Abstract:
A round plug-in connector has a connection side configured for contacting circuit boards. For transmitting several independent, differential signals, the plug-in connector includes electric contacts arranged in pairs, with each of four signal pairs being insulated from each other by a cruciform structure, and being arranged inside an electrically non-conductive round body surrounding the cruciform structure. An electrically conductive screen cross is surrounded by a cruciform contact carrier with accepting grooves in diagonally embodied internal edges for holding the electric contacts. The round body is pushed over the cruciform arrangement, and is surrounded by an electrically conductive housing. Connection ends of the electric contacts that are intended to be aligned precisely on a circuit board, via a positioning aid, are attached to the round body. The positioning aid includes respective bore holes for the connection ends of the electric contacts, which coincide with soldered bore holes on the circuit board.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a national stage of PCT/DE11/075190 filed Aug. 10, 2011 and published in German, which has a priority of German no. 10 2010 034 269.6 filed Aug. 13, 2010, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention relates to a plug-in connector for a differential signal and data transmission, with several electric contacts, each being arranged in pairs in a segment of a cruciform connector structure. 
     Such a plug-in connector is required to ensure a best-possible transmission of signals over multiple twin-axial cable connections. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Plug-in connectors, with their four pairs of wires being provided for signal transmission, are almost considered prior art, even if various protective publications contradict it. 
     For example, EP 0 755 100 B1 already describes a “set of contacts for cables with twisted, individually insulated pairs of wires”, in which four pairs of wires each are arranged in paired contact fasteners each at the exterior sides of a square connector body. 
     Furthermore, EP 0 809 331 B1 shows a multi-polar plug-in connection system, in which one pair of wires each is accepted in a separate guidance body, with the guidance body being separated by a cruciform structure, formed by a vertical and a horizontal separating wall. 
     These types of plug-in connectors are clearly intended for cable connections. In the meantime, however, decentralized peripheral devices have been developed for network technology, particularly for the Ethernet, in which external round plug-in connectors also must be connected, so that even in a decentralized distributor, round plug-in connectors are arranged on one or more circuit boards inside an insulating housing in a manner as cost-effective as possible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is therefore based on the objective to provide a plug-in connector suitable for the transmission of high-frequency signals, with several electric conductors, which are each to be arranged in pairs in one of several insulating chambers of a plug-in connector housing. Here, one variant is to be provided as an angled version as well as one version embodied straight for a circuit board assembly. 
     This objective is attained such that the cruciform structure for the plug-in connector is embodied from two walls, placed perpendicularly onto each other as the even-sided, longitudinally expanding and electrically conductive insulating cross, 
     that corner sections with an internal edge are formed in the cruciform structure of the contact carrier, which show accepting grooves, in which axially-parallel aligned electric contacts are arranged, 
     that the insulating cross is at least partially encompassed by an approximately cruciform contact carrier, made from an electrically insulating material, and 
     that the contact carrier together with the electric contacts is surrounded by an electrically insulating round body. 
     Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described herein. 
     The invention relates to a round plug-in connector, accepting four differentially embodied signal lines with four chambers, separated from each other, for optimally insulating the four differential signal lines. Here it is advantageous that a cruciform longitudinal structure of the round plug-in connector is provided with one differential signal line inserted into the respective segments, thus two individual lines each. 
     For this purpose, a contact carrier is provided comprising an insulating material, which is intended as the carrier for electric contacts and comprises the insulating cross, in the form such that the contact carrier is injection molded directly around the shielding cross, and can be pushed onto the insulating cross or can be latched thereon in several parts. 
     Here, overall eight electric contacts, either provided with a socket or a pin on their plug-in side, are inserted into the appropriate accepting grooves, advantageously in the corner sections of the cruciform contact carrier. 
     For assembling a circuit board the connection ends are angled by approximately 90°, with here different lengths of the contacts result in order to yield a circular connection formation on the circuit board. 
     An insulating circular body is pushed onto this arrangement, showing four reference circle segments in their plug-in part, in which two of the electric contacts each are located. 
