Connector system with flat cable

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector system for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection between a ribbon cable and a connector receptacle, comprising: a connector receptacle for receiving at least a part of a ribbon cable, with at least one contact element; and a ribbon cable with an insertion section, which has: at least one contact section, which is arranged at a distal end region of the insertion section, with at least one contact surface for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with the at least one contact element of the connector receptacle;wherein at least one contact surface forms a termination surface of the insertion section in a contact direction, wherein the insertion section has a support section on a side of the contact section opposite the contact surface, and wherein the contact section and / or the contact surface is / are dimensioned such that the support section remains essentially dimensionally stable even at high temperatures due to a contact normal force acting on the contact surface by the contact device.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connector system, a ribbon cable and a method for forming an electrical connection between a ribbon cable and a connector receptacle.

[0002] Flat ribbon cables (also abbreviated to FFC: "Flexible Flat Cable") are widely used in modern electronics. In a flat ribbon cable, several conductors run parallel to each other along a common plane defined by the conductors. The conductors are each surrounded by an insulating material, thus forming a wide, planar cable. At one end, the conductors are exposed and form a connector section with contacts. The contacts are usually gold-plated to achieve low contact resistance and high durability. Gold plating is usually done by electroplating. However, gold plating of the contacts is expensive and complex, especially for flat ribbon cables. As an alternative to gold, the contacts can be coated or plated with tin, for example. However, in addition to being less durable, tin has a higher contact resistance than gold for the same contact normal force.To achieve a contact resistance similar to that of gold, tinned contacts must therefore be subjected to a significantly higher contact normal force. However, this places significant stress on the ribbon cable, particularly its connector section and contacts. A high contact normal force is problematic for ribbon cables, especially in conjunction with high temperatures, as it can damage and / or deform the ribbon cable material, thus reducing connection reliability.

[0003] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a connector system, a ribbon cable and a method for forming an electrical connection between a ribbon cable and a connector receptacle, with improved connection reliability at high contact normal force and high temperature.

[0004] The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a connector system for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection between a ribbon cable and a connector receptacle, comprising: a connector receptacle for receiving at least part of a ribbon cable, with at least one contact device; and a ribbon cable with a plug-in section, which has: at least one contact section, which is arranged at a distal end region of the plug-in section, with at least one contact surface for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with the at least one contact device of the connector receptacle;wherein the at least one contact surface forms a terminal surface of the insertion section in a contact direction, wherein the insertion section has a support section on a side of the contact section opposite the contact surface, and wherein the contact section and / or the contact surface is / are dimensioned such that the support section remains substantially dimensionally stable even at high temperatures due to a contact normal force acting on the contact surface by the contact device.;

[0006] Such a connector system advantageously enables the formation of a reliable contact connection between a connector receptacle and a ribbon cable at a relatively high contact normal force, for example in a range of approximately 1 N to approximately 4 N, in particular approximately 2 N.

[0007] A high temperature refers in particular to a temperature in the range from approximately 60°C to approximately 140°C, in particular from approximately 100°C to approximately 130°C, for example 125°C. In particular, a high temperature is a temperature higher than 60°C, particularly preferably higher than 100°C. The temperature is in particular the temperature of the support section. The temperature of the support section may, for example, differ from the ambient temperature, wherein the ambient temperature may be between approximately -40°C and approximately +105°C.

[0008] By dimensionally stable is meant in particular a substantial retention and / or maintenance of a shape and / or a dimension and / or a hardness value and / or a compressive strength compared to substantially no or low application of force and / or at a temperature in the range of about 0°C to about 45°C, in particular under standard conditions of about 25°C. Alternatively or additionally, dimensionally stable is meant a reduction and / or change of a shape and / or a dimension and / or a hardness value and / or a compressive strength by a percentage value of less than 30%, preferably less than 10%, compared to substantially no or low application of force and / or at a temperature in the range of about 0°C to about 45°C, in particular under standard conditions of about 25°C.

[0009] Particularly advantageous is an approximate dimensional stability of the insertion section, in particular of the support section, up to a temperature of approximately 125 °C used in functional testing compared to a temperature of approximately 25 °C.

[0010] Contact direction means a direction in which a contact surface of a contact section is directed and which is preferably oriented substantially orthogonal to an extension plane of the ribbon cable.

[0011] A ribbon cable can, in particular, comprise a line section with a plurality of adjacently arranged conductors forming an extension plane. The ribbon cable can, at least at one end region, have a plug-in section for insertion into a plug receptacle and / or for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with a contact device of a plug receptacle through a contact section. A contact section can, in particular, be a section that is flat in the extension direction and via which an electrical signal can be transmitted to a conductor of the ribbon cable.

