Multi-pole plug-in connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-pole plug-in connector (10) having contact elements (16) which comprise a flat plug-in area (30) that transitions to a flat conduction area (18) the wide side (50) of which lies in a contact column plane (14). The wide side (31) of the flat plug-in area (30) is rotated by a predefined angle (70) relative to the wide side (50) of the flat conduction area (18). The plug-in connector (10) according to the invention is especially suited for making plug-in connections for transmission of high-frequency signals, especially in high-frequency digital signal transmission, where the data transfer rate may be over 10 GBit/s.

Description

Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing and will be described hereafter in more detail.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a multi-pole plug-in connector;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of contact elements of a multi-pole plug-in connector according to the prior art;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of contact elements of a multi-pole plug-in connector according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows another perspective view of contact elements of a multi-pole plug-in connector according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows an extended perspective view of contact elements of a multi-pole plug-in connector according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of contact elements of a multi-pole plug-in connector according to the invention, in contact with matching contact elements of a corresponding multi-pole plug-in connector.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a plug-in connector 10 comprising a plurality of plug-in contacts 13 arranged in a plug-in contact column 11 and in a plug-in contact row 12. The plug-in contacts 13 arranged in the plug-in contact column 11 each lie in a contact column plane 14, while the plug-in contacts 13 arranged in the plug-in contact row 12 lie in a contact row plane 15.

The plug-in contacts 13 are each formed by contact elements 16, each comprising a plug-in area, arranged in a housing 17 of the plug-in connector and, therefore, not visible in FIG. 1, further a flat conduction area 18 and a solder area 19. The solder area 19 is intended for being soldered to a printed board 20 that extends in a printed board plane 21.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of contact elements that do not, however, comprise the essential feature of the invention. Although, accordingly, the contact elements shown in FIG. 2 correspond to the prior art, those parts of the contact elements that correspond to the respective parts of the contact elements 16 according to the invention will be described hereafter by way of explanation.

In FIG. 2, a flat plug-in area 30 is shown to have an at least approximately rectangular cross-section, for example, so that a wide side 31 and a narrow side 32 of the plug-in connector 30 are obtained, the wide side 31 having a predefined width 33, at least by sections. According to the prior art, the wide side 31 of the plug-in area 30 extends in the contact column plane 14.

Provided in the plug-in area 30 is a contact spring 34 which comprises a first and a second spring leg 35, 36 that are connected one to the other via a spring leg connection member 37. Contact tips 38, 39 formed on the forward ends of the two spring legs 35, 36 form together a contact inlet in the plug-in direction 40 of the plug-in connector 10.

In the plug-in area 30, there is provided at least one locking element 41 for the plug-in area which, after assembly of the contact element 16 in the plug-in connector housing 17, engages a corresponding recess provided in the plug-in connector housing 17 thereby helping increase the mechanical stability, especially increasing the pull-out strength.

The plug-in area 30 is followed by the flat conduction area 18, which likewise has an at least approximately rectangular cross-section, for example, so that a wide side 50 and a narrow side 51 are obtained for the conduction area 18.

The solder areas 19, which for example comprise SMD connections 60 for being soldered to a printed conductor structure on the printed board 20, not shown in detail, are provided at the rear ends of the contact elements 16.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the contact elements 16 having the design provided according to the invention. Those elements in FIG. 3 that correspond to the respective elements shown in connection with the previous figures are indicated by the same reference numerals, respectively.

It is envisaged by the invention that the wide side 31 of the plug-in area 30 is rotated by a predefined angle 70 relative to the wide side 50 of the conduction area 18 of a contact element 16.

The value of the angle 70 can be adjusted to the expected space required for spreading out the contact tips 38, 39 when establishing contact with the corresponding contact element of the corresponding plug-in connector, taking into account the spacing 71 between two contact elements 16 arranged one adjacent the other in the direction of the plug-in contact column 11. An especially convenient solution is obtained when the angle 70 is determined to be at least approximately 90 degrees. In this case, the wide side 31 of the plug-in area 30 extends at least approximately in parallel to a contact row plane 15. In the soldered condition of the plug-in connector 10 on the printed board 20 the contact row plane 15 preferably extends in parallel to the plane 21 of the printed board.

Rotation by the predefined angle 70 of preferably 90 degrees initially allows the spacing 71 between two contact elements 16, arranged one adjacent the other in the contact column plane 14, to be reduced as the spring legs 35, 36 with the contact tips 38, 39 formed thereon, if any, are no longer spread out in a direction parallel to the contact column plane 14, but rather in a direction defined by the angle 70 during contact-making. Provided the angle has the preferred value of at least approximately 90 degrees, such spreading-out during contact-making occurs at least approximately in the contact row plane 15. As a result of the space savings that are rendered possible in this case, a comparatively higher number of plug-in contacts 13 can be accommodated within the predefined dimensions of the plug-in connector housing 17.

A special advantage achieved by an angle of at least approximately 90 degrees results from the fact that the sides 31 placed one opposite the other in at least approximately parallel arrangement are the wide sides 31 of the plug-in areas 30 of contact elements 16 arranged one adjacent the other in a contact column plane 14. This provides substantial advantages in terms of electric field distribution, depending on the signals carried through the contact elements 16. Especially, a low stray field is obtained as the field lines mainly occur between the wide sides 31 of two contact elements 16 arranged one adjacent the other in the contact column plane 14. Thus, an especially good screening effect is achieved without any need for special additional screening measures.

