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 a housing interior (40), - a printed circuit board (50) which has an electric and / or electronic circuit (31) in particular, and - a holding element (85) for the printed circuit board. The housing (20) has an inner wall (60) which delimits the housing interior (40), wherein the inner wall (60) has a first section (61) and a second section (62) lying opposite the first section (61). The holding element (85) has an elastically reversible material or is predominantly or completely made of an elastically reversible material, and the printed circuit board (50) is mounted in the housing interior (40), in particular in a clamped manner, by means of the holding element (85).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] Connector for a supply cable

[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 and fall from a height of 1 m 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 loaded by weight in a vehicle's cargo area, e.g., luggage, which exerts pressure on it. The connector may also be exposed to high weight and / or pressure, for example, as a result of being rolled over (e.g., by a car). 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 (> 100 V), voltage conversion (e.g., from more than 100 V to voltages in the range between 5 V and 30 V) in order to use the converted voltage to switch 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, S MD 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] If, however, the housing is made of several parts for manufacturing reasons and, in particular, has a hollow housing interior, it is necessary that the housing or the majority of the housing parts are sealed against the ingress of these undesirable substances (dirt, debris, fluid media). There may therefore be a need to provide a connector for a supply cable that is simple and cost-effective to manufacture, that is as small as possible, that 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, debris, moisture and / or fluid media from an external environment of the connector and whose function is also affected 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.) is not affected.

[0018] Advantages of the invention

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] The connector comprises a housing with a housing interior. It further comprises a printed circuit board and a retaining element. The housing has an inner wall that delimits the housing interior, wherein the inner wall has a first section and a second section opposite the first section. The retaining element comprises an elastically reversible material or is formed predominantly (more than 50%) or entirely from an elastically reversible material. The printed circuit board is held in the housing interior by means of the retaining element.

[0022] The holding element can be a holding element for the circuit board. Alternatively or additionally, the holding element can be configured to hold or retain the circuit board, in particular in a stationary manner.

[0023] For example, it can be provided that the circuit board is held in place by means of the holding element in the

[0024] The housing interior is clamped. The holding means itself can provide the clamping hold (independently). However, it can also be provided that several holding means cooperate to provide the hold, in particular a clamping hold.

[0025] For example, it can be provided that the circuit board is held stationary in the housing (in all spatial directions) exclusively by the holding element, e.g. by means of a clamping holder, i.e. that it is not (additionally) held by other or different holding means, e.g. not by means of an (additional) screw connection, adhesive connection, clip connection, etc.

[0026] This advantageously has the effect of reducing or dampening the intensity of mechanical influences on the circuit board, in particular shocks, vibrations and / or other mechanical loads (e.g. tension due to the application of pressure if the connector is subjected to a weight, for example; mechanical loads (tensions) due to thermal expansion; tensile or compressive loads from cables running inside the housing; etc.). This reduces the risk of the circuit board being damaged or of functional loss due to such mechanical loads - which act on the housing, for example, from the environment or the external surroundings of the housing. Another advantage is that holding the circuit board by means of the holding element makes repairing the connector and / or the circuit board particularly simple and cost-effective, thereby advantageously increasing the sustainability of the connector.This is particularly true when the circuit board is held in place by a clamp. Another advantage is that by holding the circuit board in place using the holding element, the connector can be assembled particularly easily and cost-effectively: an (additional) stationary fixing of the circuit board in the housing using other connecting elements 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. The holding element can advantageously perform several functions at the same time: it ensures that the circuit board is positioned or held in place inside the housing and at the same time has a damping function.

[0027] Decoupling function to reduce the intensity of mechanical loads on the circuit board, e.g. those acting on the housing from outside or originating from inside the housing. This multiple function makes it possible to eliminate 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 advantageously reduces the risk of incorrect assembly of such separate damping elements (e.g. forgetting or incorrect assembly) and simplifies quality control. It is particularly advantageous 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. The housing interior is therefore advantageously a hollow housing interior.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).

[0028] Preferably, an acceleration load which acts on the housing, for example when the connector falls from a height of 1 m to 1.5 m onto a concrete floor, is dampened by the mounting of the circuit board by means of the holding element by at least 20% with respect to the circuit board, preferably by at least 50% and particularly preferably by at least 75%.

[0029] The terms "holder" or "clamping holder" or "held" or "clamped" can be understood, for example, to mean that the circuit board is fixed in one or more directions, particularly in all spatial directions, within the housing interior, e.g., between two housing shells, due to the (clamping) holder, and is thus particularly stationary. Slight mobility due to the elastically reversible design of the holding element does not preclude the clamping holder (or even a stationary holder).

[0030] The housing can, for example, be made of or comprise one or more plastics such as polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP) and / or rubber, caoutchouc, silicone, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, thermoplastic copolyester elastomers, urethane-based thermoplastic elastomers or materials with similar physical properties. The plastic(s) can, for example, be glass fiber filled, e.g. PA6 GF30 or PA6 GF35 or the like. In principle, it is also possible for the housing to comprise metal, wood, ceramic or another material or to be predominantly made from it. The printed circuit board can, for example, have 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 housing, for example. It can be located entirely inside the housing. In this case, it is particularly well protected from dirt, grime, moisture, or other fluids from the outside environment of the housing, as well as particularly well protected against mechanical stress or influences from the outside environment of the housing.

[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. By holding the circuit board in place by means of the retaining element, for example, only clamping it, the risk of damage to the electrical function (e.g., due to broken solder joints) of at least one SMD component is advantageously reduced.

[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 dampened mounting (shock absorption) by means of the holding element thus enables a reduction in the size of the circuit board, particularly compared to exclusive assembly or assembly.

[0035] Assembly of THT components.

[0036] It can be provided, for example, that the circuit board has at least one voltage converter, in particular 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 made available in this way 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. It can be provided, for example, that the circuit board has at least one relay.

[0037] This can be designed, for example, as a THT component or as an SMD component. The relay can, for example, be designed 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, for example, be designed 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 holding of the circuit board by means of the holding element, in particular in a dampening and / or shock-absorbing and / or housing-decoupling manner, for example by clamping, 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. by detachment from the circuit board, is advantageously considerably reduced thanks to the holding element. Furthermore, the risk of damage to the component itself can also be reduced by holding the circuit board by means of the holding 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 held exclusively in its edge area by the holding element. 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] It can be provided that the circuit board is held at exactly one point. However, it can also be held at a plurality of points by means of the holding element, e.g. at two, three, four, five, six or even more points. It is preferably held at three or four points. The points 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 points are arranged on opposite sides of the circuit board. It can be provided, for example, 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.

[0042] The housing interior can be sealed with a sealing element. This can also advantageously protect the circuit board, for example, from dirt, grime, and moisture from the exterior or the external environment of the housing.

[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] A holding element can be considered, for example, an element that can hold or support the printed circuit board, can hold it stationary, can fasten it, in particular in the housing interior. The holding element proposed here, which comprises an elastically reversible material or is made of such a material (at least predominantly), has, in addition to the holding function for the printed circuit board, also a damping function. The holding can be effected, for example, by frictional engagement, force-locking, or form-locking. For example, the printed circuit board can have an excess (e.g. in a range between 0.2 mm and 4 mm, preferably between 0.4 mm and 2 mm) in at least one spatial direction or in at least one dimension compared to a dimension of the holding element or compared to a dimension defined by a plurality of holding elements (e.g. a distance between two holding elements along a spatial direction). It can, for example,It may be intended that the retaining element only holds the circuit board in place once the housing is fully assembled, e.g., in a multi-part housing. Therefore, the mounting is particularly dependent on the assembled state of the housing. The retaining element can interact with the housing to achieve the mounting effect, e.g., by supporting itself against the inner wall.

