CONNECTION ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR READABLY DISPLAYING A CONNECTION STATUS OF A CONNECTION ARRANGEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connection arrangement comprising two mutually complementary connector parts which can be connected from a separate connection status to a connected connection status, wherein a transmitter and an associated antenna arrangement are provided, by means of which a radio signal signaling the connection status can be generated and transmitted via the antenna arrangement.

[0002] Connecting assemblies of the type mentioned above are known and serve, for example, to form a liquid pipe or hose line, wherein corresponding line sections are connected to one another via the connecting assembly. The correct, in particular liquid-tight, connection is ensured, for example, by a locking of the connector parts, which also prevents unintentional loosening of the correct connection. The release of the locking connection, which is effected, for example, via spring clips that engage in corresponding grooves, is usually accompanied by a clicking sound, which acoustically and haptically signals that the correct connection of the connector parts has been established. This form of signaling the correct connection status cannot be used in automated assemblies and / or quality control processes following the connection.

[0003] From US 2020 / 0309298 A1 it is known to check the connection status using a RFID Chips are attached to a connector component and emit a radio signal when actively or passively stimulated. As long as the RFID If the chip-carrying connector component is not correctly connected to the complementary connector component and remains in the separated connection status, the RFID Chip is shielded by a movable shielding component in such a way that the RFID The radio signal emitted by the chip cannot be received and read, or can only be received and read very weakly. When correctly connected to the other connector component, i.e., in the connected state, the shielding component is moved to such a position that the radio signal is no longer shielded and can therefore be received and read.

[0004] WO 2021 / 183633 discloses a quick-connect coupling for a fluid line, in which one connector component carries an RFID chip, and the other connector component carries the associated antenna arrangement for the RFID chip. Only when the two connector components are connected do the RFID chip and the associated antenna arrangement come into contact with each other in such a way that the RFID chip transmits an externally receivable and readable radio signal via the antenna arrangement. Thus, the connected connection status of the connection arrangement can also be signaled in a readable manner.

[0005] The previously described prior art solutions are therefore based on the principle of indicating the connected connection status of the connector parts by emitting a readable radio signal from the RFID chip. When a large number of connection arrangements are assembled in a complex component, such as the numerous coolant lines of an electric vehicle's battery, a corresponding evaluation unit receives a large number of signals during quality control, making it impossible to identify a single unsuccessful or incorrect connection. Furthermore, unauthorized persons can read the data from the RFID chips at any time, which is undesirable.

[0006] From DE 10 2004 006 795 A1 a "testable connection" is known, whereby with the correct connection of the two connecting parts a preferably electrical conductor is closed or separated.

[0007] The object of the invention is to propose a connection arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and enables a simple joint control of the connection status of all existing connection arrangements even when a large number of such connection arrangements are present.

[0008] To achieve the stated object, the invention proposes the design of a connecting arrangement having the features of patent claim 1.

[0009] A method for solving the problem is the subject of patent claim 5.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] Within the scope of the connection arrangement according to the invention, it is proposed that an attenuation device is provided which, in the connected connection status of the connection arrangement, comes into operative connection with the antenna arrangement and attenuates the radio signal transmitted by the latter.

[0012] Due to the attenuation device provided according to the invention, it is therefore possible to indicate the separated connection status by a radio signal transmitted by the transmitter and the associated antenna device and not attenuated by the attenuation device. This radio signal has a correspondingly long range and can also be detected by a remotely arranged detection device or radio receiver. In contrast, the connected connection status is indicated according to the invention by the attenuation device entering into operative contact with the antenna arrangement in this connection state and attenuating the radio signal transmitted by the antenna arrangement, which can then no longer be detected by a remotely arranged detection device.In other words, a separated connection status exists when non-attenuated radio signals are received and a connected connection status of the connection arrangement according to the invention exists when no radio signal from the transmitter can be received any longer.

