding connector housing can be installed in a wall of the device enclosure. When the device is assembled, the insulating body (contact carrier) of the PCB connector is inserted into the connector housing, but to allow for the necessary mechanical tolerance compensation between the PCB and the enclosure wall, it is not fixed to the connector housing. However, for grounding and shielding purposes, a reliable, electrically conductive ground connection between the connector housing and the PCB is necessary. This can be achieved, for example, by a shielding element. State of the art

[0003] German patent application DE 10 2010 051 954 B3 shows a circular connector designed for contacting printed circuit boards. To dampen crosstalk, an electrically conductive shielding cross, conductively connected to the circuit board, is provided. This shielding cross is surrounded by a similarly cross-shaped contact carrier, the angled inner edges of which have grooves for holding the electrical contacts. The electrically non-conductive circular body is slid over this cross-shaped assembly and is ultimately enclosed by an electrically conductive connector housing.

[0004] It is further disclosed that the insulating cylindrical body has a circumferential groove approximately midway along its length, into which a shielding spring is inserted. The shielding spring, which can be designed in particular as a coil spring, contacts, by means of slots provided in the cylindrical body, on the one hand the electrically conductive shielding cross and, on the other hand, the electrically shielding connector housing surrounding the cylindrical body. This connector housing can be installed in an electrically conductive device housing in the form of a front panel insert and connected to a mating connector supplied from the outside.

[0005] The publication DE 10 2012 105 256 A1 shows a comparable printed circuit board connector. It depicts a spring ring which evidently has a suitable contour to electrically contact both the shielding cross and a connector housing into which the insulating body is inserted.

[0006] The publication EP 0 390 929 B1 discloses a bushing with a locking mechanism, consisting of a body made of a resin material and an annular metal cover. The body has an annular groove to form a column-shaped part, which has a guide groove in its outer circumferential surface extending in its axial direction and carries a plurality of bushing contacts. The annular metal cover is inserted into the annular groove of the body along the outer circumferential surface of the groove and has at least one inwardly projecting tab. Furthermore, the annular metal cover has an engagement edge above the groove for locking purposes.

[0007] Document US 7,632,145 B1 discloses an arrangement for shielding a printed circuit board connector against high-frequency electromagnetic interference (EMI), comprising an inner housing, insertable into an inner casing, insertable into an outer casing, insertable into an outer casing. The inner casing and the outer casing are made of sheet metal, and the outer casing is made of plastic (or at least an electrically insulating material). The outer casing is made of sheet metal, has two narrow sides and two wide sides, and has punched-out and inwardly bent flexible contacts on its wide sides for contacting the inner casing.

[0008] Finally, German patent application DE 103 47 306 B4 discloses a shield connection between a printed circuit board (PCB) containing electrical and / or electronic components, which is arranged in a housing, and at least one connector socket with a cylindrical metal housing, which is located in a wall of the housing. The shield connection consists of a ring-shaped metal shield element, which has contact pins projecting from the plane of the ring on one side for mechanical and electrical connection to the PCB and spring-loaded legs projecting from the other side for contacting the socket housing. The socket housing of the connector is inserted coaxially between these contact pins and the shield element.

[0009] A significant disadvantage of this state of the art is that the tolerance between the circuit board and the housing wall is too small for some applications / device designs.

[0010] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: US 5,017,158 A and US 4,842,555 A. Task

[0011] The object of the invention is to provide a shielding element for a printed circuit board connector that enables the greatest possible tolerance compensation between a printed circuit board, on which the connector is attached at the connection side, and a housing wall of a device enclosure surrounding the printed circuit board. An electrically conductive ground connection between the printed circuit board and a connector housing integrated into the enclosure wall should be ensured across the entire tolerance range.

[0012] This problem is solved by the features of independent claim 1.

[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0014] The printed circuit board connector has at least an insulating body, a shielding element and a metallic connector housing.

[0015] The shielding element is made in one piece and is formed from a metal sheet which is bent into a hollow cylindrical shape to form a positive fit around an essentially cylindrical central part of the insulating body.

