Connector with a position locking element that incorporates a contact receptacle

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connector according to claim 1, with a connector housing and at least one connector position assurance element, wherein the connector housing comprises at least one contact receptacle for an electrical contact element and at least one receptacle for the at least one position assurance element, wherein at least one connector position assurance element is provided with one contact receptacle for an electrical contact element. The invention further relates to a connector assembly comprising a connector according to the invention and a mating connector with at least one mating contact element for establishing electrical contact with a contact element of the connector. In addition, the invention also relates to a method for connecting a connector to a mating connector according to claim 12.

[0002] Connectors of the type mentioned above are known. Position assurance elements can serve to secure the connection of the connector to a mating connector in an end position. In addition, pre-latched positions are known for position assurance elements in which the position assurance element is held in a captive manner on the connector housing. In the pre-latched position of the position assurance element, the connector can be connected to a mating connector. The position assurance element can be moved to its end position once the connector is connected completely to the mating connector. The position assurance element then secures the position of the connector relative to the mating connector and prevents unintentional release of the two. Position assurance elements are also known under the English technical term "contact position assurance device (CPA)".

[0003] A plug system comprising a plug element and a counter element, the plug element being insertable into the counter element, is known from DE 10 2016 209 472 A1. The system further comprises an indicator element with two electrically connected signal contacts, which can be electrically connected to signal mating contacts of the counter element. The two signal contacts of the indicator element are electrically connected with each other and thus form a short circuit for counter contacts in the counter element. From US 2013 / 095692 A1, a connector assembly comprising a first connector and a second connector is known. The first connector includes a sliding mechanism for securing the connection between the two connectors. The sliding mechanism has a signal terminal cavity for receiving at least two signal terminals. From US 2015 / 171551 A1, an electrical connector having a connector position assurance mechanism formed as a clip, is known. The clip has a mating detection terminal with two terminal arms, which are interconnected with each other The two terminal arms contact a complementary mating detection terminal in the mating connector to form an electrical short circuit when the body is positioned in the electrical connector. From US 2009 / 286418 A1, an electrical connector having a fit detecting portion is known. The fit detection portion can be inserted into a second connector for establishing an electrical connection with a mating terminal. The mated state of the connectors can thereby be detected. A connector device including a first connector, a second connector, and a connector fitting assurance mechanism that locks a movable arm by slidably engaging a slider with the movable arm that holds the second connector in the fitted state, is known from EP 3 591 769 A1. The terminal in the slider has two contact projections for connecting two terminal. The terminal is being used to close an electric circuit between the two terminals for detecting a contacted state.

[0004] When using connectors with position assurance elements, it is desirable to obtain knowledge of the completed connection of the connector to a mating connector and about the position of the position assurance element. At the same time, the connector is to be as compact as possible.

[0005] It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a connector of the above-mentioned type for which it is easy to verify whether a secure connection to a mating plug has been established, and one that is also compact.

[0006] For the type of connector mentioned at the outset, this object is satisfied in that said contact receptacle in said position assurance element and said at least one contact receptacle in said connector housing are substantially identical.

[0007] The connector according to the invention satisfies the object according to the invention in an elegant manner. Due to the fact that the position assurance element is provided with a contact receptacle for an electrical contact element, the position assurance element itself can be used to receive a contact element. The contact element in the position assurance element can be used for the electrical connection to a mating contact element of a mating connector, on the one hand, like one of the other contact elements of the connector for the plug connection. In addition, the electrical connection of the contact element in the position assurance element to a mating contact element can be registered and used to confirm a completed connection of the connector to the mating connector. In other words, an established electrical connection between a contact element in the position assurance element and a mating contact element of a mating connector provides certainty about the completed connection of the connector and the mating connector for the reason that the electrical connection between the contact element in the position assurance element and the mating contact element comes about only when the position assurance element is inserted completely into its receptacle. A compact connector can additionally be realized since the position assurance element itself is provided with a contact receptacle and is therefore part of the connector. The contact receptacle in the position assurance element and the at least one contact receptacle in the connector housing are substantially identical, i.e. they are configured to receive the electrical contact elements of the same type. As a result, the position assurance element can be implemented as a part of the connector, which has the same functionality with regard to the electrical connection as a connector of the same type in which contact receptacles are present only in the connector housing.

