Plug connector

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plug connector (1) for a data cable, having a housing (10) in which a circuit board (50) sitting on a carrier element (40) is arranged, which circuit board has, facing a plug side (5) of the plug connector (1), a plurality of plug contacts (60) lying in a plug plane (6) and opposite the plug side (5) a plurality of contact pins (70) which are connected via conductor tracks of the circuit board (50) to the plug contacts (60) in an electrically conductive manner and can be connected to data lines of the data cable, wherein the plug connector (1) has a plug direction (R) in which said plug connector can be connected to a mating plug connector (2), wherein the circuit board (5) is arranged within the housing at an acute angle (α) of approximately greater than or equal to 10° to the plug plane (6) and plug direction (R).

Description

[0001] connectors

[0002] The present invention relates to a connector for a data cable with a housing having the features of patent claim 1.

[0003] Connectors are known in various designs from the prior art and are used in a wide variety of applications, for example, to create connections for telephone and network connections. Many connectors are standardized. Examples of standardized connectors include RJ connectors. RJ45 modular plugs for data cables (8P8C) are widely used, particularly for data communication in network connections.

[0004] For example, from DE 10 2006 010 279 A1 a generic plug connector according to the preamble of patent claim 1 for a shielded data cable is already known. The plug connector has an electrically conductive housing. A printed circuit board is arranged in the housing, on which contact pins, commonly designed as IDC contacts, are arranged for connecting data lines of the data cable and plug contacts. On the printed circuit board, one contact pin is each electrically conductively connected to a plug contact. Furthermore, the plug connector has a charging piece with receiving channels for the data lines of the data cable, each receiving channel having a receiving opening passing through it, and the charging piece can be placed on a carrier in such a way that the contact pins come to lie in the receiving openings in order to make electrically conductive contact with the data lines received in the receiving channels.Such a connector is also referred to as a field-assembly connector because the data lines of the data cable can be inserted into the receiving channels according to the application. For example, certain data lines can be swapped around to create a "crossover connector". The data cables can also be customized more easily, e.g. by cutting them to length, and can be laid through cable ducts or conduits because there are no connectors at the cable ends that can get caught. Such connectors have proven themselves in the state of the art, but it has been shown that a shorter overall length of the connectors in the plug-in direction is desirable.

[0005] This is where the present invention comes in.

[0006] The present invention therefore aims to propose a conveniently improved connector that eliminates the disadvantages of known connectors. The proposed and improved connector for a data cable should, in particular, have a reduced length in the plug-in device and be easily field-assembled.

[0007] These objects are achieved by a connector for a data cable having the features of patent claim 1.

[0008] Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] The plug connector according to the invention with the features of patent claim 1 for a data cable, in particular a shielded data cable, has a housing, a longitudinal axis, a plug-in side and a connection side, the connection side being opposite the plug-in side in the longitudinal axis. Arranged in the housing is a printed circuit board which is seated on a carrier element and which has a plurality of plug contacts on a plug-in side of the plug connector and a plurality of contact pins opposite the plug-in side, which contact pins are electrically connected to the plug contacts via conductor tracks of the printed circuit board. The data lines of the data cable can be electrically used with the plug contacts via the contact pins, the plug connector having a plug-in direction oriented along the longitudinal axis, in which direction it can be used with a mating plug connector.Furthermore, the printed circuit board within the housing is arranged within the housing at an oblique angle a of approximately greater than or equal to 10 °, i.e. a > 10 °, to the longitudinal axis and plug-in direction.

[0010] The present invention is based on the idea that the printed circuit board is arranged within the housing at an oblique angle a relative to the longitudinal axis, thereby reducing the spatial extent of the printed circuit board along the longitudinal axis that determines the plug-in direction. This allows the length of the housing or the overall length of the connector to be reduced compared to conventional connectors.

[0011] The printed circuit board is preferably designed as a plate-shaped element which is formed in a printed circuit board plane, wherein the printed circuit board plane corresponding to the position of the printed circuit board intersects the longitudinal axis at the oblique angle a.

[0012] The circuit board has a first and a second side.

[0013] Conductive tracks of the printed circuit board can be arranged on the first and / or second side of the printed circuit board. The plug contacts and the contact pins essentially protrude from one of the first and / or second sides.

[0014] Due to the oblique angle a, the circuit board preferably rises or falls in the opposite direction to the plug-in direction. The end region of the circuit board facing away from the plug-in side can be moved within the housing to the side opposite the plug-in contacts, relative to the end region of the circuit board facing the plug-in side. In other words, the two end regions of the circuit board are arranged transversely to the plug-in direction on opposite sides within the housing. From there, the plug-in contacts project into the center of the housing, allowing the data lines or data cable to be connected centrally opposite the housing.

