Contact carrier, method for producing a contact carrier, and plug connector having a contact carrier

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a contact carrier (1) with at least one contact element (210, 220) for transmitting electrical energy and / or electrical signals, and with an insulating body (100; 110, 120) for receiving the at least one contact element (210, 220), wherein the contact carrier (1) is configured for connection to a printed circuit board (300), comprising: • inserting a first contact section (211, 221) of the at least one contact element (210, 220) into a first insulating part (110) of the insulating body (100) in an assembly direction (X); • forming a holding connection (211, 110) of the first contact section (211, 221) with the first insulating part (110) in a defined position; and / or holding, preferably supporting, the inserted at least one contact element (210) in a defined position in the mounting direction (X) by a holding tool;• Attaching a second insulating part (120) of the insulating body (100) to a second contact section (212, 222) of the at least one contact element (210, 220) in the mounting direction (X), and / or inserting a second insulating part (120) of the insulating body (100) for receiving a second contact section (212, 222) of the at least one contact element (210) into the first insulating part (110) in the mounting direction (X), until a defined mounting state of the contact carrier (1) for connection to the printed circuit board (300) is reached and / or formed. The method enables, above all, a more precise adjustment of the at least one contact element (210, 220), preferably of a projection (U212, U222) of the at least one contact element (210, 220). The invention further relates to a contact carrier (1) and a plug connector having a contact carrier (1).;

Description

[0001] The present invention is in the field of electromechanics and relates to a contact carrier for connection to a printed circuit board, a method for producing a contact carrier and a connector with a contact carrier.

[0002] There are numerous known assembly methods for mounting electrical and / or electronic components on printed circuit boards. For example, reference is made to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2011 010 014 A1, which describes a method for adapting the contact distance between two contact surfaces on a printed circuit board to a component to be connected to the board.

[0003] Reflow soldering is a well-known technique for connecting insulating bodies to contact elements on printed circuit boards. This allows, for example, SMD components (Surface-Mounted Devices) to be mounted on printed circuit boards. One advantage of this soldering technique is the automation of the assembly process, although care must be taken, for example, to ensure that the contact elements are sufficiently spaced apart to avoid the formation of solder bridges and the associated short circuits.

[0004] Furthermore, a contact projection of a contact element must be ensured as the actual and / or measurable distance of a contact face as the reference surface of the contact element to the circuit board and the associated extension of the contact element away from the circuit board in conjunction with a specified tolerance zone. A further requirement is often that the contact faces of all contact elements must lie in one plane, with the arrangement of the contact faces being influenced, among other things, by the alignment of the contact elements in an axial direction.

[0005] Depending on the distance between the contact elements and the soldering technique used, it is necessary to be able to precisely adjust the arrangement of the contact elements on the insulating body during the assembly process. However, the known methods and systems use rigid (unchangeable) tolerance fields, which are also characterized by a medium or coarse degree of tolerance.

[0006] In the so-called THT soldering technology (English abbreviation for "Through Hole Technology") for mounting components on printed circuit boards, which combines the reflow soldering technology with a through-hole mounting of the contact elements of the components, for example, a nominal value is specified for the contact protrusion, whereby the tolerance field may correspond to twice the value of the nominal value and thus a comparatively coarse tolerance field is given.

[0007] With regard to the connection of an insulating body with contact elements on a printed circuit board, it would therefore be desirable, for example, to be able to set the respective contact projection to the printed circuit board for all contact elements more precisely and within a significantly narrower tolerance range than is the case with the known prior art methods. A further requirement would be, for example, the implementation of a defined arrangement of the contact elements on the insulating body to ensure proper assembly on the printed circuit board, although this is particularly challenging with multi-pole insulating bodies with a large number of contact elements.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a contact carrier, which is preferably improved with respect to the geometric tolerances to be maintained and with respect to the arrangement of the contact elements, for example, to ensure improved mounting of the contact carrier on a printed circuit board. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a contact carrier and a connector with a contact carrier.

[0009] The object is achieved by the features of claims 1, 9 and 12. Further embodiments and applications of the present invention emerge from the dependent claims and are explained in more detail in the following description with partial reference to the figures.