     This way, advantageously a continuously insulated signal transfer is possible, particularly since the insulating round body is always (provided with) a metallic, conductive housing in the form of a front-plate insert for the counter connector or even a complete electrically conducting housing surrounding the circuit board, inside which the internal plug-in connector can be connected to a counter-connector supplied from the outside. 
     For a precise alignment of the connection ends advantageously a positioning aid is provided, which at the connection side is fixated at the plug-in connector and shows bore holes according to the arrangement of the connections of the circuit board, 
     so that the connection ends are precisely aligned to the connections of the circuit board. 
     Here, a gradual height distribution inside the circular arrangement of the bore holes is advantageous so that not all contacts of the circuit board must be connected by the positioning aid at the same time. 
     The electric contacts are embodied as wire contacts and are each snapped in longitudinal grooves in respective grooves in the four segments of the contact carrier so that the round body pushed over it securely accepts the contacts. 
     Here, the electric contacts are optionally embodied as male or female contacts. 
     The preferred round plug-in connector shown here is presented in a straight and an angular version and is designed for a direct assembly on circuit boards. However, a rectangular or square shape is also possible for the plug-in connector. 
     Furthermore it is intended to directly embed the electric contacts, next to the snap-in latches in the appropriate recesses of the contact carrier, in its plastic body. 
     In a preferred embodiment the plug-in connector is provided in an angular design for the assembly on a circuit board. 
     For this angular version for the first time an insulating cross has been developed such that advantageously the perpendicular deflection of the electric contacts is also considered so that the entire length of the contacts is insulated continuously from the plug-in side to the connection side on the circuit board. 
     Primarily it is intended that the plug-in connector initially shows no additional insulating external cover because the final assembly together with the circuit board occurs at least inside an insulating housing comprising all components. 
     In another embodiment, the plug-in connector may also be inserted into an electrically conductive sheath directly surrounding it. 
     However, applications are also provided to arrange one or more plug-in connectors fixated on a circuit board within an electrically non-conductive housing, with the plug-in connector being inserted into an electrically conductive front-plate insert inside an electrically conductive front plate so that the front-plate insert simultaneously forms a fastening option for the counter-connector to be plugged in. 
     Here, the plug-in connector and/or the round body are supported in a “floating fashion”, i.e. only held on the circuit board, while the supplied counter-connector is advantageously held in a screwed connection of a front plate insert. Here, the screwed connection is formed as a sheath, namely reaching beyond the round plug-in connector without the two being connected to each other in a fixed fashion, however an insulating effect is yielded via the screen spring. 
     Furthermore, in another embodiment beneficially a straight design of the plug-in connector is intended to be assembled perpendicular on a circuit board. 
     Here, all inserted electric contacts show the same design. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in greater detail in the following. It shows: 
         FIG. 1  an isometric view of the screen cross; 
         FIG. 2.0  an isometric view of a screen cross with a contact carrier injection molded around it; 
         FIG. 2.1  an isometric view of a contact carrier to be pushed onto the screen cross; 
         FIG. 2.2  an isometric view of two contact carrier-halves for a mutual pushing onto the screen cross; 
         FIG. 2.3  an isometric view of a contact carrier comprising two longitudinal halves to be snapped onto the screen cross; 
         FIG. 2.4  an isometric view of a contact carrier comprising four segments to be snapped onto the screen cross; 
         FIG. 2.5  an isometric view of a contact carrier comprising four segments connected at film joints to be snapped on the screen cross; 
         FIG. 3  a view of an electric contact; 
         FIG. 4  an isometric view of a round body; 
         FIG. 5  an isometric view of assembled contacts in the contact carrier, positioned on the screen cross; 
         FIG. 6  an isometric view of a positioning aid; 
         FIG. 7  an isometric view of a completely assembled plug-in connector; 
         FIG. 8  a view of the connector side of the plug-in connector in a front-plate application; 
         FIG. 9  a view of the connector side of an angular plug-in connector on a circuit board in a front-plate application of a front plate, and 
         FIG. 10  a straight plug-in connector, assembled perpendicular on a circuit board, surrounded by a front-plate insert. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
       FIG. 1  shows an electrically conductive, axially expanding screen cross  10  for a plug-in connector  1 , with here by the cruciform structure four semi-open quadrants  16  develop with electric contacts  30  are to be arranged in pairs therein. 
