Patent Application
20180277996
The invention relates to a device for data transmission in accordance with the preamble of the independent claim 1.
Devices of this type are required by way of example for storing measurement data or other data in or on a plug connector and for transmitting said data to the environment.
It is known in the prior art to integrate data modules into plug connectors. Generally, a plug connector has the function of transmitting energy, for example electrical and/or pneumatic energy, and in addition or as an alternative thereto the function of transmitting signals, for example electrical and/or optical signals. A plug connector is able to use a data module in addition to this conventional function to also store data and if necessary to transmit said data to the environment. The term ‘data module’ generally describes a separate component that is able to store and transmit this data.
Data modules that may be integrated into a plug connector are known in the prior art by way of example from the publications D 198 51 473 A1 and EP 1 353 412 B1.
Furthermore, it is known from the publication DE 202 19 875 U1 to integrate a corresponding storage module having a USB connector into a plug connector.
This prior art has the disadvantage that all these modules are only able to communicate via the cable that is conventionally connected to the plug connector, as a result of which the onward signal transmission of the data is fixed by means of the path of the cable. However, the path of this cable is generally predetermined by means of the conventional function of the plug connector.
Moreover, it is also known from the publication US 2015/0199603 A1 to integrate an RFID transponder into a plug connector housing.
However, this has the disadvantage that it is necessary for the associated plug connector housings to be embodied from a non-shielding, in particular non-metal material, in order not to impair the corresponding radio traffic. Conversely, it is necessary to provide shielding housings for numerous plug connectors. Furthermore, it is not possible or only possible with difficulty inter alia for reasons of stability to replace metal as a material.
It is in addition known to use an RFID transponder as a data module and to fasten it, for example adhere it, to an outer face of a metal housing of the plug connector. There is however the danger that the RFID tags fall off when subjected to extreme environmental conditions and possibly become lost. Although transponders that are attached from the outside to a metal housing are naturally well suited by way of example for identification purposes, they are however not suitable for performing measurements that are taken within the plug connector housing, for example measurements relating to temperature, current, voltage, conductivity and/or humidity and also in addition or as an alternative thereto are not suitable for performing comprehensive function tests. However, it is such measurement data and their real time analysis that are becoming more important with regard to analyzing the signal transmission.
The prior art therefore requires a device that renders it possible to make data from a plug connector housing available irrespective of its conventional cabling.
The object of the invention is thus to provide a device that renders it possible for the data transmission from a plug connector housing to be configured as freely as possible. In particular, it is in addition an object of the invention if necessary to also maintain the shielding effect of the plug connector housing that is by way of example metal.
This object is achieved using a device of the type mentioned in the introduction by means of the features of the characterizing part of the independent claim 1.
This device for data transmission comprises a data module for storing and playing back data, and also a plug connector housing having a cable outlet opening and a cable gland and furthermore an adapter module that comprises at least one cable passage region and comprises a cable inlet opening at a first end of the cable passage region and a cable outlet opening at a second end of this cable passage region, wherein the adaptor module may be fastened by means of its cable inlet opening to the cable outlet opening of the plug connector housing, and wherein the cable gland may be fastened to the cable outlet opening of the adaptor module, with the result that the adaptor module may be fastened between the cable outlet opening and the cable gland.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subordinate claims.
An essential advantage of the invention resides in the fact that it is possible to arrange the data module within the plug connector housing or within the adaptor module, and that its data may still be addressed irrespective of the conventional cabling of the plug connector. In particular, it is thus also possible to exchange data in a bidirectional manner. The data module may generate, receive, store and/or process data from measured values that are obtained within the plug connector and also to output said data via one or various ports. As an alternative or in addition thereto, the data module may store an identification code and/or specific data relating to the respective plug connector and/or connected devices.
It is of particular advantage that it is also possible to configure the data transmission from a shielding, by way of example metal, plug connector housing without the housing requiring for this purpose a modification that could otherwise impair the shielding effect.
A particular advantage of the invention resides in the fact that it is possible by using an adaptor module to retrofit existing housings that are already well-established in the market. As a consequence, it is possible to modify existing modules in a cost-effective manner. It is also of a great economic advantage that the production process of corresponding housings may remain unchanged.
In a preferred embodiment, the cable gland comprises a screw thread.
It is possible using such a screw thread to screw such a cable gland generally directly in or onto a corresponding mating thread of the preferably circular cable outlet opening of the plug connector housing, in the event that the respective application by way of example does not require an adaptor module. The cable gland naturally comprises a cable passage opening that is provided for guiding through a cable, and comprises furthermore means that are suitable for fixing the cable during the insertion procedure, with the result that the cable is generally held in a stable manner against the plug connector so as to provide strain relief.
However, it is also possible in accordance with the invention for the adaptor module to comprise a screw thread at its preferably circular cable inlet opening, in particular at its hollow cylindrical cable inlet connection piece and it is possible using said screw thread to screw said adaptor module into or onto the said mating thread of the plug connector housing.
Furthermore, the adaptor module may comprise a cable passage region that lies adjacent to the cable inlet opening and the cable may be guided through said cable passage region. The adaptor module comprises a preferably circular cable outlet opening at the opposite-lying end of this cable passage opening. Said preferably circular cable outlet opening may be by way of example a hollow cylindrical cable outlet connection piece and likewise comprise a screw thread into or on which it is possible to screw the said—or also another—cable gland.
If the diameter and the thread shape of the cable outlet opening of the adaptor module match those of the plug connector, this is of advantage, the reason being that it is consequently possible to use the same cable gland that is also provided for the conventional use of the plug connector and this simplifies the production process and also reduces costs.
