MODULE WITH AN INTEGRATED WLAN ETHERNET DATA INTERFACE

An antenna for a WLAN Ethernet data interface is provided, having a rectangular printed circuit board, wherein a signal line and a reference ground are each provided on the printed circuit board by a suitably designed conductor track, and the signal line is designed as a planar coil on a first side, and wherein the antenna comprises a region for providing a magnetic coupling state, suitable for data transmission, of a first antenna with a structurally identical second antenna, which region is designed in such a way that the magnetic coupling state is provided by means of an adjacent arrangement of the region of the first and of the second antenna, wherein the antennas are each rotated through 180° in relation to one another in the coupling state. A module with an integrated WLAN Ethernet data interface, having a housing, a shielding element, a positioning element and/or a protective cap, and having a suitable antenna is also provided.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a module of a module support, wherein the module is provided with a WLAN Ethernet data interface. An antenna suitable for the module and a module suitable for a plug-in connector and/or an electric coupler is also provided.

Plug-in connector modules are required in order to construct modular plug-in connectors. In this case, the plug-in connector modules accommodate modular contact inserts, and a plurality of plug-in connector modules which have similar or different contact inserts are combined to form a plug-in connector. The plug-in connector can therefore be assembled and configured with a high degree of flexibility.

In this case, plug-in connector modules are either inserted directly into a plug-in connector housing or first inserted and fixed in the module frame. The module frame is then fitted into the plug-in connector housing together with the plug-in connector modules received in it.

A large number of plug-in connector modules for modular plug-in connectors are known from the prior art. They vary in terms of their size, number of received contact means, dimensioning of the contact means and type of contact means. Depending on the configuration of the plug-in connector module, they can be used for transmitting, for example, signals and currents of a digital, analog, electrical, pneumatic, mechanical, optical or hydraulic type.

As digitization increases, it becomes necessary to transfer a continuously growing amount of information. Interfaces for radiofrequency signal and data transfer can be implemented by plug-in connections, as are known, for example, from Ethernet cables. However, plug-in connectors of this kind are not suitable for many, in particular industrial, areas or outdoor use since they would very quickly become inoperative due to the unavoidable soiling during use thereof.

The prior art therefore discloses, for example in the case of an electric coupler for trains, establishing the radiofrequency data transfer by means of a radio link from one car to the next or from the railcar of one train part to the railcar of a second train part.

Description of the Related Art

For example, the document EP 3 011 643 B1 describes a holding frame for plug-in connector modules, in which the holding frame for a plurality of different plug-in connector modules can be inserted in a manner combined as desired in order to be able to provide a plug-in connector of modular design. The holding frame holds the plug-in connector modules together and fixes them to each other. The holding frame can then be inserted into a plug-in connector housing and fixed in it. The plug-in connector can be connected to a matching, likewise modular mating plug-in connector. As an alternative, the holding frame can be inserted and fastened to a housing or device wall as a so-called mounting frame.

A large number of individual plug-in connectors can be combined and assembled with this type of modular plug-in connector. Various, standardized plug-in connector modules are required for this purpose.

The document EP 2 616 304 B1 discloses an electric coupler for trains, having a first and a second coupler part which each have a support in which a plurality of coupling parts are arranged, it being possible for electrical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic coupling from one coupler part to another coupler part to be established using said coupling parts, with radiofrequency coupling being provided. The radiofrequency coupling is formed by an antenna in one coupler part and an antenna in the other coupler part, wherein the radiofrequency coupling has two radiofrequency coupling parts that interact with each other and are each designed as a plastic body which completely encloses the antenna.

The known high-frequency coupling, which is designed as a loop antenna, such as a replacement for existing interfaces for radiofrequency signal and data transfer by plug-in connections, including in the case of an electric coupler for trains, can be retrofitted and scaled only in a disadvantageously complicated manner.

The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application in respect of the present application: US 2016/0 149 305 A1.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a WLAN Ethernet data interface suitable for a large number of applications and, in particular, can be installed and retrofitted in a simple manner. Some embodiments provide an antenna suitable for the WLAN Ethernet data interface.

Some embodiments relate to an antenna for a WLAN Ethernet data interface having a printed circuit board on which elements of a near-field antenna are designed as conductor tracks and which is designed in such a way that it interacts with a second structurally identical antenna as intended in such a way that high-speed data transfer is provided.