[0015] A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides that the oblique angle a is approximately between 10° and 25°, preferably between 11° and 15°. At these angles, a reduction in length can be achieved compared to conventional connectors.

[0016] Furthermore, a further development of the present invention provides that a plug-in plane is arranged at least approximately symmetrically to the housing of the connector. The plug-in plane is arranged parallel to the plug contacts and the longitudinal axis. Due to the approximately symmetrical position of the plug-in plane, both the connection area for the data cable and the plug contacts can be located together in the plug-in plane.

[0017] It has also proven advantageous if the plug contacts are designed as at least approximately U-shaped, metallic plate elements, one leg of which is closer to the plug-in side of the connector is shorter and the other leg of which is longer, with the longer legs each being seated in a hole in the printed circuit board and being electrically connected to the conductor tracks there.

[0018] The longer legs are preferably oriented substantially perpendicular to the plug-in plane or longitudinal axis and penetrate the circuit board at an angle y, which preferably results from the following relationship: y = 90 ° - a . The angle y is therefore between 65 ° and 80 ° , preferably between 75 ° and 79 ° .

[0019] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the U-shaped, metallic plate elements engage in two parallel rows of holes in the printed circuit board, with the holes in the two rows being offset from one another. The holes in the two rows are arranged parallel and preferably spaced apart with respect to the longitudinal axis that determines the plug-in direction. Such an arrangement of the holes in the printed circuit board allows a reliable electrical connection to be established between the conductor tracks and the metallic plate elements.

[0020] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the contact pins are designed as insulation displacement contacts. Such contact pins are also referred to as IDC contacts, wherein the contact pins are preferably configured to penetrate the respective electrical insulation of the data lines and to electrically contact the data lines arranged within the electrical insulation.

[0021] A further preferred embodiment of the present

[0022] The invention provides that the contact pins designed as cutting contacts each have a cutting plane and that the cutting planes are aligned parallel to one another.

[0023] The contact pins are preferably oriented perpendicular to the plug-in plane or longitudinal axis and more preferably penetrate the circuit board at an angle ß, which preferably results from the following relationship: ß = 90° - α. The angle ß is therefore between 65° and 80°, preferably between 75° and 79°. Preferably, the angle ß ~ Y-

[0024] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the contact pins are placed in two rows on the circuit board, preferably offset from one another. The contact pins in the two rows are arranged parallel and spaced apart with respect to the straight lines defining the plug-in device, with the rows each preferably lying in a common cutting plane. This results in particular in, on the one hand, a robust electrical connection being able to be established between the respective conductor track and the respective contact pin, and on the other hand, sufficient spacing is ensured between the contact pins to prevent the data lines of the data cable from coming into unwanted electrical contact. Furthermore, two rows enable a space-saving design, whereby a shorter construction can be achieved.

[0025] A further embodiment of the present invention provides that the contact pins of the rows furthest from the plug-in side of the connector are shorter than the contact pins of the row two longitudinal sides closer. This design of the contact pins results in a stepped arrangement of the contact pins. Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if a charging piece is arranged on the housing, into which the contact pins engage in order to make electrical contact with data lines of a data cable to be connected. The charging piece is preferably an individual component that can more preferably be accommodated by the housing.

[0026] The charging piece according to a preferred development is constructed in a stepped manner and has receiving channels in two planes, preferably parallel to the plug-in plane or longitudinal axis, into each of which a data line of the data cable can be inserted. Each receiving channel in the support piece is preferably penetrated by a receiving opening, preferably vertically. The charging piece can be positioned relative to the circuit board such that the contact pins lie in the receiving openings and make electrically conductive contact with the data lines accommodated in the receiving channels.

[0027] The stepped arrangement of the contact pins and the shape of the charging piece, which preferably corresponds to the stepped arrangement of the contact pins, are intended, on the one hand, to enable the data lines of the data cable to be conveniently and easily field-assembled in a charging piece and, on the other hand, to ensure secure electrical contact between the data line and the contact pin.

[0028] According to a further development of the present invention, a carrier element is made of an electrically non-conductive material and has a first bearing surface which is parallel to the plug-in plane or the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector, and a second bearing surface which essentially follows the oblique angle a and on which the printed circuit board sits. The carrier element can preferably hold the printed circuit board positioned in the housing and can also partially accommodate and support the plug-in contact and / or the contact pins.