However, the structural shape of the adapter module may necessitate that by way of example the diameter of its cable inlet opening differs from the diameter of the cable outlet opening of the plug connector housing, for example is smaller than the diameter of said cable outlet opening. In this case, the adaptor module may comprise a dedicated cable gland that is tailored specifically to suit its structure shape, which is advantageous if said cable gland is to be tailored to suit the exact structural conditions of the adaptor module and is thus able to provide a particularly good magnitude of stability.
It is possible in each of these cases for the adaptor module to be screwed to the plug connector housing and for the respective cable gland to be screwed to the adaptor module. This is of advantage, because the adaptor module is thus held in a stable manner between the plug connector housing and the cable gland.
It is naturally also possible to transmit data to the environment of the plug connector via the conventional cable that is guided through the cable outlet opening of the adaptor module out of said adaptor module. However, as already mentioned, the path of this cable limits the extent to which the data may be addressed.
In contrast, the invention has the advantage that, in addition to the conventional functionality of the plug connector, the adaptor module also provides a functional extension that renders possible a separate data output and in particular is even used to provide a separate data exchange that may be freely addressed irrespective of the conventional cabling.
The adaptor module advantageously comprises for this purpose in addition to the said cable outlet opening, further means for outputting data, by way of example one or a plurality of optical display devices, such as for example a display or one or a plurality of in particular different colored LEDs (light emitting diodes). This has the advantage that signals may be optically recognized immediately without the need for further means. On the one hand, this means a reduction in costs and on the other hand also less susceptibility to failure than for example via a radio connection. By way of example, it is possible for this to be displayed in this manner by a plug connector whose proper function is no longer reliably ensured, for example as a result of heat or humidity. This may be simply recognized by appropriately trained personnel, by way of example in the railway industry, and the plug connector may consequently be changed promptly, which is of a particularly large advantage for the operational safety of the corresponding system, by way of example of an industrial plant, a railway or similar.
In addition or as an alternative thereto, the further means for outputting data may comprise one or a plurality of digital interfaces. This has the advantage that the corresponding data may be evaluated in particular in real time. In particular, the data may be transmitted on line, for example via a network, by way of example also via the Internet to a computer and evaluated centrally. In this case, a bidirectional data exchange is also possible, with the result that by way of example the computer may also provide the data module with instructions, by way of example specific measurements at specific points in time.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if at least one of the interfaces is suitable outputting data via a wireless radio connection, because this reduces the corresponding cabling outlay. By way of example, the interface may be a USB-interface, to which it is possible to connect so-called “dongles”, in other words special USE-sticks that comprise by way of example communication modules. These communication modules may be in particular radio modules that use standards such as for example Zig Bee, WLAN, RFID and/or Bluetooth.
It is particularly advantageous if means are provided so as to ensure the energy supply to such a radio module. It is possible for this purpose to connect at least one connection of the at least one interface in an electrically conductive manner to at least one line of the conventional cable, by way of example a so-called POE (power over Ethernet) line.
However, it is possible as an alternative or in addition thereto to also connect an additional cable, namely a communication cable, directly to at least one of these interfaces, which inter alia has the advantage that the data security of the transmission is increased in contrast to a radio connection. The interfaces may be by way of example USB, RJ45 and/or M6 plug connection interfaces or the like. Visual modules that comprise LED lamps or displays may also be connected to these interfaces. In this case, the electrical energy supply to the modules may be realized via the communication cable.
In a further preferred embodiment, the data module is arranged in the adaptor module. As a consequence, installation space is created in the plug connector housing for its conventional components/plug connector modules, which represents an additional advantage.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and further explained below. In the drawings:
a,b, c illustrates a plug connector having an adaptor module, a cable gland and a radio dongle;
a, b illustrates a plug connector housing having an adaptor module, which comprises an optical display device, and a cable gland.
The figures show in part simplified, schematic illustration. In part, identical reference numerals are used for like but where appropriate non-identical elements. Different views of like elements could be scaled differently.
The adaptor module 2 comprises a cable passage region 28 between the cable inlet connection piece 22 and the cable outlet connection piece 23.
Furthermore, a cable gland 3 is illustrated that comprises an inner thread that is likewise not visible in the drawing and may be used to screw said cable gland onto the cable outlet connection piece 23.
As an alternative thereto, the cable outlet connection piece 23 could also comprise an inner thread and the cable gland 3 could comprise an outer thread, with which it would be possible to screw said cable gland into the cable outlet connection piece 11.
In particular, the adaptor module 2 comprises an outlet surface 24 in which it is possible to arrange means for outputting data and/or signals.
As is illustrated in
Furthermore,
The data module 5 in
Accordingly, the plug connection of the data module 5 is a so-called push-pull plug connection that may be operated together with the corresponding push-pull plug connector 42. The plug connection of the data module 5 may be connected to the bus system 70 via the data line 51. If necessary, the data module 5 may also be supplied with electrical energy via this data line 51 and consequently via the push-pull plug connector 42 and its data cable 421.
The adaptor module 2 in
The adaptor module in
1 Plug connector housing
11 Cable outlet opening
111 Inner thread of cable outlet opening
2 Adaptor module
22 Cable inlet opening/Cable inlet connection piece
221 Outer thread of the cable inlet connection piece
23 Cable outlet opening/Cable outlet connection piece
231 Outer thread of the cable outlet connection piece
24 Outlet surface
28 Cable passage region
3 Cable gland
41 Radio dongle
42 Push-pull plug connector
421 Data cable
43 LED dongle
44 Display
45 LED display
5 Data module
51 Data line
52 Interface
6 Conventional cable
61 Supply line
7 Plug connector modules
70 Bus system
71 Electrical module
72 Optical module
73 Pneumatic module
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2015 116 927.4 | Oct 2015 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/DE2016/100462 | 10/4/2016 | WO | 00 |