By adapting the spacing 71 to the wide side 31 of the plug-in area 30, which exhibits the width 33 at least by sections, or that exhibits the average width 33, at least approximately, it is possible in an especially advantageous way to purposefully influence the surge impedance determined by the conductor arrangement (and the dielectric) formed at least by two contact elements 16 arranged one adjacent the other in the contact column plane 14. Such adaptation is generally performed between the space 71 and the wide side 31 of the plug-in area 30. Specifically, such adaptation may be effected between the spacing 71 and the width 33 of the plug-in area 30, defined at least by sections. It is thereby possible to keep any variation in surge resistance in the area of the plug-in connection as small as possible in order to prevent undesirable line reflections. One thereby obtains good signal quality and/or high signal integrity.

Rotation by the predefined angle 70 leads to increased rigidity of the contact element 16. It is thus possible for the contact element 16 to absorb higher forces during the plugging operation without any risk of bending, especially in the conduction area 18. Especially, an increased torsion moment is obtained without increasing the input of material, compared with the contact elements known from the prior art.

By purposefully predefining the cross-section of the spring legs 35, 36, it is possible to purposefully influence the force to be applied during the plugging operation. Especially, it is envisaged to continuously reduce the cross-section of the spring legs 35, 36, at least by sections, from the connection member 37 in a direction opposite to the plugging direction 40. This minimizes the consumption of material.

According to another feature that aims at influencing the rigidity of the contact element 16, especially in the plug-in area 30, a stepped reduction 42 in cross-section is provided in the area of the spring legs 35, 36.

FIG. 3 contains further configurations that relate to the conduction area 18. Preferably, at least one conduction-area fixing element 52 is provided in the conduction area 18. The conduction-area fixing element 52 is intended to coact with a recess provided in the plug-in connector housing 17 in order to contribute toward increasing the mechanical stability, especially toward increasing the pull-out strength of the plug-in connector 10.

FIG. 3 further shows at least one offset 52 provided in the conduction area 18 of the contact element 16 and extending in the contact column plane 14. The neighboring contact elements 16, extending in a contact column plane 14, may have differently configured offsets 53. The at least one offset 53 allows the spacing of the contact elements 16 in the conduction area 18, not shown in detail in FIG. 3, to be varied.

FIG. 4 shows a different perspective view of the contact elements 16 illustrated in FIG. 3. Those parts in FIG. 4 that correspond to the parts illustrated in FIG. 3 are identified by identical reference numerals. Especially, the stepped reduction 42 of the cross-section in the area of the spring legs 35, 36 is clearly visible in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows an extended perspective view of the contact elements 16 of the multi-pole plug-in connector 10 according to the invention. Those parts in FIG. 5 that correspond to the parts illustrated in the previous figures, are identified by identical reference numerals. FIG. 5 illustrates the way in which the spacing 71 between the contact elements 16 arranged one adjacent the other in the contact column plane 14 can be influenced by the at least one offset 53 in the conduction area 18. Further, FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the solder area 19, with THR solder connections provided instead of the SMD connections 60 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the contact elements 16 of the multi-pole plug-in connector 10 according to the invention, in contact with corresponding contact elements 80 of a corresponding multi-pole plug-in connector. If the contact elements 16 in the plug-in area 30 are designed as spring elements 34, then the corresponding contact elements 80 are implemented as pins that are locked in place and contacted in the plugged condition by the contact tips 38, 39 of the spring elements 34.

Claims

1. Multi-pole plug-in connector having contact elements (16) which comprise a flat plug-in area (30) that transitions to a flat conduction area (18) the wide side (50) of which lies in a contact column plane (14), wherein the wide side (31) of the flat plug-in area (30) is rotated by a predefined angle (70) relative to the wide side (50) of the flat conduction area (18).

2. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the angle (70) is 90 degrees, at least approximately.

3. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 1, wherein at least two contact elements (16) are arranged one adjacent the other in one contact column plane (14) and the wide side (31) of the plug-in areas (30) and the spacing (71) between the two plug-in areas (30) are matched one to the other purposefully.

4. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 3, wherein the width (33) of the plug-in areas (30) and the spacing (71) between the two plug-in areas (30) are matched one to the other purposefully.

5. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the plug-in area (30) comprises a spring element (34) having two spring legs (35, 36).

6. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 5, wherein the cross-section of the spring legs (35, 36) diminishes substantially continuously, at least by sections, from a connection member (37) of the spring legs (35, 36) in a direction opposite to the plug-in direction (40).

7. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 5, wherein a stepped reduction (42) in cross-section, in a direction opposite to the plug-in direction (40), is provided in the area of the spring legs (35, 36).

8. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 5, wherein the two spring legs (35, 36) lie in one contact row plane (15).

9. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 5, wherein contact tips (38, 39) are provided on the spring legs (35, 36).

10. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the plug-in area (30) comprises at least one plug-in area locking element (41).

11. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the conduction area (18) comprises at least one conduction-area locking element (52).

12. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one offset (53) is provided in the contact column plane (14) in the conduction area (18).

13. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 1, wherein a solder area (19) is provided following the flat conduction area (18) of the contact element (16).

14. The plug-in connector as defined in claim 13, wherein the solder area (19) comprises a SMD solder termination.