[0010] According to a first general aspect, the present invention relates to a method for producing a contact carrier with at least one contact element, preferably with a plurality of contact elements, for transmitting electrical energy and / or electrical signals, and with an insulating body for receiving the at least one contact element, preferably the plurality of contact elements, wherein the contact carrier is configured for connection to a printed circuit board.The method comprises: • Inserting a first contact section of the at least one contact element into a first insulating part of the insulating body substantially in an assembly direction; • Forming a holding connection of the first contact section with the first insulating part in a defined position; and / or Holding, preferably supporting, the inserted at least one contact element in a defined position substantially in the assembly direction by means of a holding tool; • Attaching a second insulating part of the insulating body to a second contact section of the at least one contact element substantially in the assembly direction, and / or Inserting a second insulating part of the insulating body for receiving a second contact section of the at least one contact element into the first insulating part substantially in the assembly direction, until in each case a defined assembly state of the contact carrier for connection to the circuit board is reached and / or formed.

[0011] The method for producing the contact carrier according to the present invention is characterized, for example, by a significantly more precise arrangement of the at least one contact element relative to the insulating body and / or on the insulating body and / or partially outside the insulating body. Detectable, i.e., measurable and / or measured actual dimensions lie within a comparatively very narrow tolerance range with respect to a structurally specified (ideal) nominal dimension, with a corresponding maximum dimension and a corresponding minimum dimension, thus providing a fine degree of tolerance.

[0012] This allows, for example, a significantly improved connection quality, both mechanically and electrically, to be achieved during the assembly of the contact carrier to a printed circuit board. Inadequate contact, mechanical instabilities, or electrical malfunctions can be avoided or at least significantly reduced, thus ensuring proper and / or intended function of the connection between the contact carrier and the printed circuit board.

[0013] The insulating body is preferably designed in two parts for arranging the at least one contact element and comprises the first insulating part and the second insulating part, which are each designed as (separate) individual parts and / or as a single piece from an electrically insulating material (insulating substance), preferably based on a substantially dimensionally stable plastic. In a manufactured state of the contact carrier, the first insulating part and / or the second insulating part are configured to encase and / or insulate the at least one contact element in sections and / or to hold it in a defined position. The contact carrier preferably comprises a plurality of contact elements for transmitting electrical energy and / or electrical signals, i.e. in the form of load contact elements and / or in the form of signal contact elements.Disclosed features in connection with the at least one contact element can thus apply accordingly to further contact elements of the plurality of contact elements.

[0014] The at least one contact element can be sleeve-shaped, cylindrical, or pin-shaped, for example. The at least one contact element is preferably formed in one piece, i.e., as a (separate) individual part and / or integrally formed from an electrically conductive material, preferably based on a substantially dimensionally stable metal or a substantially dimensionally stable metal alloy.

[0015] The first contact section is preferably characterized by a first free contact end, and the second contact section is preferably characterized by a second free contact end, wherein the first free contact end is assigned to a mating contact element, and wherein the second free contact end is assigned to connect the contact carrier in a manufacturing state of the circuit board. The first free contact end and the second free contact end are arranged and / or formed opposite one another in a longitudinal direction of the at least one contact element and each comprise a contact end face.

[0016] The first defined position comprises a position and / or an orientation of the first contact portion to and / or on and / or in the first insulating part.

[0017] Attaching the second insulating part to the second contact portion may comprise penetrating the second contact portion through the second insulating part substantially in the mounting direction.

[0018] The defined assembly state can comprise at least one of the following and / or be characterized by at least one of the following: • a projection of the second contact section from the first insulating part and / or from the second insulating part, in each case substantially in the assembly direction, preferably with an actual projection dimension within a defined tolerance range; • a clearance between the second insulating part and the first insulating part substantially in the assembly direction, wherein the clearance is preferably characterized by an actual clearance dimension which lies within a defined tolerance range, and / or wherein the clearance is preferably formed by a respective outer end face of the first insulating part and the second insulating part, which are arranged opposite one another in the assembly direction;and / or • an identity of a projection of a further second contact section of at least one further contact element with a projection of the second contact section in each case from an outer end face of the second insulating part in the mounting direction. The outer end face of the second insulating part can represent a reference end face and / or be substantially flat. In other words, in the mounting direction, end faces of the respective contact sections can lie and / or be arranged substantially in a definable and / or defined plane. The projections can in turn each have an actual projection dimension which lies within a defined tolerance range. The outer end face of the second insulating part can be a freely accessible surface and / or form a contact surface for a printed circuit board.;

[0019] The defined tolerance field can comprise a defined maximum dimension and / or a defined minimum dimension depending on the design of the overhang and / or the circuit board and / or the clearance and the associated respective nominal dimensions, for example length or distance dimensions.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the present invention, it can be provided that the attachment of the second insulating part to the second contact section and / or the insertion of the second insulating part into the first insulating part each comprises forming at least one further holding connection, wherein the formation of the holding connection and / or the at least one further holding connection preferably comprises forming a substantially positive-locking and / or a substantially non-positive-locking and / or a substantially material-locking connection.

