Connector for transmitting high-frequency data signals and for variable-angle coupling with a mating connector

Abstract

The invention describes a connector assembly (3), having a connector (1) for transmitting high-frequency data signals and for variable-angle coupling with a mating connector (11). The connector (1) has a signal line unit (5), a cable outlet housing (7) and a contact housing (9). The signal line unit can be bent transversely to a longitudinal direction and has two separate signal lines (13), each with a signal line connection (17) and a contact connection (21). The cable outlet housing (7) receives an end region of a signal transmission cable (23) and a first end region of the signal line unit and comprises a first coupling section (25) of a pivot joint (27). The contact housing receives the second end section of the signal line unit, interacts with the mating connector and comprises a second coupling section (31) of the pivot joint. The pivot joint is configured such that: - the first coupling section and the second coupling section can be positioned in different angular positions relative to one another; - latching structures (33) between the first coupling section and the second coupling section interact in a preloading direction (35) in such an elastically preloaded manner as a latching means to hold the two coupling sections latched in one of the different angular positions as required; - the latching means can be temporarily released by applying force against the preloading direction in order to shift the two coupling sections into another of the different angular positions as required.

Description

[0001] CONNECTORS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF HIGH-FREQUENCY DATA SIGNALS AND FOR

[0002] VARIABLE ANGLE COUPLING WITH A MATING CONNECTOR

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a connector which can be electrically and mechanically coupled to a mating connector in such a way that high-frequency data signals can be transmitted via a plug connection formed thereby.

[0005] Background of the invention

[0006] There are a wide variety of applications, for example in the automotive sector, in which data signals in the form of electrical signals changing at very high frequencies are to be transmitted between devices. For example, devices that act as information sources or transmitters can generate such data signals. Such devices can be sensors, for example. Particularly in automotive applications, such devices can be lidar sensors, radar sensors, cameras, or similar. Other devices that are used for information processing or information conversion and act as receivers can further process received data signals or control actions based on them. Such devices can be, for example, control units or actuators.

[0007] As applications become increasingly complex, the need for signal transmission and the resulting data transmission bandwidth can increase significantly. For example, automotive applications are experiencing an ever-increasing need for high-speed Ethernet cables. It can be important, among other things, to be able to guarantee high data rates with high signal integrity. Therefore, specialized signal transmission cables are often used for data transmission. These cables are designed to transmit high-frequency electrical data signals.

[0008] KU: KU must be arranged and / or shielded to achieve the desired high signal integrity. For example, signal transmission cables in the form of 2-wire systems or multi-wire systems, in which several wires are arranged parallel to each other or twisted together, are used for differential data transmission.

[0009] It has been observed that with an increasing number of signal transmission cables required for data transmission between information transmitters, such as various sensors, on the one hand, and information receivers, such as a control unit or actuators, on the other, the number of boundary conditions and requirements that must be met also tends to increase significantly. For example, one boundary condition could be the amount of space available to connect a signal transmission cable to one of the information transmitters or receivers using a connector, or to a corresponding mating connector.

[0010] Summary of the invention and advantageous embodiments

[0011] There may therefore be a need for a connector for transmitting high-frequency data signals that can be used to mechanically and electrically connect signal transmission cables to different devices or different mating connectors in various configurations. Furthermore, there may be a need for a connector assembly that includes such a connector in addition to a signal transmission cable.

[0012] This need can be met by the subject matter of one of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims, the following description, and the accompanying figures.

[0013] According to a first aspect of the invention, a connector for transmitting high-frequency data signals and for angle-variable coupling with a mating connector is described. The connector has a signal line unit, a cable outlet housing, and a contact housing. The signal line unit is bendable transversely to a longitudinal direction. The signal line unit has at least two separate signal lines. The signal line unit has a signal line connection assigned to each of the signal lines at a first end region and a contact connection assigned to each of the signal lines at a second end region opposite the first end region. The cable outlet housing is configured to accommodate an end region of a data cable in the form of a signal transmission cable with at least two cable lines, as well as to accommodate the first end region of the signal line unit.The cable outlet housing comprises a first coupling portion of a rotary joint. The contact housing is configured to receive the second end region of the signal line unit. The contact housing is further configured to interact with the mating connector such that an electrical connection is established between the signal lines of the signal line unit and associated signal lines of the mating connector. The contact housing comprises a second coupling portion of the rotary joint. The rotary joint is configured with its first coupling portion and second coupling portion such that.

[0014] (i) the first coupling section and the second coupling section can be positioned in different angular positions relative to each other,

[0015] (ii) locking structures between the first coupling section and the second coupling section in a pre-tensioning direction such that they are elastically pre-tensioned as a locking mechanism to keep the two coupling sections selectively locked in one of the different angular positions, and

[0016] (iii) the locking mechanism can be temporarily released by applying a force opposite to the pre-tensioning direction in order to selectively move the two coupling sections into another of the various angular positions.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the invention, a connector assembly for transmitting high-frequency data signals and for angle-variable coupling with a mating connector is described. The connector assembly comprises a connector according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention and a signal transmission cable. The signal transmission cable is designed as a multi-wire system with multiple cable lines, each of the cable lines being electrically connected to one of the signal line terminals of the connector.