[0016] The shielding element has radially outward-projecting contact tabs for electrical contacting the preferably metallic connector housing.

[0017] The shielding element has a ground connection for contacting a ground contact of a circuit board.

[0018] The insulating body has a plug-in area adjacent to its central section and a connection area opposite it. The shielding element can be plugged onto the central section of the insulating body from the plug-in side, i.e., from the direction of the plug-in area.

[0019] It is advantageous if the diameter of the connection area is larger than the diameter of the middle section, and the diameter of the middle section is at least as large as the diameter of the plug-in area. Here, and in the following, the diameter at the widest point is of course meant.

[0020] The term "essentially cylindrical" means that the central part of the insulating body has a cylindrical basic shape, but deviates from it in some places, for example, it may be flattened for polarization / alignment of the shielding element to be placed on it, and may also have recesses and / or moldings which, for example, serve to attach the shielding element to the insulating body.

[0021] The term "essentially hollow cylindrical" implies that the shielding element is bent into a hollow cylinder in its basic form, but its shape may deviate from this in some places, for example by having contact tabs punched out of the sheet metal that protrude slightly outwards from the hollow cylinder, and / or by having window-like recesses on the edge of the hollow cylinder for interaction with features of the insulating body, that the shielding element may also be flattened for polarization / alignment on the appropriately shaped insulating body, and that the ground contact may be formed as a solder pin on the hollow cylinder and point away from it, for example to electrically contact a ground connection of the circuit board.

[0022] These deviations from the cylindrical and hollow cylindrical shapes are mentioned as examples and can be implemented in any combination or individually.

[0023] In the following, the term "electrical device" will also encompass the term "electronic device" for the sake of simplicity. The term "connector," frequently used for the sake of simplicity, will refer to a printed circuit board connector.

[0024] The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that this design increases the tolerance range between the housing wall and the circuit board. This is particularly advantageous for the manufacture of electrical / electronic devices, which thereby gain greater mechanical flexibility.

[0025] Another advantage is that the screen element itself has a shielding effect due to its essentially hollow cylindrical shape.

[0026] The first two edges of the sheet metal can be parallel to each other due to its essentially hollow cylindrical shape. A gap may exist between them, or they may butt against each other. If they are not attached to each other, the screen element is particularly flexible, which can simplify assembly. However, they can also be attached to each other, giving the screen element exceptional stability. For this mutual attachment, they can, for example, have a puzzle-piece-like shape and thus interlock, similar to the principle of a so-called "dovetail joint," where a conical tenon is typically held in a corresponding recess. This allows the first two edges of the sheet metal, which tend to butt against each other due to the hollow cylindrical shape of the screen element, to be attached to each other with minimal effort.

[0027] Advantageously, the shielding element can be fixed to the insulating body, which naturally has a positive effect on the stability and reliability of the connector. In particular, the shielding element can be fixed to the insulating body in its assembled state, i.e., when it is plugged onto the center part.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment, the shielding element can be attached to the insulating body by having several cuboid-shaped projections, known as "ribs," on the insulating body's central section adjacent to the connection area. These ribs offer the additional advantage of preventing the mounted shielding element from rotating relative to the insulating body. The ribs thus function as an anti-rotation device. To this end, the shielding element has window-like recesses on its edge adjacent to the connection area when attached, opening towards the edge to grip the ribs. Barbs for securing the attached shielding element to the insulating body are arranged on two opposing inner edges of these recesses. Therefore, the ribs also serve a retaining function, fixing the shielding element in the insertion direction.

[0029] This is particularly advantageous because it allows the shielding plate to be fixed to the insulating body even after it has been attached in the opposite direction to the insertion direction.

[0030] In principle, the ground connection of the shielding element can consist of a solder pin. This solder pin can also be stamped from sheet metal using stamping and bending techniques, thus having a flat shape, connecting directly to the hollow cylinder, and therefore being integrally connected to it. Advantageously, the insulating body has a corresponding receptacle into which the solder pin can be inserted, preferably also by friction, over a portion of its length, and / or is already inserted. Regarding the aforementioned design, the solder pin can also have barbs, preferably on both sides, which grip the edges of the insulating body's receptacle when inserted.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, the insulating body can have several locking recesses for attaching the shielding element to its central section. The shielding element then has several three-sided, inwardly projecting locking arms which, when assembled, point towards the insertion area and lock into the locking recesses of the insulating body, thereby preventing the shielding element from being pulled away from the insulating body in the insertion direction.