[0045] It is understood that the connector may comprise a single retaining element. However, it may also comprise a plurality of retaining elements, e.g., two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or even more.

[0046] The retaining element can be claw-like or mouth-like, for example. It can have an insertion funnel, for example. This advantageously ensures a particularly simple and secure coupling of the circuit board to the retaining element, or a particularly simple and secure mounting of the circuit board on, in, or on the retaining element.

[0047] The holding element can, for example, have a damping distance or a distance from the holding position (of the circuit board) to the inner wall or to a point at which the holding element is connected to a part of the housing, which is, for example, at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm and which is, for example, in a range between 1 mm and 25 mm, preferably in a range between 1.5 mm and 15 mm and very particularly preferably in a range between 2 mm and 8 mm.

[0048] The first section of the inner wall and the second section of the inner wall can, for example, lie opposite one another with respect to a longitudinal direction of the housing (e.g., they can be arranged on both sides of a longitudinal axis through the housing interior). The housing can, for example, extend along a longitudinal axis or longitudinal direction (e.g., between a connection side and a line side), which can also be curved (following a possible housing curvature between the connection side and the line side). A connection element, e.g., a household plug connector or a so-called Type 2 connector or the like, can be arranged on the connection side, wherein it is also possible for the plug face to point outwards transversely to the longitudinal direction or longitudinal axis.

[0049] For example, it can be provided that the circuit board is held exclusively by the at least one retaining element in the housing interior, e.g., by clamping. In this case, no additional fastening means are required for the (stationary) mounting of the circuit board in the housing interior, e.g., no screws, no clips, etc.

[0050] In the context of this application, the term "having" is used synonymously with the term "comprising" and the term "having" is used synonymously with the term "comprising" unless otherwise stated.

[0051] In a further development, it is provided that the circuit board is held in the housing interior by means of the holding element in such a way that the circuit board is mechanically decoupled from the housing.

[0052] This has the advantageous effect that shocks and / or vibrations and / or pressure loads, etc. acting on the housing are not transferred directly to the circuit board, thereby increasing the service life of the circuit board or the functionality of an electrical and / or electronic circuit on the circuit board.

[0053] The holding element is (at least functionally) not part of the housing or the inner wall of the housing. If the holding element is formed as one piece with the housing or the inner wall, the circuit board is nevertheless mechanically decoupled from the housing because the holding element has a damping function. The mechanical decoupling of the circuit board from the housing or the inner wall is achieved by the fact that mechanical influences on the housing from an external environment or an external space of the housing (such as shocks and / or vibrations and / or pressure) are only transmitted to the circuit board in a dampened manner (e.g. by at least 20%, preferably by at least 50%) by means of the holding element. In other words: if the circuit board were coupled to the housing with a connecting element instead of the holding element, the connecting element would correspond in shape to the holding element, but consist of a rigid or significantly more rigid orIf the retaining element were made of a stiffer material than the retaining element (e.g. if it were made of the material of the inner wall of the housing), there would be no or only insignificant damping (e.g. less than 20%) of such mechanical influences from the housing to the circuit board.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, the circuit board is held in the housing interior by means of the holding element in such a way that the circuit board has no direct mechanical contact with the inner wall of the housing or with elements that are formed integrally with the inner wall of the housing. This advantageously ensures that the circuit board is optimally mechanically decoupled from the housing. The transmission of (undamped) mechanical influences from the inner wall or from the housing to the circuit board is thus advantageously avoided. This advantageously increases the service life of the circuit board and / or a circuit on the circuit board. This can advantageously increase the service life of the connector.

[0055] As explained above, it can be provided that the retaining element is not counted as part of the inner wall.

[0056] In a further development, it is provided that the holding element holds the circuit board laterally on one side of the circuit board.

[0057] This advantageously ensures that the circuit board has a particularly large, continuous assembly area. Furthermore, this makes it particularly easy to mount the circuit board inside the housing. With the lateral mounting, a small overlap (e.g., an edge area of ​​less than 3% of the circuit board area) can be provided by the retaining element.

[0058] The lateral support refers in particular to the end faces of the circuit board which are directed radially outwards with respect to the circuit board surface or circuit board level and which surround the (populated) circuit board level.

[0059] For example, the retaining element can be designed to hold the circuit board only laterally. In this case, the circuit board does not rest flat on a retaining element that is largely or completely covered by the circuit board surface.

[0060] It can be provided, for example, that the holding element does not reach through a through-opening, in particular not through a through-opening arranged in the circuit board surface (such a through-opening has a radially inwardly directed edge), but rather holds the circuit board laterally. This advantageously results in simplified assembly and also simplified disassembly of the circuit board in the housing interior. Furthermore, the circuit board surface for which components can be fitted is not interrupted by such a through-opening, which, for example, considerably simplifies the layout for conductor tracks that can be arranged in and / or on the circuit board. It can be provided that the circuit board is held by the holding element on more than one side. It can also be provided that the circuit board is coupled to at least two sides (e.g. two, three or four sides) of the circuit board, each with at least one holding element. It can, for example,be clamped between a plurality of holding elements.

[0061] In a further development, it is provided that the holding element has a recess, wherein the circuit board is arranged with a circuit board edge in the recess.

[0062] This makes the circuit board particularly easy to install. During assembly, for example, it's easy to perform a tactile and / or visual check to determine whether the circuit board is correctly coupled to the retaining element. Another advantage is that the circuit board can be securely mounted in several spatial directions simultaneously. This also makes it easy to dampen mechanical impacts from the housing on the circuit board in several spatial directions.

[0063] The recess can be designed, for example, as a slot or as a retaining element groove.

[0064] The circuit board can, for example, be clamped in the recess.

[0065] The circuit board can be inserted or inserted laterally into the recess, for example. The holding element can then clamp the circuit board in the circuit board plane using the base of the recess and clamp the circuit board in a direction parallel to the surface normal of the circuit board plane using the walls of the recess. The recess can be designed, for example, such that the circuit board is held laterally and the walls of the recess only hold a small part of the edge of the circuit board (e.g., a maximum of 3% of the circuit board surface and / or a maximum of 3 mm from the lateral end face into the interior of the circuit board surface).

[0066] In a further development, it is provided that the holding element is arranged in or on the inner wall or in the housing wall. This results in particularly simple production of the housing and / or the connector together with the holding element, e.g. in an injection molding process or a simple connection of the holding element to the housing. The assembly of the circuit board in the housing interior is also advantageously simplified by the holding element arranged in or on the inner wall or in or on the housing wall. Holding the circuit board (by means of the holding element) on other elements of the connector can therefore advantageously be omitted. Such other elements can be, for example: contacts (e.g. on male contacts or female contacts projecting into the housing interior); leads to the circuit board or to the contacts; a connection element accommodated or enclosed by the housing, which e.g.can represent a mechanical interface to an infrastructure mating connector, a vehicle mating connector, etc.

