EP3540865B1 - External conductor arrangement - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an outer conductor arrangement and a production method for an outer conductor arrangement.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Connectors are known, for example, through the "PosiBand" plug from Positronic, both with open entry and with closed entry.

A connector with an open entry is in Figure 3 shown. Such connectors have a front edge on the interface side that is not closed all the way round. As a rule, interruptions in the leading edge are formed by contact tabs. Connectors with an open entry can better compensate for manufacturing tolerances and reduce the insertion forces required for mating.

A connector with a closed entry is in Figure 4 shown. Such connectors have a closed front edge on the interface side. Contact lugs can be surrounded by a housing. Connectors with a closed entry prevent the connector from being damaged by mechanical forces, for example by attempting to plug in a wrong mating connector. They also lead to significantly increased insertion forces.

Tests of the prior art show that the optimization of one of the parameters EMC tightness, plug-in forces and stability and impedance optimization of a connector in the high-frequency range contradict each other. For example, this can be seen in existing products from the applicant, Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG. Figure 9 shows such a product.

In Figure 5 an outer conductor 90 of a high-voltage (HV) connector, which is designed for frequencies in the megahertz range, is shown. The outer conductor comprises a closed inlet 91 and resilient contact tabs 92 with contact points 93 which are located behind the closed inlet. Depending on the frequency, resonances occur on the outer conductor due to capacitances between the plug partners. Although the above-mentioned disadvantages do not yet occur in this frequency range, there is, however, the need to provide an outer conductor which is suitable for a plug in a higher frequency range. The US 20140364013 A1 and the DE 202013001452 U1 show an outer conductor arrangement for a connector having an outer conductor base body and an outer conductor ring, the outer conductor base body having several contact tabs, the outer conductor ring being connected to an interface-side end of the outer conductor base body, being connected to the outer conductor base body at at least one connection area by means of a retaining tab and being of a closed structure, in order to form a closed entry of the outer conductor arrangement, contact lugs being provided which are not connected to the outer conductor ring.

This is a condition that needs to be improved.

The EP 0476848 B1 , which is regarded as the closest prior art, shows an outer conductor arrangement for a connector having an outer conductor base body and an outer conductor ring, the outer conductor base body having several contact lugs, the outer conductor ring being connected to an interface-side end of the outer conductor base body, to at least one connection area by means of a retaining lug the outer conductor base body is connected and is of a closed structure in order to form a closed entry of the outer conductor arrangement, contact lugs being provided which are not connected to the outer conductor ring, a diameter jump being formed between the outer conductor ring and the outer conductor base body, the diameter of the outer conductor base body being larger is than the diameter of the outer conductor ring. The EP 3 396 791 A1 is state of the art according to Art. 54 (3) EPC. It discloses an outer conductor arrangement according to claim 1 except for the feature that the outer conductor ring has no indentation and no bulge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against this background, the present invention is based on the object of specifying a connector with a closed inlet and improved impedance properties.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by an outer conductor arrangement having the features of claim 1.

The idea on which the present invention is based is to arrange ends of contact tabs of an outer conductor behind an outer conductor ring in such a way that the contact tabs can be flexibly deformed to ensure low insertion forces and at the same time to create a closed entry through an outer conductor ring.

Accordingly, the contact tabs that are not connected to the outer conductor ring have the same tolerance-compensating properties as the contact tabs according to FIG. 7.

In this patent application, a ring is understood to mean a rotating object. Its cross-sectional area can be round, oval, elliptical or the like, among other things.

According to the invention, the outer conductor arrangement has an inward diameter jump between the outer conductor base body and the outer conductor ring. Jumps in diameter in the outer conductor allow the impedance to be adjusted. According to the invention, the outer conductor ring is connected to the outer conductor base body by means of a joining process, e.g. by means of welding.

In addition, the outer conductor ring has no indentation and no bulge.

Advantageous refinements and developments emerge from the further subclaims and from the description with reference to the figures of the drawing.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

According to the invention it is provided that the outer conductor ring has no bulge or indentation.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer conductor ring is designed to protect contact tabs from the effects of mechanical forces. This is necessary if a connector should also be able to be plugged in from an oblique direction or if it should be able to withstand the effects of forces from an oblique direction in the plugged-in state without damaging the outer conductor. According to one embodiment of the present invention, this protection of the contact tabs can be ensured by a closed entry of the outer conductor.