[0021] The retaining connection and / or the at least one further retaining connection can be designed as a press connection and / or as a locking connection with at least one locking element. The essentially material-to-material connection can be designed, for example, as an adhesive connection.

[0022] Preferably, during the manufacture of the contact carrier, at least two retaining connections spaced apart from one another in the assembly direction are formed as disclosed herein, wherein a first retaining connection is formed between the first contact section and the first insulating part, and a second retaining connection is formed between the second contact section and the second insulating part.

[0023] It is possible that the insertion of the second insulating part into the first insulating part takes place at least partially in the mounting direction to the first insulating part without contact and initially only comprises the formation of at least one further holding connection between the second contact section and the second insulating part.

[0024] In other words, the second insulating part can be held at least partially and / or initially only by the second contact section of the at least one contact element. The second contact section thus supports the second insulating part.

[0025] According to a further aspect of the present invention, it can be provided that the method comprises: • Aligning the at least one contact element, preferably the second contact section, in a defined direction, preferably substantially in the mounting direction, by inserting the second insulating part into the first insulating part when the second insulating part is attached to the second contact section in a defined position.

[0026] This can ensure, for example, that the at least one contact element and preferably a plurality of contact elements with respective second contact sections are characterized by a comparatively very precise positional tolerance and / or alignment tolerance in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction. An undesirable alignment of second contact sections with the remaining second contact sections can thus be avoided.

[0027] The second insulating part can ensure, in a state inserted into the first insulating part, that the second contact section is arranged in a defined location, i.e. in a defined position and / or in a defined orientation with comparatively narrow tolerance levels.

[0028] It is possible that the insertion of the first contact section comprises applying a first compressive force to the at least one contact element substantially in the assembly direction by a first assembly tool, and the attachment of the second insulating part comprises applying a second compressive force to the second insulating part substantially in the assembly direction by a second assembly tool, wherein the first compressive force and the second compressive force are different from one another, wherein preferably the first compressive force is greater than the second compressive force.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the present invention, it can be provided that the method comprises: • introducing a further first contact section of at least one further contact element into the first insulating part substantially in the assembly direction, preferably until a defined projection of a further second contact section of the at least one further contact element from and / or to the first insulating part is reached and / or until a plane is reached which is arranged perpendicular to the assembly direction and on which an end face of the second contact section substantially adjoins and / or in which an end face of the second contact section substantially lies; • forming a further holding connection of the further first contact section to the first insulating part in a further defined position;and / or holding, preferably supporting, the at least one further contact element in a further defined position substantially in the assembly direction by the holding tool. The holding connection between the first contact section and the first insulating part can be stronger, i.e., more rigid, than a holding connection formed between the second contact section and the second insulating part.

[0030] It is possible that the method comprises: • detecting, preferably measuring, the distance in the mounting direction between the first insulating part and the second insulating part during the attachment of the second insulating part to the second contact section and / or during the insertion of the second insulating part into the first insulating part, and • aborting the attachment of the second insulating part to the second contact section and / or aborting the insertion of the second insulating part into the first insulating part, in each case when the detected distance reaches a defined clearance distance between the first insulating part and the second insulating part.

[0031] Due to the possibility of setting a clearance to achieve a defined clearance between the first insulating part and the second insulating part due to the multi-part design of the insulating body, a comparatively very narrow tolerance range with fine tolerance degrees with regard to the projection of the second contact section from the second insulating part can be realized, which characterizes the present invention, among other things.