[0032] This variant has the advantage that the locking arms engage with the insulating body during installation. This engagement can be accompanied by an audible click. This further clarifies during installation that the shielding element is mounted to the insulating body and is thus in a clearly defined, final relative position to it. The locking arms can also be released again, for example with a screwdriver, to remove the shielding element without damage, should this be desired.

[0033] Advantageously, the umbrella element is a stamped and bent part, which can be manufactured automatically with minimal effort and low costs.

[0034] Such a connector can be used, for example, in an electrical device. The electrical device has at least a housing, a circuit board arranged within the device, and the connector in question. The insulating body of the connector is fixed to the circuit board on the connection side, for example, by one or more associated guide pins and / or by soldering electrical contacts, which are embedded in and preferably fixed within the insulating body, to the circuit board.

[0035] The connector housing is integrated into a housing wall of the device enclosure. As mentioned previously, the shielding element is mounted on the insulating body opposite the mating direction. This allows it to be advantageously designed with a particularly large surface area in the mating direction, enabling its contact tabs to electrically contact the connector housing over the widest possible mechanical tolerance range. Ultimately, the contact tabs are positioned relatively close to the housing wall and thus comparatively deep within the connector housing, significantly increasing the aforementioned tolerance range. The shielding element is electrically connected via its ground terminal to a ground contact on the circuit board, thereby establishing an electrical ground connection between the connector housing and the circuit board.

[0036] This arrangement has the advantage that the electrical device can also have somewhat larger deviations from the standard dimensions without interrupting the ground connection between the connector housing and the circuit board.

[0037] The printed circuit board connector can be assembled according to a procedure with the following steps: a. The shielding element is inserted onto the central part of the insulating body in the opposite direction to the insertion direction and secured to the insulating body. b. The insulating body, with its insertion area and central part, is then pushed into the connector housing, whereby the contact tabs make electrical contact with the connector housing.

[0038] The insulating body may be equipped with contacts that were already soldered onto a circuit board on the connection side prior to process step a. The shielding element can be soldered to a ground connection of the circuit board between process step a. and process step b.

[0039] The connector housing can be installed in a housing wall of a device housing before process step b.

[0040] The distance between the circuit board and the device housing can therefore vary within a relatively large tolerance range. Within this tolerance range, the connector housing is electrically connected to a ground connection of the circuit board via the contact tabs of the shielding element, thus diverting interference signals from the device housing to the circuit board, in particular to the aforementioned ground contact of the circuit board. Example of implementation

[0041] An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below. The drawings show: Fig. 1a, the shielding element in an oblique view and a rear view; Fig. 2a - the insulating body in four different views; Fig. 3 the insulating body with the shielding element fixed to it; Fig. 4a - the insertion of the plug-in area of ​​the insulating body into the connector housing from two different views; Fig. 5 the insulating body inserted into the connector housing in cross-section; Fig. 6 the shielding element with various solder pins; Fig. 7a - a shielding element and an insulating body in an alternative design.

[0042] The figures contain simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for elements that are the same but may not be identical. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently.

[0043] The Fig. 1a Figure 1 shows a screen element 1 in an oblique view. The screen element 1 is made in one piece and is formed from a metal sheet 11, which is essentially bent into a hollow cylindrical shape. The first edges 111, 112 of the sheet, which abut each other, are fastened to one another by their puzzle-piece-like shape (similar to the "dovetail principle").

[0044] The shielding element 1 has radially outwardly projecting contact tabs 12 for electrical contacting a connector housing 3.