[0018] By way of introduction, a basic idea for embodiments of the invention described herein will be briefly explained, whereby this explanation is to be interpreted as merely a rough summary and not as limiting the invention:

[0019] It has been recognized that for some applications, it may be advantageous or even necessary to be able to connect signal transmission cables to a device such as a sensor, actuator, or control unit using a connector in different directions or orientations. This allows the signal transmission cables to be connected to a mating connector provided on the respective device using a connector provided at their end, in different installation spaces and / or along different cable paths.

[0020] To achieve this, it is proposed to construct a multi-part housing for the connector. A cable outlet housing and a contact housing are to be connected to one another via a pivot joint arranged between them in such a way that an angular arrangement between the two housing parts can be changed, i.e., the cable outlet housing can be rotated or pivoted relative to the contact housing. The pivot joint is composed of a first coupling section and a second coupling section, with the first coupling section being arranged on the cable outlet housing and the second coupling section being arranged on the contact housing.

[0021] The swivel joint is specially designed in such a way that it can be positioned in different angular positions and held by a locking mechanism, whereby this locking mechanism can be temporarily released by exerting a force on the swivel joint in order to temporarily release the mechanical preload used for locking.

[0022] Accordingly, the connector can be used as an angled connector by appropriately rotating its swivel joint, whereby angles between the cable outlet housing and the connected signal transmission cable on the one hand and the contact housing and the mating connector plugged together with it on the other hand can be set application-specifically and held by the locking mechanism.

[0023] In a special embodiment, the signal line unit, which within the connector with its signal lines ensures the signal transmission between the signal transmission cable on the one hand and contacts on the mating connector on the other hand, is designed with the help of a flexible printed circuit board in such a way that it can be flexibly bent transversely to its longitudinal direction and can thus follow the different angular positions set between the cable outlet housing and the contact housing.

[0024] In the following, possible configurations and advantages of embodiments of the connector and the connector arrangement equipped therewith are described in more detail.

[0025] The connector described herein can be suitably configured to transmit data signals at high frequencies of, for example, more than 1 MHz, preferably more than 1 GHz or even more than 10 GHz. For example, data streams of more than 1 Gbps (one billion bits per second) or even more than 10 Gbps can be transmitted via the connector.

[0026] The contact housing can be adjusted relative to the cable outlet housing at various angles via the swivel joint, for example, between angles of +90° and -90°. The swivel joint can be configured so that it can be locked in various angle positions. Angle intervals between the various angle positions can be, for example, between 1° and 90°, preferably between 5° and 45°, or more preferably between 10° and 30°. The signal line unit arranged within the two housing parts adapts to the set angle position.

[0027] The cable outlet housing and the contact housing are designed as separate components that can be manufactured individually and then connected to each other during connector assembly. Both housing parts can be made from plastic components, for example, as injection-molded parts. Both housing parts have cavities within them in which the elongated signal line unit can be accommodated. The cavities and the signal line unit accommodated therein extend from one end of the connector, where the signal transmission cable is to be connected to the connector, to an opposite end of the connector, where it is to be connected in mechanical and electrical contact with a mating connector.

[0028] The signal line unit is elongated and can be flexibly bent transversely to its longitudinal direction. The signal line unit can be bent along its entire longitudinal extent. Alternatively, the signal line unit can be bent only in a partial section of its longitudinal extent. The signal line unit can be bent at least in a partial section into a curved shape with a curve radius of, for example, less than 10 cm, preferably less than 5 cm or even less than 2 cm. Deformation of the signal line unit is preferably predominantly elastic and is thus reversible. The signal line unit comprises at least two separate signal lines, i.e. a pair of signal lines. The signal line unit can also comprise a larger number of signal lines, in particular several pairs of signal lines.A number of signal lines can preferably correspond to a number of wires accommodated in the signal transmission cable to be connected to the connector. The signal transmission cable and the connector provided for this purpose can be designed as a 2-wire system or a multi-wire system for the differential transmission of high-frequency data signals. Each of the signal lines is formed from electrically conductive material, in particular metal. The signal lines are laterally spaced from one another and electrically insulated from one another. The signal lines can run parallel to one another. The signal lines can be designed as conductor tracks. The signal lines can have a small line cross-section of, for example, less than 5 mm. 2 , usually less than 1 mm 2 or even less than 0.2 mm 2be designed, since normally only data signals with low electrical power are to be transmitted.

[0029] Each signal line is connected at its first end region to a so-called signal line terminal, via which one of the wires of a signal transmission cable can be connected to the respective signal line. The signal line terminal can be designed, for example, as a crimp contact. At its opposite second end region, each of the signal lines is connected to a so-called contact terminal. The contact terminal is preferably designed such that it can be connected or plugged together with corresponding contact terminals on a mating connector. The connection between the signal line and the signal line terminal, on the one hand, and the contact terminal, on the other, is designed to be electrically conductive and can be designed, for example, as a soldered connection, welded connection, bonded connection, or similar.

[0030] The cable outlet housing is configured, particularly with regard to its geometric design, to accommodate, on the one hand, an end region of the signal transmission cable to be connected to the connector and, on the other hand, a first end region of the signal line unit. The signal line connections are provided at the first end region. Accordingly, both the signal transmission cable with its end and the adjacent part of the signal transmission unit can be surrounded, held, and, if necessary, mechanically protected by the cable outlet housing. The contact housing is configured, particularly with regard to its geometric design, to accommodate the second end region of the signal line unit.In addition, the contact housing is configured to be able to be plugged together with a corresponding counterpart of a mating connector and thus to be able to establish an electrically conductive connection between, on the one hand, the signal lines of the signal line unit or the contact connections provided thereon and, on the other hand, corresponding contact connections on the mating connector.