[0032] According to a second general aspect, the present invention relates to a contact carrier with at least one contact element, preferably with a plurality of contact elements, for transmitting electrical energy and / or electrical signals, and with an insulating body for receiving the at least one contact element, preferably the plurality of contact elements, wherein the contact carrier is configured for connection to a printed circuit board and is preferably manufactured according to a method as disclosed herein, wherein the insulating body is formed in several parts and comprises a first insulating part for receiving the at least one contact element and a second insulating part for receiving the first insulating part, each substantially in an assembly direction, wherein a first contact section of the at least one contact element forms a holding connection with the first insulating part in a defined position,and wherein the second insulating part is attached to a second contact portion of the at least one contact element and is inserted into the first insulating part substantially in the mounting direction to form a defined mounting state for connection to the circuit board.,

[0033] It is understood that the connection of the contact carrier to the circuit board comprises a mechanical connection and, concomitantly, an electrical connection. The defined assembly state can be configured as disclosed herein and / or comprise an assembly state as disclosed herein.

[0034] According to a further aspect of the present invention, it can be provided that the first insulating part comprises a mounting section for the first contact section and a receiving section for the second insulating part, wherein the mounting section and the receiving section extend in the mounting direction and the mounting section and the receiving section merge into one another to form a shoulder.

[0035] According to a third general aspect, the present invention relates to a connector for forming a plug connection with a mating connector in a plugging direction in order to transmit electrical energy and / or electrical signals, wherein the connector comprises a contact carrier which is designed as disclosed herein and / or which is manufactured according to a method as disclosed herein.

[0036] It is possible that the first insulating part is designed as a housing for manual operation of the connector and encloses the inserted second insulating part in sections in an assembly direction.

[0037] To avoid repetition, features directed purely to the device of the contact carrier according to the invention and / or disclosed in connection therewith shall also be deemed to be disclosed according to the method and be claimable, and vice versa.

[0038] The previously described embodiments and features of the present invention can be combined with one another as desired. Further or other details and advantageous effects of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0039] They show: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a contact carrier according to the present invention in a cross-sectional view; Fig. 2 shows an enlarged section (section X) of the cross-sectional view from Figure 1 ; Fig. 3 an enlarged further section (section Y) of the cross-sectional view from Figure 1 ; Fig. 4the contact carrier from Figure 1 in a front view (main view); Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of a first embodiment of the method according to the present invention.

[0040] Identical or functionally equivalent components or elements are identified by the same reference numerals in the figures. For explanations, reference is sometimes made to the description of other embodiments and / or figures to avoid repetition.

[0041] The following detailed description of the embodiments shown in the figures serves to further illustrate or clarify and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

[0042] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a contact carrier 1 according to the present invention in a cross-sectional view AA. The contact carrier 1 is located in the illustration in Figure 1 in a manufacturing state and is configured for mounting and thus connection to a printed circuit board 300, which is in Figure 1 is shown simplified by a dashed line.

[0043] The contact carrier 1 comprises an insulating body 100, which is formed from an electrically insulating material (insulating material) with inherent electrical insulating properties and resulting insulation capabilities. The insulating material can be based on a plastic that is substantially and / or sufficiently dimensionally stable. The insulating body 100 is formed in two parts and comprises a first insulating part 110 and a second insulating part 120. Each of the insulating parts 110 and 120 is preferably formed integrally in one piece and / or as a separate individual part. The first insulating part 110 and / or the second insulating part 120 can each be produced by at least one injection molding process and / or by at least one casting process and / or by at least one sintering process and / or by at least one 3D printing process. As can be seen from the illustration in Figure 1 combined with Figure 4The first insulating part 110 extends essentially in a mounting direction X in a more or less cylindrical or barrel-shaped manner. The second insulating part 120 is essentially plate-shaped and is formed with respective mounting flanges, of which Figure 1 the mounting flange 121 is marked. The first insulating part 110 can be designed as a housing for manual operation of a connector if the contact carrier 1 is integrated into a connector or is a component of a connector. Alternatively, it is possible for the contact carrier 1 itself to be designed as a connector and to comprise corresponding walls and / or wall sections that form a housing.

[0044] Depending on the field of application and / or intended use, the contact carrier 1 comprises a plurality of contact elements for transmitting electrical energy and / or electrical signals, of which, among others, the contact element 210 and components of the contact element 220 are visible and labeled in the figures. Further contact elements visible in the figures are not labeled for reasons of clarity. Features disclosed in connection with the contact element 210 and / or with the contact element 220 preferably apply accordingly to further or all contact elements of the plurality of contact elements. To simplify the description, the term "at least one" is at least partially omitted below.

