CONNECTOR MODULE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

Description

[0001] The invention is based on a connector module according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] The invention further relates to a method for producing a connector module according to claim 1.

[0003] The invention further relates to a connector modular system which has a metallic or at least partially metallic connector modular frame and at least one connector module according to claim 1.

[0004] Furthermore, the invention is based on a connector comprising an at least partially metallic connector housing and a connector modular system inserted therein according to claim 9.

[0005] The invention further relates to a method for producing a modular connector system according to claim 9.

[0006] The invention also starts from a contact spring.

[0007] Connector modules can generally be used as part of modular connector systems to flexibly adapt a connector, especially a heavy-duty industrial connector, to specific requirements regarding signal and power transmission, e.g., between two electrical devices. Thus, a wide variety of signals, such as optical and / or electrical, analog and / or digital signals and / or electrical power and / or air pressure ("pneumatics"), can be transmitted via a plug-in connection as needed using flexibly combinable connector modules.

[0008] The connector modules typically each have an insulating body. These insulating bodies can be essentially cuboid-shaped and thus have two opposing end faces and, perpendicular to them, two opposing side faces, with the end faces each having a width that is less than the width of the two side faces. For fastening in the connector modular frame, each connector module advantageously has a projection on each of its two end faces, for example, a fastening lug. This projection can also be essentially cuboid-shaped and can have a so-called "bevel" on the plug-in side, so that its plug-in corners are slightly beveled.

[0009] The two projections, in particular fastening lugs, of a module can differ from each other, for example, in their shape and / or size, in particular in their width, in order to thereby determine the orientation of each module in the holding frame. In other words, the fastening lugs, in addition to their holding function, can be used, due to their shape and / or size, as coding means, in particular also as polarization means, thus also for the orientation of the modules in the holding frame.

[0010] In certain configurations, an insulating body of a connector module can be designed in two parts, consisting of a contact carrier and a retaining plate. This allows it to accommodate plug contacts in the contact chambers of the contact carrier and, by snapping the retaining plate onto the contact carrier, secure them therein to absorb insertion and withdrawal forces.

[0011] An insulating body can also be constructed as a single piece and used to lock plug contacts arranged in continuous contact chambers, for example, by means of locking arms extending into the contact chambers. In the latter case, a special tool may be required to remove the contacts from the insulating body and release them from the locking arms.

[0012] The plug contacts of different connector modules can be of a wide variety of types, depending on the different functions of the respective connector modules, as already mentioned. The function of a connector formed in this way is therefore also very flexible. For example, pneumatic modules, optical modules, modules for transmitting electrical energy and / or electrical analog and / or digital signals can be accommodated in the respective insulating body or housing and thus be used in the modular connector system. Connector modules are increasingly also performing measurement and data technology tasks and are therefore particularly sensitive to interference, especially electrical and / or magnetic interference fields and stray interference.

[0013] To hold several modules in one, for example, metal connector housing, such as a heavy-duty connector housing, metal connector modular frames can be used. For this purpose, the desired connector modules are inserted into matching connector modular frames, which are sometimes also referred to as holding frames, articulated frames, module frames, or modular frames. The connector modular frames thus serve to accommodate several similar and / or different connector modules and securely fasten them to a surface and / or a device wall and / or in a connector housing or similar.

[0014] The connector modular frames used to accommodate and hold the connector modules are available in various designs and, depending on the application, can be made of various materials, such as plastic or metal, particularly zinc and / or aluminum alloys, and can be manufactured, for example, by die-casting. The designs of connector modular frames are diverse.

[0015] A metallic connector modular frame can, for example, be designed as an articulated frame and be formed from two frame halves that can be pivoted relative to one another and are connected to one another in an articulated manner.

[0016] The side panels of the two frame halves then each contain recesses designed as fully closed openings, namely so-called "windows," into which the fastening lugs engage with a positive fit when the connector modules are inserted into the connector modular frame. To insert the connector modules, the connector modular frame is unfolded, i.e., opened, with the frame halves being unfolded around the joints at least far enough for the connector modules to be inserted. The frame halves are then clipped together, i.e., the connector modular frame is closed, with the retaining means moving into the recesses, ensuring a secure, positive fit for the connector modules in the connector modular frame. To facilitate the insertion of the connector modules, a locking mechanism can be provided between the two frame halves.

[0017] However, connector modular frames with rigid base frames can also be used, for example. These frames do not have windows in their side panels, but only have webs on their cable connection-side edges. Cutouts are formed between the webs for inserting the fastening lugs of the connector modules on the cable connection side. For polarization, the different widths of these cutouts on the two side panels of the connector modular frame can correspond to the different widths of the fastening lugs of each module, so that the modules can only be accommodated with their fastening lugs correctly oriented between the webs of each side panel. Such a base frame can preferably be manufactured using a die-casting process, e.g., zinc die-casting or aluminum die-casting.

[0018] In older designs, the connector modules can, in addition to their fastening lugs on their narrow sides, also have locking arms pointing in the direction of the plug-in side with locking hooks formed on the ends, which, when inserted, additionally engage behind the connector modular frame on its plug-in edge, which is opposite the cable connection side edge.

[0019] In a generic further development of this design, the base frame can be provided with several flexible cheek parts on its long sides, e.g., stamped and bent parts made of resilient sheet metal. The cheek parts are particularly flat and have a rectangular basic shape. The cheek parts can have locking means such as locking windows or locking hooks or the like, to which the connector modules lock, e.g., with their fastening lugs when inserted. The aforementioned locking arms of the connector modules are therefore largely redundant when using such a connector modular frame, because they are no longer necessary for the actual holding function. At best, they provide additional stabilizing support and, at worst, at least in some designs, can even interfere with the removal of a connector module.