[0067] Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the holding element extends through the inner wall or the housing wall from an external environment of the connector into the housing interior.

[0068] This means that the holding element can advantageously be manufactured separately from the housing part having the inner wall or the housing wall, e.g. from a different material. It can then advantageously be mounted on the housing in a simple manner and seal the housing or a breakthrough through the housing required for assembly. In principle, it is also conceivable for the holding element not to be designed as an initially separate element that can then be mounted on the housing, but rather for the holding element to be formed integrally with the housing, e.g. by being injection-molded onto the initially manufactured housing or housing element in a 2K injection-molding process. The design that extends through the housing results in a particularly stable and permanent arrangement of the holding element on the housing.

[0069] The holding element can, for example, simultaneously seal the housing interior against the outside environment when reaching through in this way, thereby advantageously saving the need for further sealing in the through-opening.

[0070] In a further development, it is provided that the connector has at least one holding element on the first section or in the first section of the inner wall, wherein the connector has at least one holding element on the second section or in the second section of the inner wall, wherein the circuit board is held on two opposite circuit board sides between the holding elements of the first section and the second section in the housing interior.

[0071] This advantageously results in particularly secure, stationary mounting of the circuit board in the housing interior. For example, a two-point mount can be designed in which only one holding element is arranged in the first and second section. A particularly stable three-point mount can also be designed, for example, in which two holding elements are arranged in the first section and only a single holding element in the second section (or vice versa). Four-point mounts or mounts with even more holding elements are also conceivable. The lateral mount enables a particularly large area of ​​the circuit board that can be populated or used functionally (e.g., also for providing electrical connections).

[0072] As already explained above, circuit board sides are to be understood as meaning in particular the radially outward-facing, in particular non-populated, end faces of the circuit board (in the case of a rectangular circuit board, there are therefore four such end faces, which are aligned transversely to the surface normal of the circuit board plane).

[0073] The circuit board can be clamped or held in place by clamping between the retaining elements in the first or second section. This allows for particularly easy assembly and disassembly (e.g., for repair purposes).

[0074] In a further development, it is provided that the housing has a first housing shell and a second housing shell, wherein the housing interior is enclosed by the first housing shell and the second housing shell, wherein the first housing shell has the first section of the inner wall, wherein the second housing shell has the second section of the inner wall.

[0075] This advantageously makes it particularly easy and cost-effective for the circuit board to be mounted in the housing interior and removed from the housing, e.g. for maintenance purposes or repairs - this improves the sustainability of the connector (e.g. a defective circuit board and / or a defective housing shell can be replaced easily). For example, during assembly the circuit board can first be mounted or placed in or on the first housing shell. The second housing shell can then be coupled or connected to the first housing shell or fastened to the first housing shell to form the housing interior. The holding element can be arranged, for example, on or in the first housing shell and / or on or in the second housing shell. Exactly one holding element or several holding elements can also be provided in each housing shell.

[0076] It can also be provided that the holding element passes through the first housing shell and / or the second housing shell from the outside environment and is arranged in the region of the first or second section of the inner wall.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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.

[0079] In a further development, it is provided that the housing has a third housing shell, wherein the third housing shell is arranged at least in sections on a first outer side of the first housing shell, wherein the holding element is formed integrally with the third housing shell and projects into the housing interior.

[0080] This has the advantageous effect that the housing can have different functional sections and can therefore be optimized for the intended application. For example, the first housing shell can be made of a relatively hard, dimensionally stable material (e.g. PA or PE or the like, possibly also glass fiber filled), which gives the housing great mechanical stability. The third housing shell can, for example, have a relatively soft material which, for example, is pleasant and easy to grip for an operator, still feels warm and soft even at cold ambient temperatures of, for example, -20°C or -40°C, which dampens the impact energy if the connector is dropped, etc. The design of the holding element with the third housing shell can advantageously reduce the cost of manufacturing the housing.This also advantageously creates a more durable connection between the first housing shell and the third housing shell. This increases the service life of the housing and thus its sustainability.

[0081] Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the housing has a fourth housing shell, wherein the fourth housing shell is arranged at least in sections on a second outer side of the second housing shell, wherein the holding element is formed integrally with the fourth housing shell and projects into the housing interior.

[0082] The advantages described above regarding the combination of the first and third housing shells apply analogously to the fourth housing shell (and the second housing shell).

[0083] The third and / or the fourth housing shell can, for example, in particular to more than 50%, comprise or be formed from a material selected from the group: rubber, caoutchouc, silicone, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, thermoplastic copolyester elastomers, urethane-based thermoplastic elastomers or materials having a similar physical effect.

[0084] In a further development, it is provided that the housing has a first support element in the first section, which faces the second section, wherein the first support element is spaced apart from the second section and / or from a second support element of the second section in the force-free state of the housing.

[0085] The spacing has the advantageous effect that when assembling the housing from the first and second housing shells, the two housing shells can always be assembled together to form the housing firmly, tightly (e.g. by interposing a sealing element), without gaps, etc., regardless of manufacturing tolerances. In the force-free state (in which the connector is handled by a user, for example) of the assembled housing, the first support element does not butt against another element in the housing interior and thus does not "block". At the same time, the (preferably only small) spacing has the advantageous effect that (in particular static) forces acting on the housing along the circuit board plane (e.g. when a vehicle rolls over the connector), which compress the housing, are diverted via the first support element (as well as the second section or the second support element). Such forces therefore do not act on the circuit board.In this way, the circuit board is advantageously protected from damage resulting from mechanical influences. Furthermore, the first support element advantageously protects the housing, in particular with its hollow housing interior (but also with a housing interior filled or foamed, e.g., with soft and / or porous material), from collapsing under external force.

[0086] For example, it can be provided that the first support element extends substantially (+ / -30°) parallel to a circuit board plane. This ensures particularly secure support of the housing in its interior and provides particularly good protection against damage to the circuit board if a force is applied (substantially) parallel to the circuit board plane. The circuit board plane is preferably considered the plane on which the components of the circuit board are mounted.

[0087] It can be provided, for example, that the spacing between the first support element and the second section and / or second support element lies in a range between 0.05 mm and 4 mm, preferably in a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm. In this way, the spacing is large enough on the one hand to enable sufficiently good assembly of the housing shells to the housing even with manufacturing tolerances of the housing shells (e.g. while maintaining small gap dimensions, high tightness, etc.) and at the same time to support the housing interior by means of the first support element even when relatively small forces act on the housing and thus prevent (excessive) force introduction into the circuit board and / or collapse of the housing interior.

[0088] Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the housing has a second support element which faces the first section, wherein the second support element is spaced from the first section or from a first support element of the first section in the force-free state of the housing.

[0089] The advantages described above with regard to the first support element apply analogously to the second support element.

[0090] The second support element can, for example, extend substantially (+ / -30°) parallel to the circuit board plane. The spacing between the second support element and the first section and / or the first support element can, for example, be in a range between 0.05 mm and 4 mm, preferably in a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.

[0091] It is understood that exactly one first support element or exactly one second support element can be provided. However, multiple first or second support elements (e.g., two or three or four or five or even more first or second support elements) can also be provided. It is understood that the mutually facing end faces of the housing shells (between which, for example, a sealing element can also be arranged) are preferably not considered as the first or second support element.

