Electrical plug comprising an electrical circuit

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical plug (2) comprising an electrical circuit (3), said electrical circuit (3) having an input-side interface (30) with at least one input-side contact point (16) for connecting at least one signal conductor (10) of at least one electrical lead (5). In addition, the electrical circuit (3) has an output-side interface (31) with at least one output-side contact point (16'). According to the invention, the electrical circuit (3) has a transmission option from the input-side interface (30) to the output-side interface (31), at least for controlling impedance, and the design of the input-side interface (30) differs from the design of the output-side interface (31).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electrical connector with an electrical circuit according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Connectors for disconnecting and connecting cables are well known and are used in a wide variety of forms, particularly in electrical engineering. A connector can be a plug, a socket, a coupling, or an adapter. In particular, the connector can be used to connect at least one cable and / or at least one printed circuit board (PCB). The term "connector" used within the scope of the invention is representative of all variants.

[0003] Due in part to the ongoing development of digital technology, signal processing systems, which sometimes require interconnection via cables and connectors, are becoming increasingly complex. To ensure a sufficiently high data rate and signal quality over the cable connection, additional circuit components are regularly required.

[0004] In particular, to achieve high data rates, it may be necessary to take into account the installed cable lengths and, for example, to match impedances or characteristic resistances and / or to process the signals to be transmitted in an application-specific manner, i.e., to attenuate, amplify, linearize or manipulate them in other ways.

[0005] Ultimately, this results in a wide variety of options regarding the components required for signal processing, which usually have to be provided individually by the manufacturers.

[0006] It has been shown that integrating circuit components and sometimes entire printed circuit boards into a cable assembly or connector can offer manufacturing advantages. Such connectors are known, for example, from US 7,775,833 B1 and US 5,955,703. Such systems can offer an economic advantage because system components can be designed identically, with only the cable arrangements requiring individual adaptation.

[0007] Electrical connectors are also known (see, for example, US 6,179,668 B1 or JP 2001 143833 A) in which the electrical circuit boards remain accessible after assembly, allowing for flexible and as-needed adjustments to the wiring within the connector. However, such connectors are not equally suitable for all applications, particularly safety-critical ones, as the accessibility poses a high risk of tampering with the connection. US2014276333 A1 proposes a connector that incorporates at least one movable circuit board, which can be moved, for example, between two different positions.

[0008] Depending on the application, replacing a cable can sometimes be quick and easy, unlike replacing other system components. Such a replacement may be necessary for many reasons, such as damage, system modification, or system expansion.

[0009] However, even replacing cables can be difficult in many cases. This is especially true for the automotive and aerospace industries. For example, due to space constraints, cables in a vehicle are usually only accessible in certain areas, such as around connectors, without significant disassembly.

[0010] Furthermore, even the production of different cable arrangements in the variety that is usually necessary is complex and costly.

[0011] Another problem with conventional connectors is that a cable interface usually requires a fanning out to meet the geometric requirements of the connector interface. However, such a fanning out is particularly critical for the transmission of high-frequency signals and can negatively affect signal quality.

[0012] For further technical background, reference is made to US 2006 / 276064 A1, which concerns an electrical connector with an integrated electronic component. US 5,989,069 A also concerns a printed circuit board connector with an integrated filter module. Finally, US 2016 / 365673 A1 concerns a cable assembly and connector for high-speed data transmission.

[0013] The present invention is based on the objective of providing an electrical connector in which, in particular, the adaptation of the wiring is even easier than with the current state of the art.

[0014] This problem is solved for the connector with the features listed in claim 1. The dependent claims and the features described below relate to advantageous embodiments and variants of the invention.

[0015] The electrical connector according to the invention comprises an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit has an input-side interface with at least one input-side contact point to connect at least one signal conductor to at least one electrical line.

[0016] An electrical line is any device for transporting or transmitting electrical energy for data transmission and / or electrical supply. Preferably, the electrical line is an electrical cable consisting of a network of several individual conductors. An electrical cable generally has a ground conductor or outer conductor and one or more signal conductors in the form of inner conductors.

[0017] However, it may also be provided for in the context of the invention that the electrical conductor is an electrical conductor of an electrical device, a further connector or an electrical conductor on a printed circuit board, for example a microstrip conductor or a connection point to a microstrip conductor.

[0018] The term "ground conductor" can be understood to mean any electrical conductor that carries a ground potential or any other reference potential.

[0019] The term "signal conductor" can be understood to mean any conductor for the transmission of electrical data signals and / or electrical supply signals.

[0020] For better understanding, the invention is described below primarily using the connection with an electrical cable. This is not to be understood as a limitation. Those skilled in the art will readily understand the terms "cable," "outer conductor," and "inner conductor" to be more general terms such as "wire," "ground conductor," and "signal conductor."

[0021] Preferably, the connector can have a housing for receiving at least one electrical conductor, for example, for receiving an electrical cable.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, a single cable can be accommodated by the housing. For accommodating the at least one cable, it may be advantageous to provide means, well known from the prior art, for sealing and / or for absorbing tensile forces acting on the cable.

[0023] The housing can be electrically conductive, for example made of metal, or preferably electrically non-conductive, for example made of plastic. A combination of both is also possible. Using a plastic housing is generally easier from a manufacturing perspective and, depending on the application, can also offer advantages from an electrical engineering point of view due to its insulating properties.

[0024] According to the invention, the electrical circuit further comprises an output-side interface with at least one output-side contact point.

[0025] According to the invention, the electrical connector further comprises at least one input-side contact that can be connected to the at least one signal conductor of the at least one electrical line (for example, a cable inner conductor of an electrical cable), and at least one output-side contact that can preferably be electrically connected to at least one connector inner conductor of the connector.

[0026] Depending on the embodiment, the input-side contact of the connector, to which the electrical line is connected or to which the at least one cable is connected to the at least one inner conductor, and the output-side contact of the connector may initially not be electrically connected to each other without further measures and configurations described below.

[0027] In one embodiment, the at least one input contact and the at least one output contact are spatially separated from each other and preferably arranged opposite each other. Preferably, the ends of the input contacts and the output contacts facing each other are arranged in two opposing planes.

[0028] However, it is also possible that the input contact of the connector and the output contact of the connector, preferably the input contacts and the output contacts, are electrically connected to each other without any further measures.