[0020] For example, two cheek pieces can be provided for each connector module, i.e., one on each long side of the base frame, or one or more cheek pieces can be used. The cheek pieces can, for example, have one or more tabs. Adjacent tabs can be formed by a slot extending into the respective cheek piece. A locking device, e.g., a locking window and / or a locking formation for locking the fastening lugs of the connector modules, can be arranged on each cheek piece and / or each tab. Such connector modular frames have the advantage that the connector modules can be individually inserted into the connector modular frame and removed therefrom with minimal effort, even automatically, e.g., by robots, by simply inserting them into the connector modular frame from one side, in simple terms, "like into a magazine."

[0021] All these metallic or at least partially metallic connector modular frames can have a ground connection, i.e. a ground connection for a separate ground cable, which is designated e.g. as PE (" P rotective E arth") connection can be provided, but inevitably also affects an existing earthing concept. Such a ground connection / earthing connection can, in one exemplary embodiment, consist of an advantageously particularly reliably fixing earthing screw, in another exemplary embodiment of an advantageously particularly conveniently operated contact spring arrangement, or also of any other cable connection device known to the person skilled in the art. State of the art

[0022] In the prior art, the said connector modular systems with such connector modules using a connector modular frame, also known as a holding frame, module frame, articulated frame or module frame, are disclosed in numerous printed documents and publications in many different variants, shown at trade fairs and are frequently used in industrial environments in the form of heavy-duty connectors. For example, they are described in the documents DE 10 2013 106 279 A1, DE 10 2012 110 907 A1, DE 10 2012 107 270A1, DE 20 2013 103 611 U1, EP 2 510 590 A1, EP 2 510 589 A1, DE 20 2011 050 643 U1, DE 296 01 998 U1, EP 1 353 412 A2, DE 10 2015 104 562 A1, EP 3 067 993 A1, EP 1 026 788 A1, EP 2 979 326 A1, EP 2 917 974 A1.

[0023] EP 0 860 906 B1 discloses a connector modular frame in the form of an articulated frame for holding connector modules and for installation in connector housings or for screwing to wall surfaces. The connector modules are inserted into the connector modular frame. The connector modules are provided with retaining means that interact with windows provided on opposite side panels of the connector modular frame. The windows consist of rectangular recesses formed as through openings closed on all sides in the side panels of the connector modular frame.

[0024] The connector modular frame, in its articulated design, consists of two frame halves connected by hinges, with the connector modular frame being separated transversely to the frame's side panels. Joints are arranged in the fastening ends of the connector modular frame so that, when the connector modular frame is screwed onto a fastening surface, the side panels align perpendicularly to the fastening surface, thereby forming a positive connection between the connector modules and the connector modular frame via the retaining means. In practice, such connector modular frames are typically manufactured using a die-casting process, particularly a zinc die-casting process.

[0025] The publication DE 10 2015 114 703 A1 discloses a further development of such a modular connector frame designed as an articulated frame. The modular connector frame disclosed therein has at least one fixing means by which the frame halves can be fixed to each other in two positions, an open position and a closed position, which significantly simplifies handling.

[0026] The publication DE 20 2013 103 611 U1 shows two extremely stable frame halves that can be screwed together using stamping and bending technology. These halves are suitable for accommodating pneumatic modules, among other things. The modular connector frame assembled in this way exhibits very low creep properties, even under high long-term mechanical loads. A disadvantage, however, is that the effort required to add or replace a connector module is extremely high.

[0027] Practice has shown that such connector modular frames require complex operation during assembly. For example, such connector modular frames must be unscrewed and / or unlocked from the connector housing as soon as even a single module is to be replaced. In the process, other connector modules, whose removal was not intended, may also fall out of the connector modular frame and then have to be reinserted before the frame halves are screwed together and / or locked together. Finally, all connector modules must be in their intended position simultaneously before the frame halves are joined in order to be permanently fixed in the connector modular frame when the frame halves are joined, which complicates assembly.

[0028] EP 1 801 927 B1 discloses a one-piece connector modular frame made of plastic material. The connector modular frame is designed as a circumferential collar and has several wall segments separated by slots on its plug-in side. Two opposing wall segments each form an insertion area for a connector module, with the wall segments having window-like openings that serve to accommodate projections formed on the narrow sides of the connector modules. Furthermore, a guide groove is provided in each wall segment. The guide groove is formed above the openings by means of an outwardly offset window web, which has an insertion bevel on the inside.In addition, the connector modules feature locking arms molded onto the narrow sides, acting toward the cable connections, and latching beneath the side collar wall, providing two independent locking mechanisms to secure the connector modules in the connector modular frame. This plastic frame has the disadvantage that it does not allow for PE protective earthing, as it does not contain any electrically conductive material.

[0029] The publication DE 10 2013 113 975 B4 discloses a connector modular frame, in particular made of die-cast zinc, for a heavy-duty connector for accommodating similar and / or different connector modules. The connector modular frame consists of a base frame with a rectangular cross-section and two opposing side parts. A cheek part made of a flexible material, in particular a spring-elastic sheet metal, is attached to each side part. When a connector module is inserted into the connector modular frame perpendicular to the frame plane, these cheek parts are initially bent outward away from the side part.