[0045] The shielding element 1 also has two freestanding second edges 113, 114. On the first of these two second edges 113, the shielding element 1 has a solder pin 16 as a ground connection for contacting a ground contact of a circuit board 5. In the variant shown here, the solder pin 16 tapers towards its end in order to be inserted through a through-hole in the circuit board 5 and soldered to it. Alternatively, in the Fig. 6 Other variants of the solder pin 16',16" are also shown. In the area of ​​the flat solder pin 16, the otherwise essentially hollow cylindrical sheet 11 has a flattened area 13 to ensure the correct orientation of the shielding element 1 on the insulating body 2.

[0046] Furthermore, the shielding element 1 has rectangular, window-like recesses 14 on this first free edge 113, open towards the edge 113, as anti-rotation protection. Barbs 143 are arranged on two opposing inner edges of these window-like recesses 14 for fixing the shielding element 1 to the insulating body 2. The solder pin 16 also has such barbs 163 on both sides for fixing it to the insulating body 2.

[0047] The Fig. 1b Figure 1 shows the screen element 1 from the rear. In this illustration, the flattened area 13 is particularly easy to see.

[0048] Thus, the ribs 224 also have a holding function, fixing the umbrella element 1 in the insertion direction as well.

[0049] The Fig. 2a - dFigure 1 shows the corresponding insulating body 2 from different views. In this case, the insulating body 2 has a female connector face, characterized by having socket contact openings 211 for receiving socket contacts (not shown). However, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it could just as easily be a male connector face, designed for receiving pin contacts.

[0050] The insulating body 2 shown here therefore has a female plug-in area 21, a substantially cylindrical middle section 22 and a connection area 23. Adjacent to the connection area 23, approximately rectangular ribs 224 are formed on the surface of the middle section 22 in cross-section, neglecting the cylindrical curvature of the surface, and these ribs can be inserted into the window-like recesses 14 of the shielding element 1 as anti-rotation protection.

[0051] For alignment and possibly also for fastening to a circuit board, the insulating body has 2 guide pins 25, 25' for the horizontal and vertical alignment of the insulating body 2 on the circuit board.

[0052] On its side facing the circuit board in its horizontal orientation, the connection area 23 has a receptacle 26 between the two associated guide pins 25, 25' for receiving at least a portion of the solder pin 16. Adjoining this, the insulating body 2 has a flattened section 223 on its central part 22.

[0053] The Fig. 3Figure 1 shows the insulating body 2 with the attached shielding element 1. It is readily apparent that the shielding element 1 was inserted against the direction of insertion via the plug-in area 21 onto the central part 22, which is not labeled in this illustration for clarity. It is advantageous that the plug-in area 21 has a smaller diameter than the central part 22, and the central part 22 has a smaller diameter than the connection area 23. The diameter is, of course, to be determined at the widest point of the respective area / part 21, 22, 23.

[0054] The window-like recesses 14 of the shielding element 1 encompass the ribs 224 of the insulating body 2 and interlock with their barbs 143 on both sides of the ribs 224. This fixes the shielding plate 1 to the insulating body 2. The window-like recesses 14 engage the ribs 224 at least forcefully with their barbs 143. The ribs 224 and the window-like recesses 14 also act as anti-rotation protection.

[0055] The flattened area 13 of the shielding element 1 and the flattened section 223 of the insulating body 2 lie on top of each other and act together as a polarization element, i.e. they prevent insertion in the wrong orientation.

[0056] The contact pin 16 is partially arranged in the receptacle 26 and protrudes with its unspecified end beyond the connection area 23 of the insulating body 2 in order to be inserted through a through hole of the circuit board 5 and soldered to a corresponding ground contact of the circuit board 5.

[0057] In the Fig. 4a - d The insulating body 2 is already attached to the circuit board 5 and fitted with the shielding element 1. The connector housing 3 is a panel-mount housing that is installed in a housing wall 4 of an electrical device. The circuit board 5 and the housing wall 4 are only shown in partial view.

[0058] It goes without saying that it may actually be a larger circuit board 5 located inside a housing of the electrical device, and that the housing wall 4 is part of the housing.

