Connector device for a wiring harness

Abstract

A connector device (122) for a cable harness (120) is described. The connector device (122) comprises a base body (201) with N recesses (203) for arranging corresponding N lines (204, 404, 405) of a cable (121) of the cable harness (120), wherein the N recesses (203) extend along a longitudinal axis of the connector device (122). The connector device (122) comprises a first conductor segment (211) extending from a contact edge (213) in a first area of ​​a first recess (203) to a contact tongue (214) for contacting an assembly (130, 102), and a second conductor segment (211) extending from a contact edge (213) in a second area of ​​the first recess (203) to a contact tongue (214) for contacting the assembly (130, 102).The connector device (122) further comprises an interruption unit (208, 221, 222) configured to interrupt the first line (204) in a central area between the first area and the second area of ​​the first recess (203).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a (plug-in) connector device for a cable harness, e.g. for providing a data bus in an electrical device.

[0002] An electrical device, particularly a household appliance, typically has a wiring harness that provides a data bus that enables data communication between different electronic components, such as sensors and / or control units. The individual electronic components can each be connected to the cable of the wiring harness, and thus to the data bus, via a connector device.

[0003] The electrical device can have different variants, whereby the different variants can differ in terms of the number of electronic components that must be connected via the wiring harness. Furthermore, for efficiency reasons, it can be advantageous to use wiring harnesses of the same design in different device types.

[0004] This document addresses the technical problem of providing a connector device for a wiring harness that allows the wiring harness to be adapted in a flexible and efficient manner to different variants of an electrical device and / or to different device types.

[0005] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in particular in the dependent patent claims, described in the following description, or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a connector device (in particular a plug) for a wiring harness is described. The connector device can be designed to be attached to an N-wire cable of the wiring harness. Furthermore, the connector device can be designed to be attached to an assembly, e.g., to a circuit board of an assembly. In this case, the connector device can be designed, in particular, to be plugged onto the circuit board of the assembly, e.g., onto an edge of the circuit board. The cable can be designed as a cable for a data bus, in particular for a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus.

[0007] The connector device comprises a base body with N recesses for arranging corresponding N wires (or cores) of the cable of the wiring harness, wherein the N recesses extend along a longitudinal axis of the connector device; with N≥1 (typically N≥2 or N≥3 or N≥4 or N≥5). The recesses can each have a profile that corresponds to the cross-sectional profile of the wire that is arranged in the recess. The individual recesses typically have a length along the longitudinal axis that is significantly (e.g., by a factor of 5 or more or 10 or more) larger than the diameter of the cross-section of the respective recess.

[0008] Furthermore, the connector device comprises a first conductor segment (e.g., in the form of a metallic rail) extending from a contact edge in a first region of a first recess of the N recesses to a contact tongue for contacting an assembly. The connector device further comprises a second conductor segment (e.g., in the form of a metallic rail) extending from a contact edge in a second region of the first recess to a contact tongue for contacting the assembly. The contact edges of the first and second conductor segments can each be based on IDC (insulation-displacement contact) technology.

[0009] A corresponding first line of the cable can be arranged in the first recess. The first line can be a configuration line of the data bus, in particular the CAN bus. The first recess of the connector device can thus be provided for coupling a configuration line to an assembly to enable flexible configuration of a wiring harness.

[0010] The first region of the recess is arranged in front of (or behind) the second region of the recess along the longitudinal axis. A central region of the recess can be arranged between the first region and the second region. The central region can have a length along the longitudinal axis that is, for example, 2 mm or more, or 4 mm or more.

[0011] The connector device may comprise a cover configured to press the N conductors of the cable into the corresponding N recesses, such that the contact edges of the first and second conductor segments each form an electrically conductive connection with the first conductor in the first recess. The cover may further be configured to be attached (snapped) to the base body.

[0012] The connector device can have corresponding components for one or more additional (in particular, for all) of the N recesses. The components can be designed to enable electrically conductive contacting of the individual lines with an assembly onto which the connector device is plugged.