Printed circuit boards are cost-effective to produce, even in large numbers. The provision of a wireless data interface by two structurally identical interfaces that interact with each other is likewise advantageous in terms of production and allows simple installation in a large number of applications.

Antennas provided on a printed circuit board are also particularly space-saving and flexible in terms of use owing to their substantially two-dimensional design.

A signal line and a first and a second reference ground, each provided by conductor tracks of suitable design, are provided in a first region on the first side of the printed circuit board of the antenna. Following the first region, the signal line is designed in a suitable manner as a planar coil in a second region of the printed circuit board.

In some embodiments, the second region of the printed circuit board may include a third region for providing a magnetic coupling state, which is suitable for data transfer, of a first antenna with a structurally identical second antenna, which third region is advantageously designed in such a way that the magnetic coupling state is provided by an adjacent arrangement of the third region of the structurally identical first and second antenna.

The antenna may be designed in a manner suitable for this purpose in such a way that the magnetic coupling state is provided when the two adjacent third regions are arranged with a small spacing of 1 to 10 mm and, advantageously, approximately 2.5 mm, without touching in the process.

In some embodiments, the conductor tracks on the printed circuit board may be advantageously designed with the signal line in such a way that the two antennas are each rotated through 180° in relation to one another in the coupling state. This arrangement of the antennas is also particularly space-saving.

The coil of the signal line may be designed in a manner suitable for this purpose as a planar, spiral rectangular coil with at least one turn and can have three to five turns for providing desirably reliable and powerful coupling.

In some embodiments, the design of the coil as a rectangular coil allows a desirable magnetic coupling state to be achieved by adjacent arrangement of only selected regions of the coils of the two antennas. This allows provision of the magnetic coupling state in a space-saving and simple manner.

For this purpose, the third region provided for the coupling may be provided in a suitable manner at an edge of the printed circuit board and in this case comprises a predetermined region of the coil, which region is provided to provide the magnetic coupling.

The coil may be designed in a manner suitable for this purpose in such a way that the turns of the coil each have at least one first section parallel to a longitudinal direction of the printed circuit board and at least one second section transverse to the first section, wherein the third region provided at an edge of the printed circuit board comprises at least one second section and preferably two or three second sections of the coil.

For an impedance in the region of 50Ω of a cable connection of the antenna which is desirable for WLAN/Ethernet compatibility, the signal line extends, starting from a cable connection which is arranged at an edge of the printed circuit board, in the first region of the printed circuit board centrally between a first and a second reference ground which are each arranged adjacent to opposite longitudinal-side edges of the printed circuit board in a suitable manner.

The printed circuit board with the abovementioned edges may be of rectangular design in a suitable manner here, wherein the third region and the cable connection are provided on respectively opposite broad-side edges of the printed circuit board. The cable connection is suitable for connection of a coaxial cable.

On the first side of the printed circuit board, a first width of the signal line, a spacing of the signal line from the first and the second reference ground and a width of the reference grounds are each designed in such a way that the first region is populated by the signal line and the reference grounds for providing a suitable impedance of the cable connection of the antenna in the first region of the printed circuit board.

In a suitable manner for this purpose, the signal line has, in the first region of the printed circuit board, a width which corresponds to approximately its spacing from the first and the second reference ground, wherein the width of the reference grounds advantageously corresponds to approximately 1.2 to 2 times and preferably approximately 1.5 times the width of the signal line. The first and the second reference ground are each areally designed in the form of a rectangle extending in the longitudinal direction of the printed circuit board here.

In contrast to the abovementioned first region, the signal line, in the second region of the printed circuit board, is formed by a narrow conductor track with a width of from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm and preferably of approximately 0.5 mm in order to form a suitable coil.

The first sections of the coil are each arranged in a suitable manner with a first spacing of from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, and preferably of 0.3 mm. The second sections of the coil are each advantageously arranged with a second spacing which is 2 to 10 times, and preferably 5 times, the first spacing in order to provide desirable magnetic coupling.

The signal line extends, in the second region, in a suitable manner with the turns of its coil in a spiral as far as the center of the coil and then runs onto an opposite second side of the printed circuit board. The signal line extends, on the second side, in the second region centrally as far as into the first region of the printed circuit board, which first region, on the second side of the printed circuit board, adjacent to the first edge of the printed circuit board and to the cable connection for providing a desirable impedance, is areally populated by a third reference ground.