[0029] It may be provided that a single-pole or a multi-pole connector is used. That is, it may be provided that one input-side contact and one output-side contact, or more than one input-side contact and more than one output-side contact. Preferably, two to twenty input-side contacts are provided, more preferably three to ten, and most preferably up to four. The number of output-side contacts is preferably configured analogously.

[0030] It may also be intended that the number of input contacts and output contacts differs from each other.

[0031] Furthermore, the number of signal conductors or cable inner conductors and input-side contacts, as well as the number of connector inner conductors and output-side contacts, can also differ. For example, several signal conductors or cable inner conductors can be connected to the same input-side contact. Similarly, the number of input-side and output-side contact points can be arbitrary.

[0032] The electrical connector may also include shielding means that can be electrically connected to a ground conductor of the at least one electrical line (e.g., an outer conductor of the at least one cable).

[0033] Shielding against unwanted electrical or electromagnetic interference is particularly advantageous for achieving high data rates. It has been shown that it is beneficial if not only the signal line or cable itself, but also the connector and its electrical components preferably have high electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and thus suitable shielding means.

[0034] According to the invention, the electrical circuit has a transmission capability, at least for impedance control, from the input-side interface to the output-side interface. The transmission capability can be individually configured for each line, signal conductor, contact, or signal to be transmitted, regardless of the number of electrical lines and / or signal conductors.

[0035] According to the invention, the design of the input-side interface differs from the design of the output-side interface.

[0036] According to the invention, an electrical and preferably modular connector is provided which, through the use of a specific electrical circuit, e.g., a printed circuit board with desired electronics, exhibits, for example, signal-enhancing properties. The functions of the connector can thus be defined by various electrical circuits. The connector and the electrical conductor connected to it can be manufactured identically for a multitude of applications. By using different electrical circuits, the connectors can then be individually adapted to the specific application variant. Furthermore, the installation or assembly of the electrical circuit is straightforward.

[0037] The electrical circuit preferably includes at least one electrical component.

[0038] A different design of the interfaces can be achieved in particular through the respective arrangement of the contact points relative to each other, for example a respective center-to-center distance ("pitch"), the geometric shape of the interfaces or contact points, the type of contacting and / or the contact material.

[0039] In a further development of the invention, it can be provided in particular that the electrical circuit is designed as a printed circuit board, preferably as a double-sided printed circuit board (with two printed circuit board layers) or as a multi-layer printed circuit board with more than two printed circuit board layers, as a multi-chip module, as a system-in-package, as a system-on-chip and / or as an integrated circuit.

[0040] In a particularly preferred variant, the electrical circuit can be designed as a printed circuit board with one or more printed circuit board layers, wherein the printed circuit board can, for example, have conductor tracks, vias and / or electrical components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors and / or semiconductor circuits up to complex integrated circuits or microchips or application-specific integrated circuits ("Application Specific Integrated Circuits", ASICs).

[0041] In this context, a printed circuit board with multiple layers, i.e., also a "multilayer printed circuit board", can also be understood as a system consisting of several (populated or unpopulated) single-sided or double-sided printed circuit boards.

[0042] To form the electrical circuit, it may also be possible to arrange several microchips on top of each other and / or next to each other in a common chip package ("package") in the manner of a so-called "multi-chip module", wherein the microchips within the chip package are connected to each other and / or to the contact points of the chip package or the electrical circuit via so-called bond wires - or by another known connection technology.

[0043] Finally, the electrical circuit can also be designed as a "system-in-package", in which one or more microchips together with at least one other electrical component (e.g. together with coupling capacitors) are arranged within a common chip package and are connected to each other and / or to the contact points of the electrical circuit by bond wires (or in some other way).

[0044] It can also be a so-called "system-on-chip" or a conventional microchip or a single application-specific integrated circuit in a chip package with contact points arranged on the chip package to implement the electrical circuit.

[0045] For the sake of simplicity, the invention will below be described essentially by using a printed circuit board as an electrical circuit. However, this is not to be understood as a limitation.

[0046] Preferably, the electrical circuit, in particular a multilayer printed circuit board, can have a metallization on at least one surface, preferably on all outwardly facing surfaces.

[0047] According to the invention, the input-side interface and the output-side interface of the electrical circuit each form a contact surface that runs or is arranged orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the connector.

[0048] The longitudinal axis of the connector preferably also corresponds to the insertion direction of the connector for connection with a second connector. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis can run along a feed axis of the electrical conductor. However, the feed of the electrical conductor can also be at any angle, in particular perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis.

[0049] Because the contact surfaces of the two interfaces are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the connector, they can be connected particularly easily to at least one signal conductor of at least one electrical line and at least one inner conductor of the connector. In this case, the electrical connection can also provide a particularly high transmission quality, which can be especially advantageous for high-frequency technology.

[0050] In further training, it may also be stipulated that the contact points of the electrical circuit are designed as flat contacts and / or sliding contacts and / or solder pads and / or spring contacts (e.g. pogo pins) and / or plug contacts (male or female).

[0051] Further training may also include provisions for the contact points of the connector to be designed as flat contacts and / or sliding contacts and / or solder pads and / or spring contacts (e.g. pogo pins) and / or plug contacts (male or female).

[0052] The contact options between the connector and the electrical circuit can be arbitrary; for example, SMD crimp contacts, simple solder contacts that can be inserted into corresponding solder points on a circuit board or circuit board layer, and / or so-called "press-fit" contacts can be provided.

[0053] According to the invention, the electrical circuitry is permanently installed within the connector or designed to be inaccessible after assembly and is permanently connected to the contacts via its contact points. This should be advantageous for many applications.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, which is not part of the invention, it may be provided that the connector has a receptacle for the electrical circuit and a locking element for closing an access opening of the receptacle.

[0055] The device can preferably be arranged in such a way that it spatially separates the at least one input-side contact and the at least one output-side contact from each other, or is located between the at least one input-side contact and the at least one output-side contact.

[0056] This variant makes it possible to design the connector in such a way that the at least one input-side contact and the at least one output-side contact of the electrical connector only make contact with each other when the electrical circuit is inserted into the receptacle.

[0057] In an embodiment not part of the invention, the electrical circuit can be inserted between the at least one input-side contact and the at least one output-side contact such that a contact point(s) of an input-side contact surface of the electrical circuit contacts the at least one input-side contact, and a contact point(s) of an output-side contact surface of the electrical circuit (preferably running parallel to the first surface and oriented in the opposite direction) contacts the at least one output-side contact. Thus, even an end user could decide on the functionality to be installed or easily modify the functionality, for example, by adding a functional extension.

