Clamping unit for electrically contacting a plurality of electric contacts with a plurality of electric conductors
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023715113
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-03-31
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing terminal units for electrically contacting multiple electrical contacts on circuit boards face challenges in efficiently utilizing space, maintaining adequate clearance, and accommodating various conductor sizes, often resulting in increased board size and complexity, which complicates the attachment and connection of electrical conductors.
The terminal unit design decouples the positions of contact elements and receiving chambers, with contact elements offset from the central axis of the receiving chambers, allowing for increased clearance and flexibility in conductor size accommodation without increasing the terminal unit's dimensions, enabling efficient use of space and simplified connection processes.
This design allows for compact and efficient electrical contacting of multiple conductors, accommodating various conductor sizes without enlarging the terminal unit, thereby reducing space requirements and simplifying the connection process, while maintaining sufficient clearance and creepage distances.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Page 1 / 33 Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GmbH & Co.KG Our reference: P80665DE March 31, 2022 Terminal unit, in particular as a print terminal, for electrically contacting a plurality of electrical contacts with a plurality of electrical conductors The present invention relates to a terminal unit for electrically contacting a plurality of electrical contacts, in particular electrical contact holes or contact points of a printed circuit board, with a plurality of electrical conductors, with a plurality of electrically conductive terminal elements, each having a contact element, in particular as a contact pin, for electrically connecting to one of the electrical contacts and a connection terminal for contacting one of the electrical conductors, wherein the terminal elements are arranged such that the contact elements are arranged on an underside of the terminal unit, the connection terminals are arranged in receiving chambers for receiving the electrical conductors,wherein the receiving chambers each have an insertion opening towards an upper side of the terminal unit for inserting the electrical conductors. The present invention additionally relates to a unit comprising a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts, which are designed in particular as electrical contact holes or contact locations, and a terminal unit connected to the electrical contacts of the printed circuit board for contacting a plurality of electrical conductors. Page 2 / 33 P80665DE The present invention also relates to a contacting set comprising a plurality of different terminal units for electrically contacting a plurality of electrical contacts with a plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the electrical contacts are in particular electrical contact holes or contact locations of a printed circuit board. The present invention also relates to a printed circuit board contacting set comprising a printed circuit board,which has a plurality of electrical contacts, which are designed in particular as electrical contact holes or contact points, and a plurality of different terminal units for electrically contacting the electrical contacts of the printed circuit board with a plurality of electrical conductors. Various terminals are known from the prior art, for example so-called print terminals, for connecting electrical conductors to printed circuit boards. The print terminals have contact elements in the form of contact pins, which are usually inserted into contact holes of the printed circuit board and soldered there. For connection to the electrical conductors, the print terminals comprise connection terminals for contacting the electrical conductors. The contact pins are attached to an underside of the terminal, and the connection terminals are arranged in receiving chambers for receiving the electrical conductors.The receiving chambers each have an insertion opening for the electrical conductors on the top side of the terminal unit. This ensures overall contact in an axial direction. The contact elements and connection terminals are typically designed as a single piece. Such printed circuit terminals must fulfill a wide variety of tasks and requirements today. For example, it may be necessary to have space on the top side of the terminal for connecting electrical conductors with the largest possible cross-section. Accordingly, correspondingly large conductor connection openings are required for inserting the electrical conductors into the connection terminals, as well as space for routing the electrical conductors to the terminal. If wire end ferrules are used for the electrical conductors, additional space is required.because the wire end ferrules have a larger cross-section than the corresponding electrical conductors. Furthermore, access to the terminal is required to insert the electrical conductors into the conductor connection openings and to operate the terminal, to clamp the electrical conductors in the terminals and / or to release the clamping of the electrical conductors in the terminals. For space reasons, it may be necessary to position the contact elements as compactly as possible. Especially on printed circuit boards, the surface area is finite and therefore must be used sparingly. On the other hand, there are requirements regarding the spacing between electrical contacts, particularly on printed circuit boards, for example, to maintain sufficient air and / or creepage distances. Furthermore, there may be restrictions on the arrangement of the electrical contacts. For example, regular spacing of the electrical contacts may be specified on printed circuit boards.which must be brought into line with the other requirements. Universal terminals are known in the prior art, but these can only partially solve these diverse tasks and requirements. This often unnecessarily increases the space required on printed circuit boards and makes the attachment of the terminals and the connection of electrical conductors unnecessarily difficult. Such a terminal 100 from the prior art is shown, for example, in a plan view in Figure 1. The terminal 100 there is designed