[0008] The object according to the invention is satisfied for the connector assembly according to the invention in that an end position is provided in which the connector is connected to the mating connector for establishing electrical contact of the contact elements with the mating contact elements and the position assurance element is inserted into the connector housing to secure the connection of the connector to the mating connector, wherein an electrical contact element in the contact receptacle of the position assurance element is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a mating contact element of the mating connector.

[0009] The object of the invention is satisfied for the above-mentioned method in that all contact elements of the connector are electrically connected to mating contact elements of the mating connector only when a position assurance element of the connector with a contact element arranged in the position assurance element is brought into an end position in which the position assurance element is inserted completely into a receptacle in the connector housing, and the contact element of the position assurance element establishes electrical contact with a mating contact element of the mating connector.

[0010] The solution according to the invention can be further improved by various configurations that are advantageous on their own and can be combined at random. These configurations and the advantages associated therewith shall be described below.

[0011] The position assurance element and the connector housing are preferably configured such that they complement each other to form the connector. The connector can therefore be assembled from the connector housing and the position assurance element, wherein the position assurance element forms part of the connector with at least one contact receptacle.

[0012] The connector housing can comprise at least two contact receptacles which are arranged in a row transverse to a plug-in direction of the connector, wherein the contact receptacle of the position assurance element, in a state inserted into the connector housing, is arranged disposed in the row. In other words, the contact receptacle of the position assurance element can be arranged along a line with the contact receptacles of the connector housing. In this case in particular, the connector can be a multi-contact connector with a plurality of contact receptacles arranged along a row. The connector preferably comprises several rows of contact receptacles.

[0013] As an alternative to the above configuration, in which the contact receptacle in the position assurance element is arranged in a row with at least two contact receptacles of the connector housing, the contact receptacle of the position assurance element can also be arranged outside a row formed by the other contact receptacles.

[0014] The connector housing and the at least one position assurance element, in a state where the position assurance element is inserted into the connector housing, preferably form a common connector face. The position assurance element can thereby form part of the connector face with its at least one contact receptacle. Said state preferably represents an end position or end state for the position assurance element.

[0015] In the state inserted into the connector housing, one end of the contact receptacle of the position assurance element on the connector face side preferably aligns flush with one end of at least one contact receptacle of the connector housing on the connector face side. As a result, contact elements inserted into the contact receptacles can be arranged flush with one another on the connector face.

[0016] According to a further configuration of the connector according to the invention, it can comprise an electrical contact element in the contact receptacle of the position assurance element and at least one electrical contact element in a contact receptacle of the connector housing. The connector preferably comprises at least one electrical contact element in each contact receptacle in the connector housing and one in the position assurance element.

[0017] The at least one electrical contact element in the contact receptacle of the position assurance element and the at least one electrical contact element in the contact receptacle of the connector housing are substantially identical. This can simplify the manufacture of the connector, since different contact elements for the connector housing and the position assurance element can be dispensed with.

[0018] According to a further advantageous configuration of the connector, a pre-latched position is provided for the at least one position assurance element in which a contact element inserted into the position assurance element is spaced apart from the connector face. In other words, the electrical contact element does not align flush with the other contact elements in the connector housing in the pre-latched position. This ensures that the other electrical contact elements in the connector housing are first connected to mating contact elements when the connector is connected to a mating connector. The contact element in the position assurance element is connected in an electrically conductively manner to a corresponding mating contact element only when the position assurance element has reached its final position.

[0019] In the pre-latched position, a contact element inserted into the position assurance element is preferably spaced apart in an electrically insulating manner from a mating contact element in a mating connector that can be connected to the connector. Consequently, an electrically conductive connection between the contact element inserted into the position assurance element and the corresponding mating contact element is established only when the position assurance element has reached its final position. The contact element inserted into the position assurance element is therefore connected to its mating contact element as the last contact element of the connector. Since the position assurance element can be moved to its final position preferably only when the remaining connector housing is connected to the mating connector, i.e. when the contact elements of the connector housing are also connected to their corresponding mating contact elements, the electrical connection of the contact element in the position assurance element to its mating contact element provides certainty about the secure connection of the connector to a mating connector.