[0031] In addition to their task of accommodating, holding and, if necessary, protecting the various areas of the signal line unit, the cable outlet housing and the contact housing are specially designed to form the swivel joint between them in order to be able to set and lock various angular positions.

[0032] For this purpose, the cable outlet housing has a first coupling section, and the contact housing has a second coupling section. The two coupling sections are designed to complement each other and interact with each other in such a way that together they form the swivel joint, thereby enabling its variable adjustment to various angular positions, the desired locking in the various angular positions, and the temporary releasability of this locking.

[0033] For this purpose, the two coupling sections are designed in such a way that, on the one hand, they can be mechanically connected to one another, but, on the other hand, they can be rotated or pivoted relative to one another around a rotational axis and thus angled into various angular positions. Furthermore, locking structures are provided on the coupling sections. These are elastically preloaded relative to one another in a mechanically unloaded state, thereby creating a locking connection between the two coupling sections. Due to this locking connection, the two coupling sections can be held mechanically resiliently relative to one another in the various angular positions.

[0034] Additionally, the coupling sections are designed such that the locking can be temporarily released by applying a targeted force, allowing the coupling sections to be rotated or pivoted relative to one another and thus shifted to other angular positions. The force must be applied counter to the preload direction to temporarily release the locking. According to one embodiment, one of the two coupling sections has at least one elongated recess, while the other of the two coupling sections has at least one projection. The elongated recess and the projection are designed to be complementary and insertable into one another.The elongated recess and the projection are in particular designed to interact with one another in such a way that when a force is applied counter to the prestressing direction, an elastic deformation occurs on at least one of the two coupling sections and, due to the elastic deformation, a restoring force is caused between the two coupling sections in the prestressing direction.

[0035] In other words, at least one recess and one projection are provided in the swivel joint on the two coupling sections, which are specifically designed and interact with each other in such a way that they generate a restoring force due to elastic deformation when the two coupling sections are moved counter to the preload direction. The elastic deformation is generated on at least one of the two coupling sections in such a way that it acts along or parallel to the preload direction. Accordingly, a locking connection between the coupling sections can be released, on the one hand, by moving the coupling sections away from each other counter to the preload direction.However, the elastic deformation caused by this and the resulting restoring force mean that the coupling sections move towards each other again in the pre-tensioning direction as soon as the force used for release is no longer exerted, thereby causing the locking again.

[0036] The advantage here is that the restoring force is generated by an elastic deformation of at least one of the coupling sections itself when the locking is temporarily released by the external force application, so that the swivel joint automatically returns to its locked configuration when the force application is discontinued. Accordingly, no additional component, such as an additional spring or the like, is required to generate the restoring force.

[0037] In particular, according to one embodiment, one of the two coupling sections can have at least one elongated groove or an elongated slot, which are tapered at least in a partial area, wherein the other of the two coupling sections then has at least one projecting pin acting as an axis of rotation. The two coupling sections are designed such that the pin can be inserted into the groove or slot in the longitudinal direction thereof. The groove or slot and the pin are designed to interact with one another in such a way that when force is applied counter to the prestressing direction, the pin is moved along the tapered partial area of ​​the groove or slot, resulting in elastic deformation in the form of the groove or slot spreading out.of the slot and due to the elastic deformation a restoring force is caused between the two coupling sections in the preload direction.

[0038] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, a locking lug aligned in or opposite to the pretensioning direction can be arranged on one of the two coupling sections, wherein a plurality of locking grooves complementary to the locking lug can be arranged on the other of the two coupling sections.

[0039] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, one of the two coupling sections can comprise a cylindrical body having a plurality of locking grooves arranged at different positions along a circumferential surface of the cylindrical body and set back radially inward. The other of the two coupling sections can then comprise a cylindrical inner surface that is complementary to the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body and on which a locking lug is formed so as to project radially inward.

[0040] In addition, according to one embodiment, a limiting element can be formed on one of the two coupling sections, which is configured such that it spatially limits a movement of the two coupling sections relative to each other, which is caused by the application of force counter to the prestressing direction.

[0041] Since the embodiments described above relate at least partially to possible functional and in particular geometric configurations of the rotary joint and its components, possible properties and advantages of such embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary configurations shown in the figures.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the signal line unit comprises a flexible printed circuit board, along which at least a partial section of the signal lines runs as a conductor track.

[0043] In other words, the signal line unit can have a flexible printed circuit board along its entire extent or at least along a partial segment of its extent. In the former case, the signal line unit is constructed as a whole based on the flexible printed circuit board. In the latter case, the signal line unit is constructed as a hybrid component, wherein only one partial segment is formed with the flexible printed circuit board and one or more adjacent partial segments can be configured, for example, with rigid printed circuit boards. The signal lines of the signal line unit are formed by conductor tracks that extend along the flexible printed circuit board or at least a partial section thereof.