as a print terminal for electrically contacting a plurality of electrical contact holes of a printed circuit board with a plurality of electrical conductors. The terminal 100 comprises a plurality of contact elements 102, which are designed here as contact pins.for electrical connection to the electrical contacts. The contact elements 102 extend on an underside of the terminal unit 100. In receiving chambers 104, a connection terminal (not explicitly shown in Figure 1) is accommodated for contacting the electrical conductors. The receiving chambers 104 each have an insertion opening 106 towards an upper side of the terminal unit 100 for inserting the electrical conductors and are open towards an upper side of the terminal unit 100. A longitudinal axis of the contact element 102 is arranged in accordance with a central longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber 104 in which the respective connection terminal is arranged. A distance D1 results between the insertion openings 106. Corresponding considerations apply to distances between the receiving chambers 104. Overall, high demands are placed on the design of printed circuit boards when using terminals,especially printed circuit terminals. This is associated with great effort and high costs. In some cases, the use of larger circuit boards may be necessary just to be able to attach the terminals accordingly. This can lead to further problems. The present invention is therefore based on the object of improving and / or simplifying the electrical contacting of a plurality of electrical contacts, in particular electrical contact holes or contact points of a printed circuit board, with a plurality of electrical conductors. The object is alsoto eliminate or at least mitigate at least some of the disadvantages or problems described in the prior art. Page 5 / 33 P80665DE The object underlying the present invention is achieved by a terminal unit having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the terminal unit are described in claims 2 to 10 dependent on claim 1. More specifically, the object underlying the present invention is achieved by a terminal unit for electrically contacting a plurality of electrical contacts, in particular electrical contact holes or contact points of a printed circuit board, with a plurality of electrical conductors, with a plurality of electrically conductive terminal elements, each having a contact element, in particular as a contact pin, for electrically connecting to one of the electrical contacts and a connecting terminal for contacting one of the electrical conductors,wherein the terminal elements are arranged such that the contact elements are arranged on an underside of the terminal unit, the connecting terminals are arranged in receiving chambers for receiving the electrical conductors, and wherein the receiving chambers each have an insertion opening for inserting the electrical conductors to an upper side of the terminal unit. The terminal unit according to the invention is characterized in that in several of the terminal elements, preferably in all of the terminal elements, a longitudinal axis of the contact element is arranged axially offset from a central longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber in which the corresponding connecting terminal is arranged, and at opposite edges of the terminal unit, the terminal elements closest to the respective edge are arranged such that the longitudinal axis of the respective contact element is at a greater distance from the edge than the central longitudinal axis of the corresponding receiving chamber.in which the corresponding terminal is arranged. Page 6 / 33 P80665DE The basic idea of the present invention is to decouple the positions of the contact elements and the receiving chambers in which the terminals are accommodated from the conventional positioning of the contact elements and the receiving chambers in the prior art, in which a longitudinal axis of the contact element is arranged in correspondence with a central longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber in which the respective terminal is arranged. The inventive arrangement of the terminal elements closest to the respective edge ensures that the respective contact elements have a large distance from the corresponding edge, for example, in order to provide sufficient air or creepage distances to adjacent circuit boards or generally to adjacent electrical components. The distance from the edge is guaranteed for the contact elements even ifif the associated receiving chambers are positioned close to the edge. The opposite edges of the terminal unit refer to two opposite edges. Accordingly, the invention can, in principle, also be implemented for several pairs of opposite edges. The terminal elements closest to the respective edge are determined in particular by the distance of the central longitudinal axis of the receiving chambers, in which the corresponding connection terminals are arranged, from the edge. With several terminal elements located close to the edge, it is achieved that an overall greater distance of the contact elements from the respective edge is maintained. With several terminal elements closest to the respective edge, all of these terminal elements are arranged such that the longitudinal axis of the respective contact element is at a greater distance from the edge than the central longitudinal axis of the corresponding receiving chamber.in which the corresponding terminal is arranged. Otherwise, only one. This applies to both opposite edges. Page 7 / 33 P80665DE The terminal unit according to the invention can thus overcome various of the disadvantages mentioned above. The advantages also arise for the circuit board or a unit consisting of a circuit board and a terminal unit connected to it when connected to the electrical contacts of the circuit board. Various types of terminal units can also be provided which, depending on the arrangements and orientations of the terminal elements closest to the edge, as well as the arrangements and orientations of other terminal elements, have various advantages and can eliminate various disadvantages of the prior art. For example, terminal units can be provided in which electrical conductors with larger conductor cross-sections are used without increasing the dimensions of the terminal units.or terminal units can be provided that have a smaller size when using electrical conductors with the same conductor cross-sections. This