[0020] The position assurance element of the connector according to the invention preferably comprises at least one housing section surrounding the contact receptacle at least in part and at least one position assurance section with at least one latching device for latching the position assurance element in the connector housing. The position assurance element preferably comprises several latching devices, wherein the latching devices are configured such that both a pre-latched position as well as an end position can be taken.

[0021] The at least one housing section and the at least one position assurance section of the position assurance element can be spaced apart from one another at least in sections transverse to a direction of insertion of the position assurance element and, preferably, connected to one another by way of a bridge. The bridge is preferably a material bridge formed monolithically with the two sections.

[0022] The invention shall be explained hereafter in more detail by way of example using an advantageous embodiment with reference to the drawings. The feature combinations illustrated in the embodiment by way of example can respectively be supplemented subject to the above explanations by other features for a particular case of application. Individual features can also be omitted in the embodiment described subject to the above explanations when the effect of this feature is irrelevant in a specific case of application.

[0023] The same reference numerals in the drawings are always used for elements of the same function and / or the same structure, where: Fig. 1shows a schematic perspective illustration of a position assurance element with a contact element provided for this position assurance element; Figs. 2 and 3show the position assurance element from Figure 1 in a pre-latched position in a connector housing; Figs. 4 and 5show the connector housing with the position assurance element from Figures 2 and 3 inserted into a housing of a mating connector; and Fig. 6shows a cross section through a connector assembly with the connector inserted completely into the mating connector and the position assurance element in its end position.

[0024] The structure and the function of a connector 1 according to the invention with a connector housing 3 and a position assurance element 5 shall be discussed below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Connector 1 shown there is only an example. Other different forms of a connector are also possible, provided that the latter comprises a connector housing and a position assurance element.

[0025] Connector housing 3 comprises several contact receptacles 7 for contact elements 9 (indicated only by dashed lines in Figure 2). Connector housing 3 can be plugged together with a mating connector (presently not yet shown) for connecting contact elements 9 to corresponding mating contact elements in an electrically conductive manner.

[0026] Connector housing 3 comprises a latching tab 11 with which it can be latched to a housing of a mating connector. In order to prevent unintentional release of latching tab 11, a receptacle 13 for position assurance element 5 is provided adjoining latching tab 11. In the state inserted into the receptacle, position assurance element 5 prevents a deflection of latching tab 11 so that the connector housing cannot be removed from the housing of the mating connector before position assurance element 5 has been removed. Such a function of a position assurance element 5 is known and is also referred to in technical terminology as "CPA", meaning "connector position assurance device".

[0027] Position assurance element 5 according to the invention is itself provided with one contact receptacle 15 for an electrical contact element 17. Contact receptacle 15 is preferably substantially identical to one of contact receptacles 7. In other words, contact elements 9 are preferably of the same design as contact elements 17 so that contact elements of the same design can be used both for position assurance element 5 as well as for the remainder of connector housing 3.

[0028] For receiving at least one contact element 17, position assurance element 5 is provided with a housing section 19 at least in part surrounding contact receptacle 15. Housing section 19 is configured such that an electrical contact element 17 can be securely held therein. Housing section 19 preferably extends parallel to a direction of insertion 21 along which a contact element 17 can be inserted into contact receptacle 15.

[0029] Direction of insertion 21 for a contact element 17 preferably, but not necessarily, runs parallel to direction of insertion 23 along which position assurance element 5 can be inserted into receptacle 13. In the embodiment shown, directions 21 and 23 are parallel to one another.

[0030] Position assurance element 5 comprises a position assurance section 25 transverse to direction of insertion 23 spaced apart from housing section 19. Position assurance section 25 comprises latching devices 27 and 29 which assume the typical functions of position assurance element 5. This includes both the temporary latching in a pre-latched position 31, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and latching in an end position when connector 1 is plugged together with a mating connector.