[0092] In a further development, it is provided that the spacing between the first support element and the second section and / or the second support element is designed such that when a force of more than 1000N, preferably more than 500N, particularly preferably more than 200N and most preferably already more than 100N is applied to the housing along the circuit board plane, the first support element comes into mechanical contact with the second section and / or the second support element.

[0093] This advantageously protects or decouples the circuit board from excessive external forces acting on the housing by dissipating such forces via the first support element and / or the housing. At the same time, the housing is protected from being (excessively) deformed or even collapsing under such forces. This advantageously protects the (particularly hollow) housing interior from temporary or permanent leaks, e.g., due to gaping housing shells and / or damage to a sealing element arranged between the housing shells.

[0094] Alternatively or additionally, the spacing between the second support element and the first section and / or the first support element is configured such that, upon a force acting on the housing along the circuit board plane of more than 1000 N, preferably more than 500 N, particularly preferably more than 200 N, and most preferably already at more than 100 N, the second support element comes into mechanical contact with the first section and / or the first support element. The advantages described above with respect to the first support element apply analogously to the second support element.

[0095] In a further development, it is provided that the holding element, in particular more than 50%, comprises or is formed from a material selected from the group: rubber, caoutchouc, silicone, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPE-A), thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPE-C), urethane-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPE-U) or materials that have a similar physical effect.

[0096] This results in particularly good mechanical decoupling of the circuit board from the housing and particularly good damping of mechanical influences on the circuit board, especially with short damping distances or small dimensions of the retaining element. Furthermore, this method advantageously results in particularly simple and cost-effective production of the retaining element and thus of the connector. For example, the retaining element can be manufactured using an injection molding process.

[0097] Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the holding element has a Shore A hardness of at most 60, preferably of at most 50, particularly preferably of at most 45.

[0098] This advantageously results in particularly good damping of mechanical influences on the circuit board, even with only small dimensions of the holding element (e.g. short damping distance).

[0099] In a further development, it is provided that the connector is designed to be electrically connected to a household socket or a mating connector of a vehicle (e.g. Type 1, Type 2, Combo, CHAdeMO, Tesla Supercharger, household plug, CCE connection or the like) or to a mating connector of an energy supply device (e.g. Type 1, Type 2, Combo, CHAdeMO, Tesla Supercharger, household plug, CCE connection or the like).

[0100] This enables the connector - e.g. in the manner of a charging plug - to provide a charging cable or a supply cable with which, for example, a motor vehicle can be charged using power from various infrastructure connections or with which power from a vehicle can be supplied to an electrical consumer. Due to its low weight and the shock-damped holder or the holder of the circuit board that is mechanically decoupled from the housing, the connector can take on functions that would otherwise be carried out in an ICCB ("In Cable Control Box") arranged outside the connector in the connecting cable. The connector can therefore advantageously enable the provision of a particularly lightweight, space-saving and cost-effective supply cable while fulfilling all the necessary sealing and shock resistance requirements.

[0101] In a further development, it can be provided that the first (and / or second) housing shell has a guide structure for mounting the printed circuit board in or on the first (or second) housing shell, wherein the guide structure protrudes from the first (and / or second) section of the inner wall in the direction of the second (or first) housing shell.

[0102] The guide structure can be designed, for example, to couple the circuit board to the retaining element or to insert it into the retaining element during assembly in the housing interior. The guide structure and the retaining element can be designed relative to one another, for example, such that in a (force-free) state of the connector in which the circuit board is coupled to the retaining element or held by the retaining element, there is no longer any mechanical contact between the guide structure and the circuit board.

[0103] This advantageously results in a particularly simple and positionally secure mounting of the circuit board on or in the holding element or a particularly simple and positionally secure coupling or mounting between the holding element and the circuit board.

[0104] In a further development, it can be provided that the first (and / or second) housing shell has a first (or second) stop which projects from the first (or second) section of the inner wall in the direction of the circuit board, in particular by at least 0.5 mm, preferably by at least 1 mm, and very particularly preferably by at least 2 mm, wherein the first (or second) stop is spaced from the circuit board in the force-free state of the connector, in particular by at least 0.5 mm, preferably by at least 1 mm, and very particularly preferably by at least 2 mm. This advantageously ensures that in the force-free state of the connector and / or in the event of minor mechanical impacts (e.g. vibrations during normal vehicle travel or falls from a height of less than 25 cm or less than 50 cm) on the connector, the stop cannot transmit any mechanical influences to the circuit board through direct contact with it (e.g. no vibrations, shocks, etc.).In these cases, the circuit board is held (preferably exclusively) by the holding element or the majority of the holding elements. At the same time, it is advantageously ensured that in the event of a permanent, large force (e.g. rolling over the connector or storing the connector under a large weight, e.g. forces greater than 100N or greater than 200N or greater than 500N or greater than 1000N) and / or a short-term, very large force (e.g. falling from a height of more than 1m or more than 1.5m), the circuit board can come into contact with the first (and / or second) stop, thereby preventing plastic (irreversible) deformation of the holding element. Furthermore, the stop can advantageously prevent the circuit board from being able to move the holding element (if necessary) by means of the holding element.(together with the third and / or fourth housing shell) from the housing interior if the retaining element is designed such that it penetrates the housing from the outside environment into the housing interior. This eliminates, for example, a complex design of the retaining element, in which the retaining element must have a positive engagement in the area of ​​the housing interior, for example, to prevent such penetration. This advantageously facilitates the manufacture of the connector.

[0105] 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.

[0106] The supply cable has a connector as described above. It also has a connecting line that is or can be electrically connected to the connector. It can also have another connector that is or can be arranged at another end of the connecting line.

[0107] This advantageously provides a particularly cost-effective, lightweight, easy to manufacture, easy to repair, stable and reliable charging cable.

[0108] Drawings 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.

[0109] It shows

[0110] Fig. 1: a schematic diagram of a supply cable;

[0111] Fig. 2: a schematic cross-section through a printed circuit board

[0112] Arrangement in a prior art connector;

[0113] Fig. 3: a schematic exploded view of a connector of the

[0114] supply cable;

[0115] Fig. 4a: a schematic cross-section through a connector of the supply cable;

[0116] Fig. 4b: a detailed section of the connector from Fig. 4a, before the circuit board is held by the holding element;

[0117] Fig. 4c: a detailed section of the connector from Fig. 4a, with the circuit board held by the holding element;

[0118] Fig. 5: a schematic perspective and partially opened

[0119] Top view of the connector from Fig. 4a;

[0120] Fig. 6a: a schematic perspective view of a first and third housing shell;

[0121] Fig. 6b: a schematic perspective view of the third housing shell from Fig. 6a;

[0122] Fig. 6c: a schematic perspective external view of the housing of a connector with first, second, third and fourth housing shells. 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, which enables charging with three-phase alternating voltage, 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.

[0123] 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, the term connector 14, 15 is generally used. For the sealing concept and for the mounting of a circuit board 50 (see, for example, Fig. 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 specified more precisely as a primary connector 14 or a secondary connector 15. A supply line or connecting line 13 is present between the (primary) connector 14 and the (secondary) connector 15. The (primary) connector 14 serves for the electrical connection to the vehicle 12 and specifically to the energy storage device 11.Depending on its design, the (secondary) connector 15 is used to connect to the various types of energy supply device 16 or to a consumer 19. In the event that the (secondary) connector 15 is configured to connect 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 drawn 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 wall box can serve as the (secondary) connector 15. It is further understood that the electrical consumer can also be another vehicle that is supplied with electricity 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. The (primary) connector 14 has a vehicle connection 4, which is provided for a directly or indirectly detachable wireless or wired electrical connection to the vehicle 12 or the energy storage device 11.

