# Patent

## Title
Printed circuit board plug-type connector and connection module with printed circuit board plug-type connector

## Abstract

The invention relates to a printed circuit board plug-type connector (1), comprising a housing, in which contact elements (6) are arranged, wherein the contact elements (6) have a first contact part at one end and a second contact part at the opposite end, wherein the first contact part is in the form of a fork contact (7, 8), wherein the second contact part is in the form of a contact which makes contact with the printed circuit board, and an associated connection module (30) with a printed circuit board plug-type connector (1).

## Background
This application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/524,204, filed 23 Jul. 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,934,933, which is a National Stage Application of PCT/EP2007/010930, filed 13 Dec. 2007, which claims benefit of Serial No. 10 2007 003 250.3, filed 23 Jan. 2007 in Germany and which applications are incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosed applications.


BACKGROUND
The invention relates to a plug-in connector for printed circuit boards with a connection module with plug-in connector for printed circuit boards.
Such a plug-in connector of the generic type is known, for example, from DE 102 57 308 B3. The plug-in connector for printed circuit boards comprises a number of contact elements, the contact elements each having two connection sides, one connection side being in the form of an insulation displacement contact for connecting wires, and the other connection side being in the form of a fork contact for making contact with connection pads on a printed circuit board, and a plastic housing, into which the insulation displacement contacts of the contact elements can be plugged, the insulation displacement contact and the fork contact being arranged such that they are turned towards one another, and at least one lower edge of the insulation displacement contact being supported on the plastic housing so that the contact elements are held in the plastic housing such that they cannot become detached in the case of connection forces occurring on the insulation displacement contacts, the plastic housing comprising at least one region in the form of a chamber, and the fork contacts being completely accommodated in the longitudinal direction by the plastic housing, ribs being arranged in the region in the form of a chamber on the inner sides, which ribs define guides for the fork contacts, the contact regions of the fork contacts protruding beyond the ribs, and the ribs being beveled in the front region. The packing density is in this case largely determined by the modular spacing between the fork contacts, which is in the region of a few millimeters.
One preferred application area of such plug-in connectors for printed circuit boards is the use in connection modules. Such a connection module comprises a housing, in which at least one printed circuit board is arranged, the plug-in connector for printed circuit boards then being pushed onto one end side of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit boards of such a connection module generally represent high-quality technology, with the result that it is endeavored to change as little as possible of this technology. On the other hand, there are also requirements when the cables to be connected are not in the form of twisted pairs but have plug-in connectors or connection contacts of various types such as, for example, RJ45 plugs or coaxial plugs.
SUMMARY
The object is therefore based on the technical problem of providing a plug-in connector for printed circuit boards and a connection module, by means of which flexibly various cable connections are possible.
In this regard, the plug-in connector for printed circuit boards comprises a housing, in which contact elements are arranged, the contact elements having a first contact part at one end and a second contact part at the opposite end, the first contact part being in the form of a fork contact, and the second contact part being in the form of a contact which makes contact with printed circuit boards. As a result, the printed circuit board including its interface can remain unchanged, a universal interface being created by the contact which makes contact with printed circuit boards. A printed circuit board with desirable connection contacts such as, for example, RJ45, Lemo, coaxial or wire-wrap contacts can be connected via the contact which makes contact with printed circuit boards in order to connect cables or wires. Likewise, a printed circuit board for a system test, for example, can be connected.
In this case, the contact which makes contact with printed circuit boards is preferably also in the form of a fork contact.
In a further preferred embodiment, the contact element is designed to be symmetrical, which in particular facilitates manipulation and fitting. The contact element can in this case be designed to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the contact element or else centrosymmetrical with respect to the center of gravity.
In a further preferred embodiment, the housing of the plug-in connector for printed circuit boards is designed to have two parts.
The plug-in connector for printed circuit boards is preferably in the form of a separate, independent component. However, it is also possible to integrate the plug-in connector for printed circuit boards together with an adapter printed circuit board and the associated connection contacts in a housing as a compact component.
In the case in which the plug-in connector for printed circuit boards is in the form of a separate component, the adapter printed circuit board with the connection contacts is preferably likewise arranged in a separate housing.
In order to connect the housing with the adapter printed circuit board, said housing preferably has a cylindrical cavity on each side, with the result that the housing can be connected to the housing of the connection module by means of a screw.
In the case of the design of the plug-in connector for printed circuit boards, the adapter printed circuit board and the associated contacts as a common, compact component, the connection to the housing of the connection module can take place by means of a long screw, which is guided through the cylindrical cavity. In the case of a separate design, on the other hand, at first the plug-in connector for printed circuit boards is connected by a first screw, this screw having an internal thread on the side facing the adapter printed circuit board, into which internal thread a second screw, which is guided through the cylindrical cavity, is then screwed.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment. In the figures:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a plug-in connector for printed circuit boards in the assembled state,
