Connector for a supply cable

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector (14, 15) for a supply cable (10) for electrically connecting a vehicle (12) to a power supply device (16) which provides electric power and / or to a load (19) which requires electric power. The connector (14, 15) has: -- a housing (20) with at least one first housing shell (21) and a second housing shell (22), in particular a second housing shell which is separate from the first housing shell (21), -- a printed circuit board (50) which has an electric and / or electronic circuit (31) in particular, and -- a seal element (24), wherein the housing (20) encloses a housing interior (40), the seal element (24) is designed to seal off the housing interior (40) from the outer surrounding area (41) of the housing (20), and the seal element (24) is arranged between the first housing shell (21) and the second housing shell (22). The printed circuit board (50) is held in a clamped manner along the clamping direction (K) between the first housing shell (21) and the second housing shell (22), and the the printed circuit board (50) is held in a clamped manner at least partly with the interposition of the seal element (24) between the printed circuit board (50) and the first housing shell (21).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] Connector for a

[0004] Field of the invention

[0005] The invention relates to a connector for a supply cable for electrically connecting a vehicle to a power supply device providing electrical energy and / or to a consumer requiring electrical energy. The invention further relates to a supply cable having such a connector.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] Various approaches are known from the state of the art for the electrical charging of electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles (e.g. cars, trucks, boats, aircraft, two-wheelers, etc.). In an initial charging situation, the vehicle can be charged via a dedicated charging infrastructure, which in particular consists of permanently installed charging stations. For example, such charging stations are implemented as charging columns or wall boxes. In an alternative charging situation, a permanent current socket is provided, such as those used in normal households for energy supply. For example, this is a (e.g. 230V) Schuko socket or a socket designed according to other regional standards or customs, whereby a three-phase connection can also be provided.In this case, a connecting cable of the charging cable typically features an integrated control unit, also called an in-cable control box (ICCB), located between the two connectors within the connecting cable. This integrated control unit is used to communicate with the vehicle and to enable and adjust the charging current. Unlike a charging station or wallbox, a Schuko socket generally does not have a communication line through which the vehicle can communicate with the power supply device.

[0008] Such charging or energy transfer can be enabled by a supply line or cable, commonly referred to as a charging cable. Such a supply cable or cable typically has a connector (commonly referred to as a charging plug) at each end, one of which is electrically connected to the vehicle (primary connector) and the other to the power supply device or a consumer (secondary connector) (the consumer can also be another vehicle). A connecting line through which the electrical current flows is arranged between the two connectors.

[0009] Such connectors often have a housing. Inside the housing, a connection unit is often arranged on a connection side or at a connection end (which can be connected, for example, to the vehicle, the power supply device, or the consumer). This can serve, for example, as a mechanical interface to the respective connection partner. Accordingly, it has a defined geometry towards the outside or external environment (e.g. a Type 2 plug face or a three-phase plug face, etc.). Furthermore, a line element is often arranged inside the housing on a line side or line end that faces the connecting line. This can, for example, be part of the connecting line or a line section belonging to the connector, which can be connected to the connecting line on the outside of the housing or outside the connector housing, e.g. by means of a coupling.

[0010] It can be provided that a printed circuit board is arranged in the interior of the housing. Such a connector is known from DE 10 2015 104 107 A1.

[0011] Disclosure of the invention

[0012] The invention is based on the recognition that a connector for a supply cable may be exposed to mechanical influences (e.g. shocks, vibrations, pressure, thermally induced mechanical stresses and / or shocks).

[0013] For example, a connector may fall from an operator's hand from a height of 1 to 1.5 m onto a hard floor (e.g., concrete floor). It may also be exposed to vibrations and / or shocks, for example, during transport in a vehicle. Or it may be subjected to weight in a vehicle's cargo area, e.g., luggage, which exerts pressure on it. It is also based on the recognition that the connector may have a printed circuit board that enables various functionalities of the connector, e.g., the release of high electrical voltages (>100V), voltage conversion (e.g., from more than 100V to voltages in the range between 5V and 30V) in order to use the converted voltage to switch, for example, a bypass switch (a type of relay), etc.To ensure safe and reliable function of the connector over its planned service life (often several years and / or several thousand connection processes, which in reality correspond to a use over several years), the function of the circuit board and / or the electrical and / or electronic circuitry arranged on it should not be impaired even under such adverse conditions. To prevent this, the electronic components are often connected to the circuit board as so-called THT components (THT = "Through Hole Technology"). The components have wire legs that are inserted through through-holes in the circuit board and then soldered to the circuit board. However, this assembly method is - in contrast to, for example, SMD assembly (SMD = "Surface Mounted Device") - time-consuming and expensive and makes it difficult to assemble components on both sides of the circuit board. THT assembly is often not only limited to heavy (e.g.at least 5g mass, e.g. between 5g and 70g mass, preferably between 10g and 50g mass) electrical or electronic components, such as relays or voltage converters. Such assembly of the circuit board with THT components takes up additional space on the back of the circuit board due to the legs protruding through the circuit board. Another option for minimizing the risk of mechanical influences on the housing (e.g. impacts, vibrations, etc.) is to pot the circuit board after it has been populated, e.g. with a gel and / or a resin or the like. However, such a potting process is an additional process step and therefore time-consuming. The potting compound is expensive and not necessarily environmentally friendly. Furthermore, potting is an unclean process step which can result in splashes in undesired areas.Furthermore, such encapsulation increases the weight of the circuit board and thus also of the connector. This unnecessarily increases the force (or torque) exerted on a mating connector (e.g., a household socket, vehicle charging socket, wallbox charging socket, etc.).

[0014] Furthermore, it has been shown that for the safe and reliable use of such connectors, especially for protecting a printed circuit board inside a housing, it is necessary that no or as little as possible dirt, grime, moisture, or fluid media in general penetrate the interior of the housing. For example, it may be required that the connector meets a protection class such as IP55, IP65, IP57, IP67, or even better.

[0015] This can be achieved, for example, by manufacturing the housing in one piece by overmolding the connection unit and the cable section with plastic, as is widely known from the state of the art, for example, in the infrastructure-side connectors of chargers for mobile phones.

[0016] It has been shown that complete overmolding, potting, or "foaming" of larger connectors, such as those used for power cables for electric vehicles, is fundamentally possible and a very high level of tightness can be achieved. However, this makes such a connector very heavy, as a large volume must be filled with the injection molding material and / or foam material (e.g. a thermoplastic and / or thermosetting plastic). The costs are also comparatively high due to the high plastic consumption. Furthermore, such a connector is almost impossible to repair if a defect occurs internally. In such a case, the defective connector often also renders the entire power cable unusable, which contradicts the desire for sustainable products.

[0017] However, if the housing is made of several parts for manufacturing reasons and in particular has a hollow interior, it is necessary that the housing or the majority of the housing parts are sealed against the penetration of these undesirable substances (dirt, dirt, fluid media).