[0124] 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.

[0125] 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.

[0126] 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, center 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 to the infrastructure connection 1). In Figure 1, bottom right, it is shown by way of example that the infrastructure connection 1 of the (secondary) connector 15, in an alternative embodiment, can be a Schuko plug for connection to a household socket (here, too, for examplea current flow from infrastructure connection 1 to vehicle 12 or from vehicle 12 to infrastructure connection 1 is possible. A (secondary) connector 15 for connecting to another vehicle is also possible in principle, but is not shown here.

[0127] 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 logical components or logic modules (e.g., 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. As a result, 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 handling, 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 run over by other vehicles, e.g. trucks. This also advantageously reduces the risk of people tripping.It is understood that in other embodiments an ICCB may be provided, which is then arranged, for example, within the connecting line 13.

[0128] 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").

[0129] 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 essentially 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.

[0130] The connector 14, 15 may be suitable for or designed for the electrical connection to a household socket and / or a mating connector of a vehicle 12 and / or to a mating connector of a power supply device 16 and / or to a consumer 19 requiring electrical energy. A Type 2 connector is shown here as an example, without the connector 14, 15 having to be limited to such a type.

[0131] The connector 14, 15 has a housing 20 with a housing interior 40. The housing interior 40 is, for example, a hollow housing interior 40, i.e., it is not filled, in particular not predominantly or even completely, with a foam material or a plastic. The housing 20 has an inner wall 60 that delimits the housing interior 40, wherein the inner wall 60 has a first section 61 and a second section 62 opposite the first section 61.

[0132] In this exemplary embodiment, 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, wherein the housing interior 40 is enclosed by the first housing shell 21 and the second housing shell 22, wherein the first housing shell 21 has the first section 61 of the inner wall 60, wherein the second housing shell 22 has the second section 62 of the inner wall 60.

[0133] In principle, a one-piece design of the two housing shells 21, 22, e.g. connected by a film joint or similar, is also conceivable.

[0134] The connector 14, 15 further comprises a printed circuit board 50. This printed circuit board 50 here, for example, has an electrical and / or electronic circuit 31. The connector 14, 15 further comprises at least one holding element 85 for the printed circuit board, wherein two holding elements 85 are visibly shown in Fig. 1 in the first section 61 of the first housing shell 21 - a further holding element 85 or several further holding elements 85 can be arranged (not visible here, but see, for example, Figs. 4a, 5 for such exemplary embodiments) in the second section 62 of the inner wall 60. The at least one holding element 85 is designed here, for example, to hold the printed circuit board 50 stationary (in the fully assembled state of the connector 14, 15). The holding element 85 (here, by way of example: all holding elements 85) comprises an elastically reversible material or is formed predominantly (more than 50%) or entirely from an elastically reversible material.In the fully assembled state (see Figs. 4a, 5), the printed circuit board 50 is held in the housing interior 40 by means of at least one holding element 85. In the illustrated embodiments of Figs. 3, 4a, 5, a clamping hold is shown by means of the holding elements 85—merely by way of example (and in the fully assembled state of the connector 14, 15). By holding the printed circuit board 50 by means of the holding element 85 described above, mechanical influences on the housing 20 are advantageously transmitted to the printed circuit board 50 in a dampened manner. This advantageously reduces the risk of premature functional impairment or damage to the printed circuit board 50.

[0135] The printed circuit board 50 is (in the fully assembled state of the connector 14, 15) held in the housing interior 40 by means of the holding element 50 in such a way that the printed circuit board 50 is mechanically decoupled from the housing 20. As a result, mechanical influences acting on the housing 20 (e.g., shocks, vibrations, etc.) are not transmitted directly to the printed circuit board 50, but rather only in a dampened manner.

[0136] In this embodiment, the circuit board 50 is held in the housing interior 40 by means of the at least one holding element 85 such that the circuit board 50 has no direct mechanical contact with the inner wall 60 of the housing 20 or with elements formed integrally with the inner wall 60 of the housing 20. This results in further improved mechanical decoupling of the circuit board 50 from the housing 20 and reduces the risk of the circuit board 50 being damaged by impacts, vibrations, etc.

[0137] In this exemplary embodiment, the at least one retaining element 85 (here: the two visible retaining elements 85) is arranged in or on the inner wall 60, here in the first section 61. The retaining element 85 has, for example, a recess 86. This recess is designed, for example, as a slot 87 or as a retaining element groove. The circuit board 50 is arranged with a circuit board edge 58 in the recess 86. It is held, for example, in the recess 86 by clamping (see also Fig. 4a).

[0138] It can be provided - as shown here by way of example - that the holding element 85 holds the circuit board 50 laterally, in particular exclusively, on one circuit board side 56 and in particular does not reach through a through opening of the circuit board 50.

[0139] It can be provided that the holding element 85 extends through the inner wall 60 from an external environment 41 of the connector 14, 15 into the housing interior 40, wherein the holding element 85 in particular seals the housing interior 40 against the external environment 41 (see in particular Figs. 4a, 5, 6a, 6b).

[0140] However, it can also be provided that the holding element 85 is arranged directly in the housing interior 40, e.g., on or in the inner wall 60 of the housing 20. The holding element 85 can, for example, be formed as a separate part that is mounted on the inner wall 60. However, the holding element 85 can also be formed integrally with the inner wall 60. For this purpose, it can, for example, be formed integrally with the inner wall 60 in a 2K injection molding process, for example, without contact with the external environment (see in particular Figs. 4a, 5, 6a, 6b).

[0141] The retaining element 85 (here: the two visible retaining elements 85) has an insertion funnel 88 on its side facing the circuit board 50. This funnel has a V-shape, for example, in this case. This facilitates the correct coupling of the circuit board 50 to the retaining element 85. The retaining element 85 thus has a mouth-like shape.

[0142] The holding element 85 (here: the two visible holding elements 85) can, for example, protrude by at least 1 mm, preferably by at least 3 mm, from the inner wall 60 into the housing interior 40. The holding element 85 preferably protrudes in a range between 1 mm and 2.5 cm into the housing interior 40, starting from the inner wall 60 or from a point at which the holding element 85 is connected to a housing shell. In Fig. 3, it can also be seen that (here) the first housing shell 21 has a guide structure for mounting the printed circuit board 50 in or on the first housing shell 21. The guide structure is designed here in the form of two opposing guide slots 70. The guide structure or the guide slots 70 protrude from the first section 61 of the inner wall 60 in the direction of the second housing shell 22. They can, for example,have a slight oversize compared to the width of the printed circuit board 50, so that the printed circuit board 50 can be easily relocated (e.g., pushed) to its destination in a guided manner. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable for the guide structure to be formed on the second housing shell 22.