[0012] A further aspect of the invention relates to a connector system for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection between a ribbon cable and a connector receptacle, comprising: a connector receptacle for receiving at least part of a ribbon cable, with at least one contact device; and a ribbon cable with a plug-in section, which has: at least one contact section, which is arranged at a distal end region of the plug-in section, with at least one contact surface for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with the at least one contact device of the connector receptacle;wherein the at least one contact surface forms a terminal surface of the insertion section in a contact direction, wherein the insertion section has a support section on a side of the contact section opposite the contact surface, and wherein a width of the contact surface is many times greater than the width of the contact device;

[0013] Such a connector system advantageously enables the formation of a reliable contact connection between a connector receptacle and a ribbon cable at a relatively high contact force, for example in a range of approximately 1 N to approximately 4 N, in particular approximately 2 N.

[0014] The width of the contact surface and the contact device refers to an extension in a corresponding direction when the contact surface is in contact with the contact device, and / or an extension in the extension plane of the ribbon cable and perpendicular to a plug-in direction of the ribbon cable toward the connector receptacle when receiving the plug-in section of the ribbon cable. In particular, with the contact device, this refers to the width of a section of the contact device forming the contact connection with the ribbon cable.

[0015] For example, a contact surface can be approximately twice, three times, four times, five times, or six times as wide as a contact device. The width can also be a non-integer multiple, such as approximately 2.3, 3.4, or 4.6. A width of the contact device can be in the range between approximately 0.075 mm and approximately 0.35 mm, in particular between approximately 0.1 mm and approximately 0.2 mm, for example approximately 0.15 mm. A width of the contact surface can be in the range between approximately 0.2 mm and approximately 15 mm, in particular between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 10 mm, for example 0.7 mm. Preferably, the width of the contact surface is more than twice, in particular more than three times, the width of the contact device, since this allows for advantageous absorption and / or distribution of the force acting on the contact surface from the contact device by the contact section and the support section.

[0016] Preferably, the contact surface consists essentially of tin and / or a tin alloy. This can reduce the cost of the connector system.

[0017] The one or more contact sections can be galvanized with tin and / or a tin alloy at least in part, but at least the area of ​​the respective contact surface.

[0018] Alternatively or additionally, the contact surface and / or the contact section can be "pre-plated" at least in some areas, whereby the material forming the contact section has a coating and / or a coating of tin and / or a tin alloy at least in some areas prior to the production of the ribbon cable. This is advantageous because it allows for improved corrosion protection. Especially with a "pre-plated" contact section, a tin coating can contribute significantly to cost reduction, as a large area is coated.

[0019] Preferably, the contact portion consists essentially of copper and / or a copper alloy. Alternatively, the contact portion may comprise one or more other materials suitable for cables and / or connectors.

[0020] Preferably, the contact surface has a substantially rectangular shape. A dimension with a greater length than width is advantageous, in particular a length that is several times greater than the width, for example, approximately three times, four times, or five times.

[0021] Preferably, the insertion section has a plurality of contact sections, for example two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight, in particular exactly 3. The contact surfaces of the contact sections can be oriented substantially parallel and / or formed substantially identically and / or arranged next to one another and / or arranged at a distance from one another.

[0022] Preferably, the support section consists essentially of plastic, in particular polyamide (PI) and / or nylon and / or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and / or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), and / or polyester and / or aramid. In particular, the support section is designed for temperatures between -40°C and +105°C, and preferably for a maximum temperature of approximately 125°C and briefly up to approximately 180°C.

[0023] Preferably, the support section has a greater extension in the contact direction and / or thickness and / or height than the contact section. This allows an advantageous supporting property of the support section to be achieved.

[0024] In particular, the thickness and / or height of the support section can be many times, for example approximately twice, approximately three times or approximately four times, the thickness of the contact section.

[0025] Preferably, the insertion section has at least two wing sections for engagement with the connector receiving device. This allows for an advantageous positive connection between the ribbon cable, in particular the insertion section, and the connector receiving device in a received state of the ribbon cable, in order to at least impede or substantially prevent displacement of the insertion section counter to the insertion direction.

[0026] Preferably, the wing sections extend in opposite directions and / or orthogonally to a plug-in direction of the plug-in section and the contact direction. This enables simple and cost-effective production of the ribbon cable and / or a substantially symmetrical positive connection between the plug-in section and the connector receptacle.

[0027] The plug receptacle preferably comprises: a receptacle body for receiving at least part of the plug-in section of the ribbon cable; and a main body which comprises the at least one contact device; wherein the receptacle body is displaceable relative to the main body and connectable to the main body, and wherein, upon connection of the receptacle body to the main body, an electrical and / or physical contact connection between the at least one contact device and the at least one contact section is formed by the at least one contact device exerting a normal contact force on the at least one contact surface. By means of such a plug receptacle, in particular when the plug-in section is received by the plug receptacle, no normal contact force is exerted by the contact device on a contact section.This can reduce the stress on the ribbon cable, in particular on the plug-in section and / or one or more contact sections, during plugging in.