[0059] In two phases each, in Fig. 4a and b as in Fig. 4c and d The figures show from two different perspectives how the insulating body 2 with its insertion area 21 is inserted into the connector housing 3 without being attached to it. In device manufacturing, this allows for a certain tolerance between the housing wall 4 and the circuit board 5.

[0060] It is readily apparent that the essentially cylindrical shielding plate 1, which surrounds the insulating body 2 and has long contact tabs 12 made possible by this design, allows for a very large tolerance range of the geometric distance between the connector housing 3 and the shielding element 1, and thus also the ground connection of the circuit board 5. Within this tolerance range, the ground connection between the connector housing 3, and thus the metallic housing wall 4 of the metallic device housing, on the one hand, and the ground connection of the circuit board 5, on the other hand, is ensured.

[0061] The Fig. 5This is illustrated in a cross-sectional view. The insulating body 2 is visible in the center, and, as shown in the drawing above, its insertion area 21 is inserted into the connector housing 3. Its central section 22 is enclosed by the essentially hollow cylindrical shielding element 1, whose contact tabs 12 make electrical contact with the connector housing 3.

[0062] It is readily apparent that an increase in the distance between the circuit board 5 and the housing wall 4 could take place over a relatively large tolerance range without the electrical contact between the contact tab 12 shown and the connector housing 3 breaking down.

[0063] The Fig. 6a to c shows various possible designs of the contact pin 16, 16', 16".

[0064] In the Fig. 6a The shielding element 1 is shown with the through-connection already described.

[0065] The Fig. 6b The shielding element 1 shows the contact pin 16, which is designed for use in SMD / SMT technology.

[0066] The Fig. 6c shows a shielding element 1 with a contact pin 16 in an angled version for horizontal mounting of the insulating body 2 on the circuit board 5.

[0067] In the Fig. 7a - e An alternative embodiment for fixing the shielding element 1' to the insulating body 2' is shown.

[0068] The alternative screen element 1' is in the Fig. 7a The version shown, in comparison to the aforementioned variant 1, does not have window-like recesses 14 on its first freestanding edge 113. Instead, it has several, in this case two, three-sided freestanding, inwardly projecting locking arms 18 pointing towards the second freestanding edge 114 as fastening means.

[0069] The alternative insulating body 2' is in the Fig. 7b - dThe design is shown and modified compared to the aforementioned variant 2 in that its central part 22' does not have ribs 224. Instead, several, in this case two, locking recesses 28 for receiving the locking arms 18 are arranged in the central part 22'.

[0070] In the Fig. 7e Finally, it is shown how the alternative shielding element 1' locks onto the alternative insulating body 2' by the locking arms 18 locking into the locking recesses 28.

[0071] Even though the figures show various aspects or features of the invention in combination, it is apparent to the person skilled in the art – unless otherwise stated – that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or sets of features from different embodiments can be interchanged. Reference symbol list

[0072] 1, 1'Shield element 11hollow cylindrical bent sheet metal 111,112first edges of the sheet metal 113,114second, freestanding edges of the sheet metal 12Contact tabs 13flattened area 14window-like recesses 143, 163barb 16,16',16"solder pin, ground connection 18Locking arms 2, 2'Insulating body 21Plug area 211Socket contact opening 22, 22'Center section 223Flattened section 224Ribs 23Connection area 25, 25'Guide pin 26Receptacle 28Locking recesses 3Connector housing, mounting housing 4Housing wall 5Circuit board

Claims

1. A circuit board connector, comprising at least one insulating body (2,2') for fastening on a circuit board (5), a shielding element (1,1') and a metallic connector housing (3) for installation in a housing wall (4), • wherein the shielding element (1,1') is designed as a single piece and is formed from a metallic sheet (11) which is bent in a substantially hollow-cylindrical manner for positively engaging around a substantially cylindrical middle part (22,22') of the insulating body (2,2'); • wherein the shielding element (1,1') has radially outwardly projecting contact tabs (12) for electrical contacting of the connector housing (3); • wherein the shielding element (1,1') has a ground connection (16,16',16") for contacting a ground contact of a circuit board (5); • wherein the insulating body (2,2') has a mating region (21) adjacent to its middle part (22,22') and a connection region (23) on the opposite side; • wherein the shielding element (1,1') is fitted onto the middle part (22, 22') of the insulating body (2,2') from the mating side, i.e. from the direction of the mating region (21); • wherein the insulating body (2) with its mating region (21) dips into the connector housing (3) without being fastened thereto, in order thereby to allow tolerances between the housing wall (4) and the circuit board (5) and at the same time to establish a reliable electrically conductive ground connection between the connector housing (3) and the circuit board (5) by means of the shielding element (1).