[0143] The guide structure - here in the form of the guide slots 70 - can be designed, for example, to couple the printed circuit board 50 to the holding element 85 during assembly in the housing interior 60 by means of the guide structure or to insert it into the holding element 85 (here: into the two adjacent and spaced-apart holding elements 85). The guide structure and the holding element 85 can be designed relative to one another, for example, in such a way that in a (force-free) state of the connector, in which the printed circuit board 50 is coupled to the holding element 85 (or to the holding elements 85) or is held by the holding element 85 (or by the holding elements 85), there is no longer any mechanical contact between the guide structure and the printed circuit board 50. In this way, the assembly of the printed circuit board 50 is facilitated (e.g. correct and positionally secure coupling of the printed circuit board 50 and the holding element 85) and at the same time it is mechanically decoupled from the housing 20 in the assembled state.

[0144] The retaining element 85 can, for example, in particular more than 50%, comprise or be formed from a material selected from the group: rubber, caoutchouc, silicone, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPE-A), thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPE-C), urethane-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPE-U), or materials with a similar physical effect. Alternatively or additionally, the retaining element 85 can have a Shore A hardness of at most 60, preferably at most 50, particularly preferably at most 45.

[0145] In Fig. 3 it can also be seen that the connector 14, 15 has, for example, at least one connection unit 23 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. A connection unit sealing element 25 is also provided, which here, for 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 electrically contacting mating plug 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, for example,be designed as a SCHUKO 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. At an end of the housing 20 opposite the connection side 27, a line side 28 is provided. On the line side 28, for example, a line element 17 of the housing 20 extends through the housing 20 from a housing interior 40 of the housing 20 into an external environment 41 or an external space of the housing 20. The external environment 41 or the external space is, for example, the space or the environment in which an operator can touch the connector 14, 15. The line element 17 can, for example, be the connecting line 13. Likewise, the line element 17 can, for example,a cable stub to which the connecting cable 17 can be connected. Another possibility is for the line element 17 to electrically contact the coupling 3 or the additional coupling 6. In principle, the coupling 3 or the additional coupling 6 can also represent the line element 17, which extends through the housing 20 from the housing interior 40 into the exterior or external environment 41 of the housing 20 or is in contact with the exterior 41, e.g., direct contact. Furthermore, a line element sealing element 26 is provided, which, here, for example, circumferentially surrounds the line element 17.

[0146] 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 circumvents the longitudinal direction L.

[0147] 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 against the external environment 41 of the housing 20, e.g. by means of a sealing section 33. 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 (in the sealing section 33). 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.

[0148] 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 can be provided, for example.

[0149] 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.

[0150] 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 has, 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.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.

[0151] The SMD component 52 can, for example, also be 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).

[0152] 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).

[0153] 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).

[0154] 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.

[0155] In the assembled state of the housing 20 - as can be seen better in Figs. 4a and 5 - the printed circuit board 50 is held in 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 is effected by means of holding elements 85 which are located opposite one another here. In this exemplary embodiment, it is advantageously possible to dispense with a screw connection or a material-to-material connection of the printed circuit board 50 to one of the two housing shells 21, 22, 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, impacts or vibrations on the housing 20 (e.g. from the outside space or the external environment 41, e.g. due to a fall or vibrations in a vehicle or being run over orrolling over the connector 14, 15 by a vehicle, etc.) with respect to the circuit board 50 arranged in the housing interior 40. Decoupling of, for example, thermally induced compressive or tensile stresses or of mechanical loads, for example from cables from the housing interior 40 to the circuit board 50 is also advantageously brought about by the holding of the circuit board 50 by means of the at least one holding element 85. 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. This also advantageously makes it possible for the (SMD) components on the circuit board 50 to not have to be encapsulated in order to protect them from mechanical influences acting on the 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 with (predominantly) THT components. This also particularly advantageously enables the circuit board 50 to be equipped with one or more relays 54 and / or power supplies or voltage converters 54 in SMD design, which are considerably lighter than, for example, simple resistors, capacitors, or coils.

[0156] Figure 4a shows a schematic cross section through the housing 20 of a connector 14, 15.

[0157] Figure 4b shows a detailed section of the connector 14, 15 from Fig. 4a, before the circuit board 50 is held by the holding element 85.

[0158] Figure 4c shows a detailed section of the connector 14, 15 from Fig. 4a, with the circuit board 85 held by the holding element 85.

[0159] Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are described together below.

[0160] Figure 4a shows that the housing 20 here has, for example, a third housing shell 81, wherein the third housing shell 81 is arranged at least in sections on a first outer side 45 of the first housing shell 21. The housing 20 here also has, for example, a fourth housing shell 82, wherein the fourth housing shell 82 is arranged at least in sections on a second outer side 46 of the second housing shell 22.

[0161] Third housing shell 81 and fourth housing shell 82 can, for example, be made of a softer or softer material than first housing shell 21 and second housing shell 22. For example, third housing shell 81 and fourth housing shell 82 can comprise the following material (in particular more than 50%): rubber, caoutchouc, silicone, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPE-A), thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPE-C), urethane-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPE-U), or materials with a similar physical effect. Alternatively or additionally, the material can have a Shore A hardness of at most 60, preferably of at most 50, particularly preferably of at most 45. In this way, for example, connector 14, 15 can have a particularly good grip for an operator, and it can also dampen shocks on its outer side.

[0162] The connector 14, 15 has at least one retaining element 85 in the first section 61 of the inner wall 65 and at least one retaining element 85 in the second section 62 of the inner wall 65. The printed circuit board 50 is held on two opposite printed circuit board sides 56 between the retaining elements 85 of the first section 61 and the second section 62 in the housing interior 40. Here: clamped in place, for example.

[0163] As is more clearly visible in Fig. 5, the connector 14, 15 can, for example, have two retaining elements 85 spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal direction L in the first section 61 of the first housing shell 21, and a single retaining element 85 in the second section 62 of the second housing shell 22. All three retaining elements 85 hold the circuit board 50 in a clamping manner. This results in a type of three-point suspension of the circuit board 50 in the retaining elements 85.

[0164] The at least one retaining element 85 of the third housing shell 81 can—as illustrated here by way of example—be formed integrally with the third housing shell 81. As illustrated here by way of example, it can protrude into the housing interior 40 (from the first outer side 45 of the first housing shell 21 and penetrating the first housing shell 21).

[0165] The at least one retaining element 85 of the fourth housing shell 82 can—as shown here by way of example—be formed integrally with the fourth housing shell 82. As shown here by way of example, it can protrude into the housing interior 40 (from the second outer side 46 of the second housing shell 22 and passing through the second housing shell 22). The retaining elements 85 shown here by way of example thus pass through the inner wall 60 from the external environment 41 of the connector 14, 15 into the housing interior 40. The retaining elements 85 can thereby seal the housing interior 40, for example, against the external environment 41.

[0166] If the third housing shell 81 and the fourth housing shell 82 comprise one of the materials described above or similar materials, in particular soft and / or elastically reversible materials, then in addition to the good grip for an operator and shock absorption from the outside of the housing 20, the circuit board 50 is also particularly well mechanically decoupled and / or dampened from the housing 20 by means of the at least one holding element 85.

[0167] Furthermore, Fig. 4a shows the guide structure in the form of a guide slot 70. Furthermore, a stop 71 can be seen in the area of ​​the two illustrated retaining elements 85 (top and bottom in Fig. 4a). This stop 71 can, for example, be formed integrally with the guide structure. Like the retaining element 85, the stop 71 has an insertion funnel 88 and a recess 86, which here is designed in the manner of a retaining element groove or slot 87. When the connector 14, 15 is in the force-free state, the stop 71 is spaced apart from the circuit board 50. This can be clearly seen in Figs. 4a, 4b, and 4c.