[0013] This makes it possible, for example, to simultaneously test several connection arrangements combined in an assembly for their desired connected connection status in a single test run during or after assembly. If all connection arrangements are in the connected connection status, all radio signals emitted by the individual transmitters via the respective assigned antenna arrangement are attenuated, so that no individual radio signal can be received within the corresponding distance.

[0014] Likewise, it is impossible for unauthorized persons to read individual transmitters at a later time. However, as soon as a radio signal is received, this indicates the presence of at least one connection arrangement that is in a disconnected or incorrectly connected state. A subsequent individual check can then identify the faulty connection.

[0015] According to one proposal of the invention, the connector parts are designed as a quick coupling of a coolant line, wherein one connector part is designed as a female piece and carries the transmitter and the antenna arrangement, and the other connector part as a male piece can be inserted into the female piece and, in the connected state, brings the attenuation device into operative connection with the antenna arrangement. Such quick couplings of a coolant line are common and standardized, for example, in vehicle construction, with the SAE and / or VDA quick coupling being mentioned as an example. Due to the arrangement of the transmitter and the antenna arrangement on the female piece, the latter is able to transmit a radio signal generated by the transmitter via the antenna arrangement in a readable manner without the presence of the complementary male piece, i.e.Such a transmitted and correspondingly receivable radio signal indicates the presence of a connection arrangement in the separated connection state. As soon as the male connector is plugged into the female connector and the connection arrangement assumes the connected connection state, the male connector brings the attenuation device into operative connection with the antenna arrangement, whereupon the radio signal transmitted by the transmitter via the antenna arrangement and readable is significantly attenuated and can no longer be read at a certain distance from the transmitter or the antenna arrangement. According to the invention, such an unreceived radio signal indicates a connection arrangement in the connected connection state.

[0016] According to the invention, a line section in the form of an electrical conductor is provided as the attenuation device. In the connected state, this line section contacts and electrically connects the ends of the antenna array, so that the antenna array is short-circuited accordingly via the line section. Depending on the configuration of the antenna array, this results in a suppression of the radiated antenna signal and / or a frequency shift of the radiated antenna signal. For example, when using an RFID chip as a transmitter, the HF / UHF signal, which is usually continuously transmitted at a frequency of 920 MHz, can be shifted to a frequency of approximately 700 MHz by short-circuiting the antenna array using a corresponding line section. This dramatically reduces the range of the radio signal for a correspondingly configured receiver.A radio signal from an RFID chip that can be received well from a distance of 2 m in the separated connection status, for example, can no longer be received from a distance of 0.5 m in the connected connection status and with a correspondingly short-circuited antenna arrangement, since the maximum transmission range is limited to 0.3 m, for example.

[0017] According to one proposal of the invention, the cable section can be formed by a metallic spring clip, such as that provided, for example, on the SAE or VDA plug-in couplings mentioned above for locking the female and male connectors. In such a case, the antenna arrangement arranged on the female connector comprises, for example, two contact ends, which are pressed against the spring clip when the male connector is plugged in. According to the invention, no additional component is required to form the connection arrangement; rather, the metallic spring clip already present on conventional plug-in couplings is used to act as an attenuation device in the connected state and to short-circuit the antenna arrangement.

[0018] According to a proposal which is not within the scope of the claims, a displaceable shielding element can also be provided as the attenuation device, which shielding element exposes the antenna arrangement in the separated connection state and covers and shields the antenna arrangement at least in part in the connected connection state.

[0019] Such a shielding element can, for example, be guided in a movable manner in the female piece, so that when the male piece is inserted into a corresponding plug-in coupling, it is brought into operative connection with the antenna arrangement and attenuates the radio signal transmitted by it.

[0020] The shielding element can, for example, be arranged as a sliding element in the female piece in a ring shape and, when the male piece is inserted, can be moved from a position exposing the antenna arrangement into a position covering and shielding the antenna arrangement.