[0045] The contact element 210 is pin-shaped and made of a substantially dimensionally stable, electrically conductive material. Thus, the contact element 210 is characterized by a substantially circular cross-section. The contact element 210 extends in the illustration in Figure 1substantially in the mounting direction X. The electrically conductive material of the contact element 210 can be, for example, copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy. The contact element 210 comprises a first contact section 211 and a second contact section 212. The first contact section 211 comprises the contact end face S211, and the second contact section 212 comprises the contact end face S212. The contact end faces S211 and S212 are arranged at opposite free ends of the contact element 210 and are substantially planar (flat). The contact end face S211, and thus a part of the first contact section 211, are located in a first plug-in section 114 of the first insulating part 110 and are configured to form a plug-in connection with a mating contact element substantially in the mounting direction X. The mounting direction X thus represents, among other things, a plug-in direction.

[0046] In Figure 1 Also shown is a further second contact section 222 of the further contact element 220, which is characterized, among other things, by the contact end face S222. The contact end face S222 is essentially planar (flat) in accordance with the contact end face S212.

[0047] The contact element 210 is arranged in a defined position in and / or on the insulating body 100, i.e., in and / or on the first insulating part 110, and in and / or on the second insulating part 120. The defined position preferably comprises a defined position of the contact element 210 and / or a defined orientation of the contact element 210, respectively, relative to the first insulating part 110 and / or to the second insulating part 120, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0048] The first contact section 211 forms, with a mounting section 111 of the first insulating part 110, a first holding connection 211, 111, by means of which the contact element 210 is held in the defined position in and / or on the first insulating part 110. The first holding connection 211, 111 preferably comprises at least one substantially positive connection and additionally a substantially force-locking connection. In the illustrated embodiment, the first holding connection 211, 111 comprises a press connection and a latching connection between the first contact section 211 and the mounting section 111 (see also Figure 2 with the enlarged section X).

[0049] The second contact section 212 forms, with a mounting flange 121 of the second insulating part 120, at least one further holding connection 212, 121, by means of which the contact element 210 is held in the defined position in and / or on the second insulating part 120. The further holding connection 212, 121 preferably comprises at least one substantially positive connection and additionally a substantially force-locking connection. In the illustrated embodiment, the further holding connection 212, 121 comprises a press connection and a latching connection between the second contact section 212 and the mounting flange 121 (see also Figure 3 with the enlarged section Y).

[0050] Furthermore, the second insulating part 120 is inserted into the first insulating part 110 essentially in the mounting direction X, i.e., it is partially received therein in an at least substantially form-fitting manner. To accommodate the mounting flange 121, the first insulating part 110 comprises a receiving section 112, which is configured to be substantially complementary to the mounting flange 121.

[0051] The mounting portion 111 and the receiving portion 112 extend substantially in the mounting direction X and merge into one another, forming a shoulder 113 in the first insulating part 110. The receiving portion 112 extends into the first insulating part 110 at least further than the mounting flange 121 received therein in a maximum insertion state, thus preventing contact between the mounting flange 121 and the first insulating part 110 in the mounting direction X.

[0052] The first insulating part 110 is characterized in the assembly direction X by an end face S111 on the side that is assigned to and / or facing the second insulating part 120. The second insulating part 120 is characterized in the assembly direction X by an end face S121 on the side that is assigned to and / or facing the first insulating part 110. The end face S111 of the first insulating part 110 and the end face S121 of the second insulating part 120 are preferably each substantially planar (flat) and aligned substantially parallel to one another. The end face S111 and the end face S121 each form a reference end face S111, S121 for detecting and / or defining a clearance distance D between the first insulating part 110 and the second insulating part 120.

[0053] The contact carrier 1 according to the present invention is characterized, among other things, in that the clearance D between the reference end faces S111 and S121 of the first and second insulating parts 110, 120 can be reproducibly adjusted as a function of the design of the contact element 210 and / or a projection U212 to be realized and / or a defined tolerance field with respect to the projection U212 when carrying out the method for producing the contact carrier 1 by inserting the second insulating part 120 in the assembly direction X with an assembly tool into the first insulating part 110 accordingly in order to thereby form the projection U212.