[0030] In particular, the cheek parts can have tabs with locking windows, which are suitable for locking the connector modules individually into the connector modular frame using their fastening lugs. The connector modules can thus be inserted individually and with little effort from the cable connection direction and in the plug-in direction into the connector modular frame and removed again in the opposite direction. The plugged-in connector module is held firmly and stably in the frame plane by the base frame of the connector modular frame. In their insertion direction, perpendicular to the frame plane, they can each lock between opposing cheek parts with their fastening lugs. This design has the fundamental advantage that the connector modules can be plugged in and removed individually without compromising the fastening of the other connector modules.The design also allows the connector modular frame to be made of metal and to have or be equipped with a PE contact, thus enabling the protective earthing of a metallic connector housing into which the connector modular frame is screwed, as well as, to a certain extent, an electrically and / or magnetically shielding function of the connector modules.

[0031] In principle, the prior art has the disadvantage that even when using metallic connector modular frames, the electrical shielding of individual connector modules is not always sufficient, in particular for connector modules intended for electrical signal transmission, in particular high-frequency digital electrical signal transmission.

[0032] Due to insufficient shielding, electrical signals transmitted via connector modules can be undesirably disrupted by electrical and / or magnetic fields that originate outside the respective connector module but within the connector modular frame. Such interference can be caused, for example, by an alternating current electrical power supply. Furthermore, electrical and / or magnetic fields originating outside the connector modular frame can also disrupt the aforementioned electrical signals within the connector module.

[0033] For interference-free signal transmission, EP 1 398 853 B1 proposes that a connector module comprise an electrically conductive shell housing with a plug insert in a holding body made of insulating material. The connector module is held by means of locking means in a connector modular frame, which in turn is integrated into a connector housing. Within the shell housing, an electrically conductive contact to the shielding of a signal-carrying cable is provided, so that several connector modules with independent ground potentials, as well as connector modules that transmit a power supply, pneumatics, or the like, can be arranged in the module carrier device without mutual interference.

[0034] This design has proven disadvantageous for many applications because there is no shield transfer and thus no direct potential equalization of the shield between the connector module and a mating connector module connected to it. This has proven particularly disadvantageous for high-frequency signals.

[0035] To address this problem, the German patent document DE 10 2018 108 968 A1 discloses that both plugged-in connector modules each have a shielding interface. A cable connected to each connector module on the cable connection side is connected to this shielding interface, e.g., with a braided shield. The shielding interfaces each cover a large area of one side of the connector module and can be electrically contacted with each other on the plug-in side. Both shielding interfaces are made of a metallic material with particularly good electrically conductive properties. These shielding interfaces can significantly reduce the characteristic impedance.

[0036] However, a disadvantage of this design is that the cross-section of the ground connection of the connected cable is often too small. Furthermore, this still does not ensure direct potential equalization between a metallic connector modular frame and the shielding transfer elements. The shielding known from the prior art is interrupted at least on the narrow sides of the essentially cuboid-shaped connector modules. Connector modules already available on the market cannot be retrofitted with the known shielding devices.

[0037] The publication DE 10 2020 107 725 B3 addresses this issue and aims to improve the shielding of a connector module and a modular connector system equipped with it, thereby ensuring particularly high quality of the electrical signals transmitted through the connector module. In particular, the negative influence of high-frequency electrical and / or magnetic interference fields on the signal quality of these signals is to be minimized.

[0038] To this end, the aforementioned document discloses the form-fitting surrounding of the connector module on its wide and narrow sides by a circumferential shielding element, wherein the shielding element covers more than 50% of the area of each of the wide and narrow sides. The shielding element simultaneously provides the ground connection of the metallic connector modular frame to a shielding transfer element of the connector module and thus also a ground connection to the mating connector. To achieve this, it is disclosed that the shielding element has at least one outwardly directed contact tab on at least one of its narrow side walls to establish an additional electrically conductive connection to the connector modular frame and is electrically connected to the connector modular frame via this outwardly directed contact tab.The shielding element can therefore also be circumferentially and multiply earthed and can therefore suppress the influence of external high-frequency electrical and / or magnetic interference fields particularly effectively.

[0039] A serious disadvantage of the current state of the art continues to be that the connector modules cannot be retrofitted with a shield connection - or at least not at a reasonable cost. However, depending on the respective shielding concept, a shield connection of the connector module to the connector modular frame is often only recognized as necessary subsequently, i.e., after the installation of a complex electrical system. Conversely, there is also the equally disadvantageous case in the state of the art where the customer, for certain applications, for example to avoid so-called ground loops, requires such a shield connection either during installation or later after a more detailed analysis, e.g.because of problems that arise and / or after an extension of the electrical system, but is afraid of or criticizes the effort involved in removing this shield connection from all the plug connections required for this purpose.

[0040] Finally, the shielding concept may change during the installation or expansion of the electrical system, so that the shielding connection of individual connector modules to the metal support frame may need to be retrofitted or removed as needed. The electrical system in question could, for example, be a manufacturing facility / production line or similar. The connector modules in question may be used as part of this system for electrical signal transmission, for example, for the data transmission of control, measurement, and / or status data, in connector modular systems. They are therefore particularly susceptible to electrical interference and therefore particularly dependent on a shielding and grounding concept that is as interference-free as possible.

[0041] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: DE 10 2013 113 975 B4; DE 10 2015 106 416 B3; DE 10 2020 107 725 B3; DE10 2012 107 270 A1; DE 10 2012 110 907 A1; DE 10 2013 106 279 A1; DE 10 2013 108 383 A1; DE 10 2015 104 562 A1; DE 10 2015 114 703 A1; DE 10 2016 116 926 A1; DE 10 2018 108 968 A1; DE 10 2018 122 848 A1; DE 10 2019 101 822 A1; DE 296 01 998 U1; DE 20 2011 050 643 U1; DE 20 2013 103 611 U1; EP 0 860 906 B1; EP 1 398 853 B1; EP 1 801 927 B1; EP 1 026 788 A1; EP 1 353 412 A2; EP 2 510 589 A1; EP 2 510 590 A1; EP 2 979 326 A1; EP 3 067 993 A1; CN 1 07 910 680 A and CN 2 07 559 193

[0042] Document DE102018122848A1 discloses a connector module for receiving and fixing in a connector modular frame, wherein the connector module has a substantially cuboid-shaped insulating body, wherein the connector module has two receiving openings, and wherein two elementary plugs, each of which is received and held in a respective receiving opening of the insulating body, wherein each of the two elementary plugs has at least its own shielding housing and at least one plug contact arranged in the shielding housing and wherein a contact spring is received in each contact window of the housing. Task

[0043] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a connector module which is intended for electrical signal and data transmission and which enables adaptation to a changeable earthing concept of complex electrical systems which is as easy to handle as possible and at the same time flexible.

