Ethernet connector for a motor vehicle and connector arrangement with one Ethernet connector

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an Ethernet connector for a motor vehicle and a connector assembly with an Ethernet connector. State of the art

[0002] Electrical connectors are known from the state of the art, e.g. for automotive applications, which can be plugged together with complementary mating connectors to form a connector arrangement.

[0003] With increasing sensor equipment and on the path to autonomous driving, it is becoming necessary to process an ever-growing amount of information. To manage this data volume, the use of Ethernet interfaces and Ethernet cables is being considered in the automotive sector. These should enable a sufficiently high data transmission rate, among other things, using so-called Ethernet protocols. Conventional Ethernet connectors, so-called RJ45 connectors, are known from the state of the art. DE 10 2012 111 125 B4 describes such an RJ45 Ethernet connector.

[0004] From DE 693 11 185 T2 a connector according to the preamble of claim 1 with outwardly bent contact blades of a shielding plate is known.

[0005] From GB 2 104 312 A another connector with contact blades of a shielding plate is known, wherein the contact blades are bent inwards. Registered office: Stuttgart, Register court: Stuttgart District Court, HRB 14000; Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Prof. Dr. Stefan Asenkerschbaumer; Management: Dr. Stefan Hartung, Dr. Christian Fischer, Filiz Albrecht, Dr. Markus Hevn, Dr. Markus Forschner, Rolf Naiork Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The invention is based on the realization that in the automotive sector very high demands exist with regard to the longevity of components (e.g. connectors and interfaces) and with regard to safety against short circuits, loose contacts or interruptions in signal transmission. In autonomous driving in particular, it is essential to avoid safety-relevant information, e.g. from cameras or sensors, not being able to be processed due to a loose contact. These safety requirements must be met over a service life of, for example, at least 10 or even at least 15 years and for all possible external climatic factors such as temperature, humidity, air pressure or similar. However, they must also apply to all possible operating conditions, e.g. when driving over gravel roads, through potholes, at high acceleration rates or rotation rates.

[0007] At the same time, the number of sensors and the data exchange between different control units are constantly increasing the length of cables required in motor vehicles, making it desirable to reduce the number of cables and the overall cable length. Due to the large number of connectors that must be connected to a control unit, the dimensions of the Ethernet connectors should also be kept as small as possible. Finally, good shielding is also required at the transition from the Ethernet connector to the mating connector to minimize or even eliminate corruption of the transmitted signals.

[0008] It has been shown that conventional RJ45 Ethernet connectors cannot adequately meet these safety requirements. Due to their geometry with respect to the mating connector, and also due to the insulation displacement connection between the connector housing and the cables typically used in RJ45 connectors, they are not sufficiently stable against loose contacts and, for example, against strong vibration. They are also quite wide, require fairly rigid cables with eight conductors, and are also not adequately shielded. This makes them fundamentally unsuitable for use in motor vehicles.

[0009] There may therefore be a need to provide an Ethernet connector for vehicles that can withstand climatic conditions and operational stresses over its entire service life (at least 10 years or even at least 15 years), both in terms of the connection of the cables in the connector and at the transition from the connector to the mating connector. At the same time, its dimensions should be compact and it should enable the transmission of high data rates with as few cables as possible. In addition, it should provide very good shielding, even at the transition to the mating connector. The Ethernet connector should also be robust during handling, ensuring that no functional elements are damaged during transport or assembly. Finally, it is desirable for the Ethernet connector for vehicles to be plugged onto or plugged into a mating connector designed as a standard interface.with which it can be plugged together. An example of such a standard interface is the BOSCH Microflex interface ("Miniaturized Flexible Interface Family based on 0.5 mm standardized contact pins", details of which are available on the registration date, for example, at . http: / / bosch-open-interfaces.de / de / home / ). Advantages of the invention

[0010] This need can be met by the subject matter of the present invention according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, an Ethernet connector according to claim 1 for a motor vehicle is proposed for mating with a mating connector along a mating direction. The Ethernet connector has a connector housing with at least two contact chambers and a shielding plate. A contact element is arranged in each contact chamber. A mating contact element can be plugged into each contact element, wherein a line is attached to each contact element at its rear end with respect to the mating direction, i.e. is electrically and mechanically connected, e.g. by a crimp connection. The lines attached to the contact element are combined to form an Ethernet cable in a section rear with respect to the mating direction and are surrounded by a shielding conductor. The shielding plate predominantly surrounds the connector housing.The shielding plate has a connecting means with which it is electrically connected to the shielding conductor of the Ethernet cable. At least one contact blade for contacting a shielding mating contact element is arranged on a front section of the shielding plate with respect to the insertion direction. The at least one contact blade is bent into the space enclosed by the shielding plate in such a way that the at least one contact blade is arranged at least partially between a first wall of the shielding plate and the connector housing.