[0028] Preferably, the connector receiving device comprises a main body that can be arranged on a printed circuit board and connected to the receiving body; wherein the receiving body is releasably displaceable relative to the main body. This advantageously allows the ribbon cable to be initially received by the receiving body of the connector receiving device while the receiving body is not connected to the main body and / or the printed circuit board.

[0029] The ribbon cable can then be attached to the circuit board by connecting the receptacle body to the main body.

[0030] Preferably, the main body has at least one contact device that can be connected to at least one contact surface of the plug-in section and can establish an electrical and / or physical connection. By connecting the main body to the receiving body having the ribbon cable in the connected state, the at least one contact device can be connected to the at least one contact surface of the plug-in section, thereby establishing the electrical and / or physical connection.

[0031] By inserting the plug-in section into the receiving body while the latter is not connected to the main body and / or is spaced apart from it, the plug-in section is not subjected to any force by the contact device, whereby a load on the ribbon cable, in particular the plug-in section, during insertion can be advantageously reduced.

[0032] Preferably, the plug receiving device has a locking device for locking the receiving body in a locking position and in connection with the main body.

[0033] In particular, the main body can have two locking devices configured to substantially lock the receiving body relative to the main body in a locking position and to guide a displacement of the receiving body relative to the main body. As a result, the receiving body can be held in a locked position and / or locking position relative to the main body and / or the insertion portion can be held in contact with the at least one contact device to achieve a reliable contact connection.

[0034] Preferably, the ribbon cable cannot be pulled out of the connector receptacle in the locking position and / or detached from the connector receptacle. In particular, manipulation of the wing sections of the plug-in section is not possible, so that the engagement of the receptacle holding elements with the wing sections cannot be released, or at least not without causing damage.

[0035] The two locking devices can extend from the main body substantially orthogonally to the circuit board and / or be arranged on two opposite side regions of the main body. This allows for stable guidance of the displacement of the receiving body and / or locking of the receiving body to the main body.

[0036] The locking device preferably has a displaceable locking section, which enables displacement of the receiving body toward the locking position and prevents, or at least significantly impedes, displacement of the receiving body out of the locking position. This allows the receiving body to be locked in a simple manner, in particular by displacing the receiving body toward the main body up to the locking position. Likewise, the receiving body can be displaced away from the main body, in particular by manipulating the locking section. Without manipulating the locking section, the receiving body is held in the locking position and connected to the main body.

[0037] Preferably, the main body and the receiving body form a positive connection in the locking position, wherein the positive connection is oriented in particular in the insertion direction and / or in the arrangement direction of the locking devices or the receiving holding elements.

[0038] For example, in the locking position, the receiving body and the main body form a tongue-and-groove connection, wherein the receiving body comprises one or more tongues and / or tongue sections and the main body comprises one or more grooves. Alternatively, the receiving body comprises one or more grooves and the main body comprises one or more tongues and / or tongue sections.

[0039] A further aspect of the invention relates to a ribbon cable for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with a plug receptacle, comprising: a line section and a plug-in section, wherein the plug-in section has: at least one contact section, which is arranged at a distal end region of the plug-in section, with a contact surface for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with a contact device of a plug receptacle device;wherein the contact surface forms a terminal surface of the insertion section in a contact direction, wherein the insertion section has a support section on a side of the contact section opposite the contact surface, and wherein the contact surface is dimensioned such that the support section remains substantially dimensionally stable even at high temperatures due to a contact normal force acting on the contact surface by the contact device;

[0040] A further aspect of the invention relates to a ribbon cable for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with a plug receptacle, comprising: a line section and a plug-in section, wherein the plug-in section has: at least one contact section, which is arranged at a distal end region of the plug-in section, with a contact surface for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with a contact device of a plug receptacle; wherein the contact surface forms an end surface of the plug-in section in a contact direction, wherein the plug-in section has a support section on a side of the contact section opposite the contact surface, and wherein a width of the contact surface is many times greater than the width of the contact device.

[0041] In particular, the ribbon cable may have one or more of the features of the connector system described in the process and / or be used in it.

[0042] A further aspect relates to a method for forming an electrical and / or physical connection between a ribbon cable and a connector receptacle; comprising: providing a connector receptacle device with a contact device; inserting a plug-in section of a ribbon cable with at least one contact section into a receptacle body of the connector receptacle device; connecting the receptacle body to a main body of the connector receptacle device in such a way that the at least one contact device exerts a contact normal force on a contact surface of the at least one contact section, wherein the contact section and / or the contact surface is dimensioned in such a way.are that a support section arranged on the side of the contact section opposite the contact surface remains essentially dimensionally stable even at high temperatures due to a contact normal force acting on the contact surface by the contact device when the receiving body and main body are connected, or that a width of the contact surface is many times greater than the width of the contact device.