[0044] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0045] A connector module is designed to be accommodated in a metallic, or at least partially metallic, connector modular frame and held, i.e., fixed, therein. The connector module has a substantially cuboid-shaped insulating body. This body has two parallel, opposing end faces that are substantially rectangular in shape with a length and a width, with their length each exceeding their width. The length runs in a plug-in direction, while the width is generally measured perpendicular to this plug-in direction. An outward-facing fastening lug is molded onto each end face. The two fastening lugs differ from one another in size and / or shape to ensure correct alignment ("polarization") of the connector module in the connector modular frame.

[0046] Perpendicular to the end faces, the insulating body has two parallel, opposite side faces, each of which is essentially rectangular in shape, with a length and a width. Their length runs in the direction of insertion, and their width—measured perpendicular to the direction of insertion—is greater than the width of the two end faces. Simply put, the side faces also have a basic rectangular shape, but are wider than the two end faces.

[0047] At the ends of the front and side surfaces, the insulating body has a connection area at a first end and a plug-in area at a second end opposite the first end. Furthermore, the connector module has two continuous receiving openings extending in the plug-in direction and thus connecting the connection area to the plug-in area. One of these receiving openings is arranged on each of the two front surfaces and in each of which an elementary plug of the connector module is received and held, or at least can be received and held therein.

[0048] In particular, the insulating body can be constructed in one piece. Preferably, the elementary connectors can be locked or at least lockable in the receiving openings, for example, by means of locking arms molded therein.

[0049] Each of the two elementary plugs has its own shielding housing, preferably made of metal, and at least one plug contact arranged in the shielding housing. Furthermore, each elementary plug can have a contact carrier that is positively held in the shielding housing and has at least one contact receptacle extending in the plugging direction, in which the at least one plug contact is received.

[0050] The connector module has two contact springs that can be snapped onto the insulating body from the outside on the front side, each of which has an inner contact tongue for contacting the respective shielding housing and an outer contact tongue for electrically contacting the connector modular frame.

[0051] Furthermore, the insulating body has locking means, in particular locking recesses, for locking the two contact springs. Furthermore, the insulating body has a contact window for each of the two contact springs in the respective end face, through which the respective contact spring engages with its contact tongue to electrically contact the shielding housing of the elementary connector arranged on this end face and to electrically connect the shielding housing to the metallic connector modular frame when the connector module is held in the connector modular frame.

[0052] A method for producing a connector module of the aforementioned type comprises the following steps: A. Inserting the two elementary connectors into the two receiving openings of the connector module on the cable connection side; B. Snapping one or both contact springs onto the end face of the insulating body, with the respective contact spring reaching through the respective contact window of the insulating body with its inner contact tongue; C. Electrical contacting of the respective shielding housing of one or both elementary connectors by the respective contact spring with its inner contact tongue.

[0053] This method, and in particular this sequence of steps, has the advantage that the connector module can be used without, or if necessary with, the ground connection via one or two contact springs, without having to disassemble the elementary connectors. Furthermore, the contact spring can be subsequently removed if necessary without having to disassemble the elementary connectors.

[0054] In an alternative variant, the order of process steps A and B can be reversed, so that process step B is carried out before process step A. As will be explained below, this is made possible in particular by the shape of the contact springs and in particular their contact tongue. The advantage of this modified sequence (B, A, C) is that the insulating body can be delivered with the contact springs already locked to it or can be kept in stock and, if required, can be equipped with pre-assembled elementary plugs (i.e. connected to an electrical cable). Finally, in an advantageous embodiment, the elementary plugs can also be used independently, i.e. without the insulating body and without the modular plug connector system, which increases the flexibility of their use.

[0055] A connector modular system has a metallic or at least partially metallic connector modular frame and at least one connector module of the aforementioned type held thereby, wherein at least one of the two contact springs is snapped onto the insulating body on the end face and, on the one hand, with its inner contact tongue, passes through the contact window of the respective end face and electrically contacts the shielding housing of the elementary connector arranged on this end face, and wherein the contact spring, on the other hand, electrically contacts the connector modular frame with its outer contact tongue.

[0056] In particular, the connector modular frame can additionally have its own ground connection for a separate grounding cable. Such a ground connection can, in one exemplary embodiment, consist of a grounding screw that advantageously provides particularly reliable fixation, in another exemplary embodiment, of a contact spring arrangement that is advantageously particularly easy to operate, or even of any other cable connection device known to those skilled in the art.

[0057] A method for producing a modular connector system of the aforementioned type comprises the following steps: A. Inserting the two elementary connectors into the two receiving openings of the connector module on the cable connection side; B. Snapping one or both contact springs onto the end face of the insulating body, the respective contact spring reaching through the respective contact window of the insulating body with its inner contact tongue; C. Electrical contacting of the respective shielding housing of one or both elementary connectors by the respective contact spring with its inner contact tongue; D. Accepting the connector module in the connector modular frame and E. Holding the connector module by the connector modular frame, F. Electrical contacting of the connector modular frame by the respective contact spring using its outer contact tongue and thereby establishing an electrical ground connection between the connector modular frame and the respective shielding housing of the connector module.