[0018] There may therefore be a need to provide a connector for a supply cable which is simple and cost-effective to manufacture, which is as small as possible, which is lightweight, in particular has a hollow housing interior, is cost-effective and easy to repair, in which the housing interior is sealed as well as possible against dirt, grime, moisture and / or fluid media from an external environment of the connector and whose function is not impaired by mechanical influences (e.g. shock loads, pressure, thermal stresses, weight loads, shocks, vibrations or the like - e.g. falling from a height of 1 m to 1.5 m onto a concrete floor, vibrations which typically occur in motor vehicles, rolling over or driving over the connector with a vehicle, etc.).

[0019] Advantages of the invention

[0020] This need can be met by the subject matter of the present invention according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0021] According to a first aspect of the invention, a connector for a supply cable for electrically connecting a vehicle to a power supply device providing electrical energy and / or to a consumer requiring electrical energy is proposed.

[0022] The connector has a housing with at least a first housing shell and a second housing shell. The connector further has a printed circuit board and a sealing element. The housing encloses a housing interior. The sealing element is designed to seal the housing interior against an external environment of the housing (e.g. the environment), wherein the sealing element is arranged between the first housing shell and the second housing shell, wherein the printed circuit board is held in a clamping direction between the first housing shell and the second housing shell, wherein the clamping holding of the printed circuit board takes place at least in sections with the sealing element interposed between the printed circuit board and the first housing shell.

[0023] The sealing element can, for example, be arranged at those sections where the first housing shell and the second housing shell would come into direct contact with each other without the sealing element. For example, it can be provided that the circuit board is held stationary in the housing (in all spatial directions) exclusively by the clamping holder, i.e., that it is not (additionally) held by other holding means, e.g., by means of (additional) screwing, gluing, clipping, etc.

[0024] This advantageously ensures that the interior of the housing is sealed by means of the sealing element. This also advantageously means that the circuit board can, for example, be protected from dirt, grime and moisture from the outside or the external environment of the housing. Another advantage is that the interposition of the sealing element between the first housing shell and the circuit board in the clamping holder reduces or dampens the intensity of mechanical influences, in particular shocks, vibrations and / or other mechanical loads (e.g. also distortions caused by the exertion of pressure if the connector is subjected to a weight, for example; mechanical loads (distortions) caused by thermal expansion; tensile or compressive loads from cables running inside the housing; etc.). This reduces the risk of the circuit board becoming damaged under such mechanical loads - which may, for example, arise from the environment orthe external environment of the housing affect the housing - is damaged or there is a loss of function. Another advantage is that the housing is made up of two housing shells and that the circuit board is only clamped in place, which means that the connector and / or the circuit board can be repaired particularly easily and cost-effectively, thereby advantageously increasing the sustainability of the connector. Another advantage is that the circuit board is clamped in place, which means that the connector can be assembled particularly easily and cost-effectively: (additional) stationary fixing of the circuit board in the housing by means of fasteners such as screws, clips, adhesives, hardening plastics, etc. is advantageously not required. This advantageously saves process steps during assembly and disassembly, as well as material. Assembly and disassembly is advantageously simplified.Furthermore, the sealing element can advantageously perform several functions simultaneously, in particular a sealing function for sealing the housing as well as a damping function or

[0025] Decoupling function to reduce the intensity of mechanical stresses that act on the circuit board, e.g. from the outside on the housing or originate from inside the housing. This multiple function eliminates the need for additional components, e.g. damping elements that have to be manufactured or mounted separately to reduce shock intensities. This advantageously further simplifies assembly. It also reduces the risk of incorrect assembly of such separate damping elements (e.g. forgotten or faulty assembly) and simplifies quality control. A particular advantage is that the housing can be manufactured without foam filling and / or potting, so that despite good sealing (e.g. protection class IP55, IP65, IP57, IP67 or even better) and shock resistance, the connector is lightweight and easy to repair.Furthermore, it is advantageous to dispense with the potting of the circuit board due to the damping achieved and yet, due to the damping or mechanical decoupling achieved, the shock resistance, pressure resistance and vibration resistance of the circuit board and of the components arranged on it can be ensured (with respect to such effects on the housing).

[0026] Preferably, an acceleration load acting on the housing when the connector falls from a height of 1 m to 1.5 m onto a concrete floor is dampened by the clamping holder by the interposition of the sealing element by at least 20% with respect to the circuit board, preferably by at least 50% and particularly preferably by at least 75%.

[0027] The term "clamping mount" or "clamp-mounted" can be understood, for example, to mean that the circuit board is fixed in one or more directions, particularly in all spatial directions, between the two housing shells due to the clamping mount, and is thus particularly stationary. Slight mobility due to an elastically reversible sealing element does not preclude the clamping mount (or even a stationary mount).

[0028] The second housing shell can, for example, be formed separately from the first housing shell. In principle, it is also possible to design the first housing shell and the second housing shell as a single piece (i.e., not detachable from each other without damage). In such a case, the first housing shell and the second housing shell can be connected to each other, for example, by a film joint.

[0029] The first housing shell and / or the second housing shell can be made of or comprise one or more plastics, such as polyamide (PA) or polypropylene (PP). The plastic(s) can be filled with glass fiber, e.g., PA6 GF30 or PA6 GF35 or the like. In principle, it is also possible for at least one of the housing shells to comprise metal, wood, ceramic, or another material, or to be predominantly made of such.

[0030] The circuit board can, for example, contain an electrical and / or electronic circuit.

[0031] The circuit board can be a single-layer, double-layer, or more than double-layer (e.g., three, four, or even more layers). It can be an FR4, FR5, polyimide, or Teflon board. In principle, the use of a ceramic circuit board or other types of circuit boards is also conceivable.

[0032] The circuit board can be located inside the enclosure, for example. It can be located entirely inside the enclosure. In this case, it is particularly well protected from dirt, grime, moisture, or other fluids from the enclosure's external environment, as well as from mechanical stress or influences from the enclosure's external environment.

[0033] The circuit board can, for example, have an SMD component. It can, in particular, be populated such that the majority of the components arranged on the circuit board are SMD components. This allows the circuit board to be particularly compact, making the connector smaller and easier to manufacture. The clamping retention with the sealing element interposed advantageously reduces the risk of damage to the electrical function (e.g., due to broken solder joints) of at least one SMD component.

[0034] The circuit board can, for example, be populated on both sides. It can be provided, for example, that at least one SMD component is arranged on each side of the circuit board; in particular, the majority of the components on each side can be designed as SMD components. This advantageously saves a particularly large amount of installation space. The clamping, dampened mounting (shock absorption) thus enables a reduction in the size of the circuit board, especially compared to mounting with THT components.

[0035] For example, it can be provided that the circuit board has at least one

[0036] A voltage converter, particularly designed as an SMD component, wherein the voltage converter generates a (low) voltage in the range of 7V to 25V from a mains voltage applied to the connector. It can be provided that the low voltage thus provided can be used, for example, to switch a bypass switch or a relay. Such a voltage converter can, for example, have a mass of at least 5g, preferably of at least 15g, e.g., a mass in the range between 10g and 50g.