[0043] Preferably, when inserting the insertion section into the receiving body, no contact force is exerted by the contact device on the contact section.

[0044] In the following, individual embodiments for achieving the object are described by way of example with reference to the figures. In some cases, the individual embodiments described have features that are not absolutely necessary to carry out the claimed subject matter, but which provide desired properties in certain applications. Thus, embodiments that do not have all the features of the embodiments described below are to be regarded as falling within the scope of the described technical teaching. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessary repetition, certain features are only mentioned in relation to individual embodiments described below. It is pointed out that the individual embodiments should therefore not only be considered in isolation, but also in conjunction with one another.Based on this overview, those skilled in the art will recognize that individual embodiments may also be modified by incorporating one or more features of other embodiments. It is noted that a systematic combination of the individual embodiments with one or more features described with reference to other embodiments may be desirable and useful and should therefore be considered and considered to be encompassed by the description. Short description of the drawings

[0045] Figure 1 shows an exemplary connector system; Figure 2 shows contact devices of the connector receptacle of the Figure 1 and an exemplary ribbon cable; Figure 3 shows a view of the contact device and the ribbon cable of the Figure 2 opposite to the insertion direction; Figure 4 shows another exemplary connector system; Figure 5 shows an exemplary contact device. Detailed description of the drawings

[0046] The Figure 1 shows an exemplary connector system 1 with a ribbon cable 10 received by the connector receiving device 40. The ribbon cable 10 comprises a line section 20 which defines an extension plane of the ribbon cable 10.

[0047] A plug-in section 22 of the ribbon cable 10 is at least partially received by the plug-in receiving device 40. Preferably, a part of the plug-in section 22 and a part of the plug-in receiving device 40 form a positive connection, which essentially prevents, or at least significantly impedes, displacement of the plug-in section 22 opposite to the insertion direction E.

[0048] The insertion section 22 comprises a plurality, in particular three, contact sections 26, each of which has and / or forms a contact surface 28. There may be 4, 5, 6, 8, or more contact sections 26. The contact sections 26 may be made of copper and / or contain copper. Preferably, the contact surfaces 28 are made of tin and / or a tin alloy.

[0049] In particular, the contact sections 26 can be formed "pre-plated", wherein the contact sections 26 have been coated and / or plated, in particular with tin and / or a tin alloy, before being processed into a part of the ribbon cable 10.

[0050] The plug receptacle 40 comprises a plurality, in particular three, contact devices 42. There may be 4, 5, 6, 8, or more contact devices 42. Preferably, the number of contact sections 26 is equal to the number of contact devices 42. In this example, the contact devices 42 have a curved section, the distal end regions of which each bear against one of the contact surfaces 28 and form an electrical and / or physical contact connection to the ribbon cable 10. Preferably, each of the contact devices 42 is designed to act on one of the contact surfaces 28 with a contact normal force required for a reliable contact connection.

[0051] In order to achieve an advantageous contact resistance, in particular of approximately 20 mΩ, between contact device 42 and a contact surface 28 comprising tin in this example, a contact device 42 is preferably designed to exert a contact normal force of approximately 2 N on the contact surface 28 when the ribbon cable 10 is in a state received by the plug receiving device 40.

[0052] Preferably, the contact devices 42 are connected to a circuit board 4 and / or attached to a circuit board 4.

[0053] The Figure 2 shows contact devices 42 of the plug receptacle 40 of the Figure 1 and an exemplary ribbon cable 10 from a view opposite to the contact direction K.

[0054] The ribbon cable 10 comprises a plug-in section 22 which has a plurality, for example three, contact sections 26, wherein each of the contact sections 26 forms and / or has a contact surface 28.

[0055] The contact surfaces 28 are preferably substantially identical and / or arranged next to one another in a plane. The contact surfaces 28 are oriented in a contact direction K and / or form a terminal surface of the end section 22, in particular of the respective contact section 26, in the contact direction K.

[0056] Preferably, the contact direction K is oriented orthogonally to the plane of extension of the ribbon cable 10, in particular its line section 20 and / or its plug-in section 22. The contact direction K can in particular be directed from the ribbon cable 10 toward a printed circuit board 4, to which one or more contact devices 42 are directly connected.

[0057] The insertion section 22 of the flat bath cable 10 preferably has a support section 30 which is provided on a side of the one or more contact sections 26 opposite the contact direction K.

[0058] The contact sections 26 and / or the contact surfaces 28 are preferably oriented substantially in the insertion direction E and arranged at a distance from one another. The contact surfaces 28 can be substantially rectangular, wherein a length in the insertion direction E is preferably greater than a width in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction E and contact direction K. The length is preferably a multiple of the width, for example, four or five times. For example, the contact surfaces 28 each have a width of approximately 0.7 mm and a length of approximately 3.8 mm.

