Abstract:
The invention relates to a plug connection device, comprising a plug ( 7 ) which has contacts ( 8 ) and comprising mating contacts ( 4 ) arranged on a substrate ( 2 ), wherein the contacts ( 8 ) are intended for electrical contacting of the mating contacts ( 4 ). According to the invention, the plug ( 7 ) has at least one recess ( 18 ) for accommodating an element ( 10 ) arranged on the substrate ( 2 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a plug connection device comprising a plug which has contacts, and comprising mating contacts arranged on a substrate, wherein the contacts are provided for making electrical contact with the mating contacts. 
         [0002]    Plug connection devices of the kind mentioned in the introduction are disclosed in the prior art. They are used for making electrical contact with printed circuit boards, for example, in particular in the form of a direct plug connection. By way of example, a printed circuit board comprising a substrate which has at least two different electronic assemblies is described in DE 39 25 648 A1. These are connected by means of conductors to contacts of a connector strip arranged on a perimeter of the printed circuit board. This connector strip is used to receive a plug. In this case, the plug contains the contacts and the connector strip contains the mating contacts. A single cable or a cable loom can be connected to the plug, for example. The cable or the cable loom respectively is electrically connected to the contacts, so that the electrical connection between printed circuit board and cable or cable loom respectively is made when the plug is plugged into the connector strip. On the other hand, with direct plug connection, it is provided that the plug is plugged onto the substrate, with the mating contacts being arranged immediately on the substrate. 
         [0003]    It is frequently desirable to be able to arrange as many elements as possible on the substrate in order to achieve the greatest possible functional density. However, space on the substrate is restricted due to the connector strip and the plug. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In contrast, the plug connection device has the advantage that the space available on the substrate for elements is increased. This is achieved by the plug having at least one recess for accommodating an element arranged on the substrate. The plug connection device is designed in particular as a direct plugging device. This means that the mating contacts are arranged immediately on the substrate and are contacted by means of the contacts of the plug for making electrical contact. Here, the term plug is understood to mean a pluggable element and therefore not the “male” part of a plug connector in general. The plug can therefore at least partially overlap the substrate in order to make electrical contact. The mating contacts can be arranged on one or both sides of the substrate. In addition or alternatively, they can be provided in a single or multi-row arrangement. The mating contacts are electrically connected to printed circuit tracks, for example, which run on and/or in the substrate. They are preferably provided in a perimeter region of the substrate. According to the invention, the plug must have at least one recess in order to accommodate the element arranged on the substrate. In this way, elements can also be provided in the region of the substrate in which the plug is usually arranged in order to make electrical contact. The element can be accommodated, particularly on the substrate, during and/or after the plug is fitted (that is to say, in a plugged position of the plug). The recess is designed in the form of a (blind) hole or (blind) slot for example. This means that the recess can pass completely through the plug or merely be designed as a cavity therein. In principle, however, the recess can take any form as long as it is suitable for accommodating the element. Because of this design of the plug, the element can be arranged in close proximity to the mating contacts. This is advantageous, as in this way the electrical signal path from the mating contact to the element can be chosen to be very short. By the same token, the area available on the substrate for elements is considerably increased. This is particularly the case, as the element can also be arranged between mating contacts and an edge of the substrate. The recess in the plug is provided in order to prevent a collision with the element. 
         [0005]    An improvement of the invention provides that the substrate is part of a printed circuit board. For example, printed circuit tracks, which run on or in the substrate and connect at least one of the mating contacts to the component and/or a further component, can be provided. 
         [0006]    An improvement of the invention provides that the element has an electrical connection to at least one of the mating contacts. A direct connection between the mating contact and the element is therefore provided. This is produced, for example, by means of a printed circuit track. It can also be provided that the electrical connection between element and mating contact is not made until the plug is in its plugged position, that is to say the contacts are electrically connected to the mating contacts. In doing so, the electrical connection between the element and the mating contact is made by the plug and its contacts respectively. 