[0058] Furthermore, a connector has an at least partially metallic connector housing and a connector modular system of the aforementioned type inserted therein and electrically connected thereto.

[0059] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0060] The invention significantly reduces the effort required to establish or separate a shield connection of a connector module from the connector modular frame. This is particularly advantageous when numerous such shield connections and / or separations must be performed to change the grounding concept of a complex electrical system.

[0061] A particularly significant advantage of the invention is that connector modules and even individual elementary connectors within a connector module can be connected to the ground of the connector modular frame in a targeted and effortless manner, and conversely, disconnected from it. This creates particularly great flexibility with regard to the respective grounding concept of such an electrical system, for example, a production plant / production line.

[0062] This makes it possible to test different grounding concepts in practice with comparatively little effort, even in particularly complex individual cases, e.g., to compare the complex behavior of an already installed system under different grounding concepts. For example, in special cases, grounding concepts known to the expert and their hybrid forms can be implemented for individual elementary plugs with comparatively little effort, and their behavior can be compared with each other.

[0063] This is particularly important and advantageous if the elementary connectors, and thus also the associated connector modules, are intended for electrical signal transmission, e.g. for the electrical transmission of control, measurement and / or status data, and are therefore particularly sensitive to electrical interference.

[0064] According to the invention, the shield connection elements can be subsequently snapped onto the respective insulating body with little effort and can be removed just as easily in order to change the shielding concept.

[0065] As already mentioned, the connector module has a fastening lug on each of its two end faces, which can also be essentially cuboid-shaped and, in particular, can have slight bevels ("chamfers") in the mating direction. The two fastening lugs of a module can differ from each other, for example, in their shape and / or size, in particular in their length, in order to determine the orientation of the respective connector module in the holding frame. In other words, the fastening lugs can be used as coding means, namely as polarization means, for orienting the modules in the holding frame due to their shape and / or size.

[0066] Correct polarization is also particularly advantageous for the correct implementation of the grounding concept, as the two different mounting lugs determine the polarization of the connector module in the connector modular frame. This also prevents the grounding concept from being disrupted by a connector module that is incorrectly oriented in the connector modular frame (i.e., "incorrectly polarized"), for example, if the shielding housing of one of the two elementary connectors of the connector module is electrically connected to the connector modular frame via the respective contact spring, and the shielding housing of the other elementary connector of the same connector module is deliberately not connected to the connector modular frame.Without the aforementioned polarizing effect of the fastening lugs, the desired shielding concept could, under certain circumstances, even be severely impaired when plugging into a mating connector whose grounding also follows this intended grounding concept, since a shield transfer usually also takes place between the shielding housings of the connector and the shielding housings of its mating connector.

[0067] In an advantageous embodiment, the elementary connectors are individual connectors that can also be used separately. Although they are held in pairs as components of the connector module in its insulating body for the present application, they can also be used individually, i.e., without an insulating body, outside of a modular connector system as independent connectors. This allows them to be advantageously manufactured cost-effectively in larger quantities and, if necessary, optionally integrated into the connector module.

[0068] Another particular advantage is that the elementary plugs can be removed from the insulating body without great effort, without having to unlatch and remove the contact springs. The contact tongue of the respective contact spring can advantageously be oriented in the direction of insertion and, thanks to the spring-elastic properties of the contact spring, can spring back when the respective elementary plug is pulled out without causing any disadvantageous tilting.

[0069] The basic connectors can, in particular, be circular connectors. These are preferably so-called "M12" circular connectors, but other circular connectors, i.e., circular connectors with different thread sizes, can of course also be used, for example, so-called "M8" circular connectors.

[0070] The designation "M" indicates that the locking mechanism of these circular connectors may be a so-called "metric" screw thread, whereby the diameter of the respective screw thread can be specified in whole metric units (in this case, millimeters). An M12 thread is typically characterized by its diameter of 12 mm, and an M8 thread is generally characterized by its diameter of 8 mm.

[0071] Of course, circular connectors of other diameters, which can also be specified in inches, for example, can also be used as elementary connectors.

[0072] The elementary connectors, which are therefore particularly designed as circular connectors, can, for example, have X-shaped (i.e., "cross-shaped") or Y-shaped shielding elements. In the X-shaped case, the shielding element is a so-called "shield cross."

[0073] These two types of shielding elements are well known to those skilled in the art. In an X-shaped shielding element, the shielding cross typically has four symmetrically arranged shielding walls, each of which, viewed in cross-section, forms a right angle to its adjacent shielding wall and shares a common intersection axis, which typically runs in the plug-in direction. In a Y-shaped shielding element, however, two shielding walls form a preferably acute angle, and the third shielding wall forms the same angle to each of them, thus being arranged symmetrically.

[0074] The respective shielding element is usually received in a corresponding X-shaped, i.e. cross-shaped, or Y-shaped receptacle of a particularly substantially cylindrical contact carrier and can be manufactured, for example, using a die-casting process, for example a zinc die-casting process. The contact carriers, which, for example, have such a cross-shaped receptacle for inserting an X-coded shielding element, are accordingly divided into four preferably equally sized segments, each of which can in particular have two contact chambers, e.g. for receiving two plug contacts each, which can advantageously jointly serve to transmit a differential signal. The respective shielding element, for example the aforementioned shielding cross, can in particular be electrically connected to the shielding housing and thus be grounded by the shielding housing.