FIG. 2 shows a perspective, exploded illustration of the plug-in connector for printed circuit boards as shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of two 17-pole plug-in connectors for printed circuit boards with a printed circuit board of a connection module (prior art),
FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of two 17-pole plug-in connectors for printed circuit boards with adapter printed circuit boards,
FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration of a plug-in connector for printed circuit boards with a front frame panel (prior art),
FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of a housing with an adapter printed circuit and a coaxial plug-in connector,
FIG. 7 shows a perspective illustration of a connection module, and
FIG. 8 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a screw with an internal thread.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows the plug-in connector 1 for printed circuit boards in a perspective view and in the assembled state, and FIG. 2 shows it in an exploded illustration. The plug-in connector 1 for printed circuit boards comprises a first housing part 2 and a second housing part 3, which are latched to one another. For this purpose, the first housing part 2 has three latching tabs 4 on the upper side which latch into corresponding latching openings 5 in the second housing part. Correspondingly, three latching tabs 4 are also arranged on the lower side of the first housing part 2, and three further latching openings 5 are provided on the lower side of the second housing part 3. Contact elements 6, which are in the form of a twin-fork contact, are arranged in the housing of the plug-in connector 1 for printed circuit boards. The first fork contact 7 is in this case used for making contact with a printed circuit board 10 (see FIG. 3 or 4) of a connection module, while the second fork contact 8 is used for making contact with an adapter printed circuit board 11 or a measurement printed circuit board (see FIG. 4). Ribs 9, which in each case guide the fork contact 7, 8, are arranged both in the first and in the second housing part 2, 3. The contact regions 12 of the fork contacts 7, 8 in this case protrude beyond the ribs 9, the ribs 9 being beveled in the front region in order to make it easier for the printed circuit board 10, 11 to be pushed on. At the rear sides 13, the housing parts 2, 3 have entry slots 14, through which the fork contacts 7, 8 are plugged. In this case, the stop edges 15, 16 or 17, 18 are used for plugging the fork contacts 7, 8 in a defined manner and rest on the housing parts 2, 3 in front of the entry slots 14. In this case, the contact element 6 is designed to be symmetrical with respect to the central longitudinal axis L. Finally, the first housing part is formed in each case on the upper and lower side with two latching hooks 19.
FIG. 3 illustrates the situation in which two 17-pole plug-in connectors 20 for printed circuit boards in accordance with DE 102 57 308 B2 have been plugged onto a printed circuit board 10 of a connection module 30, in supplementary fashion to this FIG. 5 showing a front frame panel 21, onto which the plug-in connector 20 for printed circuit boards is latched, the front frame panel 21 and therefore also the plug-in connector 20 for printed circuit boards being screwed to a housing 31 of a connection module 30 by means of two screws 22. If, for example, the plug-in connector 20 for printed circuit boards with insulation displacement contacts is now intended to be replaced by another connection technique, the plug-in connector 20 is withdrawn from the printed circuit board 10 and replaced by a plug-in connector 1 for printed circuit boards, the fork contacts 7 having the same modular spacing as the fork contacts of the plug-in connector 20.
FIG. 4 illustrates the plug-in connector 1 for printed circuit boards according to the invention, whose fork contacts 7 have been fitted onto the printed circuit board 10 of a connection module 30 and whose fork contacts 8 have been fitted onto an adapter printed circuit board 11. Then, desired plug-in connectors or connection contacts are arranged on the adapter printed circuit board 11 and are then guided via conductor tracks to contact pads, which then make contact with the fork contacts 8. FIG. 6 illustrates this for coaxial plug-in connectors 23, the adapter printed circuit board 11 with the coaxial plug-in connectors 23 being arranged in a separate housing 24. Cylindrical cavities 25 are provided laterally on the housing 24.
A preferred connection to the connection module 30 now takes place by virtue of the fact that, at first, the plug-in connector 1 for printed circuit boards with the front frame panel 21 is screwed to the housing 31 of the connection module 30 by means of a screw 26 (see FIG. 8). The screw 26 has, for this purpose, a first thread 27, which is matched to the housing of the connection module. Furthermore, the screw 26 has, on the opposite side, an elongate head 28, which is formed with an internal thread 29. The head 28 is in this case matched to the cylindrical cavity 25. Then, the adapter printed circuit board 11 is plugged onto the fork contacts 8, the head 28 dipping into the cylindrical cavity. Then, a screw can be plugged into the cylindrical cavity 25 in front of the front side of the housing 24, the thread of said screw being matched to the internal thread 29. As a result, the housing 24 can then be connected indirectly to the housing of the connection module 30.
Finally, FIG. 7 illustrates a fully equipped connection module 30, which has a housing 31 and a rear side 32 with active technology. In this case, various interfaces are provided on the rear side 32 for signals and supply voltages. In the uppermost row, there is a plug-in connector 20 for printed circuit boards which is formed with insulation displacement contacts. Beneath this, a further plug-in connector 33 for printed circuit boards with wire-wrap contacts 34 is arranged, whose design is not the subject matter of this invention. Beneath this, two housings 24 with adapter printed circuit boards 11 of a coaxial plug-in connector 23 are arranged (see FIG. 6). Correspondingly, beneath this embodiments for RJ45 sockets 35 and Lemo plug-in connectors 36 are shown, in the two latter variants the housing having a stepped design, i.e. being higher at the front than at the back.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS


    1 Plug-in connector for printed circuit boards
    2 First housing part
    3 Second housing part
    4 Latching tabs
    5 Latching openings
    6 Contact elements
    7 First fork contact
    8 Second fork contact
    9 Rib
    10 Printed circuit board
    11 Adapter printed circuit board
    12 Contact regions
    13 Rear sides
    14 Entry slots
    15 Stop edge
    16 Stop edge
    17 Stop edge
    18 Stop edge
    19 Latching hooks
    20 Plug-in connector for printed circuit boards
    21 Front frame panel
    22 Screws
    23 Coaxial plug-in connector
    24 Separate housing
    25 Cylindrical cavity
    26 Screw
    27 Thread
    28 Head
    29 Internal thread
    30 Connection module
    31 Housing
    32 Rear side
    33 Plug-in connector for printed circuit boards
    34 Wire-wrap contacts
    35 RJ45 socket
    36 Lemo plug-in connector
    37 L Central longitudinal axis

## Claims

1. An adapter module for a connection module, the adapter module comprising:
an adapter module housing having a first end and a second end;
an adapter printed circuit board located within the adapter module housing, the adapter printed circuit board having a first end and a second end;
a first plurality of contact elements located in the adapter module housing, the first plurality of contact elements each having a first side and a second side, the first side of each of the first plurality of contact elements defining a connection contact at the first end of the adapter module housing, the second side of each of the first plurality of contact elements being configured to connect to the first end of the adapter module printed circuit board;
a second housing coupled to the adapter module housing; and
a second plurality of contact elements disposed in the second housing, the second plurality of contact elements each having a first side and a second side located within the second housing, the first side of each of the second plurality of contact elements being configured to connect to the second end of the adapter printed circuit board, the second side of each of the first plurality of contact elements defining a fork contact to connect to another printed circuit board.