[0059] The width of the contact device 42, in particular of a section of the contact device 42 which is in direct contact with and / or abuts a contact surface 28 of the ribbon cable 10, is preferably many times smaller than the width of the contact surface 28. For example, the width of the contact device 42 is approximately half, approximately one-third, approximately one-quarter, approximately one-fifth, or approximately one-sixth of the width of the contact surface 28.

[0060] A width of the contact device 42 can be in particular in the range between approximately 0.075 mm and approximately 0.35 mm, in particular between approximately 0.1 mm and approximately 0.2 mm, for example approximately 0.15 mm. A width of the contact surface 28 can be in particular in the range between approximately 0.2 mm and approximately 1.5 cm, in particular between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 1 cm, for example 0.7 mm.

[0061] The contact section 26, which comprises or forms the contact surface 28, preferably has the same width as the contact surface 28 in order to advantageously transmit the force acting on the contact surface 28, in particular the contact normal force, to a support section 30 supporting the contact section 26.

[0062] The support section 30 is preferably designed such that it is substantially dimensionally stable even at high temperatures, in particular a temperature of approximately 125°C. In particular, the support section 30 consists at least partially of a material whose hardness and / or shape and / or dimensions and / or compressive strength are not, or only slightly, preferably less than 10%, lower than at a temperature of approximately 25°C, even at temperatures above 100°C.

[0063] Preferably, the support section 30 is designed such that a contact section 26 and / or a contact surface 28 associated therewith is substantially dimensionally stable and / or remains positionally accurate in the plug-in section 22 of the ribbon cable 10, even at high temperatures and under the influence of a force acting to form an electrical and / or physical connection.

[0064] The ribbon cable 10, in particular the plug-in section 22, can have one or more suitable sections for engaging with the plug receiving device 40, such as the wing sections 24. The wing sections 24 preferably extend in opposite directions to each other, for example, each at right angles to the plug-in direction E. With the wing sections 24, an advantageous reception by the receiving device 40 is possible, as will be explained in more detail below. Figure 4 described.

[0065] Advantageously, a contact point and / or a region of the contact surface 28 that is in contact with a portion of a contact device 42 is arranged substantially centrally on the contact surface 28, in particular substantially centrally across the width of the contact surface 28. This allows an advantageous force to be applied to the contact surface 28 and / or the contact portion 26. The force can thus be transmitted to the support portion 30 in a particularly advantageous manner, thereby achieving increased dimensional stability of the support portion 30 and / or increased durability of the ribbon cable 20. For example, tilting of a contact portion 26 can be reliably prevented in this way.

[0066] The Figure 3 shows a view of the contact device 42 and the ribbon cable 10 of the Figure 2 opposite to the insertion direction E.

[0067] The plug-in devices 42 each rest against a contact surface 28 of a contact section 26 and each form an electrical and / or physical contact therewith.

[0068] The contact sections 26 can, as in the example shown, protrude at least partially from a plug-in section plane.

[0069] The contact surface 28 of a contact section 26 forms at least the surface of the contact section 26 directed in the contact direction.

[0070] Preferably, the contact surface 28 consists of tin and / or a tin alloy.

[0071] A support section 30 is provided, which supports at least a region of the one or more contact sections 26 against a force exerted by one or more contact devices 42, in particular a normal contact force. The support section 30 is arranged on a side of the contact sections 26 opposite the contact devices 42.

[0072] The support section 30 is preferably designed such that it remains substantially dimensionally stable at a temperature of up to approximately 125°C. In particular, it is preferred that the support section 30 is designed such that a contact section 26 is substantially not displaced, or at least only to a slight extent, counter to the contact direction K even at high temperatures and / or is at least partially pressed into the ribbon cable 10, in particular into the support section 30 and / or the insertion section 22.

[0073] A support section 30 may be provided for each of a plurality of contact sections 26, or a single, continuous support section 30 may be provided for all of the plurality of contact sections 26.

[0074] Preferably, the support section 30 has a larger surface area than each of the contact sections 26, in particular than all of the plurality of contact sections 28 together.

[0075] The support section 30 is preferably at least as thick and / or high as a contact section. As in Figure 3 shown is a height of the support section 30 in the contact direction K preferably greater than a height of one or all of the contact sections 26. As a result, improved support by the support section 30 can be achieved and / or its dimensional stability can be increased.

[0076] The Figure 4 shows a further exemplary connector system 1 comprising an exemplary connector receiving device 40 and a ribbon cable 10 in a state received by the connector receiving device 40. The connector receiving device 40 and / or the ribbon cable 10 can have one or more of the features as for the Figures 1 to 3 described.

[0077] In this example, the plug receptacle 40 comprises a main body 46, which is arranged on a printed circuit board 4, and a receptacle body 44, which is connected to the main body 46 and / or is in a locking position relative to the main body 46.