[0029] The printed circuit board is arranged on the second support surface of the carrier element, with the carrier element preferably supporting the printed circuit board with the first support surface relative to the housing. According to a preferred embodiment, the carrier element has a plurality of recesses that are particularly configured to accommodate the plug contacts.

[0030] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the connector is an RJ45 connector. Preferably, the housing is made, at least in sections, of an electrically conductive material and can be electrically connected to the shielding of the data cable using suitable connecting means.

[0031] An exemplary embodiment of the connector according to the invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show:

[0032] Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a connector according to the invention with a housing, a carrier element, a printed circuit board and a charging piece,

[0033] Figure 2 shows a simplified sectional view of the

[0034] Connector according to Figure 1 , and Figure 3 is a simplified sectional view of the connector according to Figure 1 , which is plugged into a mating connector .

[0035] Identical or functionally equivalent parts or features are identified by the same reference symbols in the following detailed description of the figures. Furthermore, not all identical or functionally equivalent parts or features are provided with a reference number in the figures.

[0036] Figure 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the connector 1 according to the invention, wherein the connector 1 according to the invention comprises a housing 10, a printed circuit board 50, a carrier element 40, and a charging piece 80. Furthermore, the connector 1 comprises a longitudinal axis X, a plug-in side 5, and a connection side 7, wherein the plug-in side 5 and the connection side 7 are arranged on opposite sides of the connector 1 along the longitudinal axis X.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the connector 1 is designed as an RJ45 connector and, as indicated in Fig. 3, can be plugged into a mating connector 2 in a plugging direction R. The plugging direction R is oriented along the longitudinal axis X, wherein the longitudinal axis X is preferably arranged approximately symmetrically to the housing 10.

[0038] A plug-in plane 6 can be located along the longitudinal axis X or parallel to the longitudinal axis X, wherein the longitudinal axis X and the plug-in plane 6 can be located one above the other—as shown in the illustrated embodiment. The plug-in side 5 corresponds to the side facing the mating connector 2 in the plug-in direction R.

[0039] The housing 10 can be constructed in multiple parts and can comprise a first housing part 20 and a second housing part 30, wherein at least one of the two housing parts 20, 30 can be made of an electrically conductive material. The housing 10 has a receiving area (not shown in detail) in which the carrier element 40, the circuit board 50, and the charging piece 80 can be arranged.

[0040] The first housing part 20 and the second housing part 30 can be plugged into one another, wherein according to the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the second housing part 30 is made of a non-conductive material such as a plastic.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board 50 is plate-shaped and configured in a printed circuit board plane. Furthermore, the printed circuit board 50 is preferably configured for through-hole mounting or plug-in mounting and has a first side and a second side.

[0042] A plurality of plug contacts 60 are arranged in the first end region of the printed circuit board 50 facing the plug-in side 5 of the connector 1, and a plurality of contact pins 70 are arranged in the second end region opposite the plug-in side 5. The plug contacts 60 and the contact pins 70 are electrically connected to one another via conductor tracks (not shown) of the printed circuit board 50.

[0043] The plug contacts 60 are designed as at least approximately U-shaped metallic plate elements and each have a first leg 61 and a second leg 62, 63, which are connected by a yoke 64.

[0044] The plug contacts 60 are oriented along the longitudinal axis X of the connector. The first legs 61 are closer to the plug-in side 5 of the connector 1 and preferably protrude from the first end region of the printed circuit board 50, preferably the second side, facing the plug-in side 5 in the plug-in direction R, while the second legs 62 and 63 are pushed through the printed circuit board 50 through holes 51, 52.

[0045] Furthermore, it can be seen from Figure 1 and in particular Figure 2 that the second legs 62, 63 are longer than the first legs 61. The legs 61, 62 and 63 are preferably oriented perpendicular to the plug-in direction, while the respective yoke 64 is arranged oriented substantially in the plug-in direction R, or in other words is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X. The yokes 64 and, more generally, the plug-in contacts 60 are arranged in a plane which is parallel to the plug-in plane 6.

[0046] On the first side of the printed circuit board 50 facing away from and / or towards the yokes 64, the conductor tracks (not shown) are preferably arranged and electrically connected to the second legs 62, 63 and the contact pins 70.

[0047] The printed circuit board 50 has two parallel and spaced-apart rows of holes 51, 52 on the first end region facing the plug-in side 5 of the connector 1, wherein the two rows can preferably be oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis X. The holes 51 are arranged closer to the plug-in side 5 of the connector 1 and are penetrated by the legs 63 of the plug-in contacts 60. The holes 52 are penetrated by the legs 62 of the plug-in contacts 60, see Fig. 2.