[0021] According to a further proposal of the invention, the transmitter is designed as an RFID chip and the antenna arrangement comprises a primary antenna attached to the RFID chip, which is usually produced and provided during manufacture of an RFID chip. In addition, according to the invention, a secondary antenna is provided which is inductively connected to the primary antenna, for example a conductor loop which is inductively coupled to the primary antenna and which is arranged in certain regions on the connector part carrying the RFID chip, for example on its surface. In the connected connection state, this secondary antenna comes into operative connection with the attenuation device, i.e., for example, the secondary antenna is contacted by the line section or covered and shielded by the shielding element.

[0022] Such an RFID chip can be either an actively transmitting or an externally excited transmitter. In both cases, the RFID chip is preferably arranged together with the primary antenna on a common carrier material, as is known in principle from mobile phone SIM cards, for example. This carrier material, containing the chip and the primary antenna, is preferably positioned in a corresponding recess in the associated connector part.

[0023] In the separated connection state, the secondary antenna serves to increase the transmission power of the RFID chip equipped with the primary antenna, ensuring reliable reception of the transmitted radio signal even at a greater distance of, for example, 2 m. However, in the connected connection state, the attenuation device neutralizes this transmission power-increasing function of the secondary antenna, so that the radio signal transmitted by the RFID chip can only be reliably received at short distances of, for example, 0.5 m.

[0024] Accordingly, for example, when equipping a vehicle battery of an electric vehicle with a plurality of the connection assemblies according to the invention in the area of the coolant lines, it is possible to effectively carry out quality control by passing the finished electric vehicle or its vehicle battery through an RFID reader gate and scanning all installed connection assemblies according to the invention together for the presence of a transmitted radio signal using a corresponding reader at a distance of no more than 2 m. If all installed connection assemblies according to the invention are correctly in the connected connection status, all associated attenuation devices are activated and no radio signal is received because the distance to the reader installed at the gate is too great. Likewise, it is not possible to subsequently read individual RFID chips of the installed connection assemblies.However, if at least one of the installed connection arrangements according to the invention is not in the correctly connected connection status, the associated attenuation device is also not in operative connection with the antenna arrangement and does not attenuate the transmitted radio signal, so that it is reliably received by the reader even at a distance from the gate and can trigger a corresponding error message and / or search.

[0025] The connector parts of the connecting arrangement according to the invention, which are designed to be complementary to one another, can be connected to one another by a plug connection, but also by a screw connection or a bayonet connection or other suitable detachable or non-detachable connection type.

[0026] The inventive method for readably displaying a connection status of a connection arrangement is based on the connection arrangement comprising two complementary and connectable connector parts, which can be connected from a separate connection status to a connected connection status, wherein a transmitter and an associated antenna arrangement are provided to transmit a readable radio signal dependent on the connection status. According to the invention, the readable radio signal is attenuated in the connected connection status of the connector parts, so that it can only be received within a shorter range than the radio signal receivable in the separate connection status.

[0027] According to the method according to the invention, this attenuation is achieved by short-circuiting the antenna arrangement in the connected connection state and causing a phase shift of the transmitted radio signal, which results in a reduced range compared to a receiver tuned to the original transmission frequency.

[0028] In an alternative of the method, which is not within the scope of the claims, the attenuation is effected by shielding the antenna arrangement in the connected connection state, thereby attenuating the radio signal.

[0029] Further details and embodiments of the invention are explained below using exemplary embodiments in the drawings. They show: Figure 1 shows the side view of a connecting arrangement in an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows the side view of a female piece of the connecting arrangement according to Figure 1; Figure 3 the side view of the nut piece according to Figure 2 in the alignment according to Figure 1 ; Figure 4 the front view of the nut piece according to Figure 3 on an enlarged scale; Figure 5, detail Y according to Figure 4 on a further enlarged scale; Figure 6 shows a section through the connection arrangement according to Figure 1 ; Figure 7 shows the side view of a female piece of the connecting arrangement in another embodiment which is not within the scope of the claims; Figure 8 shows the side view of the female piece according to Figure 7 viewed from the opposite direction; Figure 9 the assembled connection arrangement of the other embodiment according to Figures 7 and 8 .