The second region for the impedance matching can vary in length without adversely affecting operation. However, in the first region with the antenna, size, and distance from the second region are critical for operation.

The antenna having the above-described features is designed as a near-field antenna for coupling in a range of from 2 to 3 cm. With these features, the antenna has an advantageous feed point impedance of 50Ω at the cable connection and is designed for a frequency band of 5 GHz with a transfer rate of 450 Mbit/s. The antenna is therefore suitable for providing a high-speed WLAN Ethernet data interface.

For simple assembly of the antenna, the printed circuit board has, in the first region adjacent to the cable connection, a first and a second continuous hole which respectively extend through the first and the third reference ground and the second and the third reference ground. It is clear that the abovementioned reference grounds provided on the printed circuit board are electrically connected to a reference ground of the cable connection.

The first and the second hole are, together with in each case one first and one second spacer element, which are designed as metal sleeves, for assembling the antenna, provided in a suitable housing described herein which can advantageously be a module, in particular, for example, of a plug-in connector.

Some embodiments relate to a module with an integrated WLAN Ethernet data interface having a suitable antenna, which is suitable for use in a module support and therefore for a large number of applications.

In some embodiments, the antenna may be advantageously arranged in the module in such a way that it projects out of an opening in the module by a predetermined amount and that, by a first module with a first antenna and a second structurally identical module which is rotated through 180° and has a second antenna and is arranged adjacent to the first module in one plane, the magnetic coupling state of the antennas is provided by an adjacent arrangement of the regions of the first and the second antenna that project out of the opening in the module.

The antenna of the module may be a planar antenna and an above-described antenna provided on a printed circuit board, wherein the region projecting out of the opening in the module is the third region of the antenna.

In a manner suitable for this purpose, the antenna, by way of its printed circuit board, is arranged in the module in a manner spaced apart from a central region of the opening in such a way that the antennas of the modules are each arranged parallel to the plane of the modules. In some embodiments, the above-described third regions of the antennas may be arranged adjacent to one another with a spacing of 1 to 10 mm and advantageously of approximately 2.5 mm without touching.

For the abovementioned positioning of the antenna in the module, the module has a housing which is suitable for this purpose and a shielding element.

The shielding element advantageously comprises of metal. The antenna is fastened in the shielding element in a suitable manner via its holes through the reference grounds and the spacer elements in such a way that the reference grounds of the antenna and a reference ground of the cable connection of the antenna are electrically connected to the shielding element.

The housing of the module consists, in suitable manner, of plastic and has an inner contour which interacts in a positively locking manner with an outer contour of the shielding element in such a way that the shielding element is accommodated and held in the housing. The housing has, in a suitable manner, an outer contour which corresponds to a contour of the module support.

For particularly accurate, reliable, and secure positioning of the antenna in the module and for particularly safe use of the module even outdoors, the module has a positioning element and/or a protective cap.

The above-described module is particularly suitable for use together with further structurally identical modules and/or further modules in a plug-in connector, wherein the module support is a holding frame of the plug-in connector, which holding frame corresponds to the module.

A holding frame of a plug-in connector can be designed to receive a large number of modules, whereby the holding frame can also receive more than one above-described module with an integrated WLAN Ethernet data interface.

By providing more than one such module, a data transfer rate of a high-speed WLAN Ethernet data transfer can be scaled in a simple manner. With three modules, which are each designed for a data transfer rate of 450 Mbit/s, a data transfer rate of more than 1 Gbit/s can be achieved in this way. Here, the modules can each be used for one frequency channel of a frequency band in a suitable manner.

The above-described module is also suitable for use together with further structurally identical modules and/or further modules in an electric coupler of a coupler part of a coupler which is provided between two train sections that are connected to each other, wherein the module support is a constituent part of the electric coupler.

As in a plug-in connector, more than one abovementioned module can also be provided in the electric coupler, whereby a desirable data transfer rate can be scaled in a simple manner by the module.

In some embodiments, above-described module may be suitable as a replacement for existing interfaces for radiofrequency signal transmission and data transfer by plug-in connections even in electric couplers for trains and in the process can be retrofitted and scaled in a simple manner.

Further features and advantages of the above-described module are described below with reference to the drawings.