[0012] This has the advantage that the Ethernet connector is particularly well shielded over its entire length, even across the connection point to the mating connector.

[0013] This also advantageously reduces the risk of damage to at least one contact blade during transport, as it protrudes only slightly or not at all beyond the outer contour of the connector housing and shield plate. This also makes the Ethernet connector particularly compact.

[0014] Another advantage is that the Ethernet connector basically requires just two contacts and therefore just two lines, over which data is transmitted at a high data rate. This means that the (Ethernet) cable connected to the Ethernet connector can be very flexible, i.e., bendable, and material is saved (shorter cable length, as fewer lines are required). It goes without saying that Ethernet connectors with, for example, four (contact) chambers and four contact elements and four connected lines are also possible. An even number of contact chambers and contact elements is preferred, although an odd number is not excluded.

[0015] The connector housing, made of an electrically insulating plastic, with its (contact) chambers and the contacts housed therein, is particularly robust, durable, and maintenance-friendly. This is because the contacts can be securely attached to the cable, for example, using a crimp connection. If a contact is damaged, it can be easily replaced. If the connector housing is damaged, it can also be easily replaced by simply removing the contacts from the (contact) chambers and inserting them into a new connector housing.

[0016] The connector housing preferably has an opening on its front side with respect to the insertion direction for each contact element to be accommodated, through which opening a counter contact element, e.g. in the form of a pin, can be inserted into the contact element.

[0017] The number of contact blades can, for example, correspond to the number of contact chambers in the connector housing. In this case, a contact blade can be arranged under each contact chamber for a contact element, for example when viewed transversely to the insertion direction. This can result in a particularly symmetrical and compact design of the connector. If more than two contact chambers are provided for contact elements, it may be sufficient to provide just one contact blade or exactly two contact blades in the Ethernet connector. Using at least two contact blades creates redundancy, which ensures shielding to the mating connector even if one shield connection fails.

[0018] The at least one contact blade is designed to (electrically) contact a shield mating contact element. Because the at least one contact blade is arranged between the first wall of the shielding plate and the connector housing, a shield mating contact element inserted between the at least one contact blade and the first wall can be electrically contacted by both the at least one contact blade and the first wall. This results in particularly reliable and permanent electrical contact, for example, under vibration loads or thermal cycling.

[0019] The term "Ethernet connector" is to be understood here to mean that the connector is designed for data transmission and is suitable for data rates of at least 1 Gbit / s, particularly preferably at least 5 Gbit / s, and most preferably at least 10 Gbit / s. These are the requirements that must be met when using Ethernet data transmission in motor vehicles, e.g., for autonomous driving.

[0020] The term "for motor vehicles" is to be understood here to mean that the Ethernet connector, when used in a motor vehicle, is suitable for enabling a reliable, uninterrupted, and short-circuit-free connection with a mating connector under all driving and environmental conditions (e.g., temperature range -40°C to +80°C, strongly fluctuating air pressure and humidity values, acceleration effects from driving over potholes, gravel roads, etc.) and over its service life (at least 10 years or even at least 15 years). In other words, it should be suitably designed to meet the requirements common in the automotive industry for the transmission of safety-relevant signals.

[0021] The "front section" of the shielding plate can be understood as a section that makes up, for example, a maximum of 35%, preferably a maximum of 25% of the length of the shielding plate.

[0022] The connecting element provided on the shield plate can be formed, for example, by crimp tabs. Crimp tabs enable particularly cost-effective production of the shield plate and particularly simple, permanent, and secure installation of the shield plate to the shield conductor of the Ethernet cable. The connecting element can be located at the rear end of the shield plate with respect to the insertion direction. It should be noted that other connecting elements are also possible.