[0037] It can be provided, for example, that the circuit board has at least one relay. This can be designed, for example, as a THT component or as an SMD component. The relay can be designed, for example, to enable or disable an electrical current in a power supply device or a vehicle, so that the current can flow, for example, from a connection side of the connector to a line connection on a line side of the connector or vice versa (enabled first state of the relay) or cannot flow (disabled second state of the relay). The relay can be designed, for example, to switch when a voltage in the range from 40V to 1000V is applied, preferably in the range between 70V and 450V and very particularly preferably in the range from 90V to 390V. Such a relay can, for example, have a mass of at least 5g, preferably of at least 15g, e.g. a mass in the range between 10g and 50g.

[0038] It can be provided, for example, that the circuit board has dimensions in which a length is at least 2 cm and, for example, lies in a range between 2 cm and 15 cm, preferably, for example, in a range between 4 cm and 13 cm, and in which a width is at least 1.5 cm and, for example, lies in a range between 1.5 cm and 10 cm, preferably in a range between 2.5 cm and 8.5 cm.

[0039] The shock-absorbing clamping holder with the interposition of the sealing element advantageously enables the assembly of the relatively heavy components described above (such as relays and / or voltage converters) as SMD components on the circuit board, although a design as a THT component is also possible. The risk of damage to the function of such components, e.g. due to detachment from the circuit board, is advantageously and considerably reduced by the clamping holder with the interposition of the sealing element. Furthermore, the risk of damage to the component itself can also be reduced by the clamping holder with the interposition of the sealing element. The resulting damping can, for example in the case of a relay, prevent a coil arranged inside the relay from striking the relay housing and thus counteract a loss of function of the relay.

[0040] For example, it can be provided that the circuit board is clamped exclusively in its edge area. The edge area can, for example, extend in a strip of up to a maximum of 5 mm from the edge of the circuit board into the interior of the circuit board, preferably in a strip of no more than 3 mm. This advantageously allows a particularly large surface area of ​​the circuit board to be used for mounting electronic or electrical components.

[0041] The circuit board can be clamped at a single location. However, it can also be clamped at multiple locations, e.g., two, three, four, five, six, or even more.

[0042] Preferably, it is held at three or four locations. The locations can preferably be spaced apart from one another. They can preferably be arranged with respect to the plane of the circuit board such that at least two locations are located on opposite sides of the circuit board. For example, it can be provided that the circuit board is clamped at a maximum of 10% of its total area, preferably at a maximum of 5% of its total area, which advantageously increases the area of ​​the circuit board that can be populated.

[0043] For example, it can be provided that the housing interior is hollow, i.e., it is not foam-filled, or the circuit board or other electrically, electronically, or optically functional elements are not molded into the housing interior. This advantageously enables particularly easy repair of the connector and allows the connector to be designed to be particularly lightweight.

[0044] In a further development, it is provided that the sealing element rests against the first housing shell and against the second housing shell, in particular along more than 30% of its length (length of the sealing element), preferably along more than 50% of its length.

[0045] This preferably results in a particularly reliable and effective seal of the housing at the interface between the two housing shells. In this case, the sealing element is sandwiched between the two housing shells in the relevant areas. For example, the sealing element can be arranged in a groove on the first housing shell and compressed by a spring of the second housing shell engaging in the groove. This can improve the sealing effect.

[0046] In a further development, it is provided that the printed circuit board rests on the first housing shell via a contact surface or total contact surface, in particular viewed along the clamping direction, wherein the sealing element is arranged between the first housing shell and the printed circuit board on at least 70%, preferably at least 90%, of the contact surface, so that the printed circuit board only indirectly rests on the first housing shell. In other words: a contact surface or total contact surface is formed between the printed circuit board and the first housing shell, wherein this contact surface or total contact surface includes those surface portions in which the printed circuit board is in direct or immediate contact with the first housing shell as well as those surface portions in which the printed circuit board is in contact with the printed circuit board (exclusively) through the sealing element (viewed along the clamping direction), i.e. is in indirectly contact.The indirect contact area makes up at least 70%, preferably at least 90%, of the (total) contact area.

[0047] This advantageously results in particularly good damping and increases the service life of the circuit board.

[0048] In a further development, the sealing element is designed as a single piece. This advantageously enables particularly simple and cost-effective production of the sealing element as well as particularly easy assembly.

[0049] Alternatively or additionally, the sealing element is designed to be annular and closed. This advantageously enables particularly simple and easily verifiable installation.

[0050] Alternatively or additionally, the sealing element may have a Shore A hardness of at most 80, preferably at most 60, and particularly preferably at most 45. This advantageously results in a particularly good sealing effect (even under various temperature conditions, such as -40°C to +80°C). Furthermore, this can advantageously result in particularly good damping or mechanical decoupling with regard to the transmission of mechanical influences such as pressure, tension, shocks, and vibrations from the housing to the circuit board.

[0051] The sealing element can be designed to be elastically reversible, for example. It can be made of, predominantly (more than 50%), rubber, silicone, liquid silicone rubber, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), or other materials, or can be made of one or more of these materials, or of a material with a similar physical effect.

[0052] In a further development, the first housing shell has a receiving section, wherein the sealing element is arranged on, in, or on the receiving section. The receiving section can be designed, for example, as a groove or a shoulder, etc. The sealing element can be arranged, for example, in the groove or on or on the shoulder.

[0053] This enables particularly simple installation of the sealing element on, in, or on the first housing shell. Another advantage is that it provides a particularly reliable seal, as the sealing element is arranged at a predefined location on the first housing shell and is therefore automatically positioned correctly during assembly of the second housing shell to achieve the sealing effect. Another advantage is the provision of a groove, for example, which can provide a particularly secure seal. If the groove, for example, has a slight oversize compared to the cross-section of the sealing element, the sealing element can be easily inserted into the groove during assembly.If the second housing shell is then pressed onto the sealing element, the sealing element can not only seal along the pressing direction (axial seal), but can also develop a sealing effect against the walls of the groove (radial sealing effect) due to a thickening as a result of the pressing transversely to this direction.

[0054] In a further development, the sealing element is provided with a support surface that projects into the interior of the housing. The support surface can, for example, protrude at least 1 mm into the interior. The circuit board can, for example, rest on the support surface. It goes without saying that exactly one support surface can be provided. However, several support surfaces can also be provided. The support surface advantageously ensures that the functional division between sealing effect and clamping effect or damping effect or decoupling effect can be carried out particularly easily in the sealing element. The support surface is advantageously provided exclusively or at least predominantly for the damping function. By the support surface protruding into the interior of the housing, it can also advantageously be prevented that the circuit board comes into mechanical contact with a wall of the first housing shell and / or the second housing shell. This advantageously increases the damping effect orThe decoupling effect is further improved and the clamping hold is not impaired. Another advantage is that the support surface can also be used as a positioning mark when mounting the sealing element in, on or onto the first housing shell. If the support surface is in the right place with respect to a reference point on the first housing shell (e.g. a reference element, a complementarily designed element, etc.), the correct positioning of the sealing element with respect to the first housing shell can be determined. With a plurality of support surfaces that are used as positioning marks, the positioning accuracy and thus also the sealing effect of the sealing element can be further improved. This advantageously reduces the risk of leakage due to an incorrectly positioned sealing element.

