EP1432083A1 - Connecting device for contacting and connecting a plurality of contact carriers - Google Patents

Abstract

Allocated to first and second contact carriers (CC) (4a) in a casing, first and second contact banks have contact elements (CE) (2) operated as one piece and fitted so as to bond the contact surfaces (CS) (3) of the CC. The CE have first (7) and second (8) contact arms to bond the first and second CC respectively so that the CS allocated to each other make an electrical contact.

Description

The invention relates to a connecting device for contacting and connecting a plurality of contact carriers, in particular Ribbon conductors.

For contacting contact carriers, such as ribbon cables, Printed circuit boards or the like are usually contacting devices provided the contact elements with contact arms have that with a contacting force on contact surfaces rest on the contact carrier so that an electrical Connection between the contact surfaces and the contact element arises.

To connect the contact surfaces of two contact carriers previously two contacting devices, each with conductor tracks electrically coupled on a circuit board so that a contact surface via the contacting devices of the first contact carrier with a contact surface of the second Contact carrier is in electrical connection. This is often expensive because of a circuit board on which the contacting devices connected, must be used to connect the one contacting device to the others. Also the electrical connections to the circuit board prone to failure, so reliability the electrical connection between two contact carriers impaired is.

In GB 2337164 there is a connection device shown with the two contact carriers with contact surfaces can be contacted electrically. The contact elements Contact strips formed are each via a connection connected to a pin header, making the Contact bar for the first contact elements and the contact bar for the second contact elements, for example with a PCB can be connected. On the circuit board can then be provided that the respectively assigned to each other Contact elements electrically interconnected via conductor tracks get connected.

A flexible film connector is known from the publication DE 100 61 605 A1 known, connected to each other with the two ribbon cables can be. To contact the contact surfaces on the ribbon conductors are one-piece contact elements provided by inserting the ribbon cable in opposite insertion openings connecting between mutually assigned contact surfaces of the to be connected Enable ribbon cables.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting device for connecting contact carriers, in particular of ribbon conductors, to create with the two or more Contact carriers can be connected to each other and where it is possible the interconnected contact areas the contact carrier also with electrical connections to contact.

This object is achieved by the connecting device according to claim 1 solved.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are in the dependent claims.

According to the invention is a connection device for contacting and connecting a first and a second, respectively provided with multiple contact surfaces contact carrier. The first contact carrier has a first in a housing Contact bar and the second contact carrier a second contact bar assigned. The contact strips are in one piece executed contact elements formed, which are arranged to contact the contact surfaces of the contact carriers. The contact elements have a first contact arm Contacting the first contact carrier and a second contact arm to contact the second contact carrier to the respectively assigned contact surfaces of the first and to electrically connect the second contact carrier to one another. The contact elements are formed so that the contact strips are arranged one above the other so that the first and the second contact carrier parallel to each other and rectified can be introduced.

In this way it is possible to have a connecting device to create, in which the contact carrier insertable from one side are so that there is a possibility of interacting with each other connected contact surfaces of the contact carrier electrically to connect to a circuit arrangement. Furthermore A stacking arrangement offers the possibility of connecting the device to provide with more than two contact strips so that a larger number of contact carriers in parallel connectable to one another to such a connecting device are, each associated with each other and with each other connected contact areas with a circuit arrangement can be connected. It also facilitates the one-piece Execution of the contact elements producing a such connecting device.

It is preferably provided that the housing of the connecting device has a connector through which the Connection device can be connected to the circuit. At least one of the contact elements has a contacting section on, which extends into the connecting part, so that over the at least one contact element the respective contact surface contactable of the first and the second contact carrier is. In this way it can be achieved that a contact section is available that makes it possible through Connecting the connecting device to another Circuit, both the contact area of the first contact carrier as well as the contact area of the second contact carrier to contact.

It is preferably provided that the contact section Has connector pin. It is also possible that Connector is designed to be a third with contact areas provided provided contact carrier, the contacting section has a third contact arm. To this It is possible to connect the connecting device with a PCB or another ribbon cable to connect, so a simultaneous connection of the contact areas to enable the first and the second contact carrier.