Some of the figures contain simplified, schematic illustrations. Identical reference signs are sometimes used for elements which are similar but may not be identical. The reference signs are not all indicated in all of the drawings. Different views of similar elements can be drawn to different scales.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1Ashows an antenna1according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in the coupling state with a second structurally identical antenna1. The antenna1has a rectangular printed circuit board10with a length L10and a width B10. A broad-side first edge B1of the printed circuit board10has provided on it a cable connection14, arranged centrally on the edge B1, for a coaxial cable, starting from which a signal line11extends, on one side S1of the printed circuit board10, in the longitudinal direction L of the printed circuit board10parallel to the two longitudinal-side edges of the printed circuit board10.

The signal line11extends, in a first region101of the printed circuit board10, centrally between two reference grounds12which, like the signal line11, likewise extend, starting from the cable connection14, in the longitudinal direction L parallel to the two longitudinal-side edges of the printed circuit board10. Here, the two reference grounds12are arranged adjacent to the two longitudinal-side edges of the printed circuit board10.

In the first region101, a first width of the signal line11, a spacing of the signal line11from the reference grounds12and a second width of the reference grounds12are each designed in such a way that the first region101is populated by the signal line11and the reference grounds12. The signal line11has, in this region, a width of approximately 3 mm and a spacing from the reference grounds12of approximately 2 mm. The width of the reference grounds12is greater than the width of the signal line11and corresponds to approximately 4.5 mm. Typically, the reference grounds12are areally designed in the form of a rectangle extending in the longitudinal direction L of the printed circuit board10here.

The signal line is 3 mm wide, the spacing from the first and second reference grounds is 2 mm and the width of the reference grounds is 4.3 mm. All of this, together with the printed circuit board thickness of approximately 1.6 mm and a standard printed circuit board material, results in a 50 ohm impedance. Specifying individual cited properties in relation to one another does not result in targeted impedance specification.

Adjacent to the cable connection14, the printed circuit board10has a respective hole in the reference grounds12, a spacer element13being arranged on the side S1of the printed circuit board10at each of the holes. The holes and the spacer elements13are provided for fastening and positioning the printed circuit board10, such as in a module M described below.

The above-described first region101extends in the longitudinal direction L approximately as far as the center of the printed circuit board10. There, a second region102of the printed circuit board10adjoins the first region101. It is clear that the signal line11and the reference grounds12are each designed as conductor tracks on the printed circuit board10, the conductor tracks having an above-described areal extent in the first region101.

In the second region102, the signal line11is a great deal narrower than the rectangular, planar, and spiral coil11which, in this embodiment of the antenna1, has four turns. Here, the turns of the coil11each have first sections111and second sections112which are formed perpendicularly in relation to one another. The sections111are each parallel in relation to one another and in relation to the longitudinal direction L of the printed circuit board10here.

In this embodiment of the antenna1, the coil11is designed in such a way that the first sections111of the first turn of the coil11are arranged adjacent to the two opposite longitudinal-side edges of the printed circuit board10. Here, a second section112of the first turn of the coil11is arranged parallel and adjacent to that edge B2of the printed circuit board10situated opposite the cable connection14.

The signal line11extends, starting from its above-described first turn, in the second region102with the turns of its coil11in a spiral as far as the center of the planar spiral coil11and then runs onto the other side S2of the printed circuit board10. On the side S2, the signal line11extends in the region102centrally in the longitudinal direction L as far as into the first region101which, adjacent to the first edge B1of the printed circuit board10and the cable connection14, is areally occupied by a third reference ground12. The first region101and the second region102are approximately of the same size in a suitable manner in this embodiment of the antenna1.

The two antennas1fromFIG.1Aare arranged, as stated above, in their coupling state and in this case each with their region103situated opposite the cable connection14adjacent and one above the other. In this case, the first sides S1of the antennas with the coils11are arranged adjacent to one another and the antennas1are rotated through 180° in relation to one another transversely to the longitudinal direction L. In a suitable manner, the antennas1are arranged with the smallest possible spacing, which can correspond, for example, approximately to the thickness of their printed circuit board10, without touching. The printed circuit boards10may be, in a suitable manner, standard printed circuit boards with a thickness of 1.6 mm.

FIG.1Bshows, in this respect, the coils11of the antennas1fromFIG.1Afrom a different perspective with the coils11which are arranged adjacent and one above the other and each have the first turn sections111and the second turn sections112, wherein, in this embodiment of the antenna1, in each case two second turn sections112are arranged in such a way that magnetic coupling is typically provided.