[0058] For most applications, it would likely be advantageous if the electrical circuit that can be inserted into the receptacle is only installed once by the manufacturer, thereby defining the functionality of the connector or the cable connected to it.

[0059] The described connector can be used to great advantage, particularly in the automotive sector. Components can be modified quickly and cost-effectively without requiring any intervention in the adjacent electronics or the replacement of an entire cable, circuit board, and / or device, such as a control unit.

[0060] The connector according to the invention can also be used in the form of an adapter or adapter plug.

[0061] It is also possible for the electrical circuit to be used as an activation module for extended functions that can be purchased by an end customer, for example. The connector can thus be used to create an access control system.

[0062] In one embodiment of the invention, the electrical circuit, when inserted into the receptacle, can be positioned between the at least one input-side contact and the at least one output-side contact. The contacts and / or contact points can be implemented with the same type of contact or with different types of contact. Any combination is possible.

[0063] Particularly when the electrical circuit is to be inserted into the housing, the aforementioned contact point designs (flat contacts, sliding contacts, solder pads, spring contacts and / or plug contacts, etc.) have proven advantageous. Of course, other contact options are also possible, for example, designs with contact blades and corresponding receptacles for the contact blades, and the like.

[0064] It can be provided that even if the electrical circuit is not inserted into the housing, at least one input-side contact and at least one output-side contact remain in contact. The connector would thus be usable even in this state, at least in a basic version.

[0065] In one embodiment, it may also be provided that, when the contacts of the connector are designed as spring contacts, the relaxed length of the springs and / or the distances between the contacts are selected such that at least one input-side contact and at least one output-side contact make contact even when the electrical circuit is not inserted into the receptacle.

[0066] In this case, it is advisable to arrange the contact pair, composed of an input contact and an output contact, opposite each other in a line.

[0067] It may also be intended that no contact exists without an electrical circuit being used.

[0068] This can be achieved, even when the contacts are designed as spring contacts, for example by an offset arrangement of the contacts of a contact pair, i.e., not lying on a line.

[0069] It may be provided that, when using a multi-pole connector, some contacts make contact even when the electrical circuit is not in use, while other contacts only make contact when the electrical circuit is in use.

[0070] Depending on the application, it may be necessary to integrate additional electrical components, for example for signal processing, into the connector via the electrical circuit.

[0071] For example, the transmission technology can be optimally adapted to the transmission channel. Signal integrity can then be maintained, for example, over long distances, whereby the electrical circuitry can be adapted to the channel length and / or channel type, such as cable length and cable type.

[0072] Alternatively or additionally, the electrical circuit can also allow for rewiring of the connector.

[0073] Further training may provide that the locking element is at least partially made of an electrically conductive material and that, when the locking element closes the access opening of the receptacle, it electrically contacts means for shielding the connector.

[0074] A direct or indirect electrical connection of the locking element to means for shielding the connector, preferably to a ground conductor of the at least one electrical line or to a live conductor of the at least one cable, can advantageously improve the shielding of the connector and the electrical circuit or printed circuit board, as well as optionally other components within the connector. The electromagnetic compatibility of the connector can thus be increased. In this context, a contact area that is as large and complete as possible, and therefore also low-resistance, can be advantageous.

[0075] It may be provided that the locking element has at least one contact spring which electrically contacts the means for shielding the connector when the locking element closes the access opening of the receptacle.

[0076] The use of a contact spring has proven to be a particularly reliable electrical connection. Regardless of surface roughness, manufacturing tolerances, and the mechanical and thermal stresses on the connector during operation, a defined contact is guaranteed. By using the contact spring, a wide tolerance range can be compensated for, and a "hole" in the connector's shielding can be avoided at all times.

[0077] In particular, it may be provided that the closure element is made of plastic with an electrically conductive attachment or (preferably entirely) of metal.

[0078] A conductive attachment is understood to mean, in particular, a sheet metal part or a structure that can be attached to the side of the locking element facing the inside of the connector, for example, by clipping or gluing. The conductive attachment can preferably be formed integrally with a contact spring. It can also be provided that a contact spring is electrically connected to the conductive attachment or to the metal of the locking element. The contact spring can preferably establish an electrically conductive connection between the shielding means of the connector and the locking element or the attachment when the locking element is inserted into the access opening.

[0079] In one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the closure element has a seal for sealing the access opening.

[0080] A seal refers specifically to a mechanical seal against contamination and / or to protect against the ingress of liquids. This can be a rubber-like or foam-like material, or something similar.

[0081] In one embodiment, it may also be provided that the locking element can be fixed in the housing of the connector and / or in the means for shielding the connector and / or the receptacle by means of a force-fit and / or material-fit and / or form-fit, preferably by clamping and / or screwing and / or gluing and / or soldering.

[0082] Depending on the application, complexity and space requirements, the use of a simple closure element, for example in the form of a sheet metal piece, can be advantageous.

[0083] It is also possible for the electrical circuit, in particular a printed circuit board, to be formed as a single unit with the locking element. Thus, it is possible for the electrical circuit or printed circuit board itself to close the access opening of the receptacle after it has been inserted.

[0084] Furthermore, it may be provided that the electrical circuit has a circuit shield, and that at least one contact element is or are provided on the means for shielding the connector and / or on the ground conductor of the at least one electrical line and / or on the locking element and / or on the electrical circuit in order to electrically contact the circuit shield with the ground conductor of the at least one electrical line when the electrical circuit is inserted into the receptacle.

[0085] If necessary, it may also be provided to electrically connect the circuit shielding to at least one signal conductor of the at least one electrical line, in particular if a signal conductor carries a defined potential, for example a ground potential, which is suitable to form a sufficiently good shield.

[0086] Separate shielding of the electrical circuitry, e.g., shielding of the printed circuit board in addition to the shielding provided by the connector itself, can be advantageous for achieving even better electromagnetic compatibility of the connector. Even if electromagnetic leakage were to occur in the connector surrounding the electrical circuitry, for example, due to damage, the sensitive electronics, such as the circuitry on the printed circuit board, would still be shielded.

[0087] In principle, it is preferable to redundantly protect the connector against electromagnetic interference by means of shielding (possibly including shielding by the locking element) and by contacting the circuit shield.