[0044] The printed circuit board (sometimes referred to as a PCB) is flexible and can, for example, be in the form of a thin, film-like circuit board (sometimes referred to as a FPC; flexible printed circuits). Such a flexible printed circuit board usually comprises a flat, electrically insulating substrate, for example in the form of a plastic film, on which electrically conductive structures in the form of conductor tracks, which are made of metal, for example, are applied. The substrate is typically thin, usually less than 1 mm, often less than 0.3 mm, and is therefore elastically bendable in a direction transverse to its plane of extension due to its thinness and its plastic material. The conductor tracks are also very thin, i.e. usually significantly thinner than the substrate, and are therefore also elastically bendable.The width of the traces can also be small, with adjacent traces laterally spaced from each other and thus electrically insulated. The geometric and / or electrical properties of the traces and their arrangement can be optimized to achieve the best possible signal integrity and / or impedance matching.

[0045] Due to the elastically bendable nature of the flexible printed circuit board, the signal line unit can follow the different angular positions between the contact housing and the cable outlet housing when the swivel joint is rotated through elastic and correspondingly reversible local deformations. The axis of rotation around which the swivel joint is rotated and the extension plane of the flexible printed circuit board should coincide as closely as possible, so that bending the connector only results in bending of the flexible printed circuit board, but not in twisting. This prevents excessive material fatigue on the flexible printed circuit board, which could otherwise occur when the connector is repeatedly bent into different angular positions. The signal line unit can therefore contribute to the longevity of the connector due to the properties of its flexible printed circuit board.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the signal line connections can be designed as crimp connections to which one of the cable lines of the signal transmission cable designed as a multi-wire system can be crimped.

[0047] In other words, the signal line terminals arranged in the first end region of the signal line unit can be designed as crimp terminals. Such crimp terminals are typically formed from a plastically deformable and electrically conductive material, such as a suitably punched and bent metal sheet, and are shaped such that they can be plastically deformed into a form in which they mechanically engage one or more wires, for example, of a multi-wire system, thereby establishing an electrical connection to them. Accordingly, with the aid of such crimp terminals, the signal transmission cable with its multiple wires can be attached to the connector in a simple and industrially feasible manner by crimping the wires to one of the crimp terminals on the signal line unit.

[0048] The geometric design of the crimp terminals, the geometric arrangement of the crimp terminals relative to one another, such as the pitch between adjacent crimp terminals and / or the number of crimp terminals to be provided, can be selected and optimized for the specific application, for example, to accommodate the specifics of a chamber geometry and / or to minimize disruptive interactions between the crimp terminals. The same applies analogously to the contact terminals provided in the second end region of the signal line unit.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board can have an electrically conductive shielding layer on opposite surfaces.

[0050] The shielding layer can be configured, for example, in the form of one or more cover layers made of an electrically conductive material, in particular as a thin metal layer. The shielding layers provided on the opposite surfaces of the flexible circuit board can surround or enclose the regions of the flexible circuit board extending therebetween. Each shielding layer can be configured with respect to its geometric and electrical properties in such a way that it prevents or at least substantially attenuates the coupling and / or decoupling of electromagnetic radiation into or from conductor tracks of the flexible circuit board.

[0051] In a specific embodiment of a connector assembly formed with such a connector, the connector assembly may further comprise a shielding sleeve which, on the one hand, is electrically conductively connected to a shield surrounding the signal transmission cable and, on the other hand, is electrically conductively connected to at least one of the shielding layers.

[0052] The shielding sleeve is formed from an electrically conductive material. For example, the shielding sleeve can be made from a suitably punched and bent metal sheet or as a metal braid. The shielding sleeve is used to establish an electrically conductive connection to a shield that typically surrounds the signal transmission cable. Furthermore, the shielding sleeve is used to establish an electrical connection with at least one or preferably all shielding layers on the flexible printed circuit board of the signal line unit in the connector. In this way, the shielding sleeve can establish a connection of a shield signal or a grounding connection between the signal transmission cable and the signal line unit in the connector.

[0053] According to a specific embodiment, the shielding sleeve can cover the first end region of the signal line unit.

[0054] Because the shielding sleeve covers the first end region of the signal line unit and the signal line connections arranged there, sufficient electromagnetic shielding can be ensured, in particular also at this position, and in particular it can be avoided that electromagnetic signals are coupled in or out at the otherwise possibly unshielded signal line connections.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the flexible circuit board further comprises at least one shielding contact electrically connected to the shielding layer and protruding from the flexible circuit board.

[0056] Such a shielding contact can preferably protrude laterally from the flexible printed circuit board and serve to electrically contact at least one or preferably all of the shielding layers on the flexible printed circuit board from outside the connector. For example, the shielding contact can be used to establish an electrical connection between shielding layers on the signal line unit of the connector and a corresponding shield on a mating connector with which the connector is mated.

[0057] The shielding contact can thus be used in particular for contacting and transmitting a ground signal between the connector arrangement described herein and a mating connector.

[0058] Preferably, two or more shielding contacts can be provided on the flexible circuit board, which can, for example, protrude from the flexible circuit board in opposite directions. A shielding contact can preferably be designed as a spring contact. The spring contact or the plurality of spring contacts can additionally be designed to enable the signal line unit with its flexible circuit board to be fastened to at least one of the housing parts, in particular to the contact housing, for example, by the protruding shielding contact engaging or snapping into a correspondingly matching recess in the housing part.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the connector assembly described herein may additionally comprise a coding housing which is mechanically connected to the contact housing.