[0013] The connector device may comprise a first leg and a second leg with a gap formed between the legs for receiving a printed circuit board of the assembly. The contact tabs of the first and second conductor segments may be arranged within the gap. The conductor segments may each extend from the first recess along a vertical axis of the connector device to the gap. The gap may extend parallel to a plane spanned by the vertical axis and a transverse axis of the connector device.

[0014] The line segments can be configured such that the contact tongues touch each other when no circuit board is arranged in the gap. Furthermore, the line segments can be configured such that the contact tongue of the first line segment acts on a first side of the circuit board, and the contact tongue of the second line segment acts on an opposite second side of the circuit board arranged in the gap.

[0015] The connector device can thus be designed such that it can be plugged onto a circuit board. The electrically conductive contact between the contact tongues of the two line segments can then be established or interrupted via conductor tracks and / or one or more electronic components on the circuit board. Furthermore, the one or more electronic components can, if necessary, generate (configuration) signals on the first line.

[0016] As already explained above, a corresponding contact with the circuit board arranged in the gap can be provided for one or more additional (in particular for all) lines of the cable.

[0017] The connector device comprises an interruption unit configured to interrupt, in particular (possibly irreversibly) sever, the first line in the central region between the first region and the second region of the first recess. Providing such an interruption unit enables a particularly flexible configuration of a cable harness (which is designed uniformly and / or structurally identically for different variants and / or device types).

[0018] The interruption unit may comprise at least one cutting element configured to sever the first line. Furthermore, the interruption unit may comprise a pin configured, in response to actuation (of the pin), to press the sheathing element against the first line and / or the first line against the cutting element to sever the first line.

[0019] The connector device can, for example, have a guide channel for the pin, wherein the guide channel runs along the vertical axis of the connector device from the cover to the central region of the first recess. The pin can be movably arranged within the guide channel so that the pin can be pressed from the cover toward the central region of the first recess to sever the first line. The guide channel can also be designed such that the pin snaps into the guide channel once the first line has been severed.

[0020] By providing a movable pin and at least one cutting element, a particularly reliable and efficient interruption of the first line can be achieved.

[0021] The interruption unit may comprise a first cutting element arranged at a boundary between the central region and the first region of the first recess. Furthermore, the interruption unit may comprise a second cutting element arranged at a boundary between the central region and the second region of the first recess. The first and second cutting elements may be configured to cut a portion out of the first line in order to sever the first line. The portion of the first line may have a length along the longitudinal axis that is, for example, 2 mm or more, or 4 mm or more. By cutting out a portion of the first line, a particularly reliable interruption of the first line can be effected.

[0022] The connector device may include a cavity for receiving the cut-out portion of the first line. The pin may be configured to push the cut-out portion of the first line into the cavity when the pin is pressed from the cover toward the central region of the first recess. This allows for a particularly reliable interruption of the first line.

[0023] The N recesses can comprise (at least or exactly) two data recesses for (two corresponding) data lines of the cable. Furthermore, the N recesses can have a ground recess (for a ground line) and / or a supply recess (for a supply line with a supply voltage, e.g., V+ or V-). The connector device can comprise a guide channel for a termination element, which extends from the cover to the two data recesses (and optionally to the ground recess and / or to the supply recess) (wherein the two data recesses (and optionally the ground recess and / or the supply recess) are arranged one behind the other along the transverse axis of the connector device).

[0024] The connector device can be designed such that a termination element with (at least or exactly) two contact elements (which are designed, for example, according to IDC technology) can be inserted into the guide channel, so that the (at least or exactly) two contact elements are electrically connected to the two data lines in the two data recesses. If necessary, the termination element can have a contact element for the ground line and / or a contact element for the supply line. The termination element can thus, if necessary, effect an (electrically conductive) coupling of the two data lines to the ground line and / or to the supply line.

[0025] The connector device can further be designed such that the two data lines (and possibly the ground line and / or the supply line) are (electrically) separated from each other when the termination element is removed from the guide channel.