[0088] If the electrical circuit is designed as a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB), the PCB can, for example, have a circumferential surface and edge metallization made of metal, preferably copper, to form the circuit shield. This circumferential metallization represents a particularly simple and effective way to shield the PCB from electromagnetic radiation. It is intended that the contact points are excluded from the continuous metallization so that they are not in conductive contact with the circuit shield.

[0089] In a further development of the invention, the electrical connector can also be designed in two parts, wherein the electrical circuit is arranged on a first part of the connector or a second part of the connector, and wherein the first part of the connector can be connected to the second part of the connector by a material-fit, form-fit, and / or force-fit connection. Preferably, the two parts of the connector are clipped together.

[0090] The replacement element to exchange the electronics or the functionality of the connector can therefore be an electrical circuit and / or a part of the connector with an electrical circuit.

[0091] A two-part connector design can be advantageous, particularly as an alternative to inserting the electrical circuit, since in this case, the electrical circuit can also be easily replaced by replacing one part, for example, the first part of the connector. The first part of the connector can be the part that connects to the electrical conductor or the part that makes contact with a second connector.

[0092] The two parts of the connector can be slid onto and / or into each other and / or plugged in.

[0093] In a further development of the invention, it can also be provided that the electrical circuit is arranged on the first part or the second part of the connector in such a way that the electrical circuit is positioned between the first part of the connector and the second part of the connector when the two parts of the connector are connected to each other.

[0094] Alternatively, the electrical circuit can also be arranged within a part, for example the first part, of the connector such that it is not located at the connection point with the second part of the connector. Preferably, however, the electrical circuit is arranged at the front or end face of the first part of the connector, which makes electrical contact with the other part of the connector particularly easy.

[0095] In one embodiment of the invention, the electrical circuit can also be divided between the two parts. For example, the electrical circuit can be designed in two parts, with a first part of the electrical circuit being arranged on the first part of the connector and a second part of the electrical circuit being arranged on the second part of the connector. The two parts of the electrical circuit can optionally be designed and / or arranged such that they make direct contact, at least partially, when the two parts of the connector are connected. For this purpose, the two parts of the electrical circuit can be arranged, in particular, on the respective end faces of the two parts of the connector.

[0096] In a training course, it may be stipulated that the input-side contact points of the input-side interface have a first pitch and the output-side contact points of the output-side interface have a second pitch.

[0097] The invention can then be advantageously used to avoid a conventional fanning area within a connector and to adapt the input-side and output-side interfaces in an impedance-controlled manner. For example, this allows a narrow cable interface to be fanned out into a wider connector interface.

[0098] The fanned-out areas known from the prior art can, as is well known, cause interference in the transmission path, which is particularly disadvantageous for the transmission of high-frequency signals. The electrical circuit according to the invention makes it possible to ensure that the two interfaces have the same impedance in a simple manner. For this purpose, for example, a printed circuit board can be provided whose microstrip lines and vias, and optionally other electrical components, compensate for the capacitive behavior of the transition from the respective inner conductors or signal conductors. Thus, the circuit according to the invention provides a reflection-free pitch change.

[0099] In a further development of the invention, it can also be provided that the input-side interface is designed according to a first connector standard and the output-side interface according to a second connector standard.

[0100] A connector standard refers to a basic design of a connector, particularly an interface of the connector. This can be a standardized form (e.g., a standardized RJ connector) or a proprietary design or individual form.

[0101] The electrical circuit according to the invention enables a transition optimally suited for high-frequency technology to be provided even with differing connector standards between the two interfaces. Differences between the interfaces, which would generally have a negative impact on signal transmission, such as, in particular, different cable lengths, center-to-center distances (pitch), relative positioning of the contact points or contacts, geometry or size of the individual contact points or contacts, and material type of the individual contact points or contacts, can be electrically compensated for or adapted by a suitably selected electrical circuit.

[0102] In a further development of the invention, it can be provided in particular that the transmission capability is set up to provide reflection-free signal transmission between the at least one electrical line and a second electrical connector and / or the at least one electrical line and one of the two parts of the connector and / or at least between the input-side interface and the output-side interface.

[0103] If the design and routing of the electrical conductor and the corresponding second connector are known, the electrical circuit can therefore be optimally designed to ensure high-frequency signal transmission.

[0104] In a variant of the invention, it may also be provided that the at least one signal conductor of the at least one electrical line is directly connected to the at least one input-side contact point and / or is connected via at least one contact line.

[0105] In a further development of the invention, it can be provided that the electrical conductor is designed as a further circuit board and that the at least one signal conductor of the further circuit board is connected to the at least one input-side contact point via at least one contact line.

[0106] If the connector is designed as a PCB connector and is therefore intended to be connected to another circuit board rather than a cable on the input side, then appropriate contact leads can be used, which can be soldered onto or into the other circuit board. These contact leads can be used specifically for connecting the signal conductors or signal-carrying electrical lines of the other circuit board, but also for connecting a ground conductor of the other circuit board.

[0107] In a further development of the invention, it can be provided in particular that the transmission capability is set up to equalize different signal propagation times between the signal conductors of the further circuit board and the input-side contact points of the electrical circuit, in particular due to different lengths of the contact lines.

[0108] Depending on the electrical connection, and especially when using a connector designed as an angled PCB connector, different signal propagation times can occur due to the varying lengths of the contact traces. This can be particularly problematic when transmitting high-frequency signals. This problem can be solved relatively easily by using a suitably designed electrical circuit, for example, by compensating for these differences with the aforementioned microstrip traces on a printed circuit board.

[0109] In a further development of the invention, it can be provided that at least one electrical component is integrated into the electrical circuit (in particular into the printed circuit board), wherein a thermally conductive layer is formed immediately adjacent to at least one of the electrical components, and wherein the thermally conductive layer comprises an electrically insulating polymer support material, in particular synthetic resin and / or epoxy resin, and / or further comprises aluminium oxide and / or boron nitride.

[0110] Particularly when using a double-sided printed circuit board or a multilayer printed circuit board with more than two layers, i.e., especially in a sandwich-like structure, a thermally conductive layer can be provided for cooling electrical components. Specifically, such a thermally conductive layer can be arranged between two printed circuit boards. The thermally conductive layer can, for example, be in the form of a foam.