In a suitable manner, for this purpose, the signal line11of the coil11is formed by a conductor track with a width of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm and preferably of approximately 0.5 mm. Here, the first sections111are each arranged, in a suitable manner, at a distance of from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm and preferably of approximately 0.3 mm, while the spacing of the second sections112, such as in the region103of interest for coupling, is comparatively larger and preferably approximately 5 times the spacing of the first sections111. In this embodiment, the spacing of the second sections112is approximately 1.5 mm in a suitable manner.

The spacing of the conductor tracks in the region112is approximately 1.5 mm and is therefore approximately 5 times greater than the spacing in the region111(which is 0.28 mm). The conductor track width is 0.52 mm.

In this embodiment, the region103is designed, by way of example, in such a way that a magnetic coupling state of the antennas1with in each case two second sections112of the coil11which are arranged adjacent to one another, which magnetic coupling state is suitable for radiofrequency transfer, is provided, namely by a second section112of the first turn of the coil11and a second section112, which is adjacent to this section112, of the turn which is adjacent to the first turn of the coil11. It is clear that the region103can also advantageously be designed in such a way that a coupling state of the antennas1which is suitable for radiofrequency transfer is provided by more than two second sections112of the coil11which are arranged adjacent to one another.

The antenna1having the above-described features is designed as a near-field antenna for coupling in a range of from 2 to 3 cm and is suitable for a high-speed WLAN Ethernet data interface. The antenna1having these features has an impedance at its cable connection of 50Ω and is designed for a frequency band of 5 GHz with a transfer rate of 450 Mbit/s. An above-mentioned antenna1is particularly suitable for integration into a module M described below.

FIG.2shows an exploded illustration of a module M according to one embodiment having a module housing3, a shielding element2, an antenna1, and a positioning element4.

The printed circuit board10of the antenna1is only schematically illustrated in the exploded illustration, and therefore the antenna1with its printed circuit board10, its cable connection14and the two spacer elements13assembled as intended is also illustrated on an enlarged scale from a different perspective. The design of the antenna1fromFIG.2substantially corresponds to the above-described design of the antenna1fromFIG.1A, and therefore reference is made to the corresponding description ofFIG.1Ain this respect.

In contrast to the embodiment fromFIG.1A, the coil11is of narrower design, and the two longitudinal-side edges of the printed circuit board10each have in the region103, a step, following which the region103of the printed circuit board10is of correspondingly tapered design. The abovementioned tapering is not illustrated in the exploded illustration containing the schematic printed circuit board10for reasons of simplicity.

The module M, with its housing3, is provided for a suitable module support6and designed in a corresponding manner. The module support6can be a holding frame6, such as a plug-in connector. For this purpose, the housing3has an outer contour which corresponds in a positively locking manner with the holding frame6and has suitable latching and holding elements. The assembled module M inserted into the holding frame6is described below with reference toFIG.3B.

The housing3has an opening30and an inner contour which interacts in a positively locking manner with an outer contour of the shielding element2in such a way that the shielding element2inserted into the housing3via the opening30is accommodated and held in the housing3as intended. The housing3comprises plastic in a suitable manner.

The shielding element2comprises metal in a suitable manner and has, as stated above, an outer contour which is positively locked with the inner contour of the housing3. The shielding element2provides a suitable support element for receiving and accommodating the antenna1in the module M.

For this purpose, the shielding element2has an opening20and two threaded holes22which correspond to the spacer elements13provided at the holes of the printed circuit board10in such a way that the printed circuit board10of an antenna1inserted into the shielding element2via the opening20can be positioned and fastened as intended to the threaded holes and in the shielding element2by screws, not illustrated in the drawings and guided through the holes in the printed circuit board10and the spacer elements13. The spacer elements13are designed as metal sleeves in a suitable manner for this purpose, and therefore electrical contact between the reference grounds12of the antenna1and of the cable connection14with the shielding element2is provided here.

It is clear that the shielding element2and the housing3each also have a rear-side opening which is provided opposite the openings20,30and via which the above-described screws and also the cable connection14for a cable connection are each accessible. The cable connection14is designed as an SMA screw connection in a suitable manner for this purpose and is therefore typically suitable for a coaxial cable.

The shielding element2is designed in a flange-like manner with two threaded holes21on the outside of its opening20, the threaded holes being suitable for fastening further elements, such as the positioning element4and/or a protective cap5described below with reference toFIG.5B.