[0023] During manufacture of the Ethernet connector, for example, the at least one contact blade can initially protrude forward from the shielding plate (along the insertion direction) as a type of tab, e.g. from the first wall of the shielding plate. It can then be bent backwards by approximately 180° in a further production step - it then protrudes backwards with its free end opposite to the insertion direction. If the shielding plate is then mounted on the connector housing, the at least one contact blade comes to lie between the first wall and the connector housing. It is of course also possible to let the contact blade protrude laterally (perpendicular to the insertion direction) and then bend it inwards.

[0024] Preferably, the at least one contact blade in the finished Ethernet connector can be arranged for more than 70% of its length, preferably more than 90% of its length, between the first wall and a connector housing wall opposite this first wall. In other words, the contact blade protrudes only slightly beyond the outer contour of the Ethernet connector, thereby preventing damage during transport (e.g., due to snagging).

[0025] The shielding plate surrounds the connector housing on its outside, e.g., in a U-shape, i.e., in the circumferential direction (viewed around the insertion direction) by approximately 270°, or on three sides of a rectangular connector, for example. A ring-shaped enclosure of the connector housing is also conceivable, whereby the enclosure is almost 360°, exactly 360°, or even more than 360°. Depending on the design of the mating connector, it is also sufficient to surround the connector housing circumferentially on just two sides, for example, or by at least 50%, i.e., more than 180°.

[0026] A further development provides that the at least one contact blade is bent into the space enclosed by the shielding plate in such a way that a shielding mating contact element, which can be inserted from the mating connector into the Ethernet connector between the at least one contact blade and the first wall of the shielding plate, is electrically contacted by the at least one contact blade. This advantageously creates a particularly secure two-sided electrical and mechanical contact, which ensures the shielding is maintained even under vibration and shaking loads.

[0027] A further development provides that the at least one contact blade has a stamped contact point, wherein the first wall of the shielding plate has a stamped further contact point, which is opposite the contact point of the contact blade when viewed transversely to the insertion direction (E). This advantageously ensures particularly safe and reliable electrical contact at a defined point.

[0028] A further development provides for the at least one contact plate to be formed integrally with the shielding plate. This advantageously allows the shielding plate to be manufactured particularly easily and cost-effectively, and no additional contact resistances need to be considered.

[0029] Alternatively, the shielding plate can be provided as a stamped and bent part. This advantageously ensures particularly simple and cost-effective production.

[0030] A further development involves twisting the wires in the Ethernet cable around each other. This advantageously allows external interference to be balanced out. For example, identical signals can be transmitted on two wires each with a 180° phase shift. This 180° phase shift allows external interference to be further balanced out.

[0031] A further development provides that the contact chambers each have a contact chamber undercut, with the contact elements each having a contact element locking lance, so that the contact elements inserted into the contact chamber can lock into the contact chamber undercut with the contact element locking lance. This simplifies the assembly of the contact elements in the connector housing and securely holds the contact elements in the connector housing.

[0032] Alternatively, the contact chambers can each have a contact chamber locking lance, with the contact elements each having a contact element undercut so that the contact elements inserted into the contact chambers can lock into the contact chamber with the contact element undercut on the contact chamber locking lance. This simplifies the assembly of the contact elements in the connector housing and ensures that the contact elements are securely held in the connector housing.

[0033] It goes without saying that for additional securing of the contact elements in the connector housing, a further locking element, a so-called secondary locking element, can also be provided. This can, for example, be pushed through the connector housing transversely to the insertion direction and engage behind an undercut in the contact element, so that displacement of the contact element counter to the insertion direction, i.e., out of the contact chamber, is no longer possible. In this case, the contact element locking lance or the contact chamber locking lance serves as the primary locking or primary latching mechanism and is mechanically relieved by the secondary locking element.

[0034] A further development provides for the Ethernet connector to be configured to be mated with a mating connector in the form of a standard interface. The standard interface can be, for example, a Bosch Microflex interface. This advantageously creates an Ethernet connector that is particularly easy to replace and thus cost-effective to manufacture.

[0035] The BOSCH Microflex interface provides, for example, two-row mating connectors with, for example, 12, 16, 19, 26, 29, 36, 45 or 52 mating contact elements in the form of (contact) pins. These pins have, for example, a rectangular cross-section of 0.5 mm x 0.4 mm. Between the two rows, a distance of 1.5 mm can be provided (pin center to pin center). Within the row, a distance of 1.8 mm can be provided (pin center to pin center). Furthermore, a four-row design with, for example, 26, 32, 41, 52, 61, 72, 93 or 104 mating contact elements can be provided.

