EP1251591B1 - Connector for electronic componants - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has first and second plug connection element (1,2) that can be mutually engaged to form electrical signal lines and at least one earth line and at least one screen plate (3',4) on each connection element. The screen plates can be fixed to each connection element by latching connections and have solder lugs (7,8') that protrude from each element in the latched state. The plates lie in flat contact with each other in the connected state.

Description

The invention relates to a connector, in particular for SMD connector ("surface-mounted device"), for connecting electronic components according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such connectors are known and used in various designs. They consist of two connector elements that can be brought into mutual engagement. They have a large number of electrically conductive contacts for the production of electrically conductive connections. The SMD connectors are plugged onto a circuit board and, for example, via a latching connection releasably fixed to this. The latching is preferably carried out with latching projections in the form of barbs, which engage in corresponding latching depressions. The arranged on the circuit board connector is detachably connected to a complementary shaped connector element connectable to the For example, circuit board to a multi-core cable, which is provided at the end with the complementarily shaped other connector element to connect.

In order to reduce the influence of external electromagnetic fields on this connector or to avoid electrical crosstalk in this connector, it is known in the art to provide both connector elements with a surrounding the respective electrical contacts shield plate made of an electrically conductive material. The shield plates additionally serve as ground conductors for grounding the plug connection or the printed circuit board per se. From the EP-A-0 793 312 is z. B. such, two plug-in elements exhibiting connector known.
Such a connector in which the connector elements are formed by a male connector and a spring bar, z. B. from the US 4,836,791 known. In both connectors, the contacting takes place between the shield plates of the two connector elements by means of projections or convex protruding body sections.

Especially in the case of permanently remaining on the circuit boards connector elements arises here the problem of permanent electrical contacting of the shielding plates. In addition, it requires in the previously known connectors with shielding a considerable installation effort, if such a connector should be equipped with a shield plate. Also, the electrical contacting of these shrouds is solved so far only unsatisfactory.

Based on this prior art, the skilled artisan is tasked with a connector with shielding plates to make such that the electrically conductive contact of the two shielding plates is permanently ensured together and the shielding plates are reliably contacted with the associated circuit board.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a connector to connect electronic components according to claim 1; advantageous developments and refinements of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The core idea of the invention is that the shielding plates are fixed during the assembly of a plug connection element in each case via latching connections on the same, so that a relative displacement of the shielding plate is avoided to the connector element. This ensures that in the interconnected state of the two connector elements, the respective shielding plates substantially over the entire surface, ie with their mutually facing body surfaces predominantly planar, directly abut each other and not slip. For this purpose, the shield plates are designed in the form of substantially flat and flat metallic components. Furthermore, solder tails are preferably integrally formed on the shield plates, which from the body of the connector element, usually from an injection molded plastic part is formed, protrude or survive. With these Lötfahnen is, for example in a dip-soldering, the permanent and reliable contacting of the connector element with the shield plate, which also serves as a ground conductor, possible with a circuit board. The Lötfahnen also serve the positioning / alignment of the shield plates during assembly of the connector element and when attaching the connector element on, for example, a circuit board. In this case, the projecting beyond the connector element Lötfahnen z. B. and preferably inserted into corresponding recesses of a board or the like component, wherein the element is automatically aligned in the correct position. With a subsequently produced solder joint, a corresponding holding force for attaching the element is also applied.

The shield plate or the solder tails of the corresponding plug connection element are connected in the same way, for example, to the ground conductor of the multi-core electrical connection cable.

Preferably, the connector elements are designed in the form of known knife and socket connectors, in each of which a plurality of electrical contact blades or springs are arranged. Such strips generally have a cuboidal body. These strips are now equipped in a special training with locking projections or recesses in which corresponding latching projections or - recesses of the correspondingly shaped shielding plate can be brought into latching connection. In this case, the shielding plate is preferably designed such that it continuously circumscribes each around the plurality of electrical contacts to completely shield the connection, or that it is arranged along at least one of the side walls, preferably along a longitudinal side of the connector element, it can also be designed in several pieces be.

To connect the blade with the spring bar, the male connector is provided with a receiving space into which the spring bar is inserted. In this case, protrude from the base of the receiving space, the blades of the male connector in the receiving space and are contacted by the arranged in the spring strip springs. The shield plates are arranged on the strips in each case such that the shield plate of the male connector is provided on the inside of the receiving space and substantially on the body of the male connector, that is, the surrounding the receiving space wall of the injection molded part, directly applied. Accordingly, the shield plate of the spring strip is at its outward arranged facing peripheral surface. In the connected state of the two strips thus lie facing each other, flat and planar areas of the sheets substantially completely and directly to each other.