[0026] The termination element may comprise one or more electrical components, in particular an electrical resistor and / or a capacitor, via which the two data lines (and possibly the ground line and / or the supply line) are connected to one another when the termination element is plugged into the guide channel.

[0027] As already explained above, the guide channel and the termination element can be configured such that one or more additional lines (e.g., the ground line and / or the supply line) of the N lines of the cable, which are arranged in one or more corresponding recesses of the N recesses, are coupled to the data lines via the termination element (when the termination element is arranged in the guide channel). On the other hand, decoupling of the lines can be achieved by removing the termination element.

[0028] The provision of a guide channel for a termination element enables flexible termination of a data bus.

[0029] The guide channel for the termination element and / or the termination element can have a mechanical coding which can reliably prevent incorrect insertion of the termination element and / or the insertion of a faulty termination element (e.g. with a different number of contact elements) into the guide channel. In particular, the mechanical coding can be designed such that the termination element can only be inserted into the guide channel in a defined orientation and / or direction. The guide channel can thus be designed such that incorrect insertion of a termination element with the wrong number of poles and / or in the wrong insertion direction is prevented. This can, for example, prevent a three-pole termination element with a ground reference from being inserted the wrong way round (e.g. ground to V+) or offset (e.g. instead of ground, D-, D+ -> D-, D+, V+).

[0030] The guide channel and the termination element can thus have a mechanical coding designed such that the termination element can only be inserted into the guide channel in one, in particular only a single, predefined orientation. This allows for particularly reliable termination.

[0031] According to another aspect, a further connector device for a wiring harness is described. The features described in this document are also applicable to this connector device, individually or in combination.

[0032] The connector device comprises a base body with N recesses for arranging corresponding N lines of a cable of the cable harness, wherein the N recesses (each) extend along a longitudinal axis of the connector device, and wherein the N recesses comprise two data recesses for each data line of the cable. The N recesses are arranged one behind the other along the transverse axis of the connector device.

[0033] Furthermore, the connector device may comprise a cover which is designed to press the N lines into the N recesses and / or to fix them therein, and which is designed to be attached to the base body

[0034] The connector device further comprises (at least) one guide channel for a termination element, which extends from the cover to the two data recesses (and possibly to a ground recess and / or a supply recess). The connector device is designed such that a termination element with two (or more) contact elements can be inserted into the guide channel, so that the two (or more) contact elements are electrically conductively connected to the two data lines in the two data recesses (and possibly to a ground line in the ground recess and / or to a supply line in the supply recess). The provision of a guide channel for a termination element enables flexible termination of a data bus.

[0035] According to another aspect, a wiring harness is described that comprises a cable with N conductors, where N≥ 1. The wiring harness further comprises at least one connector device arranged on the cable and configured as described in this document. The wiring harness typically comprises two or more, or three or more, or four or more connector devices.

[0036] According to a further aspect, an electrical device, in particular a household appliance (e.g. a washing machine, a dryer, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, an oven, etc.), is described, which comprises the wiring harness described in this document.

[0037] It should be noted that any aspects of the connector device described in this document can be combined in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the patent claims can be combined in a variety of ways.

[0038] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1a shows a household appliance as an example of an electrical device; Figure 1b shows an exemplary cable harness with connector devices; Figures 2a to 2c show different views of a connector device in a base state; Figures 3a to 3c show different views of a connector device in an interruption state; and Figures 4a to 4c show different views of a connector device in a termination state.

[0039] As stated at the beginning, this document deals with the provision of a wiring harness that can be adapted in a flexible and efficient manner to different variants of an electrical device, in particular a household appliance. In this context, Fig. 1aan exemplary (home) appliance 100 with a plurality of electronic components 101, 102 (e.g. a control unit 101 and one or more sensors 102) which are coupled to one another via a data bus 110, in particular via a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus, in order to exchange data with one another.