[0075] Alternatively or additionally, the shielding housing, to which the shielding element may be connected, may itself have a direct electrical ground connection to a shield, for example, a shield of an electrical cable connected to the elementary connector. Furthermore, the shielding housing can also be grounded via its electrically conductive connection to another shielding housing of a mating connector plugged into the connector. Furthermore, as already mentioned, the connector modular frame can also be grounded via its own ground connection, via other connector modules, in particular a specially provided PE module with a particularly large PE cable cross-section, and / or via the at least partially metallic connector housing, into which the connector modular system can optionally be installed.

[0076] In an alternative design, the elementary plugs do not have a shielding cross, which would need to be connected to ground. Accordingly, their contact carriers do not have a cross-shaped receptacle. These contact carriers can accommodate at least one plug contact, but usually several, for example, five.

[0077] For cable connection and strain relief, the elementary plugs can each have a cable outlet to which the electrical cable connected to the elementary plug can be screwed or crimped. This can also be used to establish a ground connection, for example, between a braided cable shield and the shielding housing of the respective elementary plug.

[0078] All these examples illustrate how complex the electrical grounding of both individual modular connector systems and larger electrical systems comprising a large number of such connectors with such modular connector systems can be. Accordingly, a flexible and inexpensive way to connect and disconnect individual grounded elements of this system is essential. This is made possible in a particularly user-friendly and inexpensive way by the inventive option for separately electrically connecting and disconnecting the shielding housings of the elementary connectors from the respective at least partially metallic modular connector frames. Example

[0079] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1a, b basic components of a first and a second connector module in the unassembled state; Fig. 2a, b an insulating body and two contact springs of the first and second connector modules, respectively; Fig. 3a, b the contact spring in two different views; Fig. 4a, b the two connector modules, each in the assembled state; Fig. 4c the first and the second connector module in the unmated state; Fig. 5a, 5b the first and the second connector module in an exploded view.

[0080] Some of the figures contain simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference symbols are used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently. Directional references such as "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" are to be understood with reference to the respective figure and may vary in the individual illustrations relative to the object depicted.

[0081] The Fig. 1a and 1b show some basic components of a first and a second connector module in the unassembled state. These include a substantially cuboid-shaped insulating body 1, 1' with two opposing end faces 15 and two opposing side faces 18, of which only one 15, 18 is visible in the drawing, since the opposing end face 15 or side face 18 is concealed by the insulating body 1 itself.

[0082] Furthermore, two essentially hollow-cylindrical shielding housings 20, 20' of the connector module are shown, which are components of two independent elementary connectors 2, 2' shown below, as well as two contact springs 3 which can be snapped onto the narrow side of the insulating body 1, 1', namely snapped into locking recesses 13, 13'. Each of the contact springs 3 has an inner contact tongue 315 with which it extends through a contact window 150 of the end face 15, 15' in the assembled state in order to electrically contact the shielding housings 2, 2' arranged in receiving openings 120, 120' of the insulating body 1, 1'.

[0083] On its two opposite narrow sides 15, 15', each insulating body 1, 1' also has a fastening lug 14, 14'. The two fastening lugs 14, 14' serve to secure the connector module in a connector modular frame (not shown). The two fastening lugs 14, 14' of each insulating body 1, 1' differ from each other to ensure the correct polarization, i.e., alignment, of the connector module 1, 1' in the connector modular frame.

[0084] This further ensures that each of the two shielding housings 2, 2' is ultimately positioned on the correct side of the connector and, when the contact spring 3 is snapped onto this side, receives its intended electrical ground connection to the connector modular frame. This ensures that a planned grounding concept is maintained even when plugged in.

[0085] This view further demonstrates that the contact springs 3 can be very easily manually snapped onto and unclipped from the insulating bodies 1, 1', even when the shielding housings 20, 20' are already inserted into the receiving openings 120, 120'. This allows a connector to be adapted to a grounding concept with minimal effort, and / or a grounding concept can be modified with minimal effort.

[0086] Furthermore, it is also clear from the illustration that, in particular due to the contact tongue 315 running in the plug-in direction, the shielding housings 2, 2' can also be inserted into the receiving openings 120 of the insulating body 1, 1' when the contact springs 3 are already snapped on and can also be removed therefrom again.

[0087] The assembly effort is therefore very minimal and the installation process is extremely flexible. The insulating bodies 1, 1' can advantageously be delivered with the contact springs 3 already clipped on. If necessary, the contact springs 3 can also be easily removed. If necessary, this can be done subsequently, for example, if the grounding concept needs to be changed and a specific shielding housing 2, 2' is no longer to be electrically connected to the at least partially metallic connector modular frame (not shown).

[0088] In the Fig. 2a and 2b The respective insulating body 1, 1' is shown with the two locking springs 3 and labeled in detail. On the plug-in side, ie shown here on the left, the insulating bodies 1, 1' each have a plug-in area 11, 11; on the connection side, ie the cable connection side, they have a connection area 12, 12'.

[0089] The locking springs 3 have the aforementioned inner contact tongue 315, with which they penetrate the contact window 150 when clipped on.

[0090] Opposite the inner contact tongue 315, the contact spring 3 has an outer contact tongue 316 for the electrical connection of the respective shielding housing 2, 2' to the connector modular frame, not shown in the drawing.

[0091] If one of the two contact springs 3 is unclipped or not clipped onto the insulating body 1, 1' at all, the respective shielding housing 2, 2', which is located on the respective narrow side 15, 15', has no direct electrical ground connection to the connector modular frame. For this reason, the aforementioned polarization protection, as already mentioned, is particularly important for ensuring the correct implementation of the respective shielding concept.