[0055] In a further development, it is provided that the support surface has a first thickness when viewed along the clamping direction, wherein a sealing section of the sealing element arranged between the first housing shell and the second housing shell has a second thickness, wherein the first thickness and the second thickness differ. The two thicknesses can differ, for example, by at least 20%.

[0056] This advantageously enables customized adaptation of the various functionalities (sealing vs. damping or decoupling) of the sealing element in the various areas. Advantageously, the sealing element can therefore be manufactured from a single material, making it particularly simple and cost-effective. The respective properties can then be adjusted, for example, by the thickness or generally the dimensioning of the respective sections. Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the support surface is spaced apart, viewed along the clamping direction, from a sealing section of the sealing element arranged between the first housing shell and the second housing shell, wherein a distance between a side of the support surface facing the circuit board and an edge of the sealing section facing the support surface corresponds to at least 50% of the second thickness of the sealing section, viewed along the clamping direction.In this way, the circuit board can advantageously be arranged at a desired level that is independent of the position of the sealing section of the sealing element. The plane of the circuit board is advantageously spaced from the abutting edge between the first and second housing shell. This advantageously prevents direct exposure of the circuit board to dirt, grime or moisture, etc., should such substances overcome the sealing section. Furthermore, the support surface is advantageously decoupled mechanically (over a longer distance) from the sealing section in this way, whereby the introduction of mechanical influences, such as shocks, vibrations, etc., from the sealing section to the support surface is advantageously reduced.

[0057] In a further development, it is provided that the first housing shell has a first support element projecting from a first wall of the first housing shell into the interior, wherein the support surface is arranged on the first support element.

[0058] This advantageously improves the clamping effect. Furthermore, the first support element can advantageously serve as a complementary element or reference element for the support surface in its function as a positioning mark. In other words: if the support surface is correctly positioned on the support element, the sealing element is also correctly positioned relative to the first housing shell. This improves the correct assembly of the sealing element and enhances the sealing effect.

[0059] In a further development, the second housing shell has a second support element projecting from a second wall of the second housing shell into the interior, the printed circuit board being clamped between the first housing shell and the second support element. This advantageously ensures that the printed circuit board does not come into contact with the second housing shell transversely to the clamping direction. This reduces the intensity of shocks, vibrations, etc. that can be introduced from the housing into the printed circuit board. Furthermore, this advantageously enables a safety distance between the printed circuit board and the inner wall of the housing, so that, for example, deformation of the housing, e.g. due to pressure (weight acting on the connector), does not directly lead to contact of the printed circuit board by the inner wall transversely to the clamping direction. This reduces the risk of damage to the printed circuit board.

[0060] In a further development, a damping element for dampening mechanical influences, in particular shocks, vibrations, pressure, etc., from the housing to the circuit board is arranged between the second support element and the circuit board. The damping element can, for example, have a Shore A hardness of at most 80, preferably at most 60, particularly preferably at most 45.

[0061] The damping element can be connected (in one piece) to the second support element, for example, through a 1K or 2K injection molding process, or it can be attached to the second support element in a force-fitting, friction-fitting, material-fitting, or form-fitting manner. In principle, it is also conceivable for the damping element to be mounted on the circuit board after the circuit board has been mounted on or in the first housing shell, or for it to be pre-mounted on the circuit board and then clamped between the second support element and the circuit board during assembly of the second housing shell.

[0062] This can advantageously result in particularly good damping with regard to the transmission of mechanical influences such as pressure, tension, shocks and vibrations from the housing, in particular from the second housing shell, to the circuit board.

[0063] The damping element can be designed to be elastically reversible, for example. It can be made of, predominantly (more than 50%), rubber, silicone, liquid silicone rubber, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), or other materials, or can be made of one or more of these materials, or of a material with a similar physical effect.

[0064] In a further development, it is provided that the housing, in particular the first housing shell, has a positioning element, wherein the printed circuit board has an opening, wherein the positioning element engages in the opening and preferably passes through the opening.

[0065] This advantageously enables particularly simple and reliable pre-assembly of the circuit board, which can then be automatically moved into a predefined position. The positioning element is preferably designed without an electrical function; for example, it is not designed as a connector pin that contacts one or more contact segments of the circuit board.

[0066] Advantageously, the positioning element is not in contact with the edge of the opening. In other words, the opening can have an excess dimension, preferably of at most 40%, more preferably of at most 30%, particularly preferably of at most 20%, and most preferably of at most 10%, compared to the positioning element. The opening can, for example, have a diameter in a range between 2 mm and 6 mm, preferably in a range between 3 mm and 5 mm, although other opening diameters are also possible. This advantageously ensures precise positioning of the circuit board on or in the first housing shell before assembly of the second housing shell (e.g. before the clamping process using the second housing shell). At the same time, it is advantageously prevented that mechanical events (e.g. shocks, vibrations, pressure, tension) are introduced from the housing into the circuit board by means of the positioning element.The exact positioning of the circuit board can, for example, ensure that contact pins that contact a lamella cage of the circuit board from the housing are contacted by all contact lamellas with the respective predetermined contact forces and that there is no excessive contact force for some contact lamellas and an excessively reduced contact force for others (as a result of lateral incorrect positioning of the circuit board with respect to the first housing shell).

[0067] In a further development, the connector is designed to be electrically connected to a household socket. This enables the connector to provide a charging cable or a supply cable with which, for example, a motor vehicle can be charged using electricity from a household socket. Due to the sealing element and the damping provided by the circuit board, the connector can perform functions that would otherwise be performed in an ICCB (In Cable Control Box). The connector can therefore advantageously enable the provision of a particularly lightweight, space-saving, and cost-effective supply cable while meeting all necessary sealing and shock resistance requirements.

[0068] It is understood that in another, alternative embodiment, the connector can be configured to be connected to a vehicle or a power supply device, such as a charging station or a wallbox. In this case, the connector can, for example, have a suitable connector face or a suitable connection unit, e.g., a TYPE 2 connector face for European vehicles or charging stations.

[0069] According to a second aspect of the invention, a supply cable for electrically connecting a vehicle to a power supply device providing electrical energy and / or to a consumer requiring electrical energy is proposed.

[0070] The supply cable has a connector as described above. It also has a connecting line that is electrically connected to the connector. It can also have another connector that is arranged or can be arranged at another end of the connecting line.

[0071] Drawings

[0072] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of exemplary embodiments, which, however, are not to be construed as limiting the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0073] It shows

[0074] Fig. 1 : a schematic illustration of a supply cable; Fig. 2: a schematic cross-section through a printed circuit board

[0075] Arrangement in a prior art connector;

[0076] Fig. 3: a schematic exploded view of a connector of the

[0077] supply cable;

[0078] Fig. 4: a schematic cross-section through a connector of the

[0079] supply cable;

[0080] Fig. 5a: a schematic plan view of a first housing shell of a connector before mounting a printed circuit board;

[0081] Fig. 5b: a schematic view of the first housing shell from Fig. 5a after mounting of the circuit board.