[0030] From the Figure 1 the side view of a connection arrangement 1 is shown, such as is used as a quick coupling for a coolant line and is known in vehicle construction under the designation VDA quick coupling.

[0031] The connecting arrangement 1 comprises a female piece 10 and a male piece 11 which is designed to complement the female piece 10 and which can be inserted into a cylindrical insert ring 104 with an insertion opening 104a of the female piece 10 by means of a plug-in socket 111 provided for this purpose. See also the sectional view according to Figure 6 to form a continuous lumen for fluid transport.

[0032] By means of a spring clip 103, which is provided on the cylindrical insertion ring 104 of the female piece 10 and extends partially through the insertion opening 104a and is made of an electrically conductive metal, the Figure 6 The male piece 11 inserted into the female piece 10 can be releasably locked into the female piece 10 in this position, the so-called connected connection status, which is usually accompanied by a clicking sound.

[0033] In order to be able to check this correctly connected connection status at any time, for example as part of the quality control of the plug connections made, a Figure 2 visible transmitter in the form of a RFID Chips 100 with associated primary antenna 101 are mounted on a suitable peripheral area of the insertion ring 104. The radio signal of the RFID Chips 100 with its primary antenna 101 usually has only a short range, which is why a secondary antenna 102 in the form of a metal wire running along the plug-in ring 104 is provided, which is inductively coupled to the primary antenna 101 and provides a considerable increase in the range of the RFID Chip 100 transmits the radio signal.

[0034] The enlarged view in Figure 5The visible ends 102a of the secondary antenna 102 are guided through the wall of the insertion ring 104 onto the inner surface and project radially inwards beyond this, for example in the form of an angled course, as can be seen from the Figure 5 can be seen and are located directly opposite the ends of the spring clip 103 without contacting it in the rest state.

[0035] As soon as the father piece 11 is as shown in Figure 1is fully inserted into the female piece 10, the ends 102a of the secondary antenna are pushed radially outward by the cone 110 formed on the plug-in socket 111 of the male piece 11, causing them to rest against the ends of the spring clip 103 and make electrical contact with them. Thus, the secondary antenna 102 is short-circuited via the spring clip 103 in the connected state. This leads to a frequency shift of the transmitted radio signal, e.g., from the usual 920 MHz to approximately 700 MHz. This is accompanied by a significant reduction in the range of the radio signal at the original transmission frequency from, e.g., 10 m to less than 2 m.

[0036] It is therefore possible to use one or more of the Figure 1The connection status of the connection arrangements 1 shown can be checked from a greater distance. If no radio signal from an RFID chip 100 is received, all tested connection arrangements are in the connected state with the secondary antenna 102 short-circuited accordingly.

[0037] From the Figures 7-9 an embodiment of a connecting arrangement which is modified compared to the previously explained embodiment is evident, in which the same parts have been given the same reference numerals and, to avoid repetition, are not explained again separately unless this is necessary for understanding the invention.

[0038] In contrast to the embodiment according to the Figures 1-6 are in the embodiment according to Figures 7-9the ends 102a of the secondary antenna 102 are not placed on the inside of the insert ring 104, but end on the circumferential surface of the insert ring 104 diametrically opposite the RFID chip 100 at a short distance from each other. Figure 8 visible position, the secondary antenna 102, which is inductively coupled to the primary antenna 101, thus increases the transmission range of the RFID chip 100.

[0039] As can be seen in particular from the Figure 8 As can be seen, adjacent to the two ends 102a of the secondary antenna 102 on the outer circumference of the plug-in ring 104, a shielding element 12 is arranged, which comprises a housing 120 and a slide 121 which is displaceably guided in the housing 120 and which protrudes in the axial direction of the nut piece 10 from the Figure 8 shown position according to arrow P into one of the Figure 9visible position, in which it covers the ends 102a of the secondary antenna 102. At least the slider 121 is made of a material that is impermeable to radio waves or shields them, for example a metallic material or a plastic filled with metal particles.