[0168] In other words: It can be provided that the first (and / or second) housing shell 21, 22 has a stop 71 which protrudes from the first (or second) section 61, 62 of the inner wall 60 in the direction of the printed circuit board 50. The stop 71 can protrude from the inner wall 60 in the direction of the printed circuit board 50 by at least 0.5 mm, preferably by at least 1 mm, and very particularly preferably by at least 2 mm. The stop 71 is spaced from the printed circuit board 50 in the force-free state. This spacing can be, for example, at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm, very preferably at least 2 mm.

[0169] Figure 4b shows particularly well - since a state before the circuit board 50 is coupled to the holding element 85 is shown here - that a bottom of the recess 86 of the holding element 85 has a first distance dl from the inner wall 60. Another bottom of the stop recess of the stop 71 has a second distance d2 from the inner wall 60. The other bottom of the stop recess of the stop 71 is shown in dashed lines because it is arranged behind the holding element 85 in the image plane. The first distance dl before the coupling of the circuit board 50 to or with the holding element 85 is greater than the second distance d2, e.g. by at least 0.1 mm or by at least 15%. For example, the first distance dl is in a range between 0.2 mm and 4 mm greater than the second distance d2 before the mounting of the circuit board 50, preferably in a range between 0.4 mm and 2 mm.

[0170] Figure 4c shows (as in Fig. 4a) the coupled state of the circuit board 50 with the holding element 85. The circuit board 50 is clamped between the holding element 85 of the first housing shell 21 shown in Fig. 4c and a holding element 85 on the opposite housing shell 22 (see also Fig. 4a). It is clearly visible that the bottom of the recess 86 has been displaced along the clamping direction K toward the inner wall 60 and has moved somewhat closer to the further bottom of the stop recess of the stop 71. Due to the elastically reversible material of the holding element 85, it has been slightly compressed. It thus holds the circuit board 50 (together with the holding element 85 arranged on the opposite housing shell 22, see Fig. 4a, which is also slightly compressed). The first distance dl is also greater than the second distance d2 after the coupling of the circuit board 50 to or with the holding element 85 (see Figs.4a and 4c), e.g. by at least 0.05 mm or by at least 15% or by at least 10%. For example, the first distance d1 is in a range between 0.1 mm and 3 mm greater than the second distance d2 after assembly of the printed circuit board 50, preferably in a range of 0.2 mm and 1 mm. A stationary mounting of the printed circuit board 50 along the radial direction R and along the longitudinal direction L can be brought about, for example, by the frictional forces between the printed circuit board side 56 and the recess 86, in particular with its base, and / or by frictional forces between the printed circuit board edge 58 and the walls of the recess 86. The stationary mounting of the printed circuit board 50 with respect to the radial direction R can be further improved by the walls of the recess 86, since in this exemplary embodiment these enclose the printed circuit board edge 58 on both sides.

[0171] In this way, in the force-free state or when only small forces act on the housing 20, the printed circuit board 50 is mechanically decoupled from the housing 20.

[0172] However, if greater forces are applied (e.g. if a vehicle rolls over the connector 14, 15), the holding element 85 can be pressed together so strongly that the printed circuit board 50 comes into contact with the stop 71. This has the advantageous effect that the holding element 85 is not plastically deformed and can therefore permanently bring about a mechanical decoupling of the printed circuit board 50 from the housing 20 or can dampen mechanical effects. At the same time or in addition, the stop 71 can prevent the printed circuit board 50 from exerting such a strong force on the holding element 85 that the latter is pressed outwards through the first or second housing shell 21, 22 and, in the process, possibly also the third or fourth housing shell 81, 82 is detached from the first or second housing shell 21, 22. A separate rear grip of the holding element 85 with regard to the access opening in the first orsecond housing shell 21, 22 can thus be omitted, which simplifies the manufacture of the holding element 85 and / or the third or fourth housing shell 81, 82.

[0173] Furthermore, it can be seen in Fig. 4a that the housing 20 has a first support element 75 in the first section 61, which faces the second section 62. The housing 20 also has a second support element 76, which faces the first section 61. The first support element 75 extends here essentially (+ / -30°) parallel to a circuit board plane E. It protrudes here, for example, from the first housing shell 21 or from the first section 61. The second support element 76 extends here essentially (+ / -30°) parallel to the circuit board plane E. It protrudes here, for example, from the second housing shell 22 or from the second section 62.

[0174] In the force-free state of the housing 20, the first support element 75 is spaced from the second support element 76 by a third distance d3. The spacing or the third distance d3 is preferably in a range between 0.05 mm and 4 mm, preferably in a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.

[0175] The two support elements 75, 76 are intended, on the one hand, to enable easy assembly of the housing shells 21, 22 with one another, thus creating a sealed and gap-free housing 20. At the same time, the support elements 75, 76 are intended to come into contact with one another (“come to a stop”) as soon as a significant force from the external environment 41 acts on the housing 20 approximately along the circuit board plane E or along the direction of the support elements 75, 76. The mechanical contact between the support elements 75, 76 prevents the housing 20, which is hollow here by way of example, from collapsing, and the circuit board 50 is prevented from having to absorb such forces. It is understood that the first support element 75 can also come into contact with the second section 22 or can be (slightly) spaced from the second section 62 in the force-free state, if, for example, no second support element 76 is present.In the same way, the second support element 76 can be (slightly) spaced from the first section 61 in the force-free state and can come into contact with the first section 61 when a force is applied to the housing 20, if, for example, no first support element 75 is provided.

[0176] The spacing or the third distance d3 between the first support element 75 and the second support element 76 (or the second section 62 / the first section 61) can, for example, be designed such that when a force is applied to the housing 20 substantially (+ / '30°) along the circuit board plane E of more than 1000N, preferably of more than 500N, particularly preferably of more than 200N and most preferably of more than 100N, the first support element 75 comes into mechanical contact with the second section 62 and / or the second support element 76.

[0177] Similar considerations (force acting on the housing 20 substantially (+ / '30°) along the circuit board plane E of more than 1000N, preferably of more than 500N, particularly preferably of more than 200N and most preferably already of more than 100N) also apply to a possible spacing between the second support element 76 and the first section 61, so that the second support element 76 comes into mechanical contact with the first section 61 and thus protects the housing 20 from collapsing and the circuit board 50 from damage.

[0178] The first and / or second support element 75, 76 further advantageously also prevent plastic deformation of the holding element 85 or pushing the holding element 85 or the holding elements 85 out of the housing interior 40 into the external environment 41.

[0179] Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective and partially opened top view of the connector from Fig. 4a.

[0180] It can be clearly seen that in the first section 61 of the inner wall 60, two holding elements 85 are arranged, spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal direction L (here: by more than one width of the holding elements 85), and in the second section 62 of the inner wall, a single holding element 85 is arranged, which, viewed along the longitudinal direction L, is located between the two holding elements 85 of the first section 61. In this way, the printed circuit board 50 is held in the manner of a three-point bearing by the three holding elements 85. Here, it is clamped along a clamping direction K between the holding elements 85.

[0181] The guide slots 70 are also clearly visible. In the force-free state of the connector 14, 15 shown here, they are spaced from the circuit board 50 in the same way as the stops 71 of the first and second housing shells 21, 22.