         [0007]    An improvement of the invention provides that the element is arranged in the region of the mating contacts. In this way, small signal propagation times between element and mating contact can be achieved. The arrangement of the element in the region of the mating contacts is provided particularly when there is an electrical connection between these elements. In the region of the mating contacts means that the element is arranged in particular directly thereon, adjacent thereto or at a small distance therefrom. 
         [0008]    An improvement of the invention provides that the element is arranged between the mating contact and an edge of the substrate. This arrangement of the element is particularly advantageous, as in this way the space available on the substrate for elements can be as large as possible, but it is nevertheless guaranteed that the plug overlaps the substrate sufficiently to have a secure hold. The edge of the substrate can correspond to its perimeter. 
         [0009]    An improvement of the invention provides that dimensions of the recess correspond substantially to those of the element. The recess is accordingly matched to the element. This can be provided both with regard to the dimensions and with regard to the shape of the recess. Advantageously, the latter corresponds substantially to an external contour of the component. 
         [0010]    An improvement of the invention provides that, after fitting to the substrate, the plug encloses a mating contact region which contains the mating contacts. The mating contacts of the substrate are provided in the mating contact region. When the electrical connection between contacts and mating contacts is made, i.e. the plug is fitted to the substrate, then this must substantially enclose the mating contact region. This means that the plug protects the mating contact region against external influences. The plug therefore covers particularly the surface region of the mating contact region. 
         [0011]    An improvement of the invention provides that the recess is closed after the plug has been fitted. This means that it is no longer accessible from the outside after the plug has been fitted. The element arranged in the recess is therefore additionally protected against external influences. 
         [0012]    An improvement of the invention provides that the element is part of or forms a suppression unit. The element can therefore be the suppression unit or alternatively merely form a part thereof. The suppression unit is provided in order to improve an electromagnetic compatibility of the circuit provided on the substrate. The suppression unit therefore has a filter effect. 
         [0013]    An improvement of the invention provides that the element is a capacitor and/or a suppression coil, in particular having a ferrite core. For example, the capacitor and/or the suppression coil is part of the suppression unit. 
         [0014]    An improvement of the invention provides that at least one isolating recess which separates two of the mating contacts from one another is provided in the substrate. For example, a slot is therefore provided in the substrate which separates or isolates two of the mating contacts from one another. This isolation recess or slot is provided as a barrier against electrolysis or short circuit. For example, it prevents a film of moisture which forms on the substrate being able to make an electrical connection between two of the mating contacts. In this case, particularly advantageously, the mating contacts of the ground (GND) and plus potentials can be separated from one another by the isolating recess. At the same time, they can also be as far from one another as possible, wherein mating contacts of the signal potentials are provided between them, likewise separated by isolating recesses. The isolating recesses can, for example, be milled out of the substrate or already formed when the substrate is manufactured. 
         [0015]    An improvement of the invention provides that the plug has a housing with at least one crosspiece which separates two contacts from one another. For example, the housing is a plug shroud. It has at least one crosspiece which is arranged between two of the contacts. The crosspiece separates the contacts from one another, in a similar way to that in which the isolating recess separates or isolates the mating contacts from one another. Accordingly, this also prevents a contact being made, by means of a film of moisture for example, between the two contacts on the plug side. 
         [0016]    An improvement of the invention provides that the crosspiece is arranged corresponding to the isolation recess. This means that it is arranged in such a way that it engages in the isolating recess when and/or after the plug is fitted to the substrate. Advantageously, it substantially fills the isolating recess when the plug is in its plugged position, that is to say has reached its assembled position. 