For the correct nesting of the two strips, guide elements, e.g. in the form of protruding from the body of the bar in the insertion direction projections, be formed, which can be inserted into corresponding recesses on the other bar. This avoids that the two strips tilted into one another and the knives or springs are bent.

It is also proposed to provide corresponding projections for guiding / aligning the strips on the shield plates themselves, which are preferably also integrally formed on the sheets.

To simplify the nesting of the two strips, the edges or end portions of the shield plates, which point in the direction of insertion on the respective other connector element, at least partially bevelled or inclined to the shield plate body arranged, the male connector body outwardly and the spring bar directed towards the body, the sections in cross section thus seen respectively symmetrical widened either funnel-shaped or cone-shaped, better said pyramidal constricted tapering formed to facilitate the insertion of a bar in the other even with inaccurate alignment.

For SMD connector is now provided that also SMD connector elements or - are integrally formed on the shield plates. For a contacting of the shield plates or a shield of the electrical connections in the assembled state is possible. When assembling while the SMD connection of a shielding plate of a connector element with the z. B. printed circuit board or board on which the connector element is plugged, electrically contacted.

Figur 1

in die Explosionsdarstellung eine Messerleiste mit neuem Schirmblech(-en);

Figur 2

in Explosionsdarstellung eine zugehörige Federleiste, ebenfalls mit neuem Schirmblech(-en);

Figur 3

einen aus Messer- und Federleiste bestehenden Steckverbinder in teilweise geschnittener Darstellung.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following description part with reference to an embodiment schematically illustrated in the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

in the exploded view, a male connector with new shielding plate (-en);

FIG. 2

in an exploded view, an associated spring strip, also with a new shroud (-en);

FIG. 3

an existing male and female connector in a partially cut representation.

The male connector 1 in FIG. 1 consists of a plastic injection-molded part, which with sidewalls 23, 24, two end faces 28 and a bottom 27, a receiving space 9 circumscribes. On the bottom side openings 13 are provided, can be passed through the electrical contact blades 15 and preferably via a latching connection can be fixed. At the inner lateral wall portions 19 of the receiving space 9, the shield plates 3, 3 'are directly on, wherein on the shield plates 3, 3', Lötfahnen 7, 7 'and SMD - connector are integrally formed on 3, which are guided in channels 26 and also the body of the male connector 1 on the bottom side 25 pass through, and are solderable, for example, on a, not shown here, printed circuit board. These SMD connections 21 are used for contacting in an SMD connector

Furthermore, latching devices, here in the form of hook-like projections 5, are integrally formed on the shielding plates 3, 3 ', which can be brought into corresponding recesses 17 in the male connector 1. This is a determination of the shield plates 3, 3 'relative to the male connector. 1 allows, so that a relative movement between the two components is prevented.

Likewise, on the shield plates 3, 3 'inclined, here outwardly projecting projections 11, preferably integrally formed, so that as seen through the projections 11, in cross-section of the longitudinal extent of the male connector 1, a funnel-shaped insertion aid is formed.

From the illustration in FIG. 2 is the substantially symmetrical configuration of the spring strip 2 can be seen. It is also formed by a body, with side walls 20 and end faces 29, which is provided with apertures 14 through the lower and upper surfaces of the body for the positioning of the springs 16 and insertion of the blades 15 at the mating. The springs 16 can also be fixed via a latching connection. On the outer sides 20 of the spring strip 2 are the shield plates 4, 4 'directly on, with the shielding plates 4, 4' also soldering lugs 8 are formed. Again, the shield plates 4, 4 'with locking connections in the form of latching hooks 6, which are engageable in recesses 18 on the spring bar 2, can be fixed. The projections 12 are here towards the center, that is, in the direction of the plane of symmetry of the spring strip 2, inclined to, seen in cross-section to the longitudinal extent of the spring strip 2, a conical / pyramidal taper of the projections 12 to obtain.