The positioning element4provides rail-like guidance and positioning of the antenna1and is designed with its two recesses42for receiving the printed circuit board10. The positioning element4is provided, by way of its two holes41, for fastening to the flange-like edge of the opening20of the shielding element2, and can be fastened as intended to the shielding element2by corresponding screws, not illustrated, via the holes41and the threaded holes21.

The positioning element4also has an angled region43with a dimension which corresponds substantially to a predetermined length with which the printed circuit board10of the antenna1fitted in the shielding element2projects, such as by way of its region103provided for coupling, out of the opening20of the shielding element2. The angled portion43is provided for lateral protection of the printed circuit board10here.

The spacer elements13and the positioning element4, by way of its recesses42, are designed in such a way that the antenna1which projects out of the module M with a predetermined region103, provided for coupling the antenna1, out of the opening20is spaced apart acentrically from a central region of the modules M here. This spacing is designed in such a way that a first module M and a second structurally identical module M rotated through 180°, by way of their antennas1projecting out of the modules M, can be moved to a coupling state of the antennas1which allows high-speed WLAN Ethernet data transfer.

FIG.3Ashows two assembled modules M fromFIG.2in the coupling state of their antennas1, wherein, in this state, the regions103of the antennas1are arranged adjacent to one another without contact and are protected on two opposite sides by the angled regions43of the positioning elements4. This drawing also shows the rear-side opening in the housing3already described above with reference toFIG.2together with the cable connection14which is accessible for connection of a cable and is provided as an SMA connection with a screw connection. The structurally identical modules M that are each rotated through 180° in relation to one another are arranged in one plane here.

FIG.3Bshows, by way of example, three modules M in a first holding frame6which is suitable for a modular plug-in connector and which is designed for receiving six modules. The holding frame6is designed as an articulated frame and is schematically illustrated in a simplified manner in the drawing. The outer contour of the modules M corresponds to contour elements of the holding frame6in such a way that the modules M are fixed in the holding frame6.

The holding frame6can receive a further three modules which can be designed differently and which can be configured to transmit, for example, signals and currents of a digital, analog, electrical, pneumatic, mechanical, optical or hydraulic type.

By providing more than one module M, a data transfer rate of a high-speed WLAN Ethernet data transfer can be scaled in a simple manner. With the three modules M, which can each be designed for a data transfer rate of 450 Mbit/s, a data transfer rate of more than 1 Gbit/s can be achieved in this way. Here, the modules M are each used for one frequency channel of a frequency band in a suitable manner.

The holding frame6can be inserted and fixed into a housing of a plug-in connector as intended. A second structurally identical holding frame6can likewise hold three modules M in a manner rotated through 180° in positions which correspond to the positions of the three modules M, the three held modules corresponding to the modules M and in the process being correspondingly rotated through 180° in order to be coupled as intended. The second holding frame6can be inserted and fixed into a housing of a mating plug-in connector that corresponds to the plug-in connector housing.

The modules M are designed in a manner corresponding to the retaining frame6in such a way that the modules M fixed in the first and the second retaining frame6, when the plug-in connector is connected as intended in its insertion direction S to the mating plug-in connector, the position, described above with reference toFIG.3A, of a coupling state of the antennas1of the modules M is provided. Here, the regions103, which project out of the modules M in the insertion direction S, of the printed circuit boards10are, with the coils11of two corresponding modules M arranged opposite each other, arranged adjacent to one another as intended and in the process have a predetermined small spacing.

FIG.4shows, for better understanding of the module M, an enlarged illustration of the shielding element2of the module M fromFIG.2from a different perspective. The antenna1fromFIG.2is inserted into the shielding element2as intended, and for this reason the antenna1is likewise illustrated in overview inFIG.4once again without the shielding element2for reasons of clarity and convenience.

The printed circuit board10of the antenna1projects out of the opening20in the shielding element2by a predetermined quantity L2in the connecting direction S of the module M to a corresponding structurally identical second module M rotated through 180°, the opening being surrounded by the flange-like edge with the two threaded holes21. The printed circuit board10also projects, by way of its end situated opposite the opening20and its cable connection14, out of the rear-side opening in the shielding element2.

Adjacent to the cable connection14, the printed circuit board10is fastened to the threaded holes22in the shielding element2by screws, wherein the printed circuit board10is spaced apart from a central region of the opening20as intended via the spacer elements13, the central region being illustrated in the drawing by the dash-and-dot line which extends transversely to the opening20and through the threaded holes21.