[0092] This view also clearly shows that the locking recesses 13, 13' of the insulating body 1, 1' are not only located in the surface of the end faces 15, 15', but also extend into the surface of the side faces 18, 18'. In this area, the insulating body 1, 1' has a locking edge 131, behind which the contact springs 3 engage with their locking arms 31.

[0093] The Fig. 3a and 3bshow such a contact spring 3 in an enlarged illustration from two different views. The contact spring 3 shown here is, as is easily recognizable for a person skilled in the art, a stamped and bent part that is inexpensively and inexpensively formed from resilient sheet metal. In other embodiments, however, other materials and manufacturing methods could also be used, for example elastic and electrically conductive plastic, which, for example, can be adapted particularly flexibly in thickness and shape to predetermined shapes of the insulating body 1, 1' and / or the shielding housing 20, 20' during injection molding, in order to provide a particularly good, positive fit with respect to the insulating body 1, 1' and / or a particularly large electrical contact surface and thus particularly good electrical conductivity with respect to the shielding housing 20, 20'.

[0094] The contact spring 3 shown here has a flat base body 35. The inner contact tongue 315 and the outer contact tongue 316 are punched out of this base body 35 and bent out of the plane of the base body 35. Furthermore, the contact spring 3 has two locking arms 31 that initially run in the plane of the base body 35 and protrude from the base body 35 at right angles to each other, the ends of which, however, are bent into locking hooks 313 by means of a locking bend.

[0095] The Fig. 4a, 4b and 4c show fully assembled connector modules 1, 1', onto which the contact springs 3 are snapped on the narrow side by their snap hooks 313 snapping onto their snap edges 131.

[0096] The connector modules 1, 1' each have two elementary plugs 2, 2', which are accommodated in the receiving openings 120, 120' of the respective insulating body 1, 1'.

[0097] The drawing also shows the lengths L, L' of both connector modules, as well as the width B15 of their end faces 15 and the width B18 of their side faces 18. It is obvious that the width B18 of the side faces 18 is greater than the width B15 of the end faces 15. It is also clearly visible that the length L, L' of the modules, which simultaneously represent the length of the end faces 15, 15' and side faces 18, 18', is greater than the width B15 of the end faces 15, 15'. The widths B15 and B18 of both connector modules 1, 1' are identical for compatibility reasons. Their lengths L, L' may differ from one another, but may also be the same.

[0098] In the Fig. 4c The plug-in direction S is also shown, which is explicitly a direction, not an orientation. In this plug-in direction S, the two connector modules 1, 1' shown can be plugged together.

[0099] It is also obvious that the length L, L' of the insulating bodies 1, 1' is measured in the plug-in direction S and the respective width B15, B18 of the end and side surfaces is measured perpendicular thereto.

[0100] Each of the two insulating bodies 1, 1' has two fastening lugs 14, 14', namely a wide fastening lug 14 and a narrow fastening lug 14', which therefore differ in their width.

[0101] This ensures the correct orientation of the connector modules 1, 1', e.g. in a connector modular frame (not shown here), which provides suitable receptacles, e.g. windows or recesses, for the fastening lugs. This also plays an important role, among other things, for the flexible grounding concept. If, for example, multiple groundings are to be avoided, the contact springs 3 located on the narrow side 15, 15' containing the narrow fastening lug 14' can be removed from both of the connector modules 1, 1' shown, while a contact spring 3 is snapped onto the narrow side 15, 15' containing the wide fastening lug 14. This ensures that no multiple grounding occurs, at least through the connector modules 1, 1', even when plugged in.

[0102] The Fig. 5a and 5bshow both connector modules in an exploded view. In addition to the already mentioned and described components 1, 1', 14, 14, 3, 20, 20', the other components of the elementary connectors are particularly worth mentioning here, namely, in addition to the shielding housing 20, 20', a contact carrier 24, 24' that can be inserted into each of them, with contact receptacles that accommodate several plug contacts (not shown). Furthermore, each of the elementary connectors 2 has a cable outlet 27, consisting of a kink protection 270 and a cable gland 276. List of reference symbols

[0103] 1, 1'Insulating body 11, 11'Mating area 12, 12'Connection area 120, 120'Receiving openings 13, 13'Locking means, recesses 131Locking edge 14, 14' mounting lugs 15 end faces 150 contact windows 18 side surfaces B15Width of the end face B18Width of the side faces L, L'Length of the respective insulating body / the end and side faces SStepping direction 2.2'elementary connector 20.20'shielding housing 24, 24'Contact carrier 27Cable outlet 270Kink protection 276Cable gland 3Contact spring 31Locking arms 313Locking hook 315Inner contact tongue 316Outer contact tongue 35Basic body