[0054] The insertion of the second insulating part 120 into the first insulating part 110 and thus the adjustment of the clearance D is related to the projection U212 to be realized of the second contact section 212 from the second insulating part 120. The projection U212 can be a defined projection U212 by means of a structurally predetermined (ideal) nominal projection dimension, wherein a detected, i.e. measured, actual projection dimension of the projection U212 moves within a defined, comparatively very narrow tolerance range with a corresponding maximum dimension and a corresponding minimum dimension and thus with a fine degree of tolerance. The projection U212 can be defined in the mounting direction X by the distance between the end face S122 of the second insulating part 120 as the mounting end face S122 and the contact end face S212. The mounting end face S122 can be essentially planar (flat).

[0055] As can be seen from the illustration in Figure 1As a result, the projection U222 of the second contact section 222 of the further contact element 220 from the second insulating part 120 is substantially identical to the projection U212, so that the end face S222 of the second contact section 222 and the end face S212 of the second contact section 212 lie substantially in a common plane, which is definable or defined perpendicular to the mounting direction X. Furthermore, the further contact element 220 and preferably the projection U222 are also characterized by the defined, comparatively very narrow tolerance field.

[0056] This ensures optimal connection of the contact carrier 1 to the circuit board 300, both mechanically and electrically. The second contact sections 212, 222 and the associated projections U212 and U222 are aligned with sufficient precision, primarily by the second insulating part 120, while at the same time, a defined tolerance range can be maintained for both contact sections 212, 222, i.e., for the projections U212, U222, preferably with respect to an actual projection dimension and / or with respect to an alignment in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction X, for example, in a radial direction. The contact carrier 1 preferably comprises a plurality of contact elements, for which the described designs and configurations can also apply, and by which the contact carrier 1 as a whole is characterized.

[0057] Figure 2 shows an enlarged section (section X) of the cross-sectional view from Figure 1 and Figure 3 shows an enlarged further section (section Y) of the cross-sectional view from Figure 1 The locking connection formed between the first contact section 211 of the contact element 210 and the mounting section 111, as well as between the second contact section 212 and the mounting flange 121, is clearly visible. The locking connections each comprise a locking element in the form of a circumferential wedge-shaped projection, which is a component of the contact element 210.

[0058] Figure 4 shows the contact carrier 1 from Figure 1 in a front view (main view), from which the arrangement and thus the position of the contact elements 210, 220, i.e. the second contact sections 212, 222 with the respective end faces S212, S222, as well as the position of the further, unmarked contact elements of the contact carrier 1 can be seen.

[0059] The contact carrier 1 can be manufactured according to a method as disclosed herein.

[0060] Figure 5 shows a flowchart of a first embodiment of the method according to the present invention.

[0061] In the following, method steps, i.e. sections and / or phases of the method, which contribute to the production of the disclosed contact carrier 1 are described, whereby reference is only partially made to the contact carrier 1 in order to avoid repetition. For further illustration, reference is made, inter alia, to the illustrations in the Figures 1 to 4 The method steps are described below representatively in connection with the contact element 210 and can apply accordingly to further contact elements of a plurality of contact elements.

[0062] The method begins with method step S10 with the insertion of the first contact section 211 of the contact element 210 into the first insulating part 110 of the insulating body 100, i.e., into the mounting section 111, substantially in the mounting direction X. The insertion of the first contact section 211 preferably comprises the application of a mounting force, for example in the form of a resulting first compressive force, to the contact element 210 substantially in the mounting direction X by a first mounting tool. In other words, the first contact section 211 is pressed into and / or pressed through the mounting section 111. The first insulating part 110 can be held in a defined position, i.e., in a defined position and / or in a defined orientation, by a holding tool in order to apply a resulting counterforce to the mounting force.

[0063] In method step S20, a first holding connection 211, 111 of the first contact section 211 is formed with the mounting section 111 in a defined position, i.e., when the first contact section 211 is located in a defined position in and / or on and / or relative to the first insulating part 110. The first contact section 211 is held by the first holding connection 211, 111 in the first insulating part 110 at a defined position and with a defined orientation. This can also be done accordingly for further, preferably all, contact elements of the contact carrier 1 to be produced.

[0064] It is additionally possible for the contact element 210 to be held, preferably supported, by a holding tool upon and / or after reaching the defined position in and / or on and / or to the first insulating part 110, so that on the one hand relative movements between the first insulating part 110 and the contact element 210, and on the other hand movements of the contact element 210 in the assembly direction X are completely excluded, preferably especially with regard to further method steps for producing the contact carrier 1.