         [0017]    An improvement of the invention provides that, together with the housing, the crosspiece forms a plug chamber which has a seal. The seal is provided to seal the plug chamber with respect to an environment of the plug after the plug has been fitted, that is to say when and/or after the plugged position is reached. It is therefore intended to prevent foreign bodies and/or liquid entering the plug chamber in the plugged position of the plug and in this way adversely affecting the electrical connection between contact and mating contact. In particular, a dedicated plug chamber must be assigned to the contact when the signal transmitted on this contact is susceptible to interference. Advantageously, a dedicated plug chamber is also assigned to each of the ground and/or plus potentials. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing without this limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawing: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a substrate with mating contacts arranged thereon and printed circuit tracks, 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the substrate, wherein the mating contacts are provided in two mating contact regions, a single-row arrangement of mating contacts being provided in one of the mating contact regions and a multi-row arrangement in another of the mating contact regions, 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic side view of the substrate and a plug, 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows the substrate with an element arranged thereon and a further embodiment of the plug 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows the substrate disclosed in  FIG. 4  and the plug, wherein the latter is in its plugged position, 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows the substrate, wherein the element is arranged between mating contacts and an edge of the substrate and the plug has a recess for accommodating the element, 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  shows the arrangement disclosed in  FIG. 6 , wherein the plug is in the plugged position, 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  shows two contact carriers of the plug with contacts arranged therein, 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  shows the two contact carriers which are connected by means of a spring clip, 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  shows the arrangement of contact carriers and spring clip which are arranged in a housing, 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  shows a further view of the contact carriers with spring clip in the housing, 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  shows the plug and the substrate before the plug is assembled, 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  shows the plug and the substrate during assembly of the plug, 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  shows the plug and the substrate after assembly, wherein the plug is in its plugged position, 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  shows the substrate, wherein recesses are provided between the mating contacts, 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  shows a further embodiment of the substrate, wherein here too recesses have been made in the substrate between some of the mating contacts, and 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  shows a front view of a further embodiment of the plug, wherein the plug has crosspieces which, together with the housing, form plug chambers. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]      FIGS. 1 to 5  illustrate the prior art.  FIG. 1  shows a printed circuit board  1 , which has printed circuit tracks  3  arranged on a substrate  2  and mating contacts  4 . The mating contacts  4  are designed in the form of contact surfaces and occupy a substantially rectangular region on the substrate  2 . The mating contacts  4  are also referred to as “lands”. The mating contacts  4  are provided in a mating contact region  5  which forms a region of the printed circuit board  1 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  shows a further embodiment of the printed circuit board  1 , wherein two mating contacts  5 ′ and  5 ″ are provided. Mating contacts  4  are arranged in a single row in the first mating contact region  5 ′, and in multiple rows in the second mating contact region  5 ″. This means that, in the latter case, the mating contacts  4  are arranged at different distances from an edge  6  of the substrate. In the case shown, the mating contacts  4  are offset with respect to one another. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic side view of the printed circuit board  1  with substrate  2  and printed circuit tracks  3  or mating contacts  4 . Here, it can be seen that the printed circuit tracks  3  and the mating contacts  4  are provided on both sides of the substrate  2 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , both a single and a multi-row, as well as a single or multi-sided arrangement of the mating contacts  4  are possible on the substrate  2 .  FIG. 3  also shows a plug  7  which contains a plurality of contacts  8 . Here, preferably as many contacts  8  are provided in the plug  7  as mating contacts  4  on the substrate  2 . However, a plug  7  with only one contact  8  or with a number of contacts  8  which differs from the number of mating contacts  4  is also possible. The contacts  8  are electrically connected to a cable loom for example, which is not shown here. The plug  7  can be arranged in a plugged position on the substrate  2  in such a way that an electrical contact is made between the mating contacts  4  and the contacts  8 . Electrical contact with the mating contacts  4  is therefore provided by means of the plug  7 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows a further embodiment of the plug  7 . On the substrate  2 , it can be seen that a first printed circuit track region  9 , which is connected to a second printed circuit track region  11  by means of an element  10 , is connected to the mating contacts  4 . Together, the printed circuit track regions  9  and  11  form the printed circuit track  3 . The element  10  can be a capacitor or a suppression coil for example. At the same time, for example, it can be part of a suppression unit for improving the electromagnetic compatibility of a circuit (not shown) which is provided on the substrate  2  or the printed circuit board  1 . In the example shown, the plug  7  has two contact carriers  12  in which the contacts  8  are arranged. In this case, the contact carriers  12  are arranged in a movable manner, for example so that they can swivel, with respect to one another. Together with a common housing part  13 , they form a housing  14  of the plug  7 . In the example shown, the contact carriers  12  are mounted on the housing part  13  so that they can swivel. At the same time, it is provided that the plug  7  can be fitted to the substrate  2  in an open position of the contact carriers  12  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). This is achieved by sliding the plug  7  in the direction of the arrow  15 . 