[0060] The coding housing can have a specific shape or contour, which can also be referred to as a "face," and which is adapted to be mated with a correspondingly complementary coding housing of a mating connector. By providing such a coding housing, it can be ensured that the connector assembly can only be mated with mating connectors that have a correspondingly equipped complementary coding housing. The coding housing can be designed as a simple plastic component, for example, as an injection-molded component. In particular, the coding housing can be designed to be complementary to the contact housing of the connector in such a way that both can be joined reversibly or irreversibly, for example, by a simple plug-on process.The coding housing and the contact housing can be suitably configured to lock them together. It should be noted that possible features and advantages of various embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to a connector configured according to the invention and a connector assembly provided with the same. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features described for individual embodiments can be suitably transferred, adapted, and / or exchanged in an analogous manner to other embodiments in order to achieve further embodiments of the invention and possibly synergistic effects.

[0061] Short description of the drawings

[0062] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein neither the drawings nor the explanations are to be interpreted as limiting the invention in any way.

[0063] Figure 1 shows a sectional view through a connector arrangement according to the invention.

[0064] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a cable outlet housing and a contact housing of a connector according to the invention.

[0065] Figure 3 shows a plan view of a signal line unit of a connector arrangement according to the invention.

[0066] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a signal line unit of a connector arrangement according to the invention.

[0067] Figure 5(a)-(e) shows different angular positions of a connector according to the invention.

[0068] Figure 6(a)-(d) shows successive stages of an assembly process for manufacturing a connector assembly according to the invention.

[0069] The figures are merely schematic and not to scale. The same reference numerals designate the same or equivalent features in the various drawings. Description of advantageous embodiments

[0070] Figure 1 shows a connector assembly 3 with a connector 1 and a signal transmission cable 23 attached thereto for transmitting high-frequency data signals.

[0071] The connector 1 comprises a signal line unit 5, a cable outlet housing 7, and a contact housing 9. Figure 2 illustrates details of the cable outlet housing 7 and the contact housing 9. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate details of the signal line unit 5 and its connection to the signal transmission cable 23.

[0072] The cable outlet housing 7 and the contact housing 9 are formed as separate components and connected to one another via coupling sections 25, 31. A first coupling section 25 is provided on the cable outlet housing 7, whereas a second coupling section 31 is provided on the contact housing 9. The respective coupling sections 25, 31 are formed integrally with a plastic component forming the cable outlet housing 7 and the contact housing 9, respectively. The two coupling sections 25, 31 together form a rotary joint 1, by means of which the cable outlet housing 7 and the contact housing 9 can be rotated or pivoted into different angular positions relative to one another.

[0073] The signal line unit 5 runs through internal cavities within the cable outlet housing 7 and the contact housing 9. A first end region 15 of the signal line unit 5 is accommodated inside the cable outlet housing 7, whereas an opposite second end region 19 is accommodated inside the contact housing 9. At the first end region 15, a plurality of signal line connections 17 are provided on the signal line unit 5. In this case, a signal line connection 17 is provided for each of at least two signal lines 13 that extend along the signal line unit 5. As a result, one of a plurality of cable lines 29 in the signal transmission cable 23 can be electrically connected to the respective signal line 13 of the signal line unit 5 via the signal line connection 17. At the second end region 19, a plurality of contact connections 21 are provided on the signal line unit 5.Again, each of the signal lines 13 is provided with an associated contact terminal 21, via which an electrically conductive connection can be established to a signal line 39 provided in a mating connector 11. The rotary joint I formed by the first coupling section 25 and the second coupling section 31 is designed such that the contact housing 9, connected to the cable outlet housing 7 via this rotary joint ZI, can be positioned in various angular positions relative to the cable outlet housing 7 and the signal transmission cable 23 connected thereto. Figure 5 illustrates various angular positions with angles of 90°, 45°, 0°, -45°, and -90° between the two housing parts.

[0074] The swivel joint ZI has locking structures 33 that act between the first coupling section 25 and the second coupling section 31. These locking structures 33 are elastically tensioned relative to one another in a pretensioning direction 35 and thereby effect a locking action, due to which the two coupling sections 25, 31 can be selectively locked in one of several available angular positions and thus reversibly and releasably fixed.

[0075] The two coupling sections 25, 31 and the locking structures 33 provided there are designed such that the locking can be temporarily released by applying a force in a force application direction 37 opposite to the pretensioning direction 35. By releasing the locking, the two coupling sections 25, 31 can then be rotated relative to each other, thus displacing the cable outlet housing 7, which is connected to them on the one hand, and the contact housing 9, which is connected to them on the other hand, into a different angular position.

[0076] In order to implement the described functionalities, one of the two coupling sections 25, 31 can have at least one elongated recess 41 and the other coupling section 31, 25 can have a matching projection 43, so that the projection 43 can be inserted into the elongated recess 41 along its longitudinal direction. In the example shown, the elongated recess 41 is designed as an elongated groove or elongated slot 45 and is provided on the cable outlet housing 7 at its first coupling section 25. In this example, the projection 43 is designed as a projecting pin 47, which acts as a rotation axis for the rotary joint ZI, and is provided on the contact housing 9 at its second coupling section 31.