[0065] In method step S30, the second insulating part 120 is attached to the second contact section 212 essentially in the mounting direction X. In other words, the second insulating part 120 is placed on the second contact section 212 and moved over the second contact section 212 essentially in the mounting direction X in the direction of the first insulating part 110, so that the second contact section 212 moves through the second insulating part 120 via the mounting flange 121. Preferably, the attachment of the second insulating part 120 can comprise pressing the second insulating part 120 onto the second contact section 212, for example by means of an assembly tool in the form of a pressing tool.The second insulating part 120 is moved along the mounting direction X over the second contact section 212, so that a defined projection U212 of the second contact section 212 is established relative to the second insulating part 120, preferably relative to a mounting end face S122 of the second insulating part 120.

[0066] Depending on the design of the contact element 210 and the first and second insulating parts 110, 120, method step S40 can be carried out simultaneously, temporally overlapping, or temporally offset with respect to method step S30, which comprises inserting the second insulating part 120 into the first insulating part 110 substantially in the mounting direction X, specifically until the defined projection U212 of the second contact section 212 is reached by the second insulating part 120, which projection is preferably characterized by an actual projection dimension within a defined tolerance range, and / or until a defined clearance distance D between the second insulating part 120 and the first insulating part 110 in the mounting direction X is reached, so that a manufacturing state of the contact carrier 1 is formed, preferably as disclosed herein, in which the contact carrier 1 is configured for connection to the printed circuit board 300.

[0067] Within the scope of the present disclosure, further additional and / or modified method steps, i.e., sections and phases of the method, are possible. Furthermore, it is also possible for further method steps disclosed herein to be carried out simultaneously, overlapping in time, and / or staggered in time, and / or in a different temporal sequence when executing the method. It is also possible to combine the further method steps disclosed herein according to the present invention, which are not mentioned in the description of the figures, with one another accordingly.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. Rather, a multitude of variants and modifications are possible, which also utilize the inventive concept and therefore fall within the scope of protection. Preferably, the present invention also claims protection for the subject matter and features of the subclaims, independent of the claims referenced. List of reference symbols

[0069] 1Contact carrier 100Insulating body 110Insulating part 111Mounting section 112Receiving section 113Shoulder 114Mating section 120Insulating part 121Mounting flange 210Contact element 211Contact section 212Contact section 220Contact element 221Contact section 222Contact section 300Printed circuit board D Clearance S111Reference face S121Reference face S122Mounting face S211Contact face S212Contact face S222Contact face U212Protrusion U222Protrusion XMounting direction

Claims

1. A method for producing a contact carrier (1) with at least one contact element (210, 220) for transmitting electrical energy and / or electrical signals, and with an insulating body (100; 110, 120) for receiving the at least one contact element (210, 220), wherein the contact carrier (1) is configured for connection to a printed circuit board (300), comprising: • inserting a first contact section (211, 221) of the at least one contact element (210, 220) into a first insulating part (110) of the insulating body (100) in an assembly direction (X); • forming a holding connection (211, 111) of the first contact section (211, 221) with the first insulating part (110) in a defined position; and / or holding, preferably supporting, the inserted at least one contact element (210) in a defined position in the mounting direction (X) by a holding tool;• Attaching a second insulating part (120) of the insulating body (100) to a second contact section (212, 222) of the at least one contact element (210, 220) in the mounting direction (X), and / or inserting a second insulating part (120) of the insulating body (100) for receiving a second contact section (212, 222) of the at least one contact element (210) into the first insulating part (110) in the mounting direction (X), until a defined mounting state of the contact carrier (1) for connection to the printed circuit board (300) is reached and / or formed; 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defined assembly state comprises at least one of the following: • a projection (U212, U222) of the second contact section (212, 222) from the first insulating part (110) and / or from the second insulating part (120), in each case in the assembly direction (X), preferably with an actual projection dimension within a defined tolerance range; • a clearance distance (D) between the second insulating part (120) and the first insulating part (110) in the assembly direction (X), wherein the clearance distance (D) is preferably formed by a respective outer end face (S111, S121) of the first insulating part (110) and the second insulating part (120), which are arranged opposite one another in the assembly direction (X);and / or • an identity of a projection (U222) of a further second contact section (222) of at least one further contact element (220) with a projection (U212) of the second contact section (212) in each case from an outer end face (S122) of the second insulating part (120) in the mounting direction (X).; 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the attachment of the second insulating part (120) to the second contact section (212, 222) and / or the insertion of the second insulating part (120) into the first insulating part (110) each comprises forming at least one further holding connection (110, 120; 121, 212), wherein preferably the formation of the holding connection (211) and / or the at least one further holding connection (110, 120; 121, 212) comprises forming a positive-locking and / or a non-positive-locking and / or a material-locking connection.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion of the second insulating part (120) into the first insulating part (110) takes place at least partially in the assembly direction (X) to the first insulating part (110) without contact and initially only comprises forming at least one further holding connection (212, 120; 222, 120) between the second contact section (212, 222) and the second insulating part (120).