[0111] Foams are artificially produced materials with a cellular structure and low density. Almost all plastics are suitable for foaming. Foam-like, thermally conductive layers can therefore be easily processed in multilayer printed circuit boards, on printed circuit boards, and in / on any electrical circuit, and have a positive effect on the material consumption of the substrate.

[0112] Synthetic resin provides good electrical insulation and can be further processed to increase its thermal conductivity. Furthermore, synthetic resin is a cost-effective material that can be applied to an electrical circuit, such as a printed circuit board with electronic components, with a small number of processing steps.

[0113] By combining synthetic resin with aluminum oxide or boron nitride, a particularly favorable compromise between the desired properties of "low electrical conductivity" and "high thermal conductivity" can be achieved. A combination of synthetic resin, aluminum oxide, and boron nitride is also suitable.

[0114] A combination of epoxy resin and aluminum oxide or boron nitride is also suitable. A combination containing epoxy resin, aluminum oxide, and boron nitride is also suitable.

[0115] In its simplest form, the electrical circuit can be designed as a printed circuit board (PCB) and only include conductive traces or microstrip lines and / or vias, meaning the PCB serves solely to connect the input and output contacts. Depending on the PCB design, different wiring configurations and pin assignments of the connector are possible. For example, the connector can be converted from a standard version to a so-called "crossover" version simply by replacing the PCB.

[0116] Furthermore, it may be possible to influence the signals transmitted through the connector using electrical components. For example, networks consisting of resistors and / or capacitors and / or inductors can be set up to specifically adapt the signal(s) to be transmitted to the requirements of the system to be used.

[0117] Active electrical circuits may also be included.

[0118] In particular, active and / or passive components of the electrical circuit can be provided for impedance-controlled transmission.

[0119] Semiconductor components such as transistors, especially metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) or bipolar transistors, can also be used as electrical components.

[0120] Amplifiers and / or equalizers can be implemented in the electrical circuit in a particularly advantageous way.

[0121] The printed circuit board or electrical circuit can also include programmable components such as microprocessors or programmable circuits such as FPGAs ("Field Programmable Gate Arrays").

[0122] The electrical circuit can be designed to detect the length of a connected cable and automatically adjust the signal strength and impedance based on the detected cable length.

[0123] In particular, voltage levels and / or characteristic impedances can be adjusted. It may also be possible to change the frequency of a transmitted signal and / or to linearize or suppress interference in transmitted signals.

[0124] The electrical circuit, in particular the printed circuit board, can have any geometry, especially of the contact surfaces. Preferably, the electrical circuit or the printed circuit board has rectangular or round contact surfaces.

[0125] It may be provided that the connector is designed to transmit electrical signals according to a USB standard, particularly for use in a motor vehicle.

[0126] In particular, use with a USB 1.0 or USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 or any other, even higher, standard may be intended.

[0127] The connector can be used to transmit data and / or electrical supply signals.

[0128] The connector can also contain multiple electrical circuits.

[0129] The mounting for the electrical circuit can have a mechanical coding such that only correspondingly mechanically coded electrical circuits, in particular printed circuit boards, can be used and / or such that the electrical circuit, e.g. a printed circuit board, can only be used in one orientation.

[0130] The connector can also have multiple receptacles for accommodating electrical circuits.

[0131] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The figures show preferred embodiments in which individual features of the present invention are combined with one another. Features of an exemplary embodiment can also be implemented independently of the other features of the same exemplary embodiment and can therefore be readily combined by a person skilled in the art to form further meaningful combinations and sub-combinations with features of other exemplary embodiments.

[0132] In the figures, functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0133] They show schematically: Figure 1 shows an exemplary connector, not part of the invention, with an inserted electrical circuit in a printed circuit board configuration and a locking element that closes an access opening to a receptacle for the printed circuit board; Figure 2 shows the connector of the Figure 1 without the circuit board and with the locking element removed; Figure 3 a spatial representation of the locking element of the Figures 1 and 2with a seal and an electrically conductive attachment; Figure 4 an exemplary connector, not part of the invention, according to a second embodiment with a fixed locking element; Figure 5 an exemplary connector, not part of the invention, according to a third embodiment; Figure 6 an example of a first circuit diagram of a connector according to the invention; Figure 7 an example of a second circuit diagram of a connector according to the invention; Figure 8 an example of a third circuit diagram of a connector according to the invention; Figure 9 an exemplary pitch change between an input-side interface and an output-side interface of a connector; Figure 10 a connector in a printed circuit board connector configuration; Figure 11 a two-part connector; and Figure 12 a representation of a printed circuit board with circumferential metallization and two printed circuit board layers.

[0134] In Figure 1 Figure 2 shows a cross-section through a connector 2. The connector 2 has a printed circuit board 3. The connector 2 also has a longitudinal axis L, which runs along a mating direction, indicated in the figure by a double arrow.

[0135] In principle, any electrical circuit can be provided in place of the printed circuit board 3, for example in the form of a multi-chip module, a system-in-package, a system-on-chip and / or any integrated circuit, i.e., for example, also a single microchip or ASIC. For the sake of simplicity, the invention is described in the exemplary embodiment using a printed circuit board 3, which can, however, be understood as a "black box" for any electrical circuit.

[0136] The connector 2 has a housing 4, which in the present embodiment is made of a non-conductive material, e.g., a plastic. The housing 4 serves, among other things, to accommodate an electrical conductor 5, which in this embodiment is designed as a cable 5 held in the housing 4 of the connector 2 by a retaining device 6. The cable 5 is an electrically shielded cable 5 with a ground conductor, which is designed as an outer conductor 7, in particular as a braided shield 7, and is electrically connected to a shielding means 8 of the connector 2. The outer conductor 7 carries a defined electrical potential, in particular a ground potential, which is suitable for forming a shield. The braided shield 7 is clamped between the shielding means 8 and the housing 4 of the connector 2.The shielding means 8 preferably extends completely around the inner areas of the connector 2 in order to completely shield the connector 2 electromagnetically.

[0137] As from Figure 1 As can be seen, signal conductors 10, which in this embodiment are designed as inner conductors 10 of cable 5, are electrically connected at their ends facing the circuit board 3 to input-side contacts 9. The connector 2 has output-side contacts 11, which are electrically connected to connector inner conductors 12. In this embodiment, three contacts 9 and 11 are provided. The number can be arbitrary.