[0040] The data bus 110 can be provided using a (possibly pre-assembled) cable harness. Fig. 1bshows an exemplary wiring harness 120, with a cable 121 having one or more (generally N) lines. The cable 121 can, for example, have a positive line and a negative (or GND) line for the power supply (e.g., for a 5V power supply). Furthermore, the cable 121 can have one or more data lines (e.g., a CAN high and a CAN low line). Furthermore, the cable 121 can have a configuration line, via which, for example, the configuration of the wiring harness 120 (for a specific variant of the electrical device 100) can be recognized.

[0041] The wiring harness 120 includes one or more connector devices 122 that enable one or more corresponding electronic assemblies 102 to be electrically connected to the wiring harness 120. A connector device 122 may be configured to be placed on or at a circuit board 130 of an electronic assembly 102 (e.g., plugged onto an edge of the circuit board 130).

[0042] The wiring harness 120 can be designed such that the wiring harness 120 can be used in a plurality of different variants of an electrical device 100 (and possibly of devices 100 of different types), wherein the different variants can differ in the number of assemblies 102 that are connected to the wiring harness 120. The wiring harness 120 can, for example, be designed for a specific maximum number of assemblies 102 and can have a corresponding number of connector devices 122 for this purpose. This means that one or more of the connector devices 122 of the wiring harness 120 may not be used in a device 100 if this device 100 has a lower number of assemblies 102 than the maximum number.

[0043] For flexible adaptation of the wiring harness 120 to different configurations and / or variants, the individual connector devices 122 of the wiring harness 120 can be designed to terminate the data lines (via a termination resistor) if necessary; and / or to interrupt the configuration line if necessary (in order to loop the configuration line over a module 102).

[0044] In the Figures 2a to 2c , 3a to 3c and 4a to 4c An exemplary connector device 122 is shown. The connector device 122 may be based on an IDC (insulation-displacement contact) connection to electrically connect the connector device 122 to the individual wires of the cable 121 of the wiring harness 122.

[0045] As in Fig. 2aAs shown, the connector device 122 can have a base body 201 which has recesses 203, e.g., troughs, for the individual lines 204 of the cable 121. The base body 201 further has line segments 211, 212 (e.g., electrically conductive rails) which run from the individual recesses 203 to corresponding contact areas for contacting a printed circuit board 130. The line segments 211, 212 can each have, at the end facing the respective recess 203 for a line 204, a contact edge 213 which is designed to penetrate the electrical insulation layer of the respective line 204 in order to form an electrically conductive connection between the respective line 204 and the respective line segment 211, 212.

[0046] The connector device 122 further comprises a cover 202, which can be fixed to the base body 201 and causes the individual lines 204 to be pressed onto the cutting edges 213 of the individual line segments 211, 212 in order to penetrate the insulation layer of the individual lines 204. Furthermore, the cover 202 can fix the lines 204 within the recesses 203.

[0047] The individual lines 204 of the cable 121 can be arranged one behind the other along the y-axis (or along the transverse axis) in the Cartesian coordinate system shown in the figures. The individual lines 204 or recesses 203 can each extend along the x-axis (or along the longitudinal axis) of the coordinate system.

[0048] The connector device 122 can have two legs 205, each extending along the z-axis (or along the vertical axis) of the coordinate system. A gap 206 for receiving a circuit board 130 can be formed between the two legs 205. The gap 206 can run parallel to a plane spanned by the y-axis and the z-axis. The connector device 122 can thus be configured to be plugged onto a circuit board 130, such that the circuit board 130 is arranged in the gap 206 between a first leg 205 and a second leg 205 of the connector device 122. The first leg 205 of the connector device 122 may be arranged on a first side of the circuit board 130 and the second leg 205 of the connector device 122 may be arranged on a second side of the circuit board 130.

[0049] The line segments 211, 212 of the connector device 122 can extend along the z-axis from the respective recess 203 to the gap 206, so that an electrically conductive connection is established between a line 204 and the circuit board 130 via the line segments 211, 212 (when the circuit board 130 is arranged in the gap 206).