         [0040]    A swiveling of the contact carriers  12  into a closed position is then provided as is shown in  FIG. 5 . In this position, the plug  7  encloses a region of the substrate  2  in which the mating contacts  4  are provided. This region is the mating contact region  5  or  5 ′ and  5 ″ shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In the closed position of the contact carriers  12  shown in  FIG. 5 , the plug  7  is in its plugged position, that is to say it is fitted to the substrate  2 . In this state, there is an electrical contact between the contacts  8  and the mating contacts  4 . The plug  7  is arranged so that it completely encloses or covers the mating contact region  5  and the mating contacts  4 . The mating contacts  4 , which lie in the region of the plug  7 , are connected to the elements  10  by means of the printed circuit track  3  and the first printed circuit track region  9 . Contact with the second printed circuit track region  11  is made by means of the element  10 . There is therefore no direct connection between the first printed circuit track region  9  and the second printed circuit track region  11 . In  FIG. 5 , a minimum distance between the element  10  and a front edge  17  of the plug  7  is shown by means of an arrow  16 . This means that the printed circuit board  1  must be designed in such a way that the element  10  is arranged so that the minimum distance indicated by the arrow  16  is provided after the plug  7  is assembled. 
         [0041]    In contrast,  FIG. 6  shows a printed circuit board  1  and a plug  7  in which the elements  10  can be arranged closer to the edge  6  of the substrate  2 . This is achieved by providing a recess  18  in the plug  7 . The recess  18  is matched to the element  10  with regard to its dimensions and shape. In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , it is designed in such a way that it accommodates the element  10  or the elements  10  in the plugged position of the plug  7 . A fitting of the plug  7  to the printed circuit board  1  as is disclosed in  FIGS. 4 and 5  is provided in the direction of the arrow  16 . The elements  10  are arranged on the printed circuit track  3  in such a way that an electrical connection (not visible here) is provided from the respective mating contact  4  to the element  10 . 
         [0042]    In a similar way to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 7  shows the plugged position of the plug  7  on the printed circuit board  1 . It can be seen how the contacts  8  of the plug  7  make electrical contact with the mating contacts  4  of the printed circuit board  1 . At the same time, the elements  10  are arranged in the recess  18 . This is shown schematically in  FIG. 7 . As already mentioned, an electrical connection is provided here between elements  10  and the respective mating contact  4 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  shows the design of a plug  7 . Initially, two identically designed contact carriers  12  are provided. In doing so, it is provided that, after rotating one of the contact carriers  12 —as shown by the arrows  19 —they can be fixed on top of one another. For this purpose, the contact carriers  12  have a bearing projection  20  on the one side and a bearing receptacle  21  on their other side. When the contact carriers  12  are assembled, a bearing projection  20  now engages in such a bearing receptacle  21  in each case. The contact carriers  12  are therefore fixed to one another so that they can swivel. Receiving slots  22  for the contacts  8  (not shown here) are provided in the contact carriers  12 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 9  shows the two contact carriers  12  in the assembled state, wherein they are fixed to one another by means of a spring clip  23 . The spring clip  23  allows a spring-loaded swiveling of the contact carriers  12  about the bearing axis formed by bearing projection  20  and bearing receptacle  21  to a certain extent. In doing so, it is provided that this swiveling takes place when the plug  7  is pushed onto the printed circuit board  1  so that the plug  7  is retained and clamped by the spring action of the spring clip  23 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 10  shows how the two contact carriers  12  and the spring clip  23  are arranged together with the contacts  8  in the housing  14 . In doing so, the housing  14  forms a so-called plug shroud. The housing  14  has lateral slots  24  in which the plug  7  is accommodated when it is fitted to the printed circuit board  1 . The slot  24  therefore allows the plug  7  to be plugged onto the printed circuit board  1 . While  FIG. 10  shows the plug  7  viewed from the rear, in  FIG. 11  it is shown in a front view. Here, it can be clearly seen how the contact carriers  12  are arranged in the housing  14  together with the spring clip  23 . The contacts  8 , which in each case are arranged in the receiving slots  22 , and the slot  24  are also shown. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 12 to 14  show the process of assembling the plug  7  on the printed circuit board  1 . The printed circuit board  1  is arranged in a printed circuit board housing  25  and fixed thereto. In the region of the printed circuit board  1 , the printed circuit board housing  25  has a displacement element  26 , which, for example, is substantially elliptical in cross section and at least in part has a greater height than the printed circuit board  1  or the substrate  2 . When the plug  7  is plugged onto the printed circuit board  1 , the displacement element  26  serves to swivel the contact carriers  12  in such a way that the contacts  8  of the plug  7  no longer come into contact with the edge  6  of the substrate  2 . In doing so, the displacement element  26  can either act together with the contact carriers  12  or with a mating element  27  fixed thereto. In this way, the contacts  8  of the plug  7  can initially be guided past the edge  6  and subsequently come into electrical contact with the mating contacts  4  of the printed circuit board  1 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 13  shows how the plug  7  is partially pushed onto the printed circuit board  1 . In doing so, the displacement element  26  works together with the mating element  27  in such a way that the contact carriers  12  are swiveled in opposite directions. The contacts  8 —as described above—can therefore be guided past the edge  6 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 14  shows the plug  7  in its plugged position, i.e. after the plug  7  has been assembled on the printed circuit board  1 . The mating element  27  has passed the displacement element  26  to such an extent that the contact carriers  12  are no longer swiveled in opposite directions. As a result, the contacts  8  provided in the contact carriers  12  come into electrical contact (not distinguishable in  FIG. 14 ) with the mating contacts  4  of the printed circuit board  1 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 15  shows a further embodiment of the printed circuit board  1 , wherein isolation recesses  28  are provided between the mating contacts  4  and, in some places, possibly also between the printed circuit tracks  3 . These are made in the substrate  2  in the form of slots and in particular are provided in the edge  6  of the printed circuit board  1  or the substrate  2 . The isolation recesses  28  serve to separate the mating contacts  4  from one another, so that a film of liquid, for example, forming on the printed circuit board  1  cannot make an electrical connection between the mating contacts  4 . 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , a plurality of mating contact regions  5 ′,  5 ″,  5 ″′,  5 ″′ can each be separated from one another by isolating recesses  28 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 17  shows the suitable plug  7  for the printed circuit board  1  designed according to  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Two crosspieces  29 , which separate the contacts  8  or groups of contacts  8  from one another, are provided in the housing  14  thereof. The crosspieces  29  are arranged on the plug  7  in such a way that they engage in the isolating recesses  28  of the substrate  2  when the plug  7  is fitted to the printed circuit board  1 . The crosspieces  29  are therefore arranged corresponding to the isolating recesses  28 . The crosspieces  29  form three plug chambers  30  in the plug  7 , wherein contacts  8  for the ground, plus and signal potentials for example are provided therein. The plug  7  can have a seal (not shown here) which, in the plugged position of the plug  7  on the printed circuit board  1 , seals the plug chambers  30  against an environment of the plug  7 . This prevents moisture and/or dirt penetrating the plug chambers  30  and, for example, causing a short circuit there between contacts  8  of the plug  7 .