It can be provided that the contact element or Contact section of the contact element a third contact arm having. The third contact arm can thus with the contact surfaces of the contact bearer interact that he on the one hand is clamped by inserting the third contact carrier and a contact surface arranged on the third contact carrier contacted or that the third contact arm with a third Interlocking element cooperates so that the associated Contact surface of the third contact carrier is contacted and the third contact carrier is jammed.

In this way it is possible to have a reliable electrical Connection of the first and the second contact carrier enable. It is also possible to use the connecting device to put on the edge of a circuit board so that a Connection between the ribbon cables and the circuits can be created on a circuit board.

It can be provided that a first locking element is provided to with the first contact arm of the contact element to cooperate so that the assigned contact area the first contact carrier is contacted and the the first contact carrier is jammed as a result.

A second locking element can also be provided to cooperate with the second contact arm so that contacted the associated contact surface of the second contact carrier and the second contact carrier is jammed. On this way a reliable fixation of the contact carrier can be achieved in the connecting device.

The first locking element is preferably designed so that it is coupled to the first contact arm in order to translational movement of the first locking element with respect to the housing, the first contact arm in the direction of to move associated contact surface of the contact carrier, so that the contact surface is contacted. The same way can the second locking element with the second contact arm be coupled to during a translatory movement of the second locking element with respect to the housing the first contact arm in the direction of the assigned contact surface to move so that the contact surface contacts becomes. In this way, a larger clamping force between Contact arm and contact surface are reached so that the Contact carrier better kept in the connection device becomes.

It is preferably provided that the first and the second Contact arm of the contact element each have a sliding section have, wherein the sliding portion of the first and / or second contact arm during the translational movement of the first and / or the second locking element on a Sliding surface of the first and / or the second locking element slides along. The sliding surface is designed so that when moving the first and / or the second Locking element a movement of the first and / or second contact arm in the direction of the associated contact surface is effected. The sliding surface is preferably inclined Plane with respect to the first and / or the second contact arm educated.

Figuren 1a, 1b einen Aufschnitt einer erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungseinrichtung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Figur 2 einen Aufschnitt einer erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungseinrichtung zur Kontaktierung einer Leiterplatte gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung; und

Figur 3 einen Aufschnitt der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungseinrichtung mit Kontaktstiften zum Kontaktieren einer Leiterplatte gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Figures 1a, 1b a cut-up of a connecting device according to the invention according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a section of a connecting device according to the invention for contacting a printed circuit board according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 3 shows a section of the connecting device according to the invention with contact pins for contacting a circuit board according to a third embodiment.

In Figure 1a is a cutting device of an inventive Connection device according to a first embodiment shown. The connecting device has a housing 1 on, in which a one-piece contact element 2 is arranged is. The contact element 2 is made conductive, and serves to make contact areas 3 on a first ribbon conductor 4a and a second ribbon conductor 4b to contact. The Contact element 2 has a first contact section 5 and a second contact section 6. The first contact section 5 has a first contact arm 7 and a second Contact arm 8 on. The second contact section 6 has a third contact arm 9 and a fourth contact arm 10 on.

For contacting the multiple contact surfaces 3 on the contact carriers 4a, 4b are several arranged side by side Contact elements 2 are provided, the first and second Contact arms 7, 8 a first contact strip and the third and fourth contact arm 9, 10 form a second contact strip.

The housing 1 is designed so that between the first contact section 5 and the second contact section 6 an intermediate wall is arranged, which has a first support surface 11. The partition divides a first insertion opening for the first ribbon conductor 4a and a second insertion opening for the second ribbon conductor 4b from each other. Between one first sliding surface 12 of the first contact arm 7 and first support surface 11 of the housing 1 is a first sliding element 13 arranged that has a first sliding surface 14. The first sliding element 13 lies with a bearing surface 15 on the first support surface of the housing 1. The first sliding section 12 lies on the first sliding surface 14 of the first sliding element 13. The first sliding surface 14 runs at an angle to the support surface, so that when pushed in of the first sliding element 13 in the housing 2 first bearing surface 15 on the support surface 11 and the first Sliding section 12 of the first contact arm 7 on the first Sliding surface 14 of the first sliding element 13 slides along.