[0050] As already explained and as in Fig. 2c As can be seen, the individual recesses 203 or lines 204 extend along the x-axis. The individual recesses 203 or lines 204 each have, a first region arranged on the first side of the gap 206 and / or at the level of the first leg 205; a second region arranged on the second side of the gap 206 and / or at the level of the second leg 205; and a central region arranged between the first region and the second region and / or at the level of the gap 206.

[0051] The connector device 122 can have two line segments 211, 212 for the (first) recess 203 of the configuration line 204. The first line segment 211 can extend from the first region of the (first) recess 203 and / or the (first) line 204 along the first leg 205 to the first side of the gap 206. The second line segment 211 can extend from the second region of the (first) recess 203 and / or the (first) line 204 along the second leg 205 to the second side of the gap 206. The first line segment 211 and the second line segment 212 can each have ends (contact tongues) 214 that touch within the gap 206.The ends 214 may be configured such that the circuit board 130 can be pushed between the ends 214 such that the end 214 of the first line segment 211 contacts the first side of the circuit board 130 and such that the end 214 of the second line segment 212 contacts the second side of the circuit board 130.

[0052] The connector device 122 can thus be designed such that the first region and the second region of at least one line 204 (in particular the configuration line) are electrically conductively connected to one another in a basic state of the connector device 122 directly via the line 204 itself (in particular via the central region of the line 204) and indirectly via two line segments 211, 212 of the connector device 122. Figures 2a to 2c show the connector device 112 in the basic state.

[0053] The connector device 122 can further be designed such that the connector device 122 can be transferred into an interrupted state in which the first region and the second region of at least one line 204 (in particular the configuration line) are no longer electrically conductively connected to one another directly via the line 204 itself (in particular no longer via the central region of the line 204) but (only) indirectly via the two line segments 211, 212 of the connector device 122. Figures 3a to 3c show the connector device 112 in the interrupt state.

[0054] The connector device 122 can thus be configured such that the line 204, in particular the central region of the line 204, is interrupted by the transition from the base state to the interrupted state. On the other hand, the indirect connection via the two line segments 211, 212 should be maintained.

[0055] For this purpose, the connector device 122 (as part of an interruption unit) can have a first cutting element 221 arranged at the boundary between the first region and the central region of the recess 203 and / or the line 204. Furthermore, the connector device 122 can have a second cutting element 222 arranged at the boundary between the second region and the central region of the recess 203 and / or the line 204. The two cutting elements 221, 222 can be configured to cut the central region of the line 204 out of the line 204 in order to interrupt the line 204.

[0056] The connector device 122 may include a guide channel 207 arranged along the z-axis above (or below) the central region of the line 204 and / or the recess 203. A plunger or pin 208 may be arranged in the guide channel 207 such that the pin 208 can be moved along the z-axis. For example, in the base state, the pin 207 may protrude from the cover 202 of the connector device 122 (along the z-axis).

[0057] The pin 208 can be designed to be pressed by a user along the z-axis into the guide channel 207 (towards the cover 202) so that the pin 208 acts on the central region of the line 204 and presses the line 204 against the cutting elements 221, 222 so that the central region 304 of the line 204 is severed from the line 204 by the cutting elements 221, 222, as shown by way of example in Fig. 3cshown. The wire section 304 cut out of the wire 204 (ie, the central region of the wire 204) can be pressed by the pin 208 into a cavity 223 provided for this purpose within the connector device 122.

[0058] As from Fig. 3c As can be seen, in the interrupted state of the connector device 122, the pin 208 is arranged as a separating element between the first region and the second region of the severed line 204. This allows for particularly reliable electrical insulation of the two regions of the severed line 204.

[0059] The interrupted state of the connector device 122 can be used if a circuit board 130 is arranged in the gap 206 of the connector device 122. The signals transmitted on the severed line 204 can then be reliably received and / or transmitted by the electronic assembly 102 on the circuit board 130. On the other hand, the base state of the connector device 122 can be used if no circuit board 130 is arranged in the gap 206 of the connector device 122.