[0138] The connector 2 has a receptacle 13 for the circuit board 3, which is formed as a slot-shaped or rectangular recess 13 between the input-side contacts 9 and the output-side contacts 11. The receptacle 13 has an access opening 14 through which the circuit board 3 can be inserted. A closing element 15 is provided for closing the access opening 14.

[0139] The circuit board 3 has an input-side interface 30 with input-side contact points 16 for connecting the three cable inner conductors 10 via the input-side contacts 9. The circuit board 3 also has an output-side interface 31 with output-side contact points 16' for connecting the three connector inner conductors 12 via the output-side contacts 11. The contact points 16, 16' are designed as flat contacts or solder pads and, in the installed configuration of the circuit board 3 (as shown), contact the input-side contacts 9 and the output-side contacts 11.

[0140] The circuit board 3 is positioned between the input contacts 9 and the output contacts 11. To ensure robust and particularly reliable contact as well as easy insertion and removal of the circuit board 3, the contacts 9 and 11 of the connector 2 are designed as spring contacts 9 and 11. The use of spring contacts 9 and 11 allows for a large tolerance range to be compensated for while simultaneously ensuring easy insertion of the circuit board 3.

[0141] The circuit board 3 is also permanently connected to the contacts 9, 11 via its contact points 16, 16', e.g. by material bonding, by soldering or by force / form bonding, by crimping.

[0142] The circuit board 3 can have conductor tracks, vias (not shown here), and electrical components 17 or electronic components. This allows for customized transmission from the input contacts 9 to the output contacts 11 or between the contact points 16 and 16'. The transmission options are diverse. For example, signal amplification, impedance matching, linearization, automatic adjustment based on the installed cable length, and programmable circuits can be implemented. Alternatively, the circuit board 3 can be configured to have only conductor tracks and / or vias, enabling variable and quick rewiring of the connector 2.

[0143] In the exemplary embodiment, the housing 4 of connector 2 has a mechanical keying feature that allows connector 2, which is designed as a plug in this example, to be inserted into a socket (not shown). Connector 2 can be a plug, a socket, a coupler, or an adapter. In particular, connector 2 can also be designed as a printed circuit board connector or be housed in a device enclosure. For further contact, connector 2 can have contact sleeves 18 in its front region, which are electrically connected to the connector's inner conductors 12.

[0144] The locking element 15 is preferably made essentially of plastic or a non-conductive material and has an electrically conductive attachment 19 in the form of a contact spring attachment 19. The attachment 19 electrically contacts the shielding means 8 of the connector 2 and thus ensures a closed electromagnetic shield. The locking element 15 includes a seal 20 for mechanically sealing the access opening 14.

[0145] The locking element 15 also includes a contact element 21, which, acting as an additional contact spring, electrically connects the electrically conductive attachment 19 of the locking element 15 to a circuit shield, in this case a printed circuit board shield 22, in the form of a metallized surface of the printed circuit board 3. Furthermore, another contact element 23 of a similar design is provided at the lower end of the receptacle 13, which additionally contacts the printed circuit board shield 22 of the printed circuit board 3. In principle, electrical contact of the shields 8, 19, 22 that is as comprehensive and extensive as possible is advantageous.

[0146] Of course, one or all contact element(s) 21, 23 can also be provided on the circuit board 3 or on the circuit board shield 22.

[0147] Furthermore, a printed circuit board shield 22 can also be implemented without necessarily providing electrical contact with the attachment 19 via the contact element.

[0148] The printed circuit board 3, and in particular its sectioned structure, is shown only as an example and in a highly abstract form. The printed circuit board 3 could be a single-sided printed circuit board, a double-sided printed circuit board, or a multilayer printed circuit board 3 with more than two printed circuit board supports 26. A printed circuit board 3 with two printed circuit board layers 26 is described later. Figure 12 Shown enlarged.

[0149] The connector 2 shown can advantageously be configured for the transmission of electrical signals according to a USB standard.

[0150] In Figure 2 is the in Figure 1The connector 2 is shown again, with the circuit board 3 removed. Furthermore, the locking element 15 is not inserted into the access opening 14. In the exemplary embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2It is provided that the input-side contacts 9 and the output-side contacts 11 do not make electrical contact when the circuit board 3 is removed. This is a structurally preferable solution, as such an arrangement is easy to implement. It can also be advantageous to achieve reliable galvanic isolation of circuits within the connector 2 by removing the circuit board 3. It can also be understood as being within the scope of the invention to provide a circuit board 3 that merely ensures reliable galvanic isolation between some or all contacts 9 and 11. The circuit board 3 would therefore have a transmission capability or a transfer function of zero between at least one input-side contact 9 and at least one output-side contact 11. The circuit board 3 can thus also serve as a locking element – ​​depending on the embodiment, either in the inserted or removed state.

[0151] In one embodiment, it may also be provided that the relaxed length of the springs, if the contacts 9, 11 are designed as springs, or the distances between the contacts 9, 11 are selected such that the input-side contacts 9 and the output-side contacts 11 make contact with each other even when a circuit board 3 is not inserted.

[0152] In Figure 3 is the locking element 15 of the Figures 1 and 2The diagram is enlarged and shown in a three-dimensional representation. The locking element 15 is essentially made of a non-conductive material and includes the seal 20 already described. To ensure sufficient electromagnetic shielding, the conductive attachment 19 is preferably made of a sheet metal and is slid or placed onto the locking element 15. Lateral contact springs 24 are provided, ensuring reliable electrical contact with the outer conductor 7 of the cable 5 or with the shielding means 8 of the connector 2, even when large tolerances need to be compensated for.

[0153] In this preferred embodiment, the contact springs 24 are preferably arranged in a ring around the locking element 15. In a simplified design, however, a single contact or a single contact spring 24 may also suffice.

[0154] In Figure 4 A second embodiment of a connector 2, not belonging to the invention, is shown.

[0155] Features already described in a previous embodiment are not explained again in detail below. This applies to all subsequent figures.

[0156] The in Figure 4 The embodiment shown differs from the previous embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2This is achieved essentially by the fact that the locking element 15 is simplified as a sheet metal element or is made entirely of metal. The locking element 15 is positively and force-fitted to the shielding means 8 of the connector 2, for example by a screw connection. The locking element 15 is preferably recessed in the housing 4 of the connector 2 when installed. Alternatively, a coplanar design or a design in which the locking element 15 protrudes from the housing 4 is also possible (see, e.g., Figure 1 ), possible.