2. The circuit board connector according to claim 1, wherein a gap exists between two first edges (111,112) of the substantially hollow-cylindrically bent sheet (11) or the first edges (111,112) abut against one another in an unfastened manner.

3. The circuit board connector according to claim 1, wherein two first edges (111,112) of the substantially hollow-cylindrically bent sheet (11) are fastened to one another.

4. The circuit board connector according to claim 3, wherein the two first edges (111,112) of the substantially hollow-cylindrically bent sheet (11) abutting against one another have a puzzle-piece-like shape for their mutual fastening.

5. The circuit board connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of the connection region (23) is greater than the diameter of the middle part (22,22') and wherein the diameter of the middle part (22,22') is at least as large as the diameter of the mating region (21).

6. The circuit board connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shielding element (1,1') is fixable on the insulating body (2,2').

7. The circuit board connector according to claim 6, wherein the insulating body (2) has on its middle part (22) adjacent to the connection region (23) a plurality of cuboidal formations, namely so-called "ribs" (224), wherein the shielding element (1) has window-like recesses (14) which are open towards its free-standing edge (113) adjacent to the connection region (23) in the fitted state for engaging around these ribs (224), wherein the shielding element (1) has barbs (143) on two mutually opposite inner edges of these window-like recesses (14) for fixing the fitted shielding element (1) on the insulating body (2).

8. The circuit board connector according to one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the ground connection is formed by a solder pin (16,16',16"), and wherein the solder pin (16,16',16") has at least one barb (163) with which it is fixed in a receptacle (26) of the insulating body (2).

9. The circuit board connector according to claim 6, wherein the insulating body (2') has on its middle part (22') a plurality of latching recesses (28) and wherein the shielding element (1') has for this purpose a plurality of inwardly projecting latching arms (18) which are free-standing on three sides and which in the assembled state are latched in the latching recesses (28) pointing in the direction of the mating region (21) and thereby prevent removal of the shielding element (1') from the insulating body (2') in the mating direction.

10. The circuit board connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shielding element (1,1') is a stamped and bent part.

11. An electrical device, comprising a device housing, a circuit board (5) arranged in the device housing and a connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating body (2,2') of the connector is fixed on the connection side on the circuit board (5) and wherein the connector housing (3) is installed in a housing wall (4) of the device housing, wherein the shielding element (1,1') is mounted on the insulating body (2,2') counter to the mating direction in order to electrically contact the connector housing (3) with its contact tabs (12) over a mechanical tolerance range and wherein the shielding element (1,1') is electrically conductively connected with its ground connection (16,16',16") to a ground contact of the circuit board (5) in order to establish an electrical ground connection between the connector housing (3) and the circuit board (5).

12. A method for assembling the circuit board connector according to one of claims 1 to 10 with the following steps: a. the shielding element (1,1') is fitted onto the middle part (22,22') of the insulating body (2,2') counter to the mating direction and fixed on the insulating body (2,2'); b. the insulating body (2,2') is pushed with its mating region (21) and its middle part (22,22') into the connector housing (3), wherein the contact tabs (12) of the shielding element (1,1') electrically contact the connector housing (3).

13. The method for assembling the circuit board connector according to claim 12, wherein the insulating body (2,2') is soldered before method step b. with contacts located in the insulating body (2,2') on the connection side to connections of the circuit board (5), wherein the connector housing (3) is installed before method step b. in a housing wall (4) of a device housing and wherein the shielding element (1,1') is soldered between method step a. and method step b. with its solder pin (16,16',16") to a ground connection of the circuit board (5).