can, for example, provide advantages with regard to system voltage, terminal space size for connecting the electrical conductors, and conductor cross-section. The terminal unit can, in principle, contact any number of electrical contacts and electrical conductors. Small terminal units can be implemented with two or four terminal elements to contact a corresponding number of electrical contacts and electrical conductors. There are no fundamental restrictions on the number of terminal elements. The terminal elements are typically made entirely of an electrically conductive material.so that an electrical connection is automatically established between the contact elements and the connecting terminals. Page 8 / 33 P80665DE The terminal elements usually have an overall elongated shape, which is formed by the contact elements and the connecting terminals. Accordingly, the terminal unit is designed for contacting in the longitudinal direction. The connecting terminals are positioned in the receiving chamber to contact electrical conductors inserted therein. The contact elements often have an elongated design, for example, in the manner of a contact pin, which allows the longitudinal axis of the contact element to be easily determined. However, the contact elements can also have other shapes,For SMD technology, for example, the contact elements can be designed with a nail head for contacting the electrical contacts. The longitudinal axis of the contact element is defined by its cross-sectional center. The longitudinal axis would then be, for example, an axis of symmetry in the center of the nail. The contact elements can be designed as solder pins for soldering to the circuit board, in particular for soldering when inserted into the contact holes. Alternatively, the contact elements can be designed for clamp mounting in the contact holes, for example, in the form of clamp contacts or so-called press-fit pins. The receiving chambers can have various cross-sections, for example, a round, oval, rectangular, or square cross-section. Rectangular or square cross-sections are preferred here. The receiving chambers refer to chambers,into each of which an electrical conductor can be inserted. This means that the connection terminals are positioned in the receiving chambers and can contact the electrical conductors within the receiving chambers. Page 9 / 33 P80665DE Electrical contact holes are common on conventional printed circuit boards. In SMD technology, contact locations or contact pads are arranged on the circuit board. The contact elements can protrude from the underside of the terminal unit to contact the electrical contacts. The electrical conductors typically have an electrically conductive core and surrounding insulation. The electrical conductors are therefore typically terminated at their ends, which are inserted into the receiving chambers.stripped. In addition, wire end ferrules can be slipped over the ends of the electrical conductors and clamped or pressed onto them. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connecting terminals each have a base region at their ends opposite the insertion openings, and the contact elements are attached to the base region of the connecting terminals and extend longitudinally therefrom. This embodiment can be implemented for all terminal elements, i.e. for terminal elements in which the longitudinal axis of the contact element is arranged axially offset from a central longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber in which the corresponding connecting terminal is arranged, as well as for conventional terminal elements in which the longitudinal axis of the contact element and a central longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber in which the corresponding connecting terminal is arranged,The contact elements can be easily manufactured, for example, as stamped and bent parts. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connecting terminals are designed as spring-loaded terminals with a clamping spring, which clamps the inserted electrical conductors with its spring force, wherein the terminal unit preferably has actuating elements to release the clamping of the electrical conductors by the clamping springs upon actuation. Alternatively, the connecting terminals are designed as screw terminals, and the terminal unit has actuating screws.with which the electrical conductors in the connection terminals are clamped and released. Corresponding spring-loaded terminals and screw terminals are known as such and suitable for use in the terminal unit. In the case of the spring-loaded terminal, the actuating elements can be designed as actuating buttons or actuating pushers. As an alternative to the actuating elements, the terminal unit can have actuating openings. The clamping springs can be actuated with an external actuating tool, for example a screwdriver, through the actuating opening. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact elements extend on the underside of the terminal unit in several contact element rows, wherein the contact elements in each contact element row are preferably evenly spaced, and / or the contact elements extend on the underside of the terminal unit in several contact element columns.Preferably, the contact elements are evenly spaced in each contact element column. This design of the terminal unit enables a simple and regular configuration of, for example, the circuit board with the electrical contacts. The corresponding design of the terminal elements, in which the longitudinal axis of the contact element is arranged axially offset from the central longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber in which the corresponding connection terminal is arranged,The advantages of the invention can be readily realized. In at least one contact element row and / or contact element column, the contact elements can be arranged uniformly spaced overall. Alternatively, the contact elements in each contact element row and / or contact element column can be arranged in a fixed spacing scheme. The spacing scheme can be individual for each contact element row and / or contact element column. The contact elements in each contact element row and / or contact element column can, for example, be arranged in groups, with the contact elements of each group having the same spacing. Distances from one group of contact elements to an adjacent group of contact elements or to an individual, adjacent contact element can be selected differently. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the receiving chambers are arranged in several receiving chamber rows,Preferably, the receiving chambers in each receiving chamber row are evenly spaced, and / or the receiving chambers are arranged in several receiving chamber columns, preferably the receiving chambers in each receiving chamber column are evenly spaced. This design of the terminal unit results in a regular arrangement of the receiving chambers, which facilitates handling. Due to the corresponding design of the terminal elements, in which the longitudinal axis of the contact element is arranged axially offset from the central longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber in which the corresponding connection terminal is arranged,The advantages of the invention can be readily realized. In at least one receiving chamber row and / or receiving chamber column, the receiving chambers can be arranged uniformly spaced overall. Alternatively, the receiving chambers in each receiving chamber row and / or receiving chamber column can be arranged in a fixed spacing scheme. The spacing scheme can be individual for each receiving chamber row and / or receiving chamber column. The receiving chambers in each receiving chamber row and / or receiving chamber column can, for example, be arranged in groups, with the receiving chambers of each group having the same spacing. Distances from one group of receiving chambers to a neighboring group of receiving chambers or to an individual,adjacent receiving chambers can be selected differently. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact element rows and the receiving chamber rows are arranged offset in parallel with respect to their longitudinal extent, and / or the contact element rows and the receiving chamber rows are arranged offset in the direction of their longitudinal extent, and / or the contact element columns and the receiving chamber columns are arranged offset in parallel with respect to their longitudinal extent, and / or the contact element columns and the receiving chamber columns are arranged offset in the direction of their longitudinal extent. The offset arrangement of the contact elements and receiving chambers in offset rows and / or columns enables, for example, simple provision of terminal units,in which simple and reliable contacting can be achieved for a plurality of electrical contacts and electrical conductors. An increase or decrease in the distance between the longitudinal axes of the contact elements and the central longitudinal axes of the receiving chambers can be achieved, depending on an offset direction. Particularly preferably, adjacent contact element rows or receiving chamber rows and / or contact element columns or receiving chamber columns are arranged offset. This allows the distances between the contacts or the receiving chambers to be easily adjusted and, for example, increased or maximized. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the terminal elements are arranged in several terminal element rows, wherein the terminal elements in each terminal element row are preferably evenly spaced and / or the terminal elements in each terminal element row are evenly aligned.and / or the terminal elements are arranged in several terminal element columns, wherein preferably the terminal elements in each terminal element column are evenly spaced and / or the terminal elements in each terminal element column are evenly aligned. By appropriately designing the terminal elements, in which the longitudinal axis of the contact element is arranged axially offset from the central longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber in which the corresponding connection terminal is arranged, the advantages according to the invention can be readily realized, even with a positioning,especially with a regular positioning of the terminal elements in rows and / or columns. In at least one terminal element row and / or column, the terminal elements can be arranged uniformly spaced overall. Alternatively, the terminal elements in each terminal element row and / or column can be arranged in a fixed spacing scheme. The spacing scheme can be individual for each terminal element row and / or column. The terminal elements in each terminal element row and / or column can, for example, be arranged in groups, with the terminal elements of each group having the same spacing. Distances from one group of terminal elements to an adjacent group of terminal elements or to an individual,Adjacent terminal elements can be selected differently. By arranging the terminal elements on the opposite edges of the terminal unit, it can be realized that the terminal elements closest to the respective edge are arranged such that the longitudinal axis of the respective contact element is at a greater distance from the edge than the central longitudinal axis of the corresponding receiving chamber in which the corresponding connection terminal is arranged. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the terminal elements are arranged in several rows of terminal elements, wherein the terminal elements in each row of terminal elements are evenly aligned, and the terminal elements in adjacent rows of terminal elements are aligned differently from row to row, and / or the terminal elements are arranged in several columns of terminal elements.wherein the terminal elements in each terminal element column are uniformly aligned, and the terminal elements in adjacent terminal element columns are aligned differently from column to column. A corresponding configuration enables, in particular, a simple provision of terminal units with a plurality of terminal elements in each row. The terminal unit can also be provided with a simple structure and based on a small number of different components. Preferably, the clamping elements are each evenly spaced. Rows or columns in the aforementioned embodiments are straight rows or columns, so that a combination of rows and columns results in a matrix. The arrangements of contact elements,Receiving chambers and terminal elements in rows or columns can, in principle, be implemented independently of one another. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the terminal unit has a common housing in which the plurality of terminal elements is arranged. The housing provides protection for the terminal unit, for example, protection against contact, protection against contamination, or the like, and also facilitates handling of the terminal unit. In particular, the contact elements can protrude from the housing to contact the electrical contacts. The housing can define the edges of the terminal unit. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the terminal elements are designed identically. The identical design of the terminal elements enables simple and cost-effective provision of the terminal unit. Page 15 / 33 P80665DEsince only one type of terminal element needs to be kept in stock. Through suitable alignment in the terminal unit, various of the previously described embodiments can be realized. The object underlying the present invention is also achieved by a unit comprising a printed circuit board and a terminal unit with the features of claim 11. More specifically, the object underlying the present invention is also achieved by a unit comprising a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts, which are designed in particular as electrical contact holes or contact points, and a terminal unit connected to the electrical contacts of the printed circuit board for contacting a plurality of electrical conductors.wherein the terminal unit is designed according to one of claims 1 to 10. The advantages of the terminal unit according to the invention arise for the present unit when connecting the electrical contacts of the printed circuit board to the terminal unit. The object underlying the present invention is further achieved by a contacting set with the features of claim 12. More specifically, the object underlying the present invention is further achieved by a contacting set with a plurality of different terminal units for electrically contacting a plurality of electrical contacts, in particular electrical contact holes or contact points on a printed circuit board, with a plurality of electrical conductors, wherein at least one of the terminal units is designed according to one of claims 1 to 10. Page 16 / 33 P80665DE By providing the contacting set, a simple possibility is created,When using predefined printed circuit boards with corresponding electrical contacts, the contacting with the electrical conductors can be adapted to the respective requirements by selecting one or more suitable terminal units. A change in the layout of the printed circuit board is not necessary, since the adaptation can be achieved by selecting the appropriate terminal unit. The object underlying the present invention is additionally achieved by a printed circuit board contacting set with the features of claim 13. More specifically, the object underlying the present invention is additionally achieved by a printed circuit board contacting set with a printed circuit board and a plurality of different terminal units for electrically contacting a plurality of electrical contacts, in particular electrical contact holes or contact locations, of the printed circuit board with a plurality of electrical conductors.wherein at least one of the terminal units is designed according to one of claims 1 to 10. In contrast to the provision of the contacting set, the printed circuit board contacting set includes the printed circuit board in addition to the terminal units. This ensures that the printed circuit board and the terminal units are correctly matched to one another and that the different terminal units can be readily used for the printed circuit board. Further advantages, details, and features of the invention emerge from the exemplary embodiments explained below. In detail: Page 17 / 33 P80665DE Figure 1: a simplified schematic representation of a terminal unit from the prior art in plan view, in which the longitudinal axes of contact elements are arranged in correspondence with the central longitudinal axes of the receiving chambers in which the respective connection terminals are arranged; Figure 2: a simplified,A schematic representation of a terminal unit according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in plan view, with four terminal elements arranged in two rows, each with a contact element and a connection terminal accommodated in a receiving chamber, wherein a longitudinal axis of the contact element is arranged axially offset from a central longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber in which the corresponding connection terminal is arranged; Figure 3: A simplified, schematic representation of the terminal unit from Figure 2 with a plan view in accordance with Figure 2 and two additional sectional views in the region of a first and second row of terminal elements; Figure 4: A simplified, schematic representation of two terminal units according to a second embodiment of the present invention in plan view, each with four terminal elements arranged in two rows,and with actuating pushbuttons; Figure 5: a simplified, schematic representation of two terminal units according to a third embodiment of the present invention in plan view, each with four terminal elements arranged in two rows Page 18 / 33 P80665DE, and with actuating pushbuttons, wherein the terminal units are positioned on a printed circuit board with electrical contacts; Figure 6: a schematic representation of a printed circuit board for electrical contacting with one or more terminal units according to a fourth embodiment; Figure 7: a simplified, schematic representation of two terminal units according to a fifth embodiment, each with two terminal elements; Figure 8: a simplified,Schematic representation of a connector with a plurality of terminal units, each with two terminal elements, according to a sixth embodiment. In the following description, the same reference numerals denote the same components or the same features, so that a description given with reference to one figure regarding a component also applies to the other figures, thus avoiding a repetitive description. Furthermore, individual features described in connection with one embodiment can also be used separately in other embodiments. Figures 2 and 3 show a terminal unit 10 according to a first, preferred embodiment of the present invention. The terminal unit 10 is designed for electrically contacting a plurality of electrical contacts 11, which here are designed as electrical contact holes in a printed circuit board 12.with a plurality of electrical conductors (not shown). Page 19 / 33 P80665DE The terminal unit 10 comprises a plurality of electrically conductive terminal elements 13, each having a contact element 14 for electrical connection to one of the contact holes 11 and