[0036] It goes without saying that other standard interfaces, in particular those with a high number of poles or multiple poles (more than 10 mating contact elements), can also be used.

[0037] According to a second aspect of the invention, a connector assembly is proposed. The connector assembly comprises a mating connector with at least two mating contact elements and at least one shielding mating contact element, as well as an Ethernet connector as described above. It is provided that the Ethernet connector can be plugged together with the mating connector.

[0038] This advantageously ensures that the shielding of the data lines can be guaranteed over the entire route, even within the interface, even when an Ethernet cable is connected to a component or interface, thus preventing any corruption of the data signals.

[0039] A further development provides that the at least two mating contact elements and the at least one shielding mating contact element are identically designed. This enables particularly simple production of the mating connector. Furthermore, one and the same mating connector can be used for different purposes. In other applications, the shielding mating contact element can be used with a different functionality, e.g., for powering a connected component or for data transmission.

[0040] It is possible that the at least two mating contact elements and the at least one shielding mating contact element have a rectangular cross-section or even a square cross-section.

[0041] A further development provides that the mating connector is designed in the form of a standard interface, wherein the standard interface is in particular a BOSCH Microflex interface, which is in particular designed with two or four rows. This advantageously creates a connector arrangement that is particularly easy to replace and thus cost-effective to manufacture. Drawings

[0042] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of exemplary embodiments, which, however, are not to be construed as limiting the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] It shows Fig. 1a: a perspective view of an Ethernet connector; Fig. 1b: a perspective view of the shield plate of the Ethernet connector from Fig. 1a before mounting on the connector housing; Fig. 2: a perspective, partially sectioned view of a connector assembly with an Ethernet connector made of Fig. 1a .

[0044] Figur 1a shows an example of a perspective view of an Ethernet connector 1 for a motor vehicle for plugging together along a plug-in direction E with a mating connector 100 (see Fig. 2 ). The Ethernet connector 1 has: a connector housing 2 with two contact chambers 3a, 3b and a shielding plate 20. A contact element 4a, 4b is arranged in each contact chamber 3a, 3b, wherein a mating contact element 60a, 60b can be inserted into each contact element 4a, 4b. A line 30a, 30b is attached to each contact element 4a, 4b at its rear end with respect to the insertion direction E. The two lines 30a, 30b attached to the contact element 4a, 4b are combined in a rear section with respect to the insertion direction E to form an Ethernet cable 65 and are surrounded by a shielding conductor 62, which can be designed, for example, as a braided shield. The lines 30a, 30b run twisted around one another in the Ethernet cable 65 in order to improve the signal quality.

[0045] The shielding plate 20 surrounds the connector housing 2 along a circumferential direction U around the insertion direction E for the most part, in Fig. 1a on three sides in a U-shape. The shielding plate 20 has a connecting means 21 in the form of crimp tabs, with which it is electrically connected to the shielding conductor 62 of the Ethernet cable 65. A further connecting means 22, here designed as a pair of crimp tabs, is arranged at the end of the shielding plate 20 and serves to fasten the shielding plate 20 to an insulation 63 of the Ethernet cable 65. Alternatively or additionally, the further connecting means can also be fastened to a single-wire seal 70 (see Figur 2 ).

[0046] The shielding plate is attached here, for example, with four tabs 40 to the upper side of the connector housing 2 in the figure. First, the connector housing 2 is arranged in the space 24 enclosed by the shielding plate, i.e., placed in the hollow space of the U-shape, with the four tabs 40 projecting upwards (see Fig. 1b ). The four tabs 40 are then bent inwards around the connector housing, thus securely fixing the shielding plate 20 to the connector housing 2.

[0047] The contact chambers 3a, 3b each have a contact chamber undercut 5a, 5b. The contact elements 4a, 4b each have a contact element locking lance 6a, 6b (see also Fig. 2 ), so that the contact elements 4a, 4b inserted into the contact chamber 3a, 3b engage with the contact element locking lance 6a, 6b on the contact chamber undercut 5a, 5b in the contact chamber 3a, 3b. In principle, another embodiment is also conceivable (not shown here), in which the contact chambers 3a, 3b each have a contact chamber locking lance, wherein the contact elements 4a, 4b each have a contact element undercut, so that the contact elements 4a, 4b inserted into the contact chambers 3a, 3b can engage with the contact element undercut on the contact chamber locking lance in the contact chamber 3a, 3b.