[0048] The contact pins 70 are arranged on the second end region of the circuit board 50 facing away from the plug-in side 5 and are preferably designed as insulation displacement contacts. The contact pins 70 penetrate the circuit board 50 through holes 53, 54 and are preferably electrically connected to the conductor tracks of the circuit board 50 on the first side of the circuit board 50.

[0049] The contact pins 70, designed as cutting contacts, comprise cutting edges arranged on the second side of the circuit board 50. The contact pins 70 are arranged in two rows, each row lying in a cutting plane defined by the cutting contacts, which are parallel and spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis X.

[0050] In particular, it can be seen from Figure 2 that the contact pins 70 can be divided into two groups, namely long contact pins 71 and short contact pins 72. The long contact pins 72 protrude further from the second side of the circuit board than the short contact pins 72. The contact pins 70 in the row furthest from the plug-in side 5 of the connector 1 are designed as short contact pins 72, while the contact pins 70 in the row closer to the plug-in side 5 are designed as long contact pins 71. As can be seen in particular from Figures 2 and 3, the circuit board 50 is arranged at an oblique angle a relative to the longitudinal axis X or the plug-in plane 6. The angle a is between 10° and 25°, with the angle a more preferably being between 11° and 15°.

[0051] Due to the oblique angle a, the circuit board 50 rises from the plug contacts 60 in the opposite direction to the plug-in direction R. The end region of the circuit board 50 facing the connection side 7 is therefore arranged on the side of the housing 10 opposite the plug contacts 60. From there, the contact pins 70 protrude into the receiving area of ​​the housing 10.

[0052] Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that the contact pins 70 and / or the second legs 62, 63 are positioned in the circuit board 50 at an angle ß to a circuit board plane of the circuit board 50, which is determined by the formula ß = 90° - α. Accordingly, the contact pins 70 and / or the second legs 62, 63 are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X or the plug-in plane 6.

[0053] In particular, it is further evident from Figure 2 that, due to the circuit board 50 being arranged inclined at the angle a, both the plug contacts 60, in particular the legs 61, 62, 63, and the contact pins 70 intersect the longitudinal axis X or the plug-in plane 6.

[0054] As shown in Figure 2, the circuit board 50 sits on a support element 40, wherein the support element 40 is made of an electrically non-conductive material, preferably plastic. The support element 40 can be described as essentially wedge-shaped and has a first support surface 41 and a second support surface 42 arranged opposite the first support surface 41.

[0055] The first support surface 41 is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis X or the plug-in plane 6 of the connector 1 and the second support surface 42 essentially follows the angle a.

[0056] The carrier element 40 has a first end region and a second end region, wherein the first end region faces the plug-in side 5 of the plug-in connector 1 and the second end region along the longitudinal axis X on the opposite side of the carrier element 40. Both in the first end region and in the second end region, the carrier element 40 has a plurality of recesses 43, 44, wherein the recesses 43 in the first end region are provided for the plug-in contacts 60 and the recesses 44 in the second end region are provided for the contact pins 70.

[0057] The recess 43 preferably accommodates a plug contact 60 and keeps the adjacent plug contacts 60 spaced apart from one another.

[0058] The recesses 44 in the second end region can have guide grooves which partially encompass a contact pin 70, whereby the respective contact pin 70 can be held in position.

[0059] It can also be seen that in the second end region of the carrier element 40 there is formed a connection region 48 for the charging piece 80, which is arranged in the region of the longitudinal axis X or the plug-in plane 6. The contact pins 70 protrude freely from the carrier element 40 into the connection region 48. Furthermore, the plug-in connector 1 has the charging piece 80, shown in detail in Figure 1, with receiving channels 81, 82 for the data lines (not shown) of the data cable (not shown), each receiving channel 81, 82 being penetrated by a receiving opening 83, 84.

[0060] The charging piece 80 can be placed or plugged onto the carrier element 40 in the connection area 48 on the second side of the printed circuit board 50 in such a way that the contact pins 70 come to rest in the receiving openings 83, 84 as shown in Figure 3 in order to make electrically conductive contact with the data lines accommodated in the receiving channels 81, 82.

[0061] The loading piece 80 is constructed in a stepped manner and has a shape that matches that of the carrier element 40 and its connecting region 48. Receiving channels 81, 82 are provided in two planes parallel to the longitudinal axis X and the plug-in plane 6, respectively.

[0062] The two planes are preferably arranged parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis X or the plug-in plane 6, with one of the two planes preferably being arranged approximately in the longitudinal axis X or the plug-in plane 6. Such an arrangement allows the data cable to be connected centrally relative to the standard area of ​​the connector 1.