[0157] A third embodiment of a connector 2 according to the invention is shown in Figure 5shown. Connector 2 is designed as a coupling. The contact sleeve(s) 18 of the front area of ​​connector 2 is / are arranged relative to the circuit board 3 such that a corresponding plug can directly contact the output-side contact points 16' of the circuit board 3. In this case, the output-side contact 11 is therefore omitted, or corresponds to the contact sleeve 18.

[0158] It is also possible that the output-side contact points 16' of the electrical circuit or the printed circuit board 3 are designed for direct contact with the second connector. The output-side contact points 16' can then be designed, for example, as contact sleeves 18 or in the form of any other contact type. The output-side interface 31 can therefore simultaneously form the interface of connector 2 for contact with the second connector.

[0159] In the Figures 6 to 8 Simplified circuit diagrams are shown to illustrate three exemplary variants of connector 2 and to demonstrate the various transmission possibilities from the at least one input contact 9 to the at least one output contact 11. The input part of connector 2 with the cable conductors 10 and the output part of connector 2 with the connector conductors 12, as well as the circuit board 3, are shown in each diagram. The electrical connections of contacts 9 and 11 of connector 2 and the contact points 16 and 16' of circuit board 3 are only shown schematically.

[0160] In the Figures 6 to 8The input interface 30 and the output interface 31 are shown identically. In reality, however, interfaces 30 and 31 differ from each other (e.g., in geometry, e.g., a different pitch, and / or in the type of material used).

[0161] In the exemplary embodiment of the Figure 6 The circuit board 3 serves solely to transmit or directly connect the cable conductors 10 to the connector conductors 12. In the simplest case, the circuit board 3 can only have vias for this purpose. The circuit board 3 and the transmission method then function as a so-called "dummy" element.

[0162] In Figure 7 is one of the Figure 6A similar embodiment is shown in which the circuit board 3 again serves only to connect the cable inner conductors 10 and the connector inner conductors 12, without further influencing the signals. However, in this embodiment, it is a "crossover" connection, i.e., a cross-connection of signals and thus a connection that differs from the Figure 6 different connector pinouts.

[0163] By replacing the circuit boards 3, the plug connection 2 can thus be functionally changed.

[0164] In principle, any routing options are available for the input and output interfaces 30, 31. Any pin assignments or connector standards can be adapted to the electrical circuit or circuit board 3, while impedance control is simultaneously possible through appropriate circuit components of the electrical circuit or circuit board 3. For example, it is possible to switch from a transmission type or "twisting" with a star quad to a parallel transmission type ("parallel pair").

[0165] Figure 8 Figure 1 shows another embodiment in which an electronics unit 25 of the circuit board 3, represented as a "black box", electrically influences one or more or all signals during transmission from the input contacts 9 to the output contacts 11.

[0166] The invention can also be used to avoid or replace a fanning area within a conventional connector, or to adapt an input-side interface 30 and an output-side interface 31 in an impedance-controlled manner. Within a connector, the so-called pitch, i.e., the center-to-center distance of the contact points 16, 16', usually needs to be modified. Often, the cable inner conductors 10 are fanned out, i.e., the pitch is increased, to achieve the correct dimensions for the connector. Figures 1, 2 , 4 and 5 Such a diversification is clearly visible.

[0167] Typically, the cable inner conductors 10 are fanned out so that their ends take on a position such that each end of a cable inner conductor 10 is assigned a corresponding end of a connector inner conductor 12 and the corresponding ends run coaxially to each other.

[0168] Figure 9Figure 3 shows another example of different input and output interfaces 30, 31, each with a different pitch. The circuit board 3, which, as shown, can have, for example, round contact pads 30.1, 31.1, represents a type of adapter that enables ideally matched transmission from an input interface 30, in this case a narrow cable interface, to an output interface 31, in this case a wider connector interface. The output interface 31 thus has larger distances between the individual wires or connector inner conductors 12. As already mentioned, such a transition is usually solved in practice with a fanning area, which, however, causes interference in the transmission path. By using a suitable electrical circuit or circuit board 3, both interfaces 30, 31 can, however, have the same impedance (e.g.,...).90 ohms differential).

[0169] For example, a printed circuit board 3 can be provided, whereby direct contact can initially be made to the printed circuit board 3 from both sides with the respective interface dimensions. A suitable design of the microstrip traces and vias of the printed circuit board 3 can then compensate for the capacitive behavior of the transition from the respective inner conductors 10, 12 to the printed circuit board 3. Preferably, a reflection-free pitch change is provided.

[0170] Preferably, the interfaces 30, 31 of the electrical circuit or the printed circuit board 3 each form a contact surface 30.1, 31.1 which runs orthogonally to the longitudinal axis L of the connector 2.

[0171] In the Figures 9 and 10 The circuit board 3 is permanently installed or integrated into the housing 4 of the connector 2.

[0172] In Figure 10 Is connector 2 the Figure 9The connector 2 is shown as a printed circuit board connector. As shown, the input side of connector 2 is not connected to a cable 5, but to another printed circuit board 32. Several electrical conductors 5 or signal conductors 10 of the other printed circuit board 32 can be contacted via corresponding contact lines 33. A ground conductor of the other printed circuit board 32 can also be connected, if necessary, via at least one contact line 33. The contact lines 33 connect the signal conductors 10 to the contact points 16 of the printed circuit board 3 or to the input-side contacts 9.

[0173] In this configuration, particularly due to the angled design, the different signal propagation times arise because of the varying lengths of the contact lines 33, which can prove particularly problematic when transmitting high-frequency signals. This problem can be solved relatively easily by using a suitable electrical circuit or printed circuit board 3.

[0174] By using an electrical circuit according to the invention, a transition optimally suited for high-frequency technology can be provided between an input-side interface 30 and an output-side interface 31, wherein differences between the interfaces 30, 31 that would negatively affect the signal transmission, such as in particular different line lengths, center-to-center distances or relative positioning of the contacts, geometry or size of the individual contacts and material type of the individual contacts, can be electrically compensated or adapted by the appropriately designed electrical circuit.

[0175] In Figure 11Figure 1 shows a variant of the invention with a two-part connector 2. The electrical circuit or circuit board 3 is arranged on a first part 2.1 of the connector 2, wherein the first part 2.1 of the connector 2 can be positively connected or otherwise connected to a second part 2.2 of the connector 2. For this purpose, locking hooks (not specified in detail) are provided, which can engage corresponding receptacles (not specified in detail).