Here, the antenna1is arranged in the shielding element2in such a way that its printed circuit board10extends parallel to the connecting direction S of the module M. The above-described spacing from the central region of the opening20is selected in a predetermined manner in such a way that the printed circuit boards10of two modules M arranged in their coupling state are arranged adjacent to one another with a predetermined slight spacing and do not touch in the process.

It is clear that the connecting direction S of the modules M for providing their coupling state corresponds to the insertion direction S of a plug-in connector having the modules M. The modules M are designed with their antennas1positioned in the shielding elements2in such a way that the printed circuit boards10of the antennas1are arranged parallel to the connecting direction S or insertion direction S and the plane of the modules.

FIG.5Ashows, for better understanding of the module M, an enlarged illustration of the shielding element2with the antenna1inserted into the housing3of the module M fromFIG.2. The shielding element2projects, together with the printed circuit board10, out of the rear-side opening in the housing3. Only an upper and the lower edge of the housing3project slightly beyond the flange-like edge of the opening20in the shielding element2in the connecting direction S.

FIG.5Bshows the module M fromFIG.5A, the opening20in which is provided with a protective cap5. The protective cap5is produced from a suitable plastic and has an advantageous dual function. Firstly, it protects the region103of the antenna1against soiling, and also stabilizes, like the positioning element4, the printed circuit board10in its position. For this purpose, the protective cap5is likewise formed, like the edge of the opening20, in a flange-like manner with two holes51which correspond to the threaded holes21in the shielding element2, whereby the protective cap5can be fastened to the module M by screws. For this purpose, the protective cap5also corresponds in shape to the printed circuit board10projecting out of the opening20.

It is clear that the module M can also have a protective cap5of this kind, in addition to the positioning element4. It is also clear that the rear-side opening in the shielding element2can be provided with a suitably designed further protective cap taking into consideration the accessibility of the cable connection14. It is likewise clear that a module M provided with the protective cap5is particularly suitable for sensitive sectors in industry or for outdoor use.

FIG.6Ashows two modules M fromFIG.5Bin the coupling state of their antennas1, andFIG.6Bshows a longitudinal section through the modules M fromFIG.6A.

FIG.6Acorresponds, with the two modules M arranged adjacent to one another in one plane in the connecting direction S of the modules M, substantially toFIG.3A, and therefore reference is made to the above description in this respect here.

FIG.6Bfirstly shows the shielding element2arranged in a positively locking manner in the housing3.FIG.6Bshows the design of the protective cap5which, with its shape, incorporates the printed circuit board10, wherein the protective cap5is designed in a manner corresponding to the printed circuit board10and is arranged adjacent to the printed circuit board10on three sides, i.e., adjacent to the first side S1and the second side S2and the corresponding end-side edge B2of the printed circuit board10.

Here, the modules M are arranged in their coupling state in such a way that the protective caps5have a slight spacing and do not touch in the process. The spacing of the printed circuit boards10transverse to the connecting direction S is of the order of magnitude of the thickness of the printed circuit boards10here and is between 1 and 10 mm and is advantageously approximately 2.5 mm.

The spacing of the antenna coils in the coupled state is approximately 2.5 mm. A smaller distance would be more advantageous, but is not easy to establish on account of the design of the shielding element.

FIG.7Ashows a schematic illustration of two train sections which are connected to one another and have a coupler70arranged between them. The two train sections each contain a railcar7. The coupler70connects the two railcars7and in this case comprises two coupler parts which each comprise a mechanical coupler and an electric coupler71, the electric coupler71being schematically illustrated inFIG.7B.

Both the mechanical coupler and the electric coupler71can be operated in an automated manner in modern trains in order to both establish a mechanical connection and provide electrical, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic connections required for control purposes when railcars of several train parts or else cars of one train part are coupled with one another. For this purpose, the electric coupler71usually has a large number of plug-in connections.

At least one above-described module M is integrated into a suitable module support6of the electric coupler71, whereby radiofrequency data transfer is provided when the coupler70is closed. In this case, the radiofrequency coupling is performed by the modules M, which are each arranged in a coupler part of the electric coupler71.

Even though various aspects or features of the disclosure are shown respectively in combination in the Figures, it is clear to a person skilled in the art—unless stated otherwise—that the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only ones possible. In particular, mutually corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments can be exchanged with one another. In other words, aspects of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.