With the SMD terminals 22, the formation of an SMD contact on z. B. a circuit board or board allows to obtain a shield for such a connection. From the partially cut representation in FIG. 3 is a connector consisting of a male connector 1 and a spring bar 2, seen in the assembled state. The blades 15 are in electrical contact with the springs 16. The shield plates 3, 4 'and 3', 4 are in the assembled state substantially over the entire surface to each other. The electrical contacting of the shield plates 3, 3 'and 4, 4' via the associated, preferably on the respective bottom of the connector projecting Lötfahnen 7, 7 'and 8, 8'.

In the FIGS. 1 to 3 not shown embodiments of the invention still consist in that the shield plates 3, 3 'and 4, 4' are formed in one piece or in several parts. In some cases, it is advantageous if the shielding plates 3, 3 'of the male connector 1 and / or the shielding plates 4, 4' of the female connector 2 are each formed in one piece in one piece.

All mentioned in the above description as well as the only removable from the drawing features are Further components of the invention, even if they are not particularly highlighted and in particular not mentioned in the claims.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment described, but in the context of the disclosure often variable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Male connector

2

Female connector

3, 3 '

Shielding sheets (to pos. 1)

4, 4 '

Shielding sheets (to pos. 2)

5

Latch hook (at pos. 3 or 3 ')

6

Latch hook (at pos. 4 resp. 4 ')

7, 7 '

Soldering lugs (at pos. 3 resp. 3 ')

8, 8 '

Soldering lugs (at pos. 4 resp. 4 ')

9

accommodation space

11

inclined sections (at pos. 3 or 3 ')

12

inclined sections (at pos. 4 resp. 4 ')

13

Openings (for item 15 in item 1)

14

Breakthroughs (for item 16 in item 2)

15

knife

16

feathers

17

Recesses (in item 1 for item 5)

18

Recesses (in item 2 for item 6)

19

inner wall (from pos. 1)

20

outer wall (from Pos. 2)

21

SMD connection (at pos. 3 and 3 ')

22

SMD connection (at pos. 4 and 4 ')

23, 24

Sidewalls (from Pos. 1)

25

outer surface (from pos. 27)

26

channels

27

ground

28

End faces (from pos. 1)

29

End faces (from Pos. 2)

Claims (8)

1. Plug connector, particularly for SMD plugs, for connecting electronic components, comprising a first and second plug connecting element (1, 2), which can brought into mutual engagement and form a plurality of electrical signal lines (15, 16) and at least one earth conductor, wherein a respective electrical screen in the form of at least one screen plate (3, 3' or 4, 4') is provided at each of the two plug connecting elements (1, 2), wherein the screen plates (3, 3' or 4, 4') are each fastenable by way of detent connections (5, 17 or 6, 18) to the respective plug connecting element (1 or 2) and the screen plates (3, 3'; 4, 4') have solder tabs (7, 7'; 8, 8') which in the detented state protrude from the respective plug connecting element (1, 2), characterised in that in the connected state of the plug connecting elements (1, 2) the respective screen plates (3, 4'; 3', 4) bear against one another in predominantly planar manner and all over by their mutually facing body surfaces.
2. Plug connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the plug connecting elements (1, 2) are blade and spring strips, wherein the blade strip (1) has a receiving space (9) for the spring strip (2) and the screen plates (3; 3') of the blade strip (1) are arranged at the inner side (19) at this receiving space (9), and wherein the screen plates (4; 4') of the spring strip (2) are arranged at the spring strip (2) at the outer side (20).
3. Plug connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a projection is arranged at at least one of the screen plates (3, 3'; 4, 4') to face the respective other plug connecting element (1, 2), the projection being able to be brought into engagement in a corresponding depression at the other plug connecting element (2, 1).
4. Plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at the edge regions, which respectively face the other plug connecting element (2, 1), of the screen plates (3, 3', 4, 4') respective sections (11 or 12) of the respective plate (3, ..., 4') are oppositely inclined relative to one another out from the body main plane.
5. Plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that respective SMD plug connecting elements (21; 22) for electrical contact-making of the respective screen plate (3, 3'; 4, 4') of the connecting element (1, 2) with a circuitboard or the like, onto which the plug connecting element (1, 2) is plugged, are formed at the screen plates (3, 3'; 4, 4').
6. Plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the screen plates (3, 3' or 4, 4') are of integral construction.
7. Plug connector according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterised in that the screen plates (3, 3' or 4, 4') are of multi-part construction.
8. Plug connector according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterised in that the screen plates (3, 3') are constructed integrally together with the blade strip (1) and/or the screen plates (4, 4') are constructed integrally together with the spring strip (2), respectively.

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