     The screen cross  10  is here formed from two walls  11 ,  12  aligned perpendicular in reference to each other, with here at both sides of the vertical wall  11  the angular version shown comprising two vertical walls  13  abutting the horizontal wall  12 , in order to separate the upper and lower contacts  30  to be arranged here at a later time. 
     Furthermore, the vertical and horizontal walls  11 ,  12  each comprised on one side of axially-parallel aligned grooves  18 , in which beads  26  intended for this purpose engage the respective sides of the contact carrier  20  and serve for guiding the contact carriers  20  described in the following. 
     Here, the plug-in side geometry of the screen cross is predetermined by standards. 
     Approximately centered in reference to the length of the screen cross  10 , first and second snap formations are provided at the external edges of the vertical and horizontal walls  11 ,  12  and are respectively opposite thereto. 
     With the first snap, formations  15 . 1  are here provided for latching a contact carrier  20  and the second latching formations  15 . 2  for a round body  40  to be pushed on at a later time. 
     Furthermore, a ground pin  17  is provided at the screen cross  10  for an electric contacting with a circuit board  65 . 
       FIG. 2.1  shows the basic example of a one-part contact carrier  20 . 1  with here the screen cross  10  can be inserted into its inner hollow space  29 . 
     In the external corner sections of the contact carrier  20  one equal sided inner edge  22  each is axially aligned at an angle of approx. 45°, which edge in turn comprises two accepting grooves  23  respectively provided side-by-side. 
     The accepting grooves show different sections: 
     a first section  24 . 1  shows an angular internal edge, a second constricted section  24 . 2  is embodied as a round groove, and a third section  24 . 3  also comprising a round groove, but showing a larger diameter than the second section  24 . 2 . 
     Furthermore, axial slots  27  with latching hooks  28  are provided along the external edges of the contact carrier  20 . 1 , with two opposite round bodies  40  each being intended to latch on the one side the screen cross  10  to the first latch formations  15 . 1  and the two second latch formations  15 . 2 , perpendicular in reference thereto, to latch to the round body  40  to be pushed onto the contact carrier  20 . 1   
       FIG. 2.0  shows a particular embodiment disclosing such a similar contact carrier  20 . 1  connected by injection molding directly and in one piece with the screen cross  10 . 
       FIG. 2.2  shows a multi-part contact carrier  20 . 2  with here two segment parts being provided, each of which can be pushed from a side axially onto the screen cross and held together with a pin-shaped latching means  25 . 1  encompassing the screen cross  10  in the middle at both sides of the latch formations  15 . 1 ,  15 . 2 . For this purpose, respective recesses  21 . 2  are provided at the centered meeting sections of the respective external edges  21  of the contact carrier  20 . 2 . 
       FIG. 2.3  shows a multi-part contact carrier, which comprises two individual segments  20 . 3 , embodied as similar half-shells and placed onto each other, surrounding the screen cross  10 , latched to each other. 
     Furthermore,  FIG. 2.4  shows four individual segments, but four similar segments  20 . 4 , arranged around the screen cross  10 , assembled and each latched to each other with latching means  25 . 2 . 
       FIG. 2.5  ultimately shows a one-part contact carrier  20 . 5  here formed from four segments  20 . 6  each connected to each other via a film joint  20 . 7 , placed around the screen cross  10 , and with their ends can be latched to each other via latching means  25 . 3 . 
     In the further description the different versions of the contact carrier are each called contact carrier  20  for reasons of simplification, because the external contours each show the same functional features. 
       FIG. 3  shows the wire-shaped electric contact  30 , which comprises differently shaped sections, according to the differently shaped sections  24  in the accepting grooves  23  of the different contact carrier versions  20 . 
     The plug-in side  31  of the electric contact  30  is either embodied as a pin or a socket, while the soldered side  32 . 1  is respectively angled by approx. 90° in reference to the axis. 
     The lengths of the electric contacts  30  vary, with always the 1 st  section  32 . 1  with the angled soldered side being embodied shorter or longer. 