[0082] Figure 1 schematically shows a vehicle 12, which is, for example, a hybrid or electric vehicle and which has an energy storage device 11. The energy storage device 11 is to be charged here, for example, via a power supply device 16. The power supply device 16 in the case shown in Figure 1 can be, for example, a wall box that enables charging with three-phase alternating current, or a continuous voltage source, for example a household socket such as a Schuko socket, which enables, for example, single-phase charging. A supply cable 10 is provided to connect the power supply device 16 and the energy storage device 11 or vehicle 12.

[0083] The supply cable 10 has a primary connector 14 and a secondary connector 15, with various variants of the secondary connector 15 being shown in Figure 1. In the context of the application, reference is generally made to connectors 14, 15. For the sealing concept and for the mounting of a printed circuit board 50 (see, for example, Figure 3) of the connector 14, 15, it is not important whether it is a primary connector 14 or a secondary connector 15. However, for better comprehensibility of the application text, the connector 14, 15 can occasionally be referred to as the primary connector 14 or the secondary connector 15.

[0084] Secondary connector 15 must be specified in more detail. Between the (primary) connector 14 and the (secondary) connector 15, there is a supply line or connecting line 13. The (primary) connector 14 serves for the electrical connection to the vehicle 12 and specifically to the energy storage device 11. The (secondary) connector 15 serves, depending on its design, for the connection to the various types of energy supply device 16 or a consumer 19. In the case that the (secondary) connector 15 is designed for connection to a consumer 19 (shown here as an example in the form of a hairdryer), the (secondary) connector 15 can be, for example, a Schuko socket. In this case, electrical energy is taken from the vehicle 12 or its energy storage device 11. It is understood that the electrical consumer can also be a power grid, so that electrical energy from the vehicle 12 can be fed back into the power grid. In this case, for example,A Schuko plug or a Type 2 charging plug for plugging into a wallbox serves as the (secondary) connector 15. It is further understood that the electrical consumer can also be another vehicle that is supplied with power or electrical energy from the vehicle 12. In this case, the (secondary) connector 15 can be designed, for example, analogously to the (primary) connector 14.

[0085] The (primary) connector 14 has a vehicle connection 4, which is provided for the indirectly or directly detachable wireless or wired electrical connection to the vehicle 12 or the energy storage device 11.

[0086] In the illustrated embodiment, the (primary) connector 14 also has an additional connection 5, via which a wireless and / or wired electrical connection can be established directly or indirectly in a detachable manner with an additional coupling 6 of the connecting line 13. In an alternative embodiment, the additional connection 5 and the additional coupling 6 can be omitted, so that the connecting line 13 is attached directly to the (primary) connector 14 and cannot be separated from it without causing damage.

[0087] In the illustrated embodiment, the supply cable 10 can be coupled to various types of (secondary) connectors 15. Each (secondary) connector 15 has an infrastructure connection 1 and a cable connection 2, wherein the infrastructure connection 1 is designed for electrical connection to the energy supply device 16 or the consumer 19. The cable connection 2 serves for connection to the connecting line 13. For this purpose, the connecting line 13 has, for example, a coupling 3, wherein the coupling 3 and the cable connection 2 are detachably electrically connectable. Thus, the (secondary) connectors 15 can be replaced easily and with little effort by merely breaking the connection between the coupling 3 and the cable connection 2. In principle, supply cables 10 are of course also conceivable in which the (secondary) connector 15 is non-detachably connected (i.e.: cannot be removed without causing damage) to the connecting line 13.

[0088] In Figure 1 top right it is shown that the infrastructure connection 1 can also be designed for connection to a consumer 19, e.g. in that the infrastructure connection 1 or the (secondary) connector 15 is designed as a Schuko socket or as a three-phase socket. In Figure 1 middle right it is shown that the infrastructure connection 1 of the (secondary) connector 15 in an alternative embodiment can be, for example, a Type 2 connection for connection to a charging station or wall box (here, for example, a current flow is possible from the infrastructure connection 1 to the vehicle 12 or from the vehicle 12 away to the infrastructure connection 1). In Figure 1 bottom right it is shown by way of example that the infrastructure connection 1 of the

[0089] In an alternative embodiment, the (secondary) connector 15 can be a Schuko plug for connection to a household socket (here, too, for example, a current flow from the infrastructure connection 1 to the vehicle 12 or from the vehicle 12 to the infrastructure connection 1 is possible). A (secondary) connector 15 for connecting to another vehicle is also possible in principle, but is not shown here.

[0090] In this exemplary embodiment, the connecting line 13 has only electrical conductors between the coupling 3 and the additional coupling 6, which establish an electrical connection between the coupling 3 and the additional coupling 6. These electrical conductors are, for example, copper conductors or aluminum conductors, or they are made of another material with high electrical conductivity and have electrical insulation. All electrical conductors are, for example, combined in one strand and preferably have a common sheath, which serves on the one hand as electrical insulation and on the other hand as mechanical protection. Preferably, no active or passive electrical components are provided in the connecting line 13 in Figure 1. All logic components or logic modules (e.g.

[0091] Microprocessors, ASICs, etc.) and in particular active or passive electrical components are either part of the (primary) connector 14 and / or part of the (secondary) connector 15. This advantageously allows the connecting line 13 to be manufactured cost-effectively. An ICCB (an in-cable control box) can therefore be expressly dispensed with in this exemplary embodiment. This means that the supply cable 10, despite its adaptability shown here (various (secondary) connectors 15 can be optionally connected), can be provided in a cost-effective, compact, simple, space-saving and lightweight manner. Omitting an ICCB not only reduces weight, costs and handleability, but also complex quality inspections and load tests, since it is not necessary to secure the sensitive electronics of the ICCB, for example, against being driven over by other vehicles, e.g. trucks.This also advantageously reduces the risk of tripping for people. It is understood that in other embodiments an ICCB can be provided, which is then arranged, for example, within the connecting line 13.

[0092] Figure 2 shows a cross-section through a connector 14, 15 for a supply cable 10 from the prior art. The connector 14, 15 has a housing 20 that encloses a housing interior 40. Outside the housing 20 there is an external environment 41, this can be, for example, the environment. A printed circuit board 50 is arranged in the housing interior 40. The printed circuit board 50 is arranged in two guide slots 70 on opposite inner walls of the housing 20 and is thus directly exposed to shocks or vibrations acting on the housing 20. The printed circuit board 50 has, schematically shown here, two components that are designed as THT components 55 (THT = "Through Hole Technology").

[0093] Figure 3 schematically shows an exploded view of the (primary) connector 14, wherein the structure of the (secondary) connector 15 may, but need not, be substantially analogous to that of the (primary) connector 14. In the following, no explicit distinction is made between (primary) connector 14 and (secondary) connector 15, but rather a general reference is made to a connector 14, 15, which can thus be the (primary) connector 14 and / or (secondary) connector 15.