[0078] To lock the receiving body 44 and / or hold the receiving body 44 in the locking position, at least one locking device 48, preferably two locking devices 48, is provided, which are connected to the main body 44. Alternatively or additionally, the locking devices 48 can be connected directly to the circuit board 4, in particular by a material bond.

[0079] Preferably, the locking devices 48 protrude from the main body 46 in a direction orthogonal to the circuit board 4 and / or to the plane of extension of the ribbon cable 10. The locking devices 48 preferably have a height between approximately 5 mm and approximately 25 mm, in particular between approximately 7 mm and approximately 4 mm, for example approximately 8.3 mm, wherein height refers to the distance of a distal end region of the locking devices 48 measured from the plane of the circuit board.

[0080] Alternatively, the locking devices 48 can extend substantially parallel to the circuit board 4. This is particularly advantageous when the extension direction of the end region of the ribbon cable 10 is substantially orthogonal to the circuit board 4.

[0081] The locking devices 48 can have one or more, in particular two, locking sections 50, which are designed to be elastically displaceable and / or deformable and essentially prevent displacement of the receiving body 44 in the locking position. Preferably, the locking sections 50 are designed to essentially prevent, or at least limit, displacement of the receiving body 44 only by applying force to the receiving body 44.

[0082] Advantageously, the locking sections 50 are designed and arranged in such a way that they can be elastically displaced and / or deformed by manipulation in such a way as to enable the receiving body 44 to be displaced relative to the main body 46.

[0083] In the example shown, a distal end region of the locking portion 50 can be displaced and / or deformed in a direction parallel to the circuit board 4 and toward the opposite locking device 48 in order to release the receiving body 44.

[0084] In addition to an exemplary connector receiving device 40, the connector system 1 further comprises a ribbon cable 10, which is received by the connector receiving device 40, in particular by the receiving body 44. The ribbon cable 10, in particular an extension plane of the ribbon cable 10, can be oriented substantially parallel to the printed circuit board 4.

[0085] Preferably, the ribbon cable 10 comprises a line section 20 and a plug-in section 22 at one end region, wherein the plug-in section 22 is designed to come into contact with the plug-receiving device 40 and / or to be received by the plug-receiving device 40.

[0086] In the example shown, the ribbon cable 10 is in a received state, wherein the plug-in portion 22 is at least partially received and / or positioned in the receiving body 44.

[0087] In the received state of the connecting cable 10 and in the locking position of the receiving body 44, a displacement of the connecting cable 10 is substantially prevented, in particular a withdrawal of the plug-in section 22 from the receiving body 44.

[0088] The receiving body 44 is preferably designed such that it engages with a received plug-in section 22 and / or a ribbon cable 10 in the received state such that a displacement of the plug-in section 22 and / or the ribbon cable 22, in particular counter to the insertion direction E, is substantially prevented, or at least limited.

[0089] For this purpose, the receiving body 44 can have one or more, for example two, receiving holding elements, each of which forms a positive connection with a part of the insertion section 22, in particular parallel to the plane of extension of the ribbon cable 10.

[0090] Preferably, the receiving holding elements are arranged on opposite sides of the receiving body 33 and are designed to engage with a respective holding wing 24 of the insertion section 22.

[0091] The retaining wings 24 can extend in opposite directions transverse to the insertion direction E and in the plane of extension of the ribbon cable 10. The receiving retaining elements can each have a surface facing in the insertion direction E, against which a portion of a retaining wing 24 facing opposite to the insertion direction E can bear in order to form the positive connection in the received state of the ribbon cable 10.

[0092] The receiving body 44 is preferably designed such that, upon insertion of the insertion section 22, the receiving body 44, in particular the receiving retaining elements, elastically deforms at least a portion of the insertion section 22. For this purpose, the receiving retaining elements 38 can each comprise a guide bevel 52 for guiding and / or elastically displacing the retaining wings 24.

[0093] For example, the guide bevel 52 can be aligned at an angle to the circuit board 4 and / or to the extension plane of the ribbon cable 10 and can rise in the insertion direction E.

[0094] The guide bevel 52 is preferably located on one of the surfaces of a receiving holding element forming the positive connection, so that the guide bevel 52 displaces and / or deforms a holding wing 24 in order to pass and / or overcome the receiving holding element and to reach the received state.

[0095] In particular, the receiving holding elements and / or the guide bevels 52 are designed and / or arranged in such a way as to effect a substantially symmetrical and elastic deformation of the insertion section 22, wherein the deformation has been substantially reversed upon reaching the received state, ie the insertion section 22 substantially resumes or has resumed its original shape.

[0096] The insertion section 22 of the ribbon cable 10 is preferably, in its original form, particularly in a state not received by the receiving device 40, substantially planar and / or comprises a substantially planar surface section. In the received state, the insertion device preferably has its original shape, wherein the original shape is particularly a shape that the insertion device has substantially without the application of external force.