[0060] Alternatively or additionally, the connector device 122 can be designed (as shown by way of example in the Figures 4a to 4cshown) to terminate the data lines 404, 405 of the cable 121. For this purpose, the connector device 122 can have a guide channel 407 along the z-axis above the two data lines 404, 405 for a termination element 408, which can be plugged into the guide channel 407 if necessary. The termination element 408 typically comprises a termination resistor 410. Furthermore, the termination element 408 comprises a first contact element 411 arranged above the first data line 404 and a second contact element 412 arranged above the second data line 405 (when the termination element 408 is arranged in the guide channel 407).

[0061] The contact elements 411, 412 can each have a contact pin 415 facing the respective line 404, 405. The termination element 408 can be pressed into the guide channel 407 along the z-axis, so that the contact elements 411, 412 (in particular the contact pins 415 of the contact elements 411, 412) are pressed through the insulation into the respective data line 404, 405 to terminate the data lines 404, 405 via the termination resistor 410.

[0062] If necessary, the termination can comprise an electrically conductive connection of the data lines 404, 405 to a ground line and / or to a supply line (with a supply voltage) of the cable 121. For this purpose, the guide channel 407 can be designed such that the guide channel 407 extends from the cover 202 (additionally) to a ground recess 203 for the ground line and / or to a supply recess 203 for the supply line. Furthermore, the termination element 408 can (additionally) have a contact element for the ground line and / or a contact element for the supply line. The guide channel 407 can thus be designed for a termination element 408 that effects an electrically conductive connection with three or more or with four or more lines of the cable 121.

[0063] As explained above, bus systems 110 can use a standardized connector type with fixed signal assignment to establish the connection between individual participants (i.e., modules) 102. This document describes a connector device 122 (e.g., in the form of a connector) that makes it possible to create cable harnesses 121 for a complex bus system 110, and that makes it possible to separate, terminate, and / or restore the previous configuration of individual segments of the bus system 110 during manufacture and / or during operation, e.g., by removing the connector 122 from the module 102 (in particular, from the printed circuit board 130 of the module 102). This can be achieved by a special design of the connector 122 using Insulation Displacement Connection (IDC) technology, by the connector body 201, and / or by the contacts used.

[0064] The described connector device 122 makes it possible to disconnect the bus 110 at any point after and / or during the creation of a wiring harness 120 (e.g., using a tool). Furthermore, it can be possible to terminate the bus 110 if necessary (e.g., with a 120-ohm termination 410 of a CAN pair). The connector device 122 is particularly suitable for the automatic production of wiring harnesses 120, e.g., for household appliances 100.

[0065] The connector device 122 comprises a base body 201, which has a series of contact edges 213 for establishing electrical connections. Examples of contacts or lines are contacts for supplying the system components and / or contacts for a data signal such as OBus, RS485, or CAN.

[0066] Furthermore, the connector device 122 has a contact pair 211, 212, which is designed such that the tongues 214 of the contact pair 211, 212 rest on one another in an electrically conductive manner when the connector device 122 is not plugged in. At least one cutting edge 221, 222 is provided in the cable contact area, which can separate the cable 121 if necessary. To achieve this separation, a pin 208 with a predetermined breaking point can be formed in the cover 202 of the plug connector 122 (i.e., the connector device 122), which can be pressed into the plug 122 if necessary. If the pin 208 is pressed down, the continuous wire 204 is sheared off in the middle between the two contact springs 211, 212 at the cutting edges 221, 222 and is guided downwards by the pin 208 into a cavity 223 within the plug 122, so that the electrical connection only exists via the contact tongues 214 of the plug 122.This interrupts this wire 204. When the connector 122 is plugged into a module 130, a "daisy chain" configuration can be created via this wire 204 through the bus system 110. The connector 122 can be configured accordingly for one or more wires 204 of the connector 122, depending on the requirements of the bus system 110.