[0077] The elongated recess 41 in the form of the elongated slot 45 and the projection 43 in the form of the projecting pin 47 interact with each other in such a way that, upon application of a force in the force application direction 37, an elastic deformation occurs on at least one of the two coupling sections 25, 31. Due to this elastic deformation, a restoring force is generated, which elastically preloads the two coupling sections 25, 31 of the rotary joint I toward each other in the preload direction 35.

[0078] Specifically, the pin 47 can be inserted into the slot 45 in its longitudinal direction and displaced within this slot 45. The slot 45 and the pin 47 are suitably shaped and dimensioned such that they interact with each other in such a way that, when a force is applied in the force application direction 37, an elastic deformation in the form of a spreading of the slot 45 occurs.

[0079] To achieve this, a tapered partial region 49 is formed on the slot 45, i.e., a region where the slot 45 becomes increasingly narrower in a direction away from one end of the slot 45. In other words, in the tapered partial region 49, opposite edges that delimit the slot 45 are not aligned parallel but rather obliquely to one another, so that a width of the slot 45 gradually decreases in a direction away from its end. Due to this tapered configuration of the partial region 49, the pin 47 inserted into the slot 45 tends to move toward the end of the slot 45, i.e., the pin 47 is elastically prestressed in the prestressing direction 35.When the two coupling sections 25, 31 are moved counter to this preload direction 35 by an external force, an elastic deformation occurs in the form of a spreading of the slot 45 due to the pin 47, which is moved counter to the tapered portion 49. This elastic deformation, in turn, causes the desired restoring force between the two coupling sections 25, 31.

[0080] In order to implement the locking structures 33 with the described functionality, a locking lug 51 aligned in or opposite to the pretensioning direction 35 is arranged on one of the two coupling sections 25, 31 and a plurality of locking grooves 53, which are shaped complementarily to the locking lug 51, are arranged on the other of the two coupling sections 31, 25.

[0081] In the example shown, a locking lug 51 protrudes from an inner surface 59 on the first coupling section 25. On a circumferential surface 57 of a cylindrical body 55 forming the second coupling section 31, locking grooves 53 are formed at several different positions in the circumferential direction of this circumferential surface 57, each of which is set back inward. In the assembled state of the connector 1, the cylindrical body 55 of the second coupling section 31 rests against the inner surface 59 of the first coupling section 25, which is complementary to its circumferential surface 57. Both coupling sections 25, 31 are elastically preloaded toward one another in the preload direction 35, as described above. Accordingly, the protruding locking lug 51 engages in one of the set-back locking grooves 53 and leads to the desired locking between the two coupling sections 25, 31.

[0082] However, by temporarily displacing the two coupling sections 25, 31 counter to the pretensioning direction 35 by applying an external force, this engagement can be released so that the two coupling sections 25, 31 can be rotated relative to one another until the locking lug 51 can engage in another of the recessed locking grooves 53 by terminating the external force application and the rotary joint I can thus lock in the new angular position.

[0083] To prevent the two coupling sections 25, 31 from being moved excessively far relative to one another in the force application direction 37, or even to prevent the pin 47 from being pulled out of the slot 45, a limiting element 61 is formed on at least one of the two coupling sections 25, 31. This limiting element 61 is configured such that it spatially limits movement in the force application direction 37 of the two coupling sections 25, 31 relative to one another.

[0084] In the example shown, limiting elements 61 in the form of protruding knobs are provided on the first coupling element 25 for this purpose. These limiting elements 61 are arranged near an outer edge of the circular region of the first coupling section 25 and laterally adjacent to the slot 45 provided there, and protrude parallel to a rotational axis of the rotary joint TI toward the adjacent cylinder body 55 of the second coupling element 31. Accordingly, the limiting elements 61 prevent the cylinder body 55 from being pulled excessively far out of the first coupling element 25. However, the limiting elements 61 are positioned such that the two coupling elements 25, 31 can be displaced at least sufficiently relative to one another to allow the locking mechanism to be released.

[0085] As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the signal line unit 5 comprises a flexible printed circuit board 63. The signal lines 13 are provided on this board in the form of conductor tracks 65. The signal line terminals 17 provided at the first end region 15 of the signal line unit 5 are designed as crimp terminals 67. Cable lines 29 of the signal transmission cable 23, which is designed as a multi-wire system, are crimped to each of these crimp terminals 67.

[0086] At the opposite second end region 19 of the signal line unit 5, the contact terminals 21 provided there are designed to interact as plug contacts or socket contacts with correspondingly complementary contacts on signal lines 39 of a mating connector 11.

[0087] Accordingly, the signal line unit 5 can be used to create an electrical connection from the cable lines 29 of the signal transmission cable 23 via the signal lines 13 of the signal line unit 5 to the signal lines 39 of the mating connector 11.

[0088] The flexible printed circuit board 63 is elastically bendable and can thus be curved within the cable outlet housing 7 and the contact housing 9 in such a way that it can adapt to the various adjustable angular positions of the connector 1.

[0089] To largely prevent electromagnetic radiation from being coupled into or out of the signal lines 13 on the signal line unit 5, electrically conductive shielding layers 71 are provided on opposing surfaces 69 of the flexible printed circuit board 63. The shielding layers 71, in the form of thin metal layers, cover the flexible printed circuit board 63 and the conductor tracks 65 running thereon, and are electrically insulated from the conductor tracks 65, for example, by an intermediate layer.