[0094] The connector 14, 15 has a housing 20. The housing 20 has at least a first housing shell 21 and a second housing shell 22, which is separate from the first housing shell 21, here by way of example (in principle, a one-piece design, e.g., connected by a film joint or the like, is also conceivable). A housing interior 40 of the housing 20 is, here by way of example, a hollow housing interior 40, i.e., it is not, in particular not predominantly or even completely, filled with a foam material or a plastic. Furthermore, here by way of example, at least one connection unit 23 is provided, arranged in the housing 20 on a connection side 27 of the housing 20, for connection to the vehicle 12 or the energy supply device 16 or the consumer 19. Furthermore, a connection unit sealing element 25 is provided, which here by way of example circumferentially surrounds the connection unit 23. The connection unit 23 preferably has plug connectors (e.g.,at least one male contact element and / or at least one female contact element), which are designed for making electrical contact with mating connectors. It is understood that the connection unit 23 can also be arranged transversely to a longitudinal direction L (axial direction) or longitudinal axis of the housing 20. It can be designed, for example, as a SCHU KO plug, three-phase plug or the like, so that such a connector 15 can be designed for connection to a normal household socket or three-phase socket or the like. The connection side 27 can therefore also be understood as a connection end of the housing 20. A line side 28 is provided at an end of the housing 20 opposite the connection side 27. On the line side 28, for example, a line element 17 of the housing 20 extends through the housing 20 from the housing interior 40 of the housing 20 into an external environment 41 or an external space of the housing 20. The external environment 41 orThe outside space is, for example, the space or surroundings or environment in which an operator can touch the connector 14, 15. The line element 17 can be, for example, the connecting line 13. Likewise, the line element 17 can be, for example, a cable stub to which the connecting line 17 can be connected. Another possibility is for the line element 17 to make electrical contact with the coupling 3 or additional coupling 6. In principle, the coupling 3 or the additional coupling 6 can also represent the line element 17 which passes through the housing 20 from the housing interior 40 into the outside space or the outside environment 41 of the housing 20 or is in - for example, direct - contact with the outside space 41. Furthermore, a line element sealing element 26 is provided which, here for example, surrounds the line element 17 all the way around.

[0095] The longitudinal direction L of the connector 14, 15 and thus of the housing 20 extends from the connection side 27 to the line side 28. Since the connector 14, 15 has a curved housing shape, for example, the longitudinal direction L is not straight, but rather follows the curved housing shape, i.e., it is curved. For the connection unit 23 and the line element 17, the longitudinal direction L is, in particular, a central axis. A radial direction R is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. A circumferential direction U encircles the longitudinal direction L.

[0096] Furthermore, the housing 20 has a sealing element 24, which is arranged between the first housing shell 21 and the second housing shell 22. The sealing element 24 is designed to seal the housing interior 40 from the external environment 41 of the housing 20. The sealing element 24 here, for example, bears at least in sections against both the first housing shell 21 and the second housing shell 22. It is preferably provided that the sealing element 24 bears against the first housing shell 21 along more than 30% of its length, preferably over more than 50% of its length and / or bears against the second housing shell 22 along more than 30% of its length, preferably over more than 50% of its length.

[0097] In this exemplary embodiment, the sealing element 24 is formed in one piece. It is designed here, for example, in a closed, annular shape, although other shapes, such as a horseshoe shape, are also conceivable. The sealing element 24 has, for example, a Shore A hardness of at most 80, preferably of at most 60, and most preferably of at most 45. A Shore A hardness of 30, 35, 40, or 45, for example, can be provided.

[0098] In this embodiment, the first housing shell 21 has, for example, a receiving area or receiving section 30, which here is designed purely as an example in the form of a groove 31. This receiving section 30 runs slightly below an end face (here: an outer wall) of the first housing shell 21 facing the second housing shell 22. The receiving section 30 is delimited here such that the outer wall of the first housing shell 21 projects beyond an inner wall delimiting the groove 31, e.g., by a maximum of 2 mm, preferably by a maximum of 1 mm. In the assembled state of the housing 20, the sealing element 24 is arranged on or in the receiving area 30, here: in the groove 31.

[0099] The connector 14, 15 further comprises a printed circuit board 50. The printed circuit board 50 is here (in the fully assembled state of the housing 20, see e.g. Fig. 4), for example, arranged completely in the housing interior 20. The printed circuit board 50 here comprises, for example, an electrical and / or electronic circuit 51. It can be provided, for example, that the printed circuit board 50 has dimensions in which a length is at least 2 cm and, for example, lies in a range between 2 cm and 18 cm, preferably, for example, in a range between 4 cm and 15 cm and, for example, 8 cm or 10 cm or 12 cm, and in which a width is at least 1.5 cm and, for example, lies in a range between 1.5 cm and 12 cm, preferably in a range between 2.5 cm and 8.5 cm and, for example, 3 cm or 4 cm or 5 cm or 6 cm or 7 cm or 8 cm.

[0100] The circuit board 50 has at least one SMD component 52 (SMD = "Surface Mounted Device"), for example an integrated circuit, a sensor, a resistor, a capacitor and / or a coil or the like. The SMD component 52 can also be, for example, a relay 53 or a voltage converter 54, wherein the voltage converter 54 generates, for example, a voltage in the range of 7V to 25V, preferably in the range of 13V to 20V, from a mains voltage applied to the connector 14, 15 (for example in the range of 100V to 130V or in the range of 210V to 260V or in the range of 330V to 410V).

[0101] Relay 53 can, for example, have a mass in the range between 10g and 70g, preferably between 20g and 45g. It can, for example, be designed as a THT component in an alternative embodiment (not shown here).

[0102] The voltage converter can, for example, have a mass in the range between 10g and 70g, preferably between 15g and 40g. In an alternative embodiment, it can be designed as a THT component (not shown here).

[0103] The circuit board 50 is populated on both sides, for example. For example, at least one SMD component 52 is provided on each side of the circuit board 50, with at least one SMD component 52 being arranged on each side of the circuit board 50.

[0104] In the assembled state of the housing 20 - as can be seen better in Fig. 4 - the printed circuit board 50 is held clamped along a clamping direction K between the first housing shell 21 and the second housing shell 22, wherein the clamping of the printed circuit board 50 takes place at least in sections with the interposition of the sealing element 24 between the printed circuit board 50 and the first housing shell 21. Advantageously, in this exemplary embodiment, a screw connection or a material connection of the printed circuit board to one of the two housing shells 21, 22 can be dispensed with, while at the same time a stationary fastening of the printed circuit board 50 in the housing 20 is nevertheless effected. At the same time, this advantageously provides damping and / or mechanical decoupling of pressure effects, shocks or vibrations on the housing (e.g. from the outside space or the external environment 41, e.g.due to a fall or vibrations in a vehicle or a vehicle driving over or rolling over the connector 14, 15, etc.) with respect to the printed circuit board 50 arranged in the housing interior 40. This advantageously enables the use of SMD components 52 which remain within the specifications with regard to mechanical loads on the connector 14, 15 over the service life of the connector 14, 15 without failure. Another advantage is that the (SMD) components on the printed circuit board 50 do not have to be encapsulated in order to protect them from mechanical influences acting on the printed circuit board 50. This allows the printed circuit board 50 to be manufactured cost-effectively and easily, and the circuit 51 can be constructed more compactly and smaller than when (predominantly) assembled with THT components.This also makes it particularly advantageous to equip the printed circuit board 50 with one or more relays 54 and / or power supplies or voltage converters 54 in S MD design, which have a considerably higher weight than, for example, simple resistors, capacitors or coils.