     Significantly, the next 2 nd  section  32 . 2 , in which the contact shows a four-sided form, which is inserted into the 1 st  section  24 . 1  with the angular edge in the contact carrier  20 . This way a first rough alignment of the soldered sides is yielded for the later assembly on the circuit board  65 . 
     The 3 rd  section  32 . 3  is altogether provided for latching and holding the contact  30  in the second section  24 . 2  of the contact carrier  20 , while the 4 th  section  32 . 4 , with a slightly larger diameter, is inserted into the long guiding groove  24 . 3  of the 3 rd  section of the contact carrier  20 . 
     In another  FIG. 4 , the round body  40  is shown, which shall be pushed onto the cruciform structure comprising a screen cross  10  and a contact carrier  20 . 
     The external round body  40 , essentially showing round contours and comprising an electrically non-conductive material, is adjusted with its interior to the external cross shape of the contact carrier  20 . Here, two opposite longitudinal slots  44  with latching hooks  45  are provided, with two latch formations  15 . 2  of the shielding cross  10  engaging for fixation. 
     A circumferential annular groove  46  is formed in the round body  40  with the end of the longitudinal slot  44 , with a so-called screen spring  60  to be engaged, here. The screen spring may show a form deviating from the one shown here, though. 
     Furthermore, the round body  40  shows a plug-in side  41  with four reference circle segments  42 , with respectively two bore holes  43  being formed therein for the plug-in sides  31  of the electric contacts  30  embodied as sockets or pins. 
     The vertical and horizontal walls  11 ,  12  of the screen cross  10  engage between these reference circle segments  42 , at least partially. Here, it may also be possible to injection mold the round body directly around the contact carrier for an embodiment provided with pin contacts. 
       FIG. 5  shows an already partially assembled plug-in connector, which comprises a screen cross  10  with the pushed-on contact carrier  20  as well as the electric contacts  30  inserted therein. 
       FIG. 6  shows a positioning aid  50  for the alignment of the soldered sides  32 . 1  of the electric contacts  30 , which are assembled at the round body  40  and inserted via a fixation pin  55  on the circuit board  65 . 
     The positioning aid  50  is first embodied as a flat disk  51  with two quarter-circle sections  52  on an elevated level. 
     For example, when the positioning aids are applied the soldered sides  32 . 1  of the electric contacts  30  are only inserted into the bore holes  53 . 1  at the higher sections  52  and subsequently the remaining contacts (are inserted) into the bore holes  53 . 2  of the flat section  5 . 1   
     According to a deliberate circular arrangement of the connection ends  32 . 1  of the electric contacts  30 , which can be soldered, the bore holes  53 . 1 ,  53 . 2  are arranged in the positioning aid  50 . 
     Additionally a borehole  54  is additionally required for the ground pin  17  of the screen cross  10 . Furthermore, at the side facing the round body  40  two pins  57  are formed for fastening in the round body  40 , while at the opposite side at least one fixation pin  55  is provided for the circuit board  65 . 
     Additionally, at the side of the positioning aid  50  facing the circuit board  65  a spacer is formed, not shown in greater detail here, in the form of an elevated, equal sided cross, for a distanced placement of the positioning aid on the circuit board  65 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a plug-in connector  1 , confectioned to a certain extent, with additionally a positioning aid  50  being fastened thereat. 
     The screen spring  60  in the circumferential groove  46  is discernible on the round body  40 , by which the contacting to a front plate insert  75  is ensured, described in the following. 
     A screen spring  60 , here shown in the form of a helical spring, accepts the ground contact between the screen cross  10  via the second latch formation  15 . 2  to the metallic, electrically conductive front plate insert  75 . 
     For example in  FIG. 8  a front plate insert  75  is provided for the round plug-in connector  1 , into which the round body  40  can be inserted, with via the screen spring  60  a contacting of the ground currents to the general housing mass being ensured by the front plate  70 . This way, in principle, each of the four segments  42  of the complete plug-in connector  1  is hermetically and optimally sealed against external voltages with the electric contacts  30  arranged therein. 
     In the state plugged to the counter plug its screen cross then engages the cruciform plug-in face, formed by the four segments  42  of the round body  40 , so that a continuous insulation of the signal wires is yielded in the four segments. 