[0031] Two sections 16 and 25 are preferably connected to one another by way of a material bridge 33. Material bridge 33 is preferably seated on an end of position assurance element 5 that is disposed opposite to direction of insertion 23 in order not to obstruct the insertion of position assurance element 5 into receptacle 13.

[0032] In the embodiment shown, connector housing 3 comprises two rows 35 of contact receptacles 7. Rows 35 extend parallel to one another and transverse to a plug-in direction 37 along which connector 1 can be connected to a mating connector. In the embodiment shown, direction of insertion 37 is parallel to direction of insertion 23 and also parallel to direction of insertion 21. However, this is not mandatory.

[0033] Contact receptacles 7 are accessible on one side of connector housing 3 from the outside for connecting to mating contact elements of a mating connector so that a connector face 39 is formed on this side. Connector face 39 is shown in Figure 3.

[0034] In a state in which position assurance element 5 is inserted completely into receptacle 13, i.e. in the end position of position assurance element 5 (shown as end position 55 in Figure 6), position assurance element 5 complements connector face 39, at least with its housing section 19. Contact receptacle 15 of position assurance element 5 is then disposed within one of rows 35. In Figure 3, this is upper row 35. Contact receptacle 15 of position assurance element 5 preferably aligns flush along direction of insertion 23 with contact receptacles 7 of connector housing 3.

[0035] In a state 55 of position assurance element 5 being inserted completely into connector housing 3, in particular an end 41 of contact receptacle 15 on the connector face side aligns flush with an end 43 of at least one of contact receptacles 7 of the connector housing on the connector face side.

[0036] Connector 1 from Figures 2 and 3 is shown in Figures 4 and 5, where position assurance element 5 is still disposed in pre-latched position 31. Connector 1 is shown already inserted completely into housing 45 of a mating connector 47. Latching tab 11 is already arranged in a latching receptacle 49 of housing 45.

[0037] Connector 1 and mating connector 47 together form a connector assembly 51.

[0038] In pre-latched position 31, contact element 17 received in contact receptacle 15 of position assurance element 5 is not yet electrically connected to a mating contact element 53 of mating connector 47. Instead, contact element 17 is spaced in an electrically insulating manner from mating contact element 53.

[0039] Contact elements 9 which are arranged in contact receptacles 7 of connector housing 3, however, can already be connected at this time in an electrically conductively manner to their corresponding mating contact elements 53. It can be electrically detected that no electrically conductive connection has yet been established between contact element 17 and mating contact element 53. As a result, it is known that position assurance element 5 is not yet inserted completely into its receptacle 13 and therefore connector 1 is not yet completely and securely connected to mating connector 47.

[0040] To completely secure connector 1 to mating connector 47, position assurance element 5 is moved further along direction of insertion 23 into receptacle 13. This can be done, for example, by pressing bridge 33 manually or in an automated manner.

[0041] When position assurance element 5 has been inserted completely into receptacle 13, position assurance element 5 is in its end position 55. This is shown in Figure 6.

[0042] In end position 55 of position assurance element 5, latching tab 11 is secured against any motion out of latching receptacle 49. As a result, connector 1 and mating connector 47 are secured against unintentional release.

[0043] At the same time, contact element 17 and mating contact element 53 are electrically contacted in end position 55. As a result, all of contact elements 9 and 17 of connector 1 are connected in an electrically conductive manner to their corresponding mating contact elements 53 of mating connector 47.