[0067] The cover 202 of the connector 122 can be used to establish the electrical connection between the individual wires 204 of the cable 121 passing through it and the contacts 213 of the connector base body 201 during the creation of the cable harness 120. For this purpose, all wires 204 are placed simultaneously on the base body 201. The cover 202 can then be pressed on from above until it snaps into the base body 201. During this process, all wires 204 are pressed into the corresponding contacts 213, which break through the insulation of the wires 204 and establish a connection to the respective inner conductors 211, 212.

[0068] Furthermore, the cover 202 can have one or more cavities 407 for receiving a termination connector 408. This termination connector 408 has two or more contacts 411, 412, which can be implemented using IDC technology. Furthermore, the termination connector 408 has one or more termination components 410 required for the bus system 110 used, such as one or more resistors and / or one or more capacitors.

[0069] If a termination is to be created at a specific location on a cable harness 120, the termination plug 408 is inserted into the cavity 407 of the connector 122 arranged at this location and pressed down until the termination plug 408 snaps into the cover 202. The IDC contacts 411, 412 create an electrical connection between the termination and the necessary signal wires 404, 405 of the bus 110. If necessary, this termination can be removed again by pulling off the termination plug 408 (if necessary, using a suitable tool).

[0070] The described connector device 122 enables the efficient production of a standard wiring harness 120, for example, for different variants of household appliances 100. In particular, automatic production of standard wiring harnesses 120 can be enabled. In the standard wiring harness 120, one or more connector devices 122 can each have a separating pin 208. Furthermore, the connector device 122 can already have a termination plug 408 at one end of the wiring harness 120. The wiring harness 120 can be adapted to the respective variant as needed (by a technician). This allows the number of wiring harness variants to be significantly reduced.

[0071] The ability to route the cable 121 through the connector 122 before crimping also makes it relatively easy to create cable harnesses with twisted wire pairs. The use of a special flat cable 121 is also conceivable, which provides points at a specific distance where a connector 122 can be crimped in. This allows the cable 121 to have twisted pairs and / or double insulation, and can be provided on a reel if necessary, and completed relatively easily by crimping on the connector 122.

[0072] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and figures are intended only to illustrate the principle of the proposed connector device.

Claims

1. A connector device (122) for a cable harness (120), the connector device (122) comprising: - a base body (201) with N recesses (203) for arranging corresponding N lines (204, 404, 405) of a cable (121) of the cable harness (120); wherein the N recesses (203) extend along a longitudinal axis of the connector device (122); with N≥1; - a first line segment (211) extending from a contact edge (213) in a first region of a first recess (203) to a contact tongue (214) for contacting an assembly (130, 102); - a second line segment (211) extending from a contact edge (213) in a second region of the first recess (203) to a contact tongue (214) for contacting the assembly (130, 102); wherein the first region of the recess (203) is arranged along the longitudinal axis in front of the second region of the recess (203);- a cover (202) which is designed to - press the N lines (204) into the N recesses (203) so that the contact edges (213) of the first and second line segments (211, 212) each form an electrically conductive connection with a first line (204) in the first recess (203); and - to be fastened to the base body (201); and - an interruption unit (208, 221, 222) which is designed to interrupt the first line (204) in a central region between the first region and the second region of the first recess (203); 2. Connector device (122) according to claim 1, wherein the interruption unit (208, 221, 222) is designed to sever the first line (204) in the central region of the first recess (203), in particular irreversibly.

3. Connector device (122) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interruption unit (208, 221, 222) comprises - at least one cutting element (221, 222) which is designed to sever the first line (204); and - a pin (208) which is designed, in response to an actuation, to press the sheathing element (221, 222) against the first line (204) and / or the first line (204) against the cutting element (221, 222) in order to sever the first line (204).

4. The connector device (122) according to claim 3, wherein - the connector device (122) has a guide channel (207) for the pin (208); - the guide channel (207) runs along a vertical axis of the connector device (122) from the cover (202) to the central region of the first recess (203); and - the pin (208) is movably arranged within the guide channel (207) such that the pin (208) can be pressed from the cover (202) toward the central region of the first recess (203) in order to sever the first line (204).