This embodiment of the present invention thus solves the problem of reducing insertion forces and at the same time increasing the stability of a connector. In practice, however, the optimization of these two properties works in opposite directions, i.e. a desired increase in stability leads to an undesired increase in the insertion force and vice versa.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one contact tab is designed as a retaining tab to which the outer conductor ring is connected. In this way, the outer conductor ring can be attached to the outer conductor base body in a particularly simple and secure manner.

Alternatively, it is also possible to attach the outer conductor ring to another part of the outer conductor. In particular, the retaining tab does not necessarily have to be a contact tab. A contact tab is used to contact a mating connector to which a connector having the outer conductor arrangement is to be connected.

If contact tabs are only connected to the outer conductor base, they have resilient properties. The retaining tabs can be designed in such a way that their rigidity is greater than the rigidity of the contact tabs that are not connected.

If the outer conductor ring is connected to several tabs, in particular to two tabs on the outer conductor base body, this has a lower resilience than the contact tabs that are not connected to the outer conductor ring.

It is advantageous if a main direction of extent of the holding tab runs in the circumferential direction of the outer conductor holding ring and / or if the main direction of extent of the holding tab runs perpendicular to the main direction of extent of the contact tabs.

What is particularly advantageous about the connector according to the invention is that it can also be manufactured by a stamping process, including the diameter jumps.

If a connector according to the invention is manufactured by a stamping process, jumps in the diameter of the retaining tabs can be produced.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer conductor base body has two retaining tabs. The retaining tabs can be straight or curved.

It is also useful if a resilient contact tab is provided in the holding tab.

According to a preferred embodiment, the outer conductor ring has a protective collar which protrudes in the radial direction from the free ends of the contact lugs, the protective collar being designed to protect the contact lugs of the outer conductor base body from the effects of mechanical forces. It can be provided that the protective collar prevents the contact tabs from being damaged by objects such as tools. In one embodiment, the protective collar can be designed as a vertical wall that protrudes from the outer conductor ring, or as a curved tab which covers the front ends of the contact tabs.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the contact tabs each have a raised contact point for contacting a mating connector. Thus, the contact tabs experience a pretension in the plugged-in state, which improves the contact. In this way, the shielding of the connector is improved. In order to reduce insertion forces, it is possible to arrange these contact points offset in the axial direction.

According to an embodiment that is not claimed, the outer conductor ring and the outer conductor base body are formed in one piece.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer conductor base body is designed as a stamped part. Stamped parts can be produced in a particularly cost-effective manner. In particular, the production of stamped parts can take place in a highly automated manner. However, the creation of jumps in diameter in punching processes for connectors with a closed inlet is only possible in conjunction with other mechanical ones Disadvantages such as high insertion forces or low contact forces are possible.

The above configurations and developments can be combined with one another as desired, provided that it makes sense. Further possible configurations, developments and implementations of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention that are not explicitly mentioned above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments. In particular, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the present invention.

CONTENTS OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer Außenleiteranordnung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

zeigt eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer Außenleiteranordnung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 3

zeigt eine schematische Ansicht des Standes der Technik;

Fig. 4

zeigt eine schematische Ansicht des Standes der Technik;

Fig. 5

zeigt eine schematische Ansicht des Standes der Technik;

The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments specified in the schematic figures of the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

shows a schematic perspective view of an outer conductor arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2

shows a schematic perspective view of an outer conductor arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the prior art;

Fig. 4

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the prior art;

Fig. 5

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the prior art;

The accompanying figures of the drawing are intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned emerge with a view to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale with one another.

In the figures of the drawing, identical, functionally identical and identically acting elements, features and components - unless stated otherwise - are each provided with the same reference symbols.

The figures are described in a coherent and comprehensive manner below.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an outer conductor arrangement 100 according to the invention in the unassembled state. The outer conductor arrangement 100 according to the invention comprises the outer conductor base body 200 and the outer conductor ring 300. The outer conductor arrangement 100 is designed to receive one or more inner conductors and one or more insulating parts in order to provide a coaxial, twin-axial or triaxial plug connector.