[0063] Each receiving channel 81, 82 in the charging piece 80 is vertically penetrated or accessible by a receiving opening 83, 84. The charging piece 80 can be positioned relative to the circuit board 50 such that the contact pins 70 lie in the receiving openings 83, 84 and electrically contact the data lines accommodated in the receiving channels 81, 82.

[0064] The stepped arrangement of the contact pins 70 and the shape of the charging piece 80, which preferably corresponds to the stepped arrangement of the contact pins 70, facilitates easy field assembly. The stepped shape also ensures that the contact pins 70, 72 do not intersect the lower data lines in the receiving channels 81.

[0065] Figure 3 shows the connector 1 plugged into the mating connector 2. The section of the connector 1 projecting into the mating connector 2 can be referred to as a "standard area" in the preferred and illustrated embodiment of the connector 1 as an RJ45 connector 1, due to standardized specifications. The connector 1 is held in the mating connector 2 by a removable positive locking mechanism, which is achieved by the latch 100.

[0066] Reference symbol list

[0067] 1 connector

[0068] 2 mating connectors

[0069] 5 Plug-in side

[0070] 6 plug-in levels

[0071] 7 Connection side

[0072] 10 housings

[0073] 20 first housing part

[0074] 30 second housing part

[0075] 40 support element

[0076] 41 first support surface

[0077] 42 second support surface

[0078] 43 Recess

[0079] 44 recess

[0080] 48 Connection area

[0081] 50 circuit boards

[0082] 51 bore

[0083] 52 bore

[0084] 53 bore

[0085] 54 bore

[0086] 60 plug contacts

[0087] 61 legs

[0088] 62 legs

[0089] 63 legs

[0090] 64 yoke

[0091] 70 contact pins

[0092] 71 long contact pins

[0093] 72 short contact pins 80 charging piece

[0094] 81 recording channels

[0095] 82 recording channels

[0096] 83 Recording openings 84 Recording openings

[0097] 100 bars

[0098] R Plug-in direction X Longitudinal axis a Angle of the circuit board 50 to the plug-in level 6 ß Angle of the contact pins 70 to the circuit board 50

Claims

Patent claims 1.Connector (1) for a data cable, comprising a housing (10), a longitudinal axis (X), a plug-in side (5) and a connection side (7) located opposite the plug-in side (5) in the longitudinal axis (X), in which a printed circuit board (50) is arranged, which is seated on a carrier element (40), and which has a plurality of plug-in contacts (60) facing the plug-in side (5) of the connector (1) and a plurality of contact pins (70) opposite the plug-in side (5), which contact pins are electrically connected to the plug-in contacts (60) via conductor tracks of the printed circuit board (50) and can be connected to data lines of the data cable, wherein the connector (1) has a plug-in direction (R) oriented in the longitudinal axis (x), in which plug-in direction it can be connected to a mating connector (2), characterized in that the printed circuit board (50) is arranged within the housing at an oblique angle a of approximately greater than or equal to 10° to the longitudinal axis (X) and plug-in direction (R).

2. Connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle a is approximately between 10° and 25°, preferably between 11° and 15°.

3. Connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plug-in plane (6) is arranged at least approximately symmetrically to the housing (10) of the connector (1). Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug contacts (60) are designed as at least approximately U-shaped, metallic plate elements, one leg (61) of which is closer to the plug-in side (6) of the connector (1) is shorter and the other leg (62, 63) of which is longer, wherein the longer legs (62, 63) are each located in one of the bores (51, 52) of the printed circuit board (50) and are electrically connected to the conductor tracks there. Connector (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the U-shaped, metallic plate elements engage in two mutually parallel rows of bores (51, 52) of the printed circuit board (50), wherein the bores (51, 52) of the two rows are offset from one another.Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact pins (70) are designed as cutting contacts. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact pins (70) are arranged in two rows in the circuit board (50), preferably offset from one another. Connector (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the contact pins (70) of the row furthest from the plug-in side (6) of the connector (1) are shorter than the contact pins (71) of that row. Row that is closer to the plug-in side (6).

9. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a charging piece (80) is provided in the housing, into which the contact pins (70) engage in order to electrically contact data lines of a data cable to be connected.

10. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier element (40) consists of an electrically non-conductive material and has a first bearing surface (41) which lies parallel to the plug-in plane (6) of the connector (1), and a second bearing surface (42) which essentially follows the angle a and on which the printed circuit board (50) sits.

11. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact pins (70) are located in the printed circuit board (50) at an angle ß to a plane of the printed circuit board (50) which is determined by the formula 90° - α.

12. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector is an RJ45 connector.

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