[0097] To achieve advantageous deformation of the insertion portion 22, the receiving body 44 can have a guide portion 54 configured to guide at least a portion of the insertion portion 22. In particular, the guide portion 54 is configured and / or arranged to substantially prevent, or at least limit, a displacement of a portion of the insertion portion 22 in a direction orthogonal to the plane of extension of the ribbon cable 10.

[0098] The guide portion 54 is preferably arranged in a middle and / or central region between the receiving holding elements and / or guide slopes 52 and is configured to support the insertion portion 22 such that a middle and / or central region of the insertion portion 22 is substantially not displaced and / or deformed during insertion.

[0099] In particular, the guide section 54 may comprise a guide surface which is oriented substantially parallel to the circuit board 4 and / or the plane of extension of the ribbon cable 10 and is directed opposite to the direction of displacement and / or deformation of the wing sections 24.

[0100] The guide surface of the guide section 54 is preferably on a plane with a surface of the receiving holding elements oriented parallel to the plane of extension of the ribbon cable 10 and / or a rear end section of the guide slope 52 in the insertion direction. At least a distance between the guide surface of the guide section 46 and the upper side of the receiving holding elements, in the contact direction K, is smaller than a thickness and / or height of the insertion section 22. Alternatively, the guide surface of the guide section 54 can be arranged at least partially below the upper side of the receiving holding elements and / or closer to the circuit board 4, whereby a greater deformation of the insertion section 22 is achieved.

[0101] By interaction of the receiving holding elements and / or the guide bevels 52 with the guide section 54, an advantageous deformation, in particular a convex curvature, of at least a part of the insertion section 22 can be achieved, which essentially disappears when the received state is reached.

[0102] The deformation essentially disappears upon reaching the received state, and / or the insertion device 22 essentially has its original shape in the received state. Preferably, in the received state, no force deforming the insertion device 22 acts on the insertion device 22 from a receiving holding element and / or a guide bevel 52 and / or the guide section 54. In particular, the insertion device 22 essentially has no structural change in the received state compared to its original shape.

[0103] Preferably, the main body 46, which can be arranged on a printed circuit board 4 and to which the receiving body 44 can be connected, comprises one or more contact devices 42 for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with one or more contact sections 28 of the ribbon cable 10.

[0104] The one or more, in particular three, contact devices 42 can have substantially rod-shaped, preferably curved, sections, which are arranged at least partially in recesses of the main body 46. The contact devices 42 are preferably integrally connected to the circuit board 4. At least one distal end region of the contact devices 52 protrudes from the main body 46 in order to form an electrical and / or physical contact connection with a respective contact surface 28 of the plug-in device 22.

[0105] The receiving body 44 and the main body 46 are designed in particular such that a positive connection is formed in the locking position, in particular by forming a tongue and groove connection.

[0106] Preferably, a non-destructive displacement of the ribbon cable 10, in particular of the plug-in device 22, from the received state is prevented by applying force to the ribbon cable 20 counter to the insertion direction E. By engaging the receiving holding elements with at least a part of the plug-in device 22, a displacement of the plug-in device 22 counter to the insertion direction E is essentially prevented, or at least made significantly more difficult.

[0107] Preferably, however, by manipulating and / or elastically deforming at least part of the plug-in device 22, for example, the wing sections 24, in particular substantially orthogonal to the plane of extension of the ribbon cable 10 and / or the plug-in device 22, the engagement can be released and the ribbon cable 10 and / or the plug-in device 22 can be pulled out of the plug-in receptacle 40 in a substantially non-destructive manner. For example, the receptacle body 54 has one or more recesses through which at least part of the plug-in device 22 is accessible, in particular for manipulation and / or elastic deformation, in particular by means of a tool such as a screwdriver.

[0108] Preferably, the recesses are arranged and / or configured in such a way that manipulation and / or deformation is prevented when the receiving body 44 is in a locking position relative to a main body 46. Preferably, access to at least part of the insertion device 22 is prevented by one or more recesses in the receiving body 44 in the locking position, for example, by the one or more recesses in the receiving body 44 being at least partially closed and / or covered by the main body 46 in the locking position.

[0109] The Figure 5 shows an exemplary contact device 42, a ribbon cable 20 forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection therewith, and a printed circuit board 4 on which the contact device 42 is arranged. The contact device 42 is preferably connected to the printed circuit board 4 in a materially bonded manner, in particular by soldering tin.

[0110] The ribbon cable 10 has a plug-in section 22 with at least one contact section 26. The contact surface 28 formed on an outer side of the contact section 26 can be made of tin and / or a tin alloy, for example.

[0111] The contact device 42 has a distal end region which rests against the contact surface 28 and / or contacts it.

[0112] The contact device 42 preferably has a resilient portion that is elastically deformable and that configures the contact device 42 to exert a force counter to the contact direction K. The resilient portion can, in particular, have a substantially rod-shaped and curved portion. In particular, the resilient portion can taper toward the distal end.