[0182] In this way, the printed circuit board 50 is optimally mechanically decoupled from the housing 20 by means of the holding elements 85. Due to the lateral mounting of the printed circuit board 50, a particularly large surface area of ​​the printed circuit board 50 is available for the assembly of components, and the routing of the conductor tracks is not obstructed by openings for the mounting of the printed circuit board 50 by means of screws or clips, etc.

[0183] Figure 6a shows a schematic perspective view of a first housing shell 21 and the third housing shell 81 of the connector 14, 15 from Figs. 4a and 5. The guide structure in the form of the two guide slots 70, as well as the stop 71 and the first support element 75, are particularly clearly visible here. For coupling to the retaining elements 85, the printed circuit board 50 can simply be inserted into the guide slots 70 and then pushed in the direction (here: clamping direction K) of the retaining elements 85. This enables simple and secure assembly, but also safe and damage-free disassembly of the printed circuit board 50.

[0184] Figure 6b shows a schematic perspective view of the third housing shell 81 from Fig. 6a. It is clearly visible how the two retaining elements 85 are formed integrally with the third housing shell 81. The retaining elements 85 protrude from the wall of the third housing shell 81 in the direction of the housing interior 40 (see Fig. 6a) opposite the clamping direction K. For example, they can protrude between 2 mm and 25 mm from the wall of the third housing shell 82 (calculated, for example, from the base to the retaining surface or the bottom of the insertion funnel 88).

[0185] Figure 6c shows a schematic perspective external view of the housing 20 of a connector 14, 15 with first, second, third, and fourth housing shells 21, 22, 81, 82. It is clearly visible that the third housing shell 81 and the fourth housing shell 82 are arranged in the grip area of ​​the connector 14, 15. The use of a soft and non-slip material for the third and fourth housing shells 81, 82 can improve user-friendliness (e.g., in wet conditions) and also provides external shock absorption if the connector 14, 15 falls to the ground, for example.

[0186] The two housing halves (first and third housing shells 21, 81 on the one hand, and second and fourth housing shells 22, 82 on the other) can be connected to each other, e.g., by a screw connection to form the housing 20. This provides a housing 20 that is particularly easy to assemble and disassemble for repair or maintenance purposes. This advantageously increases the durability of the connector 14, 15.

[0187] The supply line 10 shown in Fig. 1 may have 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 a housing interior (40), - a printed circuit board (50) which in particular includes an electrical and / or electronic circuit (31), - a retaining element (85) for the printed circuit board, wherein the housing (20) has an inner wall (60) that delimits the housing interior (40), wherein the inner wall (60) has a first section (61) and a second section (62) opposite the first section (61), wherein the retaining element (85) has an elastically reversible material or is predominantly or completely formed from an elastically reversible material, wherein the printed circuit board (50) is held in the housing interior (40) by means of the retaining element (85), in particular by clamping.

2. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the printed circuit board (50) is held in the housing interior (40) by means of the retaining element (85) in such a way that the printed circuit board (50) is mechanically decoupled from the housing (20) and / or wherein the printed circuit board (50) is held in the housing interior (40) by means of the retaining element (85) in such a way that the printed circuit board (50) has no direct mechanical contact with the inner wall (60) of the housing (20) or with elements that are integrally formed with the inner wall (60) of the housing (20).

3. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining element (85) attaches the printed circuit board (50), in particular exclusively, to laterally holds a printed circuit board side (56) and in particular does not extend through a through-hole of the printed circuit board (50).

4. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining element (85) has a recess (86), in particular a slot (87) or a retaining element groove, wherein the printed circuit board (50) is arranged with a printed circuit board edge (58) in the recess (86) and is in particular clamped in the recess (86).

5. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining element (85) is arranged in or on the inner wall (60) and / or wherein the retaining element (85) extends through the inner wall (60) from an external environment (41) of the connector (14, 15) into the housing interior (40), wherein the retaining element (85) in particular seals the housing interior (40) against the external environment (41).

6. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (14, 15) has at least one retaining element (85) in the first section (61) of the inner wall (60), wherein the connector (14, 15) has at least one retaining element (85) in the second section (62) of the inner wall (60), wherein the printed circuit board (50) is held, in particular clamped, on two opposite sides (56) of the printed circuit board between the retaining elements (85) of the first section (61) and the second section (62) in the interior of the housing (40).

7. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (20) comprises a first housing shell (21) and a second housing shell (22), in particular separate from the first housing shell (21), wherein the housing interior (40) is enclosed by the first housing shell (21) and the second housing shell (22), wherein the first housing shell (21) comprises the first section (61) of the inner wall (60), and wherein the second housing shell (22) comprises the second section (62) of the inner wall (60).

8. Connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the housing (20) has a third housing shell (81), wherein the third housing shell (81) is arranged at least partially on a first outer surface (45) of the first housing shell (21), wherein the retaining element (85) is formed integrally with the third housing shell (81) and projects into the housing interior (40), and / or wherein the housing (20) has a fourth housing shell (82), wherein the fourth housing shell (82) is arranged at least partially on a second outer surface (46) of the second housing shell (22), wherein the retaining element (85) is formed integrally with the fourth housing shell (82) and projects into the housing interior (40).

9. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (20) has a first support element (75) in the first section (61) which faces the second section (62), wherein the first support element (75) extends in particular substantially (+ / - 30°) parallel to a printed circuit board plane (E), wherein the first support element (75) is spaced apart from the second section (62) and / or from a second support element (76) of the second section (62) in the force-free state of the housing (20), wherein the spacer is in particular in a range between 0.05 mm and 4 mm, preferably in a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, and / or wherein the housing (20) has a second support element (76) which faces the first section (61), wherein the second support element (76) extends in particular substantially (+ / - 30°) parallel to a printed circuit board plane (E),wherein the second support element (76) is spaced apart from the first section (61) or from a first support element (75) of the first section (61) in the force-free state of the housing (20), wherein the spacing is in particular in a range between 0.05 mm and 4 mm, preferably in a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.

10. Connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the spacing between the first support element (75) and the second section (62) and / or from the second support element (76) is configured such that that when a force of more than 1000N, preferably more than 500N, particularly preferably more than 200N is applied to the housing (20) along the printed circuit board plane (E), the first support element (75) comes into mechanical contact with the second section (62) and / or the second support element (76), and / or wherein the spacing between the second support element (76) and the first section (61) and / or the first support element (75) is designed such that when a force of more than 1000N, preferably more than 500N, particularly preferably more than 200N is applied to the housing (20) along the printed circuit board plane (E), the second support element (76) comes into mechanical contact with the first section (61) and / or the first support element (75). Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining element (85), in particular to more than 50%, comprises or is formed from a material selected from the group: Rubber, caoutchouc, silicone, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPE-A), thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPE-C), thermoplastic urethane-based elastomers (TPE-U), and / or wherein the retaining element (85) has a Shore A hardness of at most 60, preferably at most 50, particularly preferably at most 45. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (14, 15) is configured to be electrically connected to a household socket or a mating connector of a vehicle (12) or to a mating connector of a power supply device (16). Supply cable (10) for electrically connecting a vehicle (12) to a power supply device (16) providing electrical energy and / or to a consumer requiring electrical energy (19), the supply cable (10) 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