       FIG. 9  shows an angular plug-in connector  1  in a connection-side perspective, fixed on a circuit board  65  and “floating” in an insulating sheath, with a front-plate insert  75  being inserted. This means that the plug-in connector  1  is here relatively exposed, the contacting with the screen spring is encased by the front plate insert  75  being screwed to a front plate  70 , with a counter plug to be contacted however being screwed tight to the front plate insert  75  or can be fastened by way of latching. 
       FIG. 10  shows a variant of the plug-in connector  2  in a so-called straight embodiment. This means that the electric contacts are embodied straight with the same length. Such a plug-in connector is placed perpendicular onto the circuit board  65 , as shown here. 
     Additionally, a front plate insert  75  is shown, pushed onto the plug-in connector  2 . 
     However in all applications, an insulation of the signals, secure from interfering radiation, is provided for the plug-in connector  1 ,  2  at least by the front plate insert  75 . 
     The housing can accordingly be formed either as a “sheath”, and is installed as a front plate insert  75 , for example into a plastic housing, in which one or more plug-in connectors  1  are already arranged on a circuit board  65  according to the alignment of the front plate insert for a plug-in connection with a counter-plug. Or the circuit board with the plug-in connectors arranged thereon is completely arranged in a metallic or electrically conductive housing  80 , also for a plug-in connection with corresponding counter connectors. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be apparent that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be recognized by one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
     Plug-in Connector for Differential Data Transmission 
     Ref.: P 210-40 DE P1 9 
     
         
         
           
               1  plug-in connector, angular 
               2  plug-in connector, straight 
               3  plug-in side 
             
               4 
             
               5  connection side 
               10  screen cross, electrically conductive 
               11  vertical wall 
               12  horizontal wall 
               13  90° angular wall 
               14  plug-in side 
               15 . 1  1 st  latch formation for contact carrier 
               15 . 2  2 nd  latch formation for round body 
               16  quadrant of the screen cross 
               17  ground pin 
               18  groove for bead  26   
               20 . 0  contact carrier, injection molded on  10   
               20 . 1  contact carrier, can be pushed on in one piece 
               20 . 2  contact carrier, can be pushed on centrally, in two pieces 
               20 . 3  contact carrier, can be latched onto each other, in two pieces 
               20 . 4  contact carrier, can be latched onto each other, in four pieces 
               20 . 5  contact carrier, four segments with film joint 
               20 . 6  segments 
               20 . 7  film joints 
               21  external edges 
               21 . 2  recesses in the external edges at  20 . 2   
               22  internal edge, equal leg length 
               23  accepting grooves 
               24 . 1  1 st  section angular, for polarization 
               24 . 2  2 nd  section round, for latching 
               24 . 3  3 rd  section round, for guidance 
               25 . 1  latching means for  20 . 2   
               25 . 2  latching means for  20 . 3 ,  20 . 4   
               25 . 3  latching means for  20 . 5   
               26  bead at the contact carrier for groove  18   
               27  longitudinal grooves for pushing onto  20 . 1   
               28  latching hooks for contact carrier 
               29  hollow cross 
               30  contacts, wire contacts 
               31  plug-in side (pin or socket) 
               32 . 1  1 st  section, connection end (angular), soldered side 
               32 . 2  2 nd  section, four sided section for polarization 
               32 . 3  3 rd  section, latching section, round 
               32 . 4  4 th  section, guidance section, round 
               40  round body 
               41  plug-in side 
               42  reference circle segments 
               43  bore hole for contacts 
               44  longitudinal slot for latching 
               45  latching hook 
               46  annular groove 
               47  fixation pin for perpendicular assembly 
               50  positioning aid 
               51  disk 
               52  quarter-circle section 
               53 . 1  bore hole for contacts in  52   
               53 . 2  bore hole for contacts in  51   
               54  bore hole for ground pin  17   
               55  fixation pin for LP 
               56  spacer, cruciform for reflow soldering (not visible) 
               57  fixation pin for round body 
               60  screen spring 
               65  circuit board 
               70  front plate 
               75  front plate insert 
               80  housing