[0105] The sealing element 24 can, for example, have at least one support surface 35 projecting into the housing interior 40—particularly clearly visible in Figs. 4 and 5a. In this embodiment, four support surfaces 35 are provided, with two support surfaces 35 each being provided on sections of the sealing element 24 that are opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal direction L. The support surfaces 35 have a first thickness d1, while a sealing region or sealing section 33 (see also Fig. 4) of the sealing element 24 has a second thickness d2, in particular when viewed along the clamping direction K. The first thickness d1 can differ from the second thickness d2—as illustrated here by way of example. For example, the first thickness d1 of the support surface 35 can be at least 20% greater or (as here) at least 20% less than the second thickness d2 of the sealing region 33.

[0106] The first thickness d1 of the support surface 35 can be, for example, at least 0.3 mm, preferably at least 1 mm, and most preferably at least 2 mm. It can be, for example, in a range between 0.4 mm and 10 mm, preferably in a range between 0.5 mm and 4 mm. The first thickness can be, for example, 0.4 mm or 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm or 1 mm or 2 mm or 3 mm or 4 mm or 5 mm or 6 mm or 7 mm or 8 mm or 9 mm or 10 mm.

[0107] The support surfaces 35 protrude, for example, by at least 1 mm into the interior space 40. The printed circuit board 50 rests on the support surfaces 35 in the fully assembled state of the housing 20.

[0108] In this embodiment, it is provided, by way of example, that the first housing shell 21 has a first support element 37 projecting from a first wall 61 of the first housing shell 21 into the interior space 40 (here, by way of example, a first support element 37 is provided for each support surface 35), wherein the support surface 35 is arranged on the first support element 37. In this way, the circuit board 50 is supported particularly reliably and can therefore be held particularly well in a clamped manner between the first housing shell 21 and the second housing shell 22. Furthermore, the first support element 37 can advantageously be used as a complementary element or as a reference mark or as a reference element for the support surface 35 in a function of a position mark. In other words: if the support surface 35 is correctly placed on the first support element 37, it is ensured that the sealing element 24 is correctly positioned in or on thepositioned on the first housing shell 21. This simply reduces the risk of leaks during sealing.

[0109] Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-section through the housing 20 of a connector 14, 15, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3. The housing interior 40 is clearly visible—merely by way of example—as a hollow housing interior 40, i.e., in particular, it is not (fully) foamed or cast. The clamping of the circuit board 50 along the clamping direction K with the interposition of the sealing element 24 is clearly visible. The sealing element 24 lies in its sealing section 33 in the receiving section 30, designed here as a groove 31, while the bearing surface 35 of the sealing element 24, relevant for shock absorption, vibration damping, etc., is arranged on the first support element 37, and the circuit board 50 is arranged on the bearing surface 35.

[0110] It can be clearly seen that the support surface 35, viewed along the clamping direction K, is spaced apart from a sealing section 33 of the sealing element 24 arranged between the first housing shell 21 and the second housing shell 22, wherein a distance D between a side of the support surface 35 facing the circuit board 50 and an edge 34 of the sealing section 33 facing the support surface 35 corresponds to at least 50% of the second thickness d2 of the sealing section 33, viewed along the clamping direction K. This enables a mechanical decoupling between the sealing region 33 and the support surface 35. In addition, the position of the circuit board 50 in the radial direction (here: along the clamping direction K) within the housing interior 40 can be optimally adapted in this way. Such an adaptation can, for example,depending on the height of individual SMD components 52, or to enable double-sided assembly of the circuit board 50 or to enable optimized weight distribution within the housing interior 40. An optimized weight distribution can, for example, have as a possible goal that as little torque as possible is transmitted through the connector 14, 15 to a mating connector or

[0111] Infrastructure connection 1 of a power supply device 16 or a consumer 19. In this exemplary embodiment, it is further provided that the second housing shell 22 has a second support element 38 protruding from a second wall 62 of the second housing shell 22 into the interior space 40. The printed circuit board 50 is clamped between the first housing shell 21 and the second support element 38—in this exemplary embodiment, only indirectly.

[0112] For example, a damping element 39 for damping mechanical shocks, vibrations, and pressure (i.e., mechanical influences in general) from the housing 20 onto the circuit board 50 is further arranged here between the second support element 38 and the circuit board 50. The damping element 39 can comprise a similar material to the sealing element 24 or be formed from a different material, preferably from an elastically reversible material. The damping element 39 can preferably have a Shore A hardness of at most 80, preferably of at most 60, and most preferably of at most 45. It can, for example, have a Shore A hardness of 30, 35, 40, or 45. The damping element 39 can be formed integrally with the second support element 38 (e.g. in a 1-component injection molding or a 2-component injection molding), but it can also be arranged on the circuit board 50 itself or arranged before assembly of the second housing shell 22.However, it can also be arranged in a force-fitting, material-fitting, form-fitting, and / or friction-fitting manner on an end face of the second support element 38 facing the circuit board 50. In principle, the damping element 39 can also be arranged on the second housing shell 22 without a second support element 38 being provided.

[0113] In the embodiment shown here, which is merely an example, the clamping is thus effected by the following sequence of elements (viewed along the clamping direction K): second support element 38 (belonging to the second housing shell 22), damping element 39, printed circuit board 50, bearing surface 35, first support element 37 (belonging to the first housing shell 21).

[0114] A damping element thickness can be, for example, at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm and very particularly preferably at least 2 mm (in particular when viewed along the clamping direction K). It can be, for example, in a range between 0.4 mm and 10 mm, preferably in a range between 0.5 mm and 4 mm. The damping element thickness can be, for example, 0.4 mm or 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm or 1 mm or 2 mm or 3 mm or 4 mm or 5 mm or 6 mm or 7 mm or 8 mm or 9 mm or 10 mm. The printed circuit board 50 is thus indirectly clamped or held in a clamped manner by the first housing shell 21 and the second housing shell 22 in that the printed circuit board indirectly rests on the first housing shell 21 and the second housing shell 22 as viewed along the clamping direction K. The term “indirectly adjacent” is to be understood here as meaning that preferably only the sealing element 24 or the damping element 39 is arranged between the housing shell 21, 22 and the printed circuit board 50.Preferably, there is a distance of at most 5 mm, preferably of at most 3 mm and most preferably of at most 1 mm between the housing shell 21, 22 and the circuit board 50.

[0115] The clamping of the circuit board 50 on the support surfaces 35 also effects (mechanical) damping (e.g., shock absorption, etc.) or decoupling along the longitudinal direction L and the radial direction R, since the support surfaces 35 are designed to be elastically reversible not only along the clamping direction K, but also in the other spatial directions. If a damping element 39 is also provided—as shown here as an example—the (mechanical) damping or mechanical decoupling in the radial direction R and the longitudinal direction L is further improved.

[0116] Figure 5a shows a schematic plan view of a part of a first housing shell 21 of a connector 14, 15 before mounting a printed circuit board 50.

[0117] Figure 5b shows a schematic view of the first housing shell 21 from Fig. 5a after mounting of the circuit board 50.

[0118] Figures 5a and 5b are now described together.