5. The connector device (122) according to any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the interruption unit (208, 221, 222) comprises - a first cutting element (221) arranged at a boundary between the central region and the first region of the first recess (203); and - a second cutting element (222) arranged at a boundary between the central region and the second region of the first recess (203); wherein the first and second cutting elements (221, 222) are configured to cut a portion of the first line (204) to sever the first line (204).

6. The connector device (122) according to claim 5, wherein - the connector device (122) comprises a cavity (223) for receiving the cut-out portion of the first line (204); and - the pin (208) is configured to push the cut-out portion of the first line (204) into the cavity (223) when the pin (208) is pressed from the cover (202) toward the central region of the first recess (203).

7. Connector device (122) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the connector device (122) comprises a first leg (205) and a second leg (205) with a gap (206) formed between the legs (205) for receiving a circuit board (130) of the assembly (130, 102); and - the contact tongues (214) of the first and second line segments (211, 212) are arranged within the gap (206).

8. Connector device (122) according to claim 7, wherein - the contact tongues (214) touch each other when no circuit board (130) is arranged in the gap (206); and / or - the contact tongue (214) of the first line segment (211) acts on a first side of the circuit board (130) and the contact tongue (214) of the second line segment (212) acts on an opposite second side of the circuit board (130) arranged in the gap (206).

9. Connector device (122) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first line (204) is a configuration line of a data bus (110), in particular a CAN bus.

10. Connector device (122) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the N recesses (203) comprise two data recesses (203) for data lines (404, 405) of the cable (121); - the connector device (122) comprises a guide channel (407) for a termination element (408), which extends from the cover (202) to the two data recesses (203); and - the connector device (122) is designed such that a termination element (408) with at least two contact elements (411, 412) can be inserted into the guide channel (407), so that the two contact elements (411, 412) are electrically conductively connected to the two data lines (404, 405) in the two data recesses (203).

11. The connector device (122) according to claim 10, wherein - the connector device (122) is configured such that the two data lines (404, 405) are separated from one another when the termination element (408) is removed from the guide channel (407); and / or - the guide channel (407) and the termination element (408) are configured such that, via the termination element (408), one or more further lines of the N lines of the cable (121), which are arranged in one or more corresponding recesses of the N recesses (203), are coupled to the data lines (404, 405) when the termination element (408) is arranged in the guide channel (407); and / or - the guide channel (407) and the termination element (408) have a mechanical coding which is designed such that the termination element (408) can only be inserted into the guide channel (407) in one, in particular only in a single, predefined orientation.

12. Connector device (122) according to one of claims 10 to 11, wherein the termination element (408) comprises one or more electrical components, in particular an electrical resistor and / or a capacitor, via which the two data lines (404, 405) are connected to one another when the termination element (408) is plugged into the guide channel (407).

13. Connector device (122) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact edges (213) of the first and second line segments (211, 212) are each based on IDC, insulation-displacement contact, technology.

14. A connector device (122) for a cable harness (120), the connector device (122) comprising: - a base body (201) with N recesses (203) for arranging corresponding N lines (204, 404, 405) of a cable (121) of the cable harness (120); wherein the N recesses (203) extend along a longitudinal axis of the connector device (122); with N≥2; wherein the N recesses (203) comprise two data recesses (203) for data lines (404, 405) of the cable (121); - a cover (202) designed to press the N lines (204) into the N recesses (203) and designed to be fastened to the base body (201); and - a guide channel (407) for a termination element (408) extending from the cover (202) to the two data recesses (203);wherein the connector device (122) is designed such that a termination element (408) with two contact elements (411, 412) can be inserted into the guide channel (407), so that the two contact elements (411, 412) are electrically conductively connected to the two data lines (404, 405) in the two data recesses (203); 15. A wiring harness (120) comprising - a cable (121) with N wires, where N≥1; and - at least one connector device (122) according to one of the preceding claims arranged on the cable (121).

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