[0090] In order to electrically connect the shielding created by the shielding layers 71 within the connector 1 to a shielding 77 of the signal transmission cable 23, a shielding sleeve 75 is provided in the connector assembly 3. This shielding sleeve 75 can be designed as a suitably punched and bent sheet metal part or as a wire mesh. At one end, the shielding sleeve 75 is electrically connected to the shielding 77 of the signal transmission cable 23, for example, by a crimp 87. At an opposite end, the shielding sleeve 75 is electrically connected to the shielding layers 71 on the signal line unit 5 via a connection 81. The shielding sleeve 75 covers the first end region 15 of the signal line unit 5 and at least parts of the signal line connections 17 provided there in order to achieve good electromagnetic shielding in this region.Shielding contacts 73 are also provided on the flexible printed circuit board 63, which are electrically connected to the shielding layers 71 of the signal line unit 5 and protrude laterally from the flexible printed circuit board 63. In the assembled state of the connector 1, these shielding contacts 73 engage in lateral openings 85 in the contact housing 9 and protrude slightly laterally beyond the contact housing 9. These shielding contacts 73 can, in particular, provide an electrical connection to a shield (not shown) in the mating connector 11.

[0091] In addition, the flexible printed circuit board 63 in the example shown has a cylindrical thickening 83, by means of which it can be suitably held within the cable outlet housing 7 or the contact housing 9.

[0092] Finally, steps of a possible process for assembling the connector assembly 3 are described with reference to Figure 6.

[0093] The cable housing 7 is pushed onto one end of the signal transmission cable 23. Subsequently, the cable wires 29 of the signal transmission cable 23 are crimped to the signal line terminals 17 of the signal line unit 5 (see Figure 6 (a)).

[0094] Subsequently, the second end region 19 of the signal line unit 5 is inserted into the contact housing 9. When the signal line unit 5 reaches an end position within the contact housing 9, the laterally projecting shielding contacts 73 engage in the lateral openings 85 of the contact housing 9 (see Figure 6 (b)).

[0095] The cable outlet housing 7 is then pushed toward the contact housing 9. The pins 47, which protrude from the cylinder body 55 on opposite sides of the second coupling section 31 of the contact housing 9, engage the longitudinally extending slots 45 on the first coupling section 25 of the cable outlet housing 7 and are displaced along the slot 45 until they reach its end. Due to the tapered shape of the slot 45, at least in partial regions 49, the pins 47 are held in this end position or, if they are pulled out of this end position by an external force, are mechanically preloaded toward this end position (see Figure 6 (c)).

[0096] Finally, a coding housing 79 is pushed onto the contact housing 9. The described connector arrangement and the manner in which it can be assembled enables, among other things, a variability in the number of contacts of the resulting connector system, particularly through the possible use of tape-based material. Furthermore, the contact chamber of the connector formed by the cable outlet housing and the contact housing can be assembled in a single operation. Furthermore, the two-part design allows for strain relief and cable strain relief in the form of a kink protection. The angled connector concept described herein allows for greater freedom for a designer and better handling for a worker. Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "having," "comprising," etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality.Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with features or steps described with reference to other of the above embodiments. Reference symbols in the claims are not to be considered as limiting.

[0097] List of reference symbols

[0098] I Connectors

[0099] 3 Connector arrangement

[0100] 5 Signal line unit

[0101] 7 Cable outlet housing

[0102] 9 Contact housing

[0103] II Mating connector

[0104] 13 Signal line on the signal line unit

[0105] 15 first end area of ​​the signal line unit

[0106] 17 Signal line connection

[0107] 19 second end area of ​​the signal line unit

[0108] 21 Contact connection

[0109] 23 signal transmission cables

[0110] 25 first coupling section

[0111] 27 Swivel joint

[0112] 29 Cable line

[0113] 31 second coupling section

[0114] 33 locking structures

[0115] 35 Preload direction

[0116] 37 Direction of force application

[0117] 39 Signal line on the mating connector

[0118] 41 Bonding

[0119] 43 lead

[0120] 45 groove / slot

[0121] 47 pen

[0122] 49 tapered section

[0123] 51 locking lug

[0124] 53 locking groove

[0125] 55 cylinder bodies

[0126] 57 circumferential area

[0127] 59 Interior surface

[0128] 61 Boundary element

[0129] 63 flexible circuit boards

[0130] 65 conductor track

[0131] 67 Crimp connection

[0132] 69 Surface of the flexible circuit board

[0133] 71 Shielding layer 73 Shielding contact

[0134] 75 Shielding sleeve

[0135] 77 Shielding of the signal transmission cable

[0136] 79 Coding housing 81 Connection between shielding sleeve and shielding layer