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: • Aligning the at least one contact element (210, 220), preferably the second contact section (212, 222), in a defined direction by inserting the second insulating part (120) into the first insulating part (110) when the second insulating part (120) is attached to the second contact section (212, 222) in a defined position.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein inserting the first contact section (211) comprises applying a first compressive force to the at least one contact element (210, 220) in the mounting direction (X) by a first mounting tool, and wherein attaching the second insulating part (120) comprises applying a second compressive force to the second insulating part (120) in the mounting direction (X) by a second mounting tool, wherein the first compressive force and the second compressive force are different from one another, wherein preferably the first compressive force is greater than the second compressive force.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: • introducing a further first contact section (221) of at least one further contact element (220) into the first insulating part (110) in the mounting direction (X), preferably until a defined projection (U222) of a further second contact section (222) of the at least one further contact element (220) from the first insulating part (110) is reached and / or until a plane is reached which is arranged perpendicular to the mounting direction (X) and on which an end face (S212) of the second contact section (212) adjoins and / or in which an end face (S212) of the second contact section (212) lies; • forming a further holding connection (221, 110) of the further first contact section (221) with the first insulating part (110) in a further defined position;and / or holding, preferably supporting, the at least one further contact element (220) in a further defined position in the assembly direction (X) by the holding tool; 8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: • detecting, preferably measuring, the distance in the mounting direction (X) between the first insulating part (110) and the second insulating part (120) during the attachment of the second insulating part (120) to the second contact section (212, 222) and / or during the insertion of the second insulating part (120) into the first insulating part (110), and • aborting the attachment of the second insulating part (120) to the second contact section (212, 222) and / or aborting the insertion of the second insulating part (120) into the first insulating part (110), in each case when the detected distance reaches a defined clearance distance (D) between the first insulating part (110) and the second insulating part (120).

9. Contact carrier (1) with at least one contact element (210, 220) for transmitting electrical energy and / or electrical signals, and with an insulating body (100; 110, 120) for receiving the at least one contact element (210, 220), wherein the contact carrier (1) is configured for connection to a printed circuit board (300) and is preferably manufactured according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating body (100;110, 120) is formed in several parts and comprises a first insulating part (110) for receiving the at least one contact element (210, 220) and a second insulating part (120) for receiving the first insulating part (110), each in a mounting direction (X), wherein a first contact section (211, 221) of the at least one contact element (210, 220) forms a holding connection (210, 111) with the first insulating part (110) in a defined position, and wherein the second insulating part (120) is attached to a second contact section (212, 222) of the at least one contact element (210, 220) and is inserted into the first insulating part (110) in the mounting direction (X) in order to form a defined mounting state for connection to the printed circuit board (300); 10. Contact carrier (1) according to claim 9, wherein the first insulating part (110) comprises a mounting section (111) for the first contact section (211, 221) and a receiving section (112) for the second insulating part (120), wherein the mounting section (111) and the receiving section (112) extend in the mounting direction (X) and the mounting section (111) and the receiving section (112) merge into one another to form a shoulder (113).

11. A connector for forming a plug connection with a mating connector in a plug-in direction to transmit electrical energy and / or electrical signals, wherein the connector comprises a contact carrier (1) which is designed according to claim 9 or 10 and / or which is manufactured according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8.

12. Connector according to claim 11, wherein the first insulating part (110) is designed as a housing for manual operation of the connector and encloses the inserted second insulating part (120) in sections in an assembly direction (X).

Images