[0040] The movement of the slide 121 from the position in the Figure 8 shown and releasing the ends 102a of the secondary antenna 102 into the position shown in the Figure 9 The shielding position shown is achieved by the male piece 11 inserted into the female piece 10, in that the cone 110 carries a corresponding projection of the slider 121 when inserted into the female piece 10. Consequently, in this embodiment as well, the connected connection status is achieved by a reduced transmission power of the RFID chip 100 due to the attenuation of the antenna arrangement.

[0041] With the connection arrangement or method described above, it is possible, for example, for a vehicle manufacturer or supplier of electric chassis to perform a joint test of all installed connection arrangements 1 simultaneously, instead of manually checking each of the installed connection arrangements 1 individually for their connected connection status. This test involves driving the vehicle or electric chassis through a reading gate or gate at which a corresponding receiver of the radio signals is positioned at a sufficient distance. If the radio signals transmitted by all installed connection arrangements 1 are not received at this reading gate or are only received weakly, this indicates the connected connection status of all installed connection arrangements 1.If, however, a radio signal of the corresponding strength is received, this originates from at least one installed connection device 1 that is not in the connected, but rather in the separated connection state. Using appropriate software, in addition to a possible manual individual check, if the reading gate is appropriately equipped, it can also be directly displayed which installed connection device 1 has the separated connection status.

[0042] The connection arrangements and the method described above are not only suitable for applications in the automotive sector, but also for any other connection arrangements in industry, household, medicine, etc. List of reference symbols:

[0043] 1:Connection assembly 10:Female connector 11:Male connector 12:Shielding element 100:RFID chip 101:Primary antenna 102:Secondary antenna 102a:Ends of the secondary antenna 103:Spring clip 104:Insertion ring 104a:Insertion opening 110:Cone 111:Plug-in connector 120:Housing 121:Slider P: Shift direction

Claims

1. Connection arrangement (1) comprising two mutually complementary connector parts which are connectable from a separated connection status into a connected connection status, wherein there is provision for a transmitter and an associated antenna arrangement, by means of which a radio signal signalling the connection status is able to be generated and able to be transmitted by way of the antenna arrangement, wherein there is provision for an attenuation device which, in the connected connection status of the connection arrangement, operatively connects to the antenna arrangement and attenuates the radio signal transmitted by said antenna arrangement, characterized in that the attenuation device provided is a line portion which makes contact with and electrically connects the ends of the antenna arrangement in the connected connection status.

2. Connection arrangement (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connector parts are in the form of a quick coupling of a coolant line, wherein one connector part is in the form of a mother piece (10) and carries the transmitter and the antenna arrangement and the other connector part is insertable into the mother piece (10) as a father piece (11) and operatively connects the attenuation device to the antenna arrangement in the connected connector status.

3. Connection arrangement (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the line portion is formed by a metallic spring clip (103), which is arranged on the mother piece (10) to latch with the insertable father piece (11) and makes contact with and electrically connects the ends of the antenna arrangement in the connected connection status.

4. Connection arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transmitter is in the form of an RFID chip (100) and the antenna arrangement comprises a primary antenna (101) mounted on the RFID chip (100) and a secondary antenna (102), which is inductively connected to the primary antenna (101) and operatively connects to the attenuation device in the connected connection status.

5. Method for readably displaying a connection status of a connection arrangement (1) which comprises two mutually complementary and interconnectable connector parts which are connectable from a separated connection status into a connected connection status, wherein there is provision for a transmitter and an associated antenna arrangement in order to transmit a readable radio signal which is dependent on the connection status, wherein the readable radio signal is attenuated in the connected connection status of the connector parts, characterized in that the antenna arrangement is shorted in the connected connection status and a phase shift of the transmitted radio signal is brought about.