a connecting terminal 15 for contacting one of the electrical conductors. In this embodiment, the contact elements 14 are designed as contact pins that are inserted into the contact holes 11 of the printed circuit board 12 and soldered therein. The connecting terminals 15 are designed as spring-loaded terminals with a clamping spring 16 for clamping the respective electrical conductor.as can be seen in the sectional views of Figure 3. The contact pins 14 are arranged on a bottom side 17 of the terminal unit 10 and protrude from the bottom side 17 of the terminal unit 10 to contact the contact holes 11. The spring-loaded terminals 15 are arranged in receiving chambers 18 for receiving the electrical conductors. The receiving chambers 18 have a rectangular cross-section and each have a funnel-shaped insertion opening 20 leading to a top side 19 of the terminal unit 10 for inserting the electrical conductors. The terminal units 10 of the first embodiment also have actuating elements in the form of actuating pushbuttons.which, however, are not explicitly shown in Figures 2 and 3. When actuated, the actuating buttons release the clamping of the electrical conductors by the clamping springs 16 in the spring-loaded terminal 15. All spring-loaded terminals 15 each have a base region 21 at their ends opposite the insertion openings 20. The contact pins 14 are attached to the base regions 21 of the spring-loaded terminals 15 and extend in the longitudinal direction 22 thereof. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the terminal elements 13 are designed such that a longitudinal axis 23 of the contact pin 14 is arranged axially offset from one side of the central longitudinal axis 24 of the receiving chamber 18.in which the corresponding spring-loaded terminal 15 is arranged. The terminal elements 13 are made entirely from an electrically conductive metal sheet and have an overall elongated shape. Accordingly, the terminal unit 10 is designed for contacting in the longitudinal direction 22. All terminal elements 13 of the terminal unit 10 are identical. The terminal unit 10 has a common housing 25 in which the terminal elements 13 are arranged. As can be further seen in Figures 2 and 3, the contact pins 14 extend on the underside 17 of the terminal unit 10 in two contact element rows 26 and two contact element columns 27, wherein the contact pins 14 are evenly spaced in each contact element row 26 and in each contact element column 27. The contact pins 14 are thus arranged overall in a 2x2 matrix. In addition, the receiving chambers 18 are arranged in several rows of receiving chambers 28,wherein the receiving chambers 18 are evenly spaced in each receiving chamber row 28. As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the contact element rows 26 and the receiving chamber rows 28 are arranged offset relative to their longitudinal extent 29 and in the direction of their longitudinal extent 29. As a result, distances D2 between the insertion openings 20, as can be seen from Figure 2 in comparison to Figure 1, and thus also distances between the receiving chambers 18 and the electrical conductors inserted therein, can be increased compared to the prior art. Page 21 / 33 P80665DE The terminal elements 13 are also arranged in several terminal element rows 30, wherein the terminal elements 13 in each terminal element row 30 are evenly spaced and evenly aligned. When comparing the two terminal element rows 30 of the terminal unit 10,that the terminal elements 13 of the two rows of terminal elements 30 are aligned oppositely. In detail, Figures 2 and 3 show that the terminal elements 13 in the two rows of terminal elements 30 are arranged rotated by 180°. Overall, this results in a design of the terminal unit 10 in which the terminal elements 13 closest to the respective edge 32 are arranged on opposite edges 32 of the terminal unit 10 such that the longitudinal axis 23 of the respective contact element 14 is at a greater distance from the edge 32 than the central longitudinal axis 24 of the corresponding receiving chamber 18 in which the corresponding connection terminal 15 is arranged. In detail, in Figure 3, for the left-hand edge 32 there, the left terminal element 13 in the terminal element row 30 with the section BB is the terminal element 13 closest to the left edge 32. Accordingly, this terminal element 13 is arranged in such a way thatthat the longitudinal axis 23 of its contact element 14 is at a greater distance from the left edge 32 than the central longitudinal axis 24 of the corresponding receiving chamber 18 in which the corresponding connecting terminal 15 is arranged. This arrangement is maintained for all terminal elements 13 of the terminal element row 30 with section BB. The same applies to the right-hand edge 32 in Figure 3. The right-hand terminal element 13 in the terminal element row 30 with section AA is closest to the right edge 32. Accordingly, this terminal element 13 is arranged such that the longitudinal axis 23 of its contact element 14 is at a greater distance from the right edge 32 than the central longitudinal axis 24 of the corresponding receiving chamber 18.in which the corresponding connection terminal 15 Page 22 / 33 P80665DE is arranged. This arrangement is maintained for all terminal elements 13 of the terminal element row 30 with the section AA. As a result, a distance line X4 is maintained for all contact elements 14 of the terminal elements 13 of the two terminal element rows 30 at the left edge 32 in Figure 3. Accordingly, a distance line X9 is maintained for all contact elements 14 of the terminal elements 13 of the two terminal element rows 30 at the right edge 32 in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows two terminal units 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, each with four terminal elements 13 arranged in two terminal element rows 30. The terminal units 10 of the second embodiment correspond in their structure as well as in the arrangement and orientation of their terminal elements 13 to the terminal units 10 of the second embodiment.so that with regard to the corresponding features, reference is made to the detailed description of the terminal units 10 of the first embodiment. The terminal units 10 of the second embodiment are shown in Figure 4 with actuating elements 31 in the form of actuating pushbuttons arranged on the top side 19 of the terminal units 10. When actuated, the actuating pushbuttons 31 release the clamping of the electrical