[0044] By establishing electrical contact between contact element 17 of position assurance element 5 and mating contact element 53, it can be detected that position assurance element 5 has reached its end position 55. This provides the information about the completed connection of connector 1 to mating connector 47.Reference numerals

[0045] 1connector 3connector housing 5position assurance element 7contact receptacles 9contact elements 11latching tab 13receptacle 15contact receptacle 17contact element 19housing section 21direction of insertion for an electrical contact element 23direction of insertion for the position assurance element 25position assurance section 27latching device 29latching device 31pre-latched position 33material bridge 35row 37plug-in direction 39connector face 41end of a contact receptacle of the position assurance element on the connector face side 43end of a contact receptacle of the connector housing on the connector face side 45housing 47mating connector 49latching receptacle 51connector assembly 53mating contact element 55end position

Claims

1. Connector (1) with a connector housing (3) and at least one connector position assurance element (5), wherein said connector housing (3) comprises at least one contact receptacle (7) for an electrical contact element (9, 17) and at least one receptacle (13) for said at least one position assurance element (5), wherein said at least one connector position assurance element (5) is provided with one contact receptacle (15) for an electrical contact element (9, 17), characterized in that said contact receptacle (15) in said position assurance element (5) and said at least one contact receptacle (7) in said connector housing (3) are substantially identical.

2. Connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said connector housing (3) comprises at least two contact receptacles (7) which are arranged in a row (35) transverse to a plug-in direction (37) of said connector (1), wherein said contact receptacle (15) of said position assurance element (5), in a state (55) inserted into said connector housing (3), is arranged disposed in said row (35).

3. Connector (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said connector housing (3) and said at least one position assurance element (5), in a state (55) in which said position assurance element (5) is inserted into said connector housing (3), form a common connector face (39).

4. Connector (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that, in said state (55) inserted into said connector housing (3), one end (41) of said contact receptacle (15) of said position assurance element (5) on the connector face side aligns flush with one end (43) of at least one contact receptacle (7) of said connector housing (3) on the connector face side.

5. Connector (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said connector (1) comprises an electrical contact element (9, 17) in said contact receptacle (15) of said position assurance element (5) and at least one electrical contact element (9, 17) in a contact receptacle (7) of said connector housing (3).

6. Connector (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said electrical contact element (9, 17) in said contact receptacle (15) of said position assurance element (5) and said at least one electrical contact element (9, 17) in said contact receptacle (7) of said connector housing (3) are substantially identical.

7. Connector (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a pre-latched position (31) is provided for said at least one position assurance element (5) in which a contact element (9, 17) inserted into said position assurance element (5) is spaced apart from said connector face (39).

8. Connector (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, in said pre-latched position (31), a contact element (9, 17) inserted into said position assurance element (5) is spaced in an electrically insulating manner from a mating contact element (53) in a mating connector (47) that is connectable to said connector (1).

9. Connector (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said position assurance element (5) comprises at least one housing section (19) surrounding said contact receptacle (15) at least in part and at least one position assurance section (25) with at least one latching device (27, 29) for latching said position assurance element (5) in said connector housing.

10. Connector (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said at least one housing section (19) and said at least one position securing section (25) are spaced apart from one another at least in sections transverse to a direction of insertion (23) of said position assurance element (5).

11. Connector assembly (51) comprising a connector (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 10 and a mating connector (47) with at least one mating contact element (53) for establishing electrical contact with a contact element (9, 17) of said connector (1), characterized in that an end position (55) is provided in which said connector (1) is connected to said mating connector (47) for establishing electrical contact of said contact elements (9, 17) with said mating contact elements (53) and said position assurance element (5) being inserted into said connector housing (3) for securing the connection of said connector (1) to said mating connector (47), wherein an electrical contact element (9, 17) in said contact receptacle (15) of said position assurance element (5) is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a mating contact element (53) of said mating connector (47).

12. Method for connecting a connector (1) to a mating connector (47), wherein all contact elements (9, 17) of said connector (1) are electrically connected to mating contact elements (53) of said mating connector (47) only when a position assurance element (5) of said connector (1) with one contact element (9, 17) arranged in said position assurance element (5) is brought into an end position (55), in which said position assurance element (5) is inserted completely into a receptacle (13) in said connector housing (3), and said contact element (9, 17) of said position assurance element (5) establishes electrical contact with one mating contact element (53) of said mating connector (47).

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein an electrical connection between said contact element (9, 17) in said position assurance element (5) to a mating contact element (53) of said mating connector (47) is electrically detected and the secure connection between said connector (1) and said mating connector (47) is thus determined.