Claims

1. Plug connector module for receiving and fixing in a plug connector modular frame, wherein the plug connector module has the following: a. a substantially parallelepipedal insulating member (1, 1'), which has the following: ∘ two mutually parallel, opposing end faces (15, 15'), ▪ which have a substantially rectangular basic shape having a length (L, L') and a width (B15, B15'), wherein the length (L, L') thereof which extends in an insertion direction (S) exceeds the width (B15, B15') thereof, wherein ▪ an outwardly facing securing lug (14, 14') is formed on both end faces (15, 15'), wherein ▪ these two securing lugs (14, 14') differ from each other in terms of their size and / or shape in order to thereby ensure a correct orientation of the plug connector module (1, 1') in the plug connector modular frame, ∘ two mutually opposing side faces (18, 18') which are arranged perpendicularly to the end faces (15, 15') and ▪ which also have a substantially rectangular basic shape and ▪ are wider than the two end faces (15, 15'), and ∘ a connection region (12, 12') which is arranged at a first end of the insulating member (1, 1') and ∘ an insertion region (11, 11') which is arranged at a second end of the insulating member (1, 1') opposite the first end, and ∘ two continuous receiving openings (120, 120') which connect the connection region (12, 12') to the insertion region (11, 11'), ▪ of which one receiving opening (120, 120') is arranged in each case on one of the two end faces (15, 15') so as to extend in the insertion direction (S) and ∘ at least two locking means (13, 13') for locking two contact springs (3) which can be locked on the insulating member (1, 1') from the outer side at the end face, and ∘ two contact apertures (150), of which one is arranged in one of the two end faces (15, 15') in each case; b. two elementary connectors (2, 2'), of which one is received and retained in each case in a receiving opening (120, 120') of the insulating member (1, 1') or at least can be received and retained therein, wherein each of the two elementary connectors (2, 2') has at least ∘ an individual shielding housing (20, 20') and ∘ at least one plug contact which is arranged in the shielding housing (20, 20'), and c. the two mentioned contact springs (3, 3') which can be locked onto the insulating member (1, 1') from the outer side at the end and which each have at least the following: ∘ an inner contact tongue (315), by means of which the contact spring (3) in the locked state thereof engages through the contact aperture (150) of the respective end face (15, 15') in order to electrically contact the shielding housing (20, 20') of the respective elementary plug (2, 2'), and ∘ an outer contact tongue (316) for electrically contacting the plug connector modular frame.

2. Plug connector module according to Claim 1, wherein the mentioned locking means are in the form of locking recesses (13, 13') in the surface of the insulating member (1, 1'), wherein the locking recesses (13, 13') extend into the side faces (18, 18') of the insulating member (1, 1').

3. Plug connector module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating member (1, 1') is configured in an integral manner.

4. Plug connector module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating member (1, 1') is in the form of an injection-moulded component and comprises plastics material, wherein the contact springs (3) are in the form of punched bent components and comprise resilient sheet metal and wherein the shielding housings (20, 20') comprise a substantially hollow-cylindrical basic shape and comprise metal.

5. Plug connector module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elementary plug connectors (2, 2') are locked or at least can be locked in the receiving openings (120, 120') of the insulating member (1, 1').

6. Plug connector module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elementary plug connectors (2, 2') are round plug connectors.

7. Plug connector module according to Claim 6, wherein the elementary connectors (2, 2') are in each case M12 connectors, wherein each of these M12 connectors has eight plug contacts, of which four contact pairs which are provided for differential signal transmission are formed, wherein the four contact pairs are shielded with respect to each other by a shield cross, wherein the shield cross is connected to the shielding housing of the M12 connector in an electrically conductive manner for earth connection.

8. Method for producing a plug connector module according to one of the preceding claims, having the following steps: A. introducing the two elementary plug connectors (2, 2') into the two receiving openings (120, 120') of the plug connector module in the connection region; B. locking one or both contact springs (3) on the insulating member (1, 1') at the end face, wherein the respective contact spring (3) engages through the respective contact aperture (150) of the insulating member (1, 1') with the inner contact tongue (315) thereof; C. electrically contacting the respective shielding housing (20, 20') of one or both elementary plug connectors (2, 2') by means of the respective contact spring (3) with the inner contact tongue (315) thereof.

9. Plug connector modular system having an at least partially metal plug connector modular frame and at least one plug connector module which is retained thereby according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of the two contact springs (3) is locked at the end face on the insulating member (1, 1') and, on the one hand, engages with the inner contact tongue (315) thereof through the contact aperture (150) of the respective end face (15) and electrically contacts the shielding housing (20, 20') of the elementary plug connector (2, 2') which is arranged on this end face (15, 15'), and wherein the contact spring (3), on the other hand, with the outer contact tongue (316) thereof electrically contacts the plug connector modular frame.

10. Plug connector modular system according to Claim 9, wherein the plug connector modular frame additionally has a separate earth connection for a separate earthing cable.

11. Plug connector having an at least partially metal plug connector housing and a plug connector modular system which is inserted therein according to one of Claims 9 to 10, wherein the plug connector housing is connected to the plug connector modular frame in an electrically conductive manner.

12. Method for producing a plug connector modular system according to Claim 9, having the following steps: A. introducing the two elementary plug connectors (2, 2') into the two receiving openings (120, 120') of the insulating member (1, 1') in the connection region; B. locking one or both contact springs (3) on the insulating member (1, 1') at the end face, wherein the respective contact spring (3) engages through the respective contact aperture (150) of the insulating member (1, 1') with the inner contact tongue (315) thereof; C. electrically contacting the respective shielding housing (20, 20') of one or both elementary plug connectors (2, 2') by means of the respective contact spring (3) with the inner contact tongue (315) thereof; D. receiving the plug connector module in the plug connector modular frame, and E. retaining the plug connector module by means of the plug connector modular frame, and F. electrically contacting the plug connector modular frame by the respective contact spring (3) by means of the outer contact tongue (316) thereof and thereby producing an electrical earth connection between the plug connector modular frame and the respective shielding housing(s) (20, 20') of the plug connector module.

13. Plug connector module according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the contact spring has - a planar base member (35), from which the inner contact tongue (315) and the outer contact tongue (316) are punched and they are bent out of the plane thereof, - two locking arms (31) which initially extend in the plane of the base member (35) and which protrude opposite each other at right angles from the base member (35) and the ends of which are bent round by means of a locking bending operation to form locking hooks (313) in order to be able to clip the contact spring (3) onto and to unclip it from the insulating member (1, 1').

14. Plug connector module according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the contact spring (3) is in the form of a punched bent component and comprises resilient sheet metal.

15. Plug connector module according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the contact spring has wherein the mentioned inner contact tongue (315) extends in the assembled state in an insertion direction.