The outer conductor base body 200 comprises a plurality of contact tabs 201 on its top and bottom and on the right and left side each have a retaining tab, which is designed as a contact tab 203. The contact tab 203 is slightly larger than the contact tabs 201 and thus also stiffer than the contact tabs 201. The outer conductor ring 300 is also formed on the contact tabs 203, which additionally contributes to an increased rigidity of the contact tabs 203 compared to the contact tabs 201.

The contact tabs 201 each have a contact point 204 in a front end region. The contact point is designed as an elevation on the contact lugs 201 and, when plugged in, makes contact with the outer conductor of a mating connector that is plugged into the outer conductor arrangement 100. This ensures electromagnetic shielding on the upper and lower sides of the outer conductor arrangement 100 from inner conductors (not shown) guided in the outer conductor main body 200 by the outer conductor main body 200.

In Figure 2 the contact tabs 203 also each have a contact point 205. The contact point 205 is formed on a spring tab 207 in the contact tab 203. This ensures that the outer conductor arrangement 100 also provides electromagnetic shielding on the sides of the outer conductor arrangement.

In Figure 1 it can be seen that the outer conductor base body 200 provides a jump in diameter between the contact lugs 201, 203 and the outer conductor ring 300.

In Figure 1 the outer conductor ring 300 is connected to the outer conductor base body 200 via a weld seam 209. According to an alternative not claimed, the outer conductor base body 200 and the outer conductor ring 300 can be formed in one piece.

The outer conductor ring 300 comprises the protective collar 305, which protects the ends of the contact lugs 201 from the action of force from foreign bodies.

List of reference symbols

100

Outer conductor arrangement

200

Outer conductor body

201

Contact tabs

203

Contact tabs

204

Contact point

205

Contact point

207

Spring tab

300

Outer conductor ring

305

Protective collar

Claims (10)

1. An outer conductor arrangement (100) for a plug connector having an outer conductor base body (200) and an outer conductor ring (300),
   wherein the outer conductor base body (200) has a plurality of contact tabs (201, 203),
   wherein the outer conductor ring (300) connects to an interface-side end of the outer conductor base body (200), is connected to the outer conductor base body (200) by means of a retaining tab (203) in at least one connecting region and is of a closed structure, in order to form a closed entry of the outer conductor arrangement (100),
   wherein contact tabs (201) are provided, which are not connected to the outer conductor ring (300), wherein a jump in diameter is formed between the outer conductor ring (300) and the outer conductor base body (200), wherein the diameter of the outer conductor base body (200) is larger than the diameter of the outer conductor ring (300),
   wherein the outer conductor ring (300) has no indentation and no protrusion, characterized in that the outer conductor ring (300) is connected to the outer conductor base body (200) by means of a joining process.
2. The outer conductor arrangement (100) according to claim 1, wherein the outer conductor ring (300) is configured to protect the contact tabs (201, 203) against the mechanical influence of forces.
3. The outer conductor arrangement (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one contact tab (203) has a connecting region, in that the contact tab (203) is designed as a retaining tab (203), to which the outer conductor ring (300) is connected.
4. The outer conductor arrangement (100) according to claim 3, wherein the outer conductor ring (300) is connected to the retaining tab (203) by means of a joining process, in particular, by means of a welding seam.
5. The outer conductor arrangement (100) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the outer conductor base body (200) has a plurality of retaining tabs (203), in particular, two retaining tabs (203).
6. The outer conductor arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the retaining tab (203) has a resilient contact tab (207) in the retaining tab (203).
7. The outer conductor arrangement (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer conductor ring (300) has a protective collar (305), which projects in the radial direction relative to the free ends of the contact tabs (201), wherein the protective collar (305) is configured to protect the contact tabs (201) of the outer conductor base body (200) against the impact of mechanical forces.
8. The outer conductor arrangement (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact tabs (201, 203) in each case have an elevated contact point (204, 205) for contacting a mating plug connector to be connected to the plug connector.
9. The outer conductor arrangement (100) according to claim 8, wherein the contact points (204, 205) are formed offset relative to one another in the axial direction of the outer conductor base body (200).
10. The outer conductor arrangement (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer conductor base body (200) and/or the outer conductor ring (300) is designed as a stamped part.

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