[0113] In the present example with a contact surface 28 made of tin and / or a tin alloy, the contact device 42 is preferably designed to exert a contact normal force of between 1 N and 4 N on the contact surface 28 via the distal end region in order to form an advantageous contact connection with a low contact resistance.

[0114] The contact device 42 may comprise copper and / or a copper alloy. Alternatively or additionally, the contact device 42 may comprise gold and / or silver. In particular, the contact device 42 may be gold-plated, silver-plated, and / or tin-plated.

[0115] The contact device 42 of the Figure 5 The features described may also be included in one or more of the contact devices 42 described above. List of reference symbols

[0116] 1Connector system 4Printed circuit board 10Flat ribbon cable 20Line section 22Plug-in section 24Wing section 26Contact section 28Contact surface 30Support section 40Plug-in device 42Contact device 44Receiving body 46Main body 48Locking device 50Locking section 52Guide bevel 54Guide section EPlug-in direction KContact direction

Claims

1. A connector system (1) for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection between a ribbon cable (10) and a plug receptacle (40), comprising: a plug receptacle (40) for receiving at least part of a ribbon cable (10), having at least one contact device (42); and a ribbon cable (10) with a plug-in section (22), which has: at least one contact section (26) arranged at a distal end region of the plug-in section (22), having at least one contact surface (28) for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with the at least one contact device (42) of the plug receptacle (40);wherein the at least one contact surface (28) forms a terminal surface of the insertion section (22) in a contact direction (K), wherein the insertion section (22) has a support section (30) on a side of the contact section (26) opposite the contact surface (28), and wherein the contact section (26) and / or the contact surface (28) is / are dimensioned such that the support section (30) remains substantially dimensionally stable even at high temperatures due to a contact normal force acting on the contact surface (28) by the contact device (42); 2. Connector system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface (28) consists essentially of tin and / or a tin alloy.

3. Connector system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact portion (26) consists essentially of copper and / or a copper alloy.

4. Connector system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact surface (28) has a substantially rectangular shape.

5. Connector system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug-in section (22) has a plurality of contact sections (26), which are preferably designed substantially identically and / or are arranged next to one another.

6. Connector system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support section (30) consists essentially of plastic.

7. Connector system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support section (30) has a greater extent in the contact direction (K) than the contact section (26).

8. Connector system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion portion (22) has at least two wing portions (24) for engagement with the plug receptacle (40).

9. Connector system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the wing sections (24) extend in opposite directions and / or the wing sections (24) extend orthogonally to an insertion direction (E) of the insertion section (22) and the contact direction (K).

10. Connector system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug receiving device (40) comprises: a receiving body (44) for receiving at least a portion of the plug-in section (22) of the ribbon cable (10); and a main body (46) which comprises the at least one contact device (42); wherein the receiving body (44) is displaceable relative to the main body (46) and connectable to the main body (36), and wherein, upon connecting the receiving body (44) to the main body (46), an electrical and / or physical contact connection between the at least one contact device (42) and the at least one contact section (26) is formed by the at least one contact device (42) exerting a normal contact force on the contact surface (28).

11. Connector system (1) according to claim 10, wherein the plug receiving device (40) comprises a locking device (48) for locking the receiving body (44) in connection with the main body (46).

12. A ribbon cable (10) for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with a plug receptacle (40), comprising: a line section (20) and a plug-in section (22), wherein the plug-in section (22) has: at least one contact section (26) arranged at a distal end region of the plug-in section (22), with a contact surface (28) for forming an electrical and / or physical contact connection with a contact device (42) of a plug receptacle (40);wherein the contact surface (28) forms a terminal surface of the insertion section (22) in a contact direction (K), wherein the insertion section (22) has a support section (30) on a side of the contact section (26) opposite the contact surface (28), and wherein the contact surface (28) is dimensioned such that the support section (30) remains substantially dimensionally stable even at high temperatures due to a contact normal force acting on the contact surface (28) by the contact device (42); 13. A method for forming an electrical and / or physical connection between a ribbon cable (10) and a plug receptacle (40); comprising: providing a plug receptacle (40) with a contact device (42); inserting a plug-in section (22) of a ribbon cable (20) with at least one contact section (26) into a receptacle body (44) of the plug receptacle (40); connecting the receptacle body (44) to a main body (46) of the plug receptacle (40) in such a way that the at least one contact device (42) exerts a contact normal force on a contact surface (28) of the at least one contact section (26), wherein the contact section (26) and / or the contact surface (28) is dimensioned in such a way orare that a support section (30) arranged on the side of the contact section (26) opposite the contact surface (28) remains substantially dimensionally stable even at high temperatures due to a contact normal force acting on the contact surface (28) by the contact device (42) when the receiving body (44) and main body (46) are connected.

Images