[0176] In this variant, the electrical circuit or the printed circuit board 3 can be arranged on the first part 2.1 of the connector 2 such that the electrical circuit or printed circuit board 3 is positioned between the first part 2.1 of the connector 2 and the second part 2.2 of the connector 2 when the two parts 2.1, 2.2 of the connector 2 are connected to each other.

[0177] The electrical circuit or circuit board 3 can alternatively be positioned at any point within the first part 2.1. However, it is advantageous to position the electrical circuit or circuit board 3 in such a way that it can simultaneously serve as a transition between the ends of the contacts of the second part and the ends of the contacts of the first part.

[0178] In principle, a connector 2 of the embodiments described above in Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 10 can also be designed in two parts.

[0179] Figure 12 Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a printed circuit board 3 in an optional embodiment as a printed circuit board 3 with two printed circuit board layers 26, as this could be used for the present invention. It can be a multilayer printed circuit board.

[0180] The circuit board 3 according to Figure 12The surface or side surfaces comprise a complete copper metallization 22, which forms the circuit board shield 22. The metallization 22 is recessed around the contact points 16, 16' to prevent the contact points 16, 16' from being short-circuited to the shield.

[0181] Within the metallization 22, two printed circuit board layers 26 are arranged, which are connected by means of contacts 27 and spaced apart from each other. The printed circuit board layers 26 of the printed circuit board 3 are connected to the contact points 16, 16' via vias 28. Electrical components 17 are preferably arranged on the inwardly facing sides of the printed circuit board layers 26. The vias 28 and the contacts 27 can also be formed in one piece.

[0182] A thermally conductive layer 29 can be formed between the printed circuit board layers 26 and the electrical components 17, surrounding or immediately adjacent, preferably adjoining.

[0183] The distance between the printed circuit board layers 26 can depend, among other things, on the height and / or operating voltage of the electrical components 17 as well as on the electrical insulation capacity of the thermally conductive layer 29.

[0184] To ensure sufficient electrical insulation of the thermally conductive layer 29, the thermally conductive layer 29 may contain epoxy resin. Due to the low thermal conductivity of epoxy resin, the thermally conductive layer 29 may also be enriched with boron nitride and / or aluminum oxide. Accordingly, the required thickness of the thermally conductive layer 29 may depend significantly on its composition.

[0185] Synthetic resin can also be used instead of epoxy resin. It is also particularly suitable.

Claims

1. An electrical plug-in connector (2) comprising at least one input-side contact (9), at least one output-side contact (11) and an electrical circuit (3), wherein the electrical circuit (3) has an input-side interface (30) with at least one input-side contact point (16) in order to connect at least one signal conductor (10) of at least one electrical line (5), wherein the at least one signal conductor (10) can be electrically connected at its end facing the electrical circuit (3) to the at least one input-side contact (9), respectively, and wherein the electrical circuit (3) has an output-side interface (31) with at least one output-side contact point (16'), wherein the electrical circuit (3) has a transmission option, at least for impedance control, from the input-side interface (30) to the output-side interface (31), wherein the configuration of the input-side interface (30) differs from the configuration of the output-side interface (31), and wherein the electrical circuit (3) is permanently installed within the plug-in connector (2) and is, respectively, inaccessible after mounting and is permanently connected to the respective contacts (9, 11) via its contact points (16, 16'), wherein the input-side interface (30) and the output-side interface (31) of the electrical circuit (3) each form a contact area (30.1, 31.1), which contact areas run orthogonally in relation to a longitudinal axis (L) of the plug-in connector (2).

2. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit (3) is designed as a printed circuit board, preferably as a two-sided printed circuit board or as a multilayer printed circuit board with more than two printed circuit board layers (26), as a multichip module, as a system-in-package, as a system-on-chip and / or as an integrated circuit.

3. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact points (16, 16') of the electrical circuit (3) are designed as flat contacts and / or sliding contacts and / or solder areas and / or spring contacts and / or plug-in contacts.

4. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plug-in connector (2) is of two-part design, wherein the electrical circuit (3) is arranged on a first part (2.1) of the plug-in connector (2) or a second part (2.2) of the plug-in connector (2), and wherein the first part (2.1) of the plug-in connector (2) can be connected to the second part (2.2) of the plug-in connector (2) in a materially bonded, interlocking and / or force-fitting manner.

5. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electrical circuit (3) is arranged on the first part (2.1) or the second part (2.2) of the plug-in connector (2) in such a way that the electrical circuit (3) is positioned between the first part (2.1) of the plug-in connector (2) and the second part (2.2) of the plug-in connector (2) when the two parts (2.1, 2.2) of the plug-in connector (2) are connected to one another.

6. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plug-in connector (2) has a receptacle (13) for the electrical circuit (3) and a closure element (15) for closing an access opening (14) of the receptacle (13).

7. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the closure element (15) is at least partially formed from an electrically conductive material, and the closure element (15), when it closes the access opening (14) of the receptacle (13), makes electrical contact with shielding means (8) for the plug-in connector (2), which shielding means can be electrically connected to a ground conductor (7) of the at least one electrical line (5).

8. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the input-side contact points (16) of the input-side interface (30) have a first pitch and the output-side contact points (16') of the output-side interface (31) have a second pitch.

9. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the input-side interface (30) is designed in line with a first plug-in connector standard and the output-side interface (31) is designed in line with a second plug-in connector standard.

10. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the electrical line (5) is designed as a constituent part of a further printed circuit board (32) and the at least one signal conductor (10) of the further printed circuit board (32) is connected to the at least one input-side contact point (16) via at least one contact line (33).

11. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmission option is set up in order to match different signal propagation times between the signal conductors (10) of the further printed circuit board (32) and the input-side contact points (16) of the electrical circuit (3) to one another, in particular on the basis of different lengths of the contact lines (33).

12. The electrical plug-in connector (2) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least one electrical component (17) is integrated into the electrical circuit (3), wherein a thermally conductive layer (29) is formed immediately adjacent to at least one of the electrical components (17), and wherein the thermally conductive layer (29) has an electrically insulating polymer carrier material, in particular synthetic resin and / or epoxy resin, and / or further comprises aluminum oxide and / or boron nitride.

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