conductors by the clamping springs 16 in the spring-loaded terminals 15. The above statements regarding the design of the terminal unit 10 of the first embodiment, in which the terminal elements 13 closest to the respective edge 32 are arranged on opposite edges 32 of the terminal unit 10 in such a way that the longitudinal axis 23 of the respective contact element 14 has a greater distance from the edge 32 than the central longitudinal axis 24 of the corresponding receiving chamber 18,in which the corresponding connection terminal 15 is arranged, also apply to the terminal unit 10 of the second embodiment. Figure 5 shows two terminal units 10 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, each with four terminal elements 13 arranged in two rows of terminal elements 30. The two terminal units 10 are positioned on a circuit board 12. The two terminal units 10 of the third embodiment have corresponding actuating buttons 31 in accordance with the terminal units 10 of the second embodiment. The above statements regarding the design of the terminal unit 10 of the first embodiment, in which the terminal elements 13 closest to the respective edge 32 are arranged on opposite edges 32 of the terminal unit 10,The fact that the longitudinal axis 23 of the respective contact element 14 is at a greater distance from the edge 32 than the central longitudinal axis 24 of the corresponding receiving chamber 18 in which the corresponding connecting terminal 15 is arranged also applies to the terminal unit 10 of the second embodiment. Figure 6 shows a printed circuit board 12 for electrical contact with one or more terminal units 10 according to a fourth embodiment. The printed circuit board 12 comprises a plurality of contact holes 11 arranged in two rows of holes 34 and several columns of holes 35. The contact pins 14 of the terminal unit(s) 10 are inserted into the contact holes 11. As can be seen from Figure 6, the contact holes 11 in each row of holes 34 are arranged in groups 36 of two contact holes 11 each.wherein the contact holes 11 of each group 36 are spaced apart from one another by a smaller distance than from contact holes 11 of a respective adjacent group 36. When contacting a terminal unit 10, the contact pins 14 have a corresponding arrangement to the contact holes 11. Alternatively, several similar terminal units 10 with, for example, four terminal elements 13 can be used for contacting. In this case, for example, the contact elements 14 can each have a greater distance from the edge 32 of an adjacent terminal unit 10 than a central longitudinal axis 33 of the receiving chamber 18 in which the corresponding connection terminal 15 is arranged.in accordance with the above statements regarding the arrangement of the terminal elements 13 of the terminal unit 10 of the first embodiment. Figure 7 shows a joint arrangement of two terminal units 10 according to a fifth embodiment. Each of the terminal units 10 comprises two terminal elements 13, which are arranged in a terminal element row 30. The contact pins 14 are also arranged in a contact element row 26, as are the receiving chambers 18, which are arranged in a receiving chamber row 28. As can be seen from Figure 7, the two terminal elements 13 of each terminal unit 10 are each arranged rotated by 180°, so that the contact pins 14 are at a greater distance from the edge 32 on both sides than a central longitudinal axis 24 of the corresponding receiving chamber 18.in which the corresponding connection terminal 15 is arranged. This results in a particularly large distance between the contact pins 14 of adjacent terminal units 10. Figure 7 shows an application of several terminal units 10 for a connector 36. The terminal units 10 contact a printed circuit board 12 arranged in the connector 36 and each comprise four terminal elements 13 arranged in a 2x2 matrix. Additionally, the terminal units 10 are laterally enclosed by a belt 38 and are jointly fixed to the connector 36.
[0002] Page 26 / 33 P80665DE List of reference symbols 10 Terminal unit 11 Electrical contact, contact hole 12 Printed circuit board 13 Terminal element 14 Contact element, contact pin 15 Connection terminal, spring-loaded terminal 16 Clamping spring 17 Underside 18 Receiving chamber 19 Top side 20 Insertion opening 21 Base area 22 Longitudinal direction 23 Longitudinal axis 24 Central longitudinal axis 25 Housing 26 Contact element row 27 Contact element gap 28 Receiving chamber row 29 Longitudinal extension 30 Terminal element row 31 Actuating element, actuating push-button 32 Edge 34 Hole row 35 Hole gap 36 Group 37 Plug 38 Belt D2 Distance X4 Distance line X9 Distance line Page 27 / 33 P80665DE 100 Terminal, printed circuit terminal (state of the art) 102 Contact element (state of the art) 104 Receiving chamber (state of the art) 106 Insertion opening (state of the art) D1 Distance (state of the art)
Claims
Page 28 / 33 P80665DE Claims 1. Terminal unit (10) for electrically contacting a plurality of electrical contacts (11), in particular electrical contact holes (11) or contact points of a printed circuit board (12), with a plurality of electrical conductors, with a plurality of electrically conductive terminal elements (13), each of which has a contact element (14), in particular as a contact pin, for electrical connection with one of the electrical contacts (11) and a terminal (15) for contacting one of the electrical conductors, wherein the terminal elements (13) are arranged such that the contact elements (14) are arranged on a bottom side (17) of the terminal unit (10), the terminals (15) are arranged in receiving chambers (18) for receiving the electrical conductors, wherein the receiving chambers (18) each have an insertion opening (20) for inserting the electrical conductors on a top side (19) of the terminal unit (10).In several of the terminal elements (13), preferably in all terminal elements (13), a longitudinal axis (23) of the contact element (14) is arranged axially offset from a central longitudinal axis (24) of the receiving chamber (18) in which the corresponding terminal block (15) is arranged, and on opposite edges (32) of the terminal unit (10) the terminal elements (13) closest to the respective edge (32) are arranged such that the longitudinal axis (23) of the respective contact element (14) has a greater distance to the edge (32) than the central longitudinal axis (24) of the corresponding receiving chamber (18) in which the corresponding terminal block (15) is arranged.