[0119] The connector 14, 15 of Figs. 5a and 5b can, for example, be configured to be electrically connected to a household socket. However, it can also be a connector 14, 15 configured to be connected to a vehicle 12 or a wallbox or the like.

[0120] It is clearly visible in Fig. 5a that the sealing element 24 is inserted into the receiving section 30, which is exemplified here as a groove 31. Four support surfaces 35 can be seen on which the printed circuit board 50 can be placed.

[0121] The housing 20, here: for example the first housing shell 21 , has two

[0122] Positioning elements 65 (in principle, only a single positioning element 65 can be provided or more than two positioning elements 65 can be provided). The printed circuit board 50 (see Fig. 5b) here has, for example, two spaced-apart (diagonally opposite one another) openings 56, wherein the two positioning elements 65 engage in the openings 56 and preferably pass through the openings 56. In this way, correct positioning of the printed circuit board 50 in or on the first housing shell 21 can be ensured in a simple manner, before the printed circuit board 50 is then fixed in place by the clamping holder, which is brought about by the assembly of the second housing shell 22 on the first housing shell 21. The second housing shell 22 can be fastened to the first housing shell 21 during this assembly, for example, by a screw connection and / or a clip connection or the like.

[0123] Preferably, a diameter of the openings 56 is larger than a diameter of the corresponding positioning elements 65 (this can apply to individual pairings or to all pairings of positioning element 65 and opening 56). In this way, the introduction of mechanical loads from the housing 20 to the circuit board 50 by means of the positioning elements 65 can be prevented. Particularly preferably, the circuit board 50 also does not rest on a support base of the positioning elements 65. In other words: with ideal assembly, the circuit board 50 has no mechanical contact with the positioning elements 65.

[0124] The opening 56 can, for example, have a diameter in a range between 2 mm and 6 mm, preferably in a range between 3 mm and 5 mm, although other diameters of the opening 65 are also possible. For example, an excess of the diameter of the opening 56 with respect to a diameter of the positioning element can be in the range between 5% and 40%, preferably in the range between 15% and 35%. It can also be provided that the diameter of the opening 56 has an excess in absolute values. For example, the diameter of the opening 56 can have an excess in the range between 0.3 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably between 0.5 and 1.5 mm compared to the diameter of the positioning element 65.

[0125] The printed circuit board 50 rests against the first housing shell 21 via a contact surface or total contact surface, particularly when viewed along the clamping direction K. In the fully assembled state of the housing 20, the sealing element 24 (here, for example, the support surface 35) is arranged between the first housing shell 21 and the printed circuit board 50 on at least 70% of the contact surface or total contact surface, so that the printed circuit board 50 only indirectly rests against the first housing shell 21. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5a and 5b, the surface portions of the support surfaces 35 that are mechanically contacted by the printed circuit board 50 can be regarded as the contact surface or total contact surface. In Fig. 5b, it can be clearly seen that along the radial direction R and also along the longitudinal direction L, the printed circuit board 50 is arranged at a distance from the first housing shell 21 (and - not visible here - also from the second housing shell 22) in the housing interior 40. The sealing element 24 shown in Fig.The supply line 10 shown in Figure 1 may comprise one or two of the connectors 14, 15 described above.

Claims

1. Connectors (14, 15) for a supply cable (10) for electrically connecting a vehicle (12) to an electrical energy supply device (16) and / or to an electrical energy-requiring consumer (19), comprising connectors (14, 15): -- a housing (20) with at least one first housing shell (21) and a second housing shell (22), in particular separate from the first housing shell (21), -- a printed circuit board (50) which in particular comprises an electrical and / or electronic circuit (31), -- a sealing element (24), wherein the housing (20) encloses a housing interior (40), wherein the sealing element (24) is configured to seal the housing interior (40) against an external environment (41) of the housing (20), wherein the sealing element (24) is arranged between the first housing shell (21) and the second housing shell (22), wherein the printed circuit board (50) is clamped along a clamping direction (K) between the first housing shell (21) and the second housing shell (22), wherein the clamping retention of the printed circuit board (50) is effected at least sectionally by interposing the sealing element (24) between the printed circuit board (50) and the first housing shell (21).

2. Connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the sealing element (24) abuts the first housing shell (21) and the second housing shell (22), in particular along more than 30% of its length, preferably along more than 50% of its length.

3. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit board (50) rests against the first housing shell (21) via a contact surface, in particular viewed along the clamping direction (K), wherein the sealing element (24) is arranged on at least 70% of the contact area between the first housing shell (21) and the printed circuit board (50), such that the printed circuit board (50) only indirectly contacts the first housing shell (21). Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element (24) is formed in one piece, and / or wherein the sealing element (24) is formed in an annular shape, and / or wherein the sealing element (24) has a Shore A hardness of at most 80, preferably at most 60. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing shell (21) has a receiving section (30), in particular a groove (31), wherein the sealing element (24) is arranged on, in, or at the receiving section (30), in particular in the groove (31).Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element (24) has a bearing surface (35) projecting into the interior (40), wherein the bearing surface (35) projects in particular at least 1 mm into the interior (40), wherein the printed circuit board (50) in particular rests on the bearing surface (35). Connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the bearing surface (35) has a first thickness (d1) when viewed along the clamping direction (K), wherein a sealing section (33) of the sealing element (24) arranged between the first housing shell (21) and the second housing shell (22) has a second thickness (d2), wherein the first thickness (d1) and the second thickness (d2) differ, in particular by at least 20%, and / or wherein the bearing surface (35) is spaced apart from a space between the first housing shell (21) and the second housing shell (22) when viewed along the clamping direction (K). The sealing section (33) of the sealing element (24) is arranged in the second housing shell (22), wherein a distance (D) between a side of the contact surface (35) facing the circuit board (50) and an edge (34) of the sealing section (33) facing the contact surface (35) corresponds to at least 50% of the second thickness (d2) of the sealing section (33), viewed along the clamping direction (K). A connector according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the first housing shell (21) has a first support element (37) projecting from a first wall (61) of the first housing shell (21) into the interior (40), wherein the contact surface (35) is arranged on the first support element (37).A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second housing shell (22) has a second support element (38) projecting from a second wall (62) of the second housing shell (22) into the interior (40), wherein the printed circuit board (50) is clamped between the first housing shell (21) and the second support element (38). A connector according to the preceding claim, wherein a damping element (39) for damping mechanical influences, in particular shocks, vibrations, and pressure, from the housing (20) to the printed circuit board (50) is arranged between the second support element (38) and the printed circuit board (50), wherein the damping element (39) in particular has a Shore A hardness of at most 80, preferably at most 60.Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (20), in particular the first housing shell (21), has a positioning element (65), wherein the circuit board (50) has an opening (56), wherein the positioning element (65) engages in the opening (56) and preferably extends through the opening (56).

12. Connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (14, 15) is configured to be electrically connected to a household electrical outlet.

13. Supply cable (10) for electrically connecting a vehicle (12) to an electrical energy supply device (16) and / or to an electrical energy-requiring consumer (19), comprising: -- a connector (14, 15) according to one of the preceding claims; -- a connecting line (13) which is electrically connected to the connector (14).

Images