2. The adapter module of claim 1, wherein a portion of the second housing is located within the adapter module housing.

3. The adapter module of claim 2, wherein the second housing is mounted to a front frame panel.

4. The adapter module of claim 2, wherein the adapter module housing is fastened to the second housing.

5. The adapter module of claim 2, wherein the adapter module housing defines channels extending between the first and second ends of the adapter module housing, wherein fasteners extend through the channels to fasten the adapter module housing to the second housing.

6. The adapter module of claim 1, wherein the first side of each of the first plurality of contact elements defines a coaxial plug-in connector at the first end of the adapter module housing.

7. The adapter module of claim 1, wherein the first side of each of the first plurality of contact elements defines an RJ-45 socket at the first end of the adapter module housing.

8. The adapter module of claim 1, wherein the first side of each of the first plurality of contact elements defines a Lemo plug-in connector at the first end of the adapter module housing.

9. The adapter module of claim 1, wherein the first side of each of the first plurality of contact elements defines a wire wrap contact at the first end of the adapter module housing.

10. A connection module comprising:
a connection module housing;
a plurality of printed circuit boards located in the connection module housing; and
a first adapter module having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first adapter module defining a plurality of connection contacts, the second end of the first adapter module including a plurality of fork contacts configured to connect to one of the printed circuit boards located in the connection module housing, the first adapter module also including a first adapter printed circuit board located electrically between the connection contacts and the fork contacts.

11. The connection module of claim 10, wherein the connection contacts define coaxial plug-in connectors at the first end of the first adapter module.

12. The connection module of claim 10, wherein the connection contacts define RJ-45 sockets at the first end of the adapter first module.

13. The connection module of claim 10, wherein the connection contacts define Lemo plug-in connectors at the first end of the adapter first module.

14. The connection module of claim 10, wherein the connection contacts define wire wrap contacts at the first end of the adapter module.

15. The connection module of claim 10, wherein the first adapter module includes an adapter module housing in which the first adapter printed circuit board is located.

16. The connection module of claim 15, wherein the first adapter module also includes a second housing in which the fork contacts are located, the fork contacts having opposite ends that are configured to connect to the adapter printed circuit board.

17. The connection module of claim 16, wherein the second housing mounts to a front frame panel that is configured to be fastened to the connection module housing to secure the fork contacts to said printed circuit board.

18. The connection module of claim 17, wherein the adapter module housing fastens over the second housing and front frame panel.

19. The connection module of claim 10, further comprising a second adapter module having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second adapter module defining a plurality of second connection contacts, the second end of the second adapter module including a plurality of second fork contacts configured to connect to another of the printed circuit boards located in the connection module housing, the second adapter module also including a second adapter printed circuit board located electrically between the second connection contacts and the second fork contacts.

20. The connection module of claim 19, wherein the second connection contacts of the second adapter module differ from the connection contacts of the first adapter module.

21. An adapter module for a connection module, the adapter module comprising:
an adapter module housing having a first end and a second end;
an adapter printed circuit board located within the adapter module housing, the adapter printed circuit board having a first end and a second end;
a first plurality of contact elements located in the adapter module housing, the first plurality of contact elements each having a first side and a second side, the first side of each of the first plurality of contact elements defining a connection contact at the first end of the adapter module housing, the second side of each of the first plurality of contact elements being configured to connect to the first end of the adapter module printed circuit board;
a second plurality of contact elements, the second plurality of contact elements each having a first side and a second side, the first side of each of the second plurality of contact elements being configured to connect to the second end of the adapter printed circuit board, the second side of each of the first plurality of contact elements defining a fork contact to connect to another printed circuit board;
a second housing in which the second plurality of contact elements is located;
wherein the adapter module housing defines channels extending between the first and second ends of the adapter module housing, wherein fasteners extend through the channels to fasten the adapter module housing to the second housing.