[0048] In addition, the connector housing 2 has a connector housing secondary locking recess 7, and the shield plate 20 has a shield plate secondary locking recess 26, which are aligned with one another. When the Ethernet connector 1 is connected to the mating connector 100, a secondary locking element can be inserted into this recess transversely to the insertion direction E. This prevents the Ethernet connector 1 and the contact elements 4a, 4b arranged therein from being removed from the mating connector 100 in a direction opposite to the insertion direction E.

[0049] In the present embodiment, two contact blades 25a, 25b for contacting a shield counter-contact element 61a, 61b are arranged on a front section 23 of the shielding plate 20 with respect to the insertion direction E (in Fig. 1a only a small part of the contact lamella 25b can be seen).

[0050] Fig. 1b shows a perspective, partially sectioned view of the shield plate 20 of the Ethernet connector from Fig. 1a before the shielding plate 20 is fixed to the connector housing 2. Here, the two contact blades 25a, 25b are clearly visible. Both contact blades 25a, 25b are bent into the space 24 enclosed by the shielding plate 20 in such a way that the at least one contact blade 25a, 25b is arranged at least in sections between a first wall 27 of the shielding plate 20 and the connector housing 2 (see also Figs. 1a and 2 ).

[0051] The two contact blades 25a, 25b are bent into the space 24 enclosed by the shielding plate 20 in such a way that a shielding mating contact element 61a, 61b inserted from the mating connector 100 into the Ethernet connector 1 between one of the contact blades 25a, 25b and the first wall 27 of the shielding plate 20 is electrically contacted by the respective contact blade 25a, 25b.

[0052] In Fig. 1b It can be clearly seen that the at least one contact blade 25a, 25b has an embossed contact point 28a, 28b and that the first wall 27 of the shielding plate 20 also has an embossed further contact point 29a, 29b, which is opposite the contact point 28a, 28b of the contact blade 25a, 25b when viewed transversely to the insertion direction E. A shielding counter-contact element 61a, 61b inserted between one of the contact blades 25a, 25b and the first wall 27 is thus electrically contacted from two sides at a defined point.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the two contact blades 25a, 25b are formed integrally with the shielding plate 20. The shielding plate 20 is formed as a stamped and bent part.

[0054] Fig. 2 shows a perspective, partially sectioned view of a connector assembly 200 with an Ethernet connector 1 from Fig. 1a .

[0055] The connector assembly 200 comprises a mating connector 100 configured as a standard interface 101, here merely as an example a four-row BOSCH Microflex interface 102. The mating connector 100 comprises or contains a plurality of two mating contact elements 60a, 60b and two shielding mating contact elements 61a, 61b. The connector assembly 200 further comprises one or more Ethernet connector ties 1, as shown in Fig. 1a are shown. The majority of the Ethernet connectors 1 are plugged together with the mating connector 100. In principle, a connector arrangement 200 (not shown here) is also conceivable that has only a single Ethernet connector 1.

[0056] In the presentation of the Figur 2For the Ethernet connector 1 facing the viewer, the connector housing 2 is intentionally not shown in order to make the design of the shielding plate 20 clearer. If it were shown, the connector housing 2 would be arranged above the rearwardly bent contact blades 25a, 25b. This can be seen in the Ethernet connectors 1 shown further back in the image plane.

[0057] The mating contact elements 60a, 60b and the shielding mating contact elements 61a, 61b are all identically designed, here as exemplary contact pins with a rectangular cross-section.

[0058] In the exemplary embodiment, the Ethernet cables 65 are surrounded in a ring-shaped manner by an individual cable seal 70, which is intended to prevent the penetration of moisture and dirt into the interior of the connector arrangement 200.

[0059] The contact elements 4a, 4b are made from sheet metal as stamped and bent parts. The leads 30a, 30b have an electrically conductive core 31a, 31b surrounded by insulation 32a, 32b. The contact elements 4a, 4b are each attached to the insulation 32a, 32b with an insulating crimp and electrically connected to the electrically conductive core 31a, 31b with a cable crimp.