2. Terminal unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, Page 29 / 33 P80665DE the terminals (15) each have a base area (21) at their ends opposite the insertion openings (20), and the contact elements (14) are attached to the base area (21) of the terminals (15) and extend longitudinally (22) therefrom.
3. Terminal unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the terminals (15) are designed as spring-loaded terminals with a clamping spring (16) which clamps the inserted electrical conductors with its spring force, wherein preferably the terminal unit (10) has actuating elements (31) to release the clamping of the electrical conductors by the clamping springs (16) upon actuation, or the terminals (15) are designed as screw terminals, and the terminal unit (10) has actuating screws with which the electrical conductors are clamped and released in the terminals (15). 4.Terminal unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact elements (14) extend in several rows on the underside (17) of the terminal unit (10), preferably the contact elements (14) being uniformly spaced in each row, and / or the contact elements (14) extend in several contact columns on the underside (17) of the terminal unit (10), preferably the contact elements (14) being uniformly spaced in each contact column.
5. Terminal unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving chambers (18) are arranged in several rows (28) of receiving chambers, preferably the receiving chambers. Page 30 / 33 P80665DE (18) are evenly spaced in each receiving chamber row (28), and / or the receiving chambers (18) are arranged in several receiving chamber slots, preferably the receiving chambers (18) being evenly spaced in each receiving chamber slot.
6. Terminal unit (10) according to the preceding claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the contact element rows (26) and the receiving chamber rows (28) are arranged parallel to each other with respect to their longitudinal extent (29), and / or the contact element rows (26) and the receiving chamber rows (28) are arranged offset in the direction of their longitudinal extent (29), and / or the contact element slots (27) and the receiving chamber slots are arranged parallel to each other with respect to their longitudinal extent, and / or the contact element slots (27) and the receiving chamber slots are arranged offset in the direction of their longitudinal extent. 7.A terminal unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the terminal elements (13) are arranged in several terminal element rows (30), wherein preferably the terminal elements (13) in each terminal element row (30) are uniformly spaced and / or the terminal elements (13) in each terminal element row (30) are uniformly aligned, and / or the terminal elements (13) are arranged in several terminal element columns, wherein preferably the terminal elements (13) in each terminal element column are uniformly spaced and / or the terminal elements (13) in each terminal element column are uniformly aligned.
8. A terminal unit (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that. Page 31 / 33 P80665DE the terminal elements (13) are arranged in several terminal element rows (30), wherein the terminal elements (13) in each terminal element row (30) are uniformly aligned, and the terminal elements (13) in adjacent terminal element rows (30) are aligned differently row by row, and / or the terminal elements (13) are arranged in several terminal element columns, wherein the terminal elements (13) in each terminal element column are uniformly aligned, and the terminal elements (13) in adjacent terminal element columns are aligned differently column by column.
9. Terminal unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the terminal unit (10) has a common housing (25) in which the plurality of terminal elements (13) are arranged.
10. Terminal unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the terminal elements (13) are identical. 11.A unit comprising a printed circuit board (12) having a plurality of electrical contacts (11), which are in particular configured as electrical contact holes or contact points, and a terminal unit (10) connected to the electrical contacts (11) of the printed circuit board (12) for contacting a plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the terminal unit (10) is configured according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
12. A contacting set comprising a plurality of different terminal units (10) for electrically contacting a plurality of electrical contacts (11) with a plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the electrical contacts (11) are in particular electrical contact holes or contact points of a printed circuit board (12), and wherein at least one of the terminal units (10) is configured according to any one of claims 1 to 10. Page 32 / 33 P80665DE 13. Printed circuit board contact set with a printed circuit board (12) having a plurality of electrical contacts (11), which are designed in particular as electrical contact holes or contact points, and a plurality of different terminal units (10) for electrically contacting the electrical contacts (11) of the printed circuit board (12) with a plurality of electrical conductors, wherein at least one of the terminal units (10) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 10.