[0137] 83 Thickening

[0138] 85 side opening in contact housing

[0139] 87 Crimping

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 24 October 2024 (24.10.2024) 1. A connector (1) for transmitting high-frequency data signals and for angle-variable coupling with a mating connector (11), wherein the connector (1) comprises: a signal line unit (5), a cable outlet housing (7), and a contact housing (9), wherein the signal line unit (5) is bendable transversely to a longitudinal direction, has at least two separate signal lines (13), has a signal line connection (17) assigned to each of the signal lines (13) at a first end region (15), and has a contact connection (21) assigned to each of the signal lines (13) at a second end region (19) opposite the first end region (15), wherein the cable outlet housing (7) is configured to receive an end region of a signal transmission cable (23) having at least two cable lines (29) and to receive the first end region (15) of the signal line unit (5),wherein the cable outlet housing (7) comprises a first coupling section (25) of a rotary joint (27), wherein the contact housing (9) is configured to receive the second end region (19) of the signal line unit (5) and to cooperate with the mating connector (11) such that an electrical connection is established between the signal lines (13) of the signal line unit (5) and associated signal lines (39) of the mating connector (11), wherein the contact housing (9) comprises a second coupling section (31) of the rotary joint (27), wherein the rotary joint (27) with its first coupling section (25) and second coupling section (31) is configured such that, - the first coupling section (25) and the second coupling section (31) can be positioned in different angular positions relative to each other, - locking structures (33), which are each provided on the first coupling section (25) and the second coupling section (31), between the first coupling section (25) and the second coupling section (31) in a prestressing direction (35) so as to cooperate in a locking manner in order to keep the two coupling sections (25, 31) selectively locked in one of the different angular positions, AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) - the locking can be temporarily released by applying force counter to the pretensioning direction (35) in order to selectably displace the two coupling sections (25, 31) into another of the various angular positions, wherein one of the two coupling sections (25, 31) has at least one elongated groove or an elongated slot (45), which are tapered at least in a partial area (49), and wherein the other of the two coupling sections (31, 25) has at least one projecting pin (47) acting as an axis of rotation, wherein the two coupling sections (25, 31) are designed such that the pin (47) can be pushed into the groove or the slot (45) in the longitudinal direction thereof, and wherein the groove orthe slot (45) and the pin (47) are designed to interact with one another in such a way that when a force is applied counter to the prestressing direction (35), the pin (47) is moved along the tapered partial area (49) of the groove or slot (45), resulting in an elastic deformation in the form of a spreading of the groove or slot (45) and, due to the elastic deformation, a restoring force is brought about between the two coupling sections (25, 31) in the prestressing direction (35).

2. Plug connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein one of the two coupling sections (25, 31) has at least one elongated recess (41) and wherein the other of the two coupling sections has at least one projection (43), wherein the elongated recess (41) and the projection (43) are designed to be complementary and insertable into one another, and wherein the elongated recess (41) and the projection (43) are designed to interact with one another in such a way that when a force is applied counter to the prestressing direction (35), an elastic deformation occurs at at least one of the two coupling sections (25, 31) and, due to the elastic deformation, a restoring force is brought about between the two coupling sections (25, 31) in the prestressing direction (35).

3. Plug connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a locking lug (51) aligned in or opposite to the pretensioning direction (35) is arranged on one of the two coupling sections (25, 31), and wherein a plurality of locking grooves (53) complementary to the locking lug (51) are arranged on the other of the two coupling sections (31, 25). AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 4. Plug connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the two coupling sections (25, 31) has a cylinder body (55) which has a plurality of locking grooves (53) arranged at different positions along a circumferential surface (57) of the cylinder body (55) and set back radially inwards, and wherein the other of the two coupling sections (31, 25) has a cylindrical inner surface (59) which is designed to be complementary to the circumferential surface (57) of the cylinder body (55) and on which a locking lug (51) is designed to project radially inwards.

5. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a limiting element (61) is formed on one of the two coupling sections (25, 31), which is configured such that it spatially limits a movement of the two coupling sections (25, 31) relative to one another, which movement is caused by the application of force counter to the pretensioning direction (35).

6. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal line terminals (17) are designed as crimp terminals (67) to which one of the cable lines (29) of the signal transmission cable (23) designed as a multi-wire system can be crimped.

7. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal line unit (5) comprises a flexible printed circuit board (63) along which at least a partial section of the signal lines (13) each runs as a conductor track (65).

8. Connector (1) according to claim 7, wherein the flexible printed circuit board (63) has an electrically conductive shielding layer (71) on each of the opposite surfaces (69).

9. Connector (1) according to claim 8, wherein the flexible circuit board (63) further comprises at least one shielding contact (73) electrically connected to at least one of the shielding layers (71) and projecting from the flexible circuit board (63).

10. Connector arrangement (3) for transmitting high-frequency data signals and for angle-variable coupling with a mating connector (11), AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) wherein the connector assembly (3) comprises: a connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, and a signal transmission cable (23), wherein the signal transmission cable (23) is designed as a multi-wire system with a plurality of cable lines (29), wherein each of the cable lines (29) is electrically conductively connected to one of the signal line terminals (17) of the connector (1).

11. Connector assembly (3) according to claim 10, wherein the connector (1) is designed according to claim 8 and further comprising a shielding sleeve (75) and a shield (77), wherein the shielding sleeve (75) is electrically conductively connected on the one hand to the shield (77) surrounding the signal transmission cable (23) and on the other hand is electrically conductively connected to at least one of the shielding layers (71).

12. Connector assembly according to claim 11, wherein the shielding sleeve (75) covers the first end region (15) of the signal line unit (5).

13. Connector assembly according to one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising a coding housing (79) which is mechanically connected to the contact housing (9). AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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