[0060] After plugging the majority of Ethernet connectors 1 onto the mating connector 100, 101, 102, the contact elements 4a, 4b and the connector housings 2 of the Ethernet connectors 1 can be captively secured in the mating connector 100 by inserting a secondary locking element (not shown here) transversely to the insertion direction E through the connector housing secondary locking recesses 7.

Claims

1. Ethernet connector for a motor vehicle, for plug-connection to a mating connector along an insertion direction (E), the Ethernet connector (1) comprising: - a connector housing (2) having at least two contact chambers (3a, 3b); - a shield plate (20); - an Ethernet cable (65) with wires (30a, 30b) and a shield conductor (62); wherein a contact element (4a, 4b) is arranged in each contact chamber (3a, 3b); wherein a mating contact element (60a, 60b) can be inserted into each contact element (4a, 4b); wherein a wire (30a, 30b) is attached to each contact element (4a, 4b) at its rear end with respect to the insertion direction (E); wherein the wires (30a, 30b), which are attached to the contact element (4a, 4b), are combined to form the Ethernet cable (65) in a section at the rear with respect to the insertion direction (E) and are surrounded by the shield conductor (62); wherein the shield plate (20) surrounds the majority of the connector housing (2); wherein the shield plate (20) has a connecting means (21) by way of which it is electrically connected to the shield conductor (62) of the Ethernet cable (65); wherein at least one contact lamella (25a, 25b) for contacting a shield mating contact element (61a, 61b) is arranged at a section (23) of the shield plate (20) at the front with respect to the insertion direction (E), characterized in that the at least one contact lamella (25a, 25b) is bent into the space (24) enclosed by the shield plate (20) in such a way that the at least one contact lamella (25a, 25b) is arranged at least in sections between a first wall (27) of the shield plate (20) and the connector housing (2), wherein the at least one contact lamella (25a, 25b) is bent into the space (24) enclosed by the shield plate (20) in such a way that a shield mating contact element (61a, 61b) which can be inserted from the mating connector (100) into the Ethernet connector (1) between the at least one contact lamella (25a, 25b) and the first wall (27) of the shield plate (20) is electrically contacted both by the at least one contact lamella (25a, 25b) and by the first wall (27) of the shield plate (20).

2. Ethernet connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least one contact lamella (25a, 25b) has an embossed contact point (28a, 28b), wherein the first wall (27) of the shield plate (20) has an embossed further contact point (29a, 29b), which is situated opposite the contact point (28a, 28b) of the contact lamella (25a, 25b) as viewed transversely to the insertion direction (E).

3. Ethernet connector according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one contact lamella (25a, 25b) is formed in one piece with the shield plate (20), and / or wherein the shield plate (20) is a stamped and bent part.

4. Ethernet connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wires (30a, 30b) run in the Ethernet cable (65) in a manner twisted around each other.

5. Ethernet connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the contact chambers (3a, 3b) each have a contact chamber undercut (5a, 5b), wherein the contact elements (4a, 4b) each have a contact element latching lance (6a, 6b), so that the contact elements (4a, 4b), which are inserted into the contact chamber (3a, 3b), can latch to the contact chamber undercut (5a, 5b) in the contact chamber (3a, 3b) by way of the contact element latching lance (6a, 6b), or wherein the contact chambers (3a, 3b) each have a contact chamber latching lance, wherein the contact elements (4a, 4b) each have a contact element undercut, so that the contact elements (4a, 4b), which are inserted into the contact chambers (3a, 3b), can latch to the contact chamber latching lance in the contact chamber (3a, 3b) by way of the contact element undercut.

6. Ethernet connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the Ethernet connector (1) is designed to be plug-connected to a mating connector (100) in the form of a standard interface (101).

7. Connector arrangement, comprising: - a mating connector (100) having at least two mating contact elements (60a, 60b) and at least one shield mating contact element (61a, 61b); - an Ethernet connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the Ethernet connector (1) can be plug-connected to the mating connector (100).

8. Connector arrangement according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least two mating contact elements (60a, 60b) and the at least one shield mating contact element (61a, 61b) are of identical design.

9. Connector arrangement according to either of the two preceding claims, wherein the mating connector (100) is designed in the form of a standard interface (101).

10. Connector arrangement according to the preceding claim, wherein the standard interface (101) is of two-row or four-row design.