Characterized in that the first sliding surface 14 runs obliquely when the first sliding element 13 is pushed in, the contact arm 7 raised so that a first contact surface 16 in the direction of the contact surface 3 of the first inserted Ribbon conductor 4a is moved. The second contact arm 8 has a second contact surface 17, that of the first contact surface 16 essentially with respect to the first ribbon conductor 4a is opposite. By moving the first one Sliding element 13 becomes the first contact surface 16 in the direction the second contact surface 17 moves, so that on one a flat conductor 4 located between them exerts a force becomes. This force serves the contact surface 3 of the first Ribbon conductor 4a to contact and the first ribbon conductor 4a to hold securely in the connection device.

Around the first ribbon conductor 4a against tensile forces in the connecting device are to be held in the ribbon cable Recesses 18, as shown in Figure 1b, provided. In these Recesses 18 engage latching elements 19, which so on the housing 1 are attached that the first insertable ribbon cable 4a is locked in the inserted state, that the locking element 19 in the recess 18 of the ribbon cable engages and holds it against train in the housing.

The second contact section 6 is so in the housing 1 below of the first contact section 5 arranged that one of second ribbon cable inserted in the same direction same way as contacted with the first contact portion 5 can be. For this purpose, the housing 1 has a second one Support surface 20 on which a second sliding element 21 with can slide along its bearing surface 22. The second Sliding element 21 has a second sliding surface 23 a sliding section 24 of the third contact arm 9 along slides.

The second sliding element 21 is shown in a position in which the second inserted ribbon conductor 4b contacted and jammed. For this purpose, the sliding element 21 completely pushed into the housing 1, so that the Contact surface 25 of the third contact arm 9 on the contact surface 3 of the second ribbon conductor 4b is attached and with a fourth contact surface 35 of the fourth contact arm is jammed.

On the insertion openings for the ribbon cables 4a, 4b opposite side is a contacting device 26 intended. The contacting device 26 is designed so that the connection device with a further conductor track carrier can be connected. Such another conductor track carrier can a circuit board, another ribbon cable, a connector or the like.

The further contacting device 26 is of a housing section 27 surrounded. Located inside the housing section 27 a third contact section 28 of the contact element 2. The third contact section 28 can be formed in the same way be like the first and second contact portions 5, 6. Form the third contact sections of the contact elements 2 a third contact bar. The third contact strip is opposite facing the first and second contact strips, a corresponding insertion opening of the housing section 27 for a third ribbon conductor of the first and second insertion opening is substantially opposite.

Likewise, a third sliding element 29 is provided with which a fifth contact arm 30 against a sixth contact arm 31 can be moved so that any third introduced Ribbon conductor can be jammed. The fact that the contact element 2 is made in one piece, all are each other corresponding contact surfaces 3 of the ribbon conductors 4a, 4b electrically connected to each other.

The sliding elements 13, 21, 29 preferably each have a locking arm 32, as shown in Figure 1b, the two recesses, a first recess 33 and a second Has recess 34. The first recess 33 serves that respective sliding element 13, 21, 29 with a corresponding one Holding element of the housing 1, for. B. an edge in to lock an insertion position. This is so that the respective sliding element 13, 21, 29 not out of the housing can slide out. The sliding element 13, 21, 29 has in this Insertion position the respective first, third or fifth contact arm 7, 9, 30 not yet against the opposite second, fourth and sixth contact arms 8, 10, 31 moved so that a ribbon cable is easy to insert. By bending the locking arm 32 laterally Locking, e.g. B. be lifted off the edge and after inserting a ribbon cable 4 the respective Sliding element 13, 21, 29 pushed into the housing 1 so that the ribbon cable becomes jammed and contact is made.

In the position completely pushed into the housing 1, can the respective sliding element 13, 21, 29 with the second recess 34 with the corresponding holding element lock in a jammed position that the respective Sliding element 13, 21, 29 is held firmly in the housing 1 and can not easily move out of the housing 1. In this way, the jammed position is maintained, and the Ribbon conductor 4a, 4b, 4c remains jammed and the respective one Contact surface contacted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the contacting device 26 also be carried out in a different way. There the case points 1 a wider one on the side of the contacting device Insertion opening through which a circuit board 39 into the housing can be introduced. The circuit board is not included Clamped to the housing with the help of a sliding element.

The third contact section points instead by one seventh contact arm 40 and an eighth contact arm 41. At least one of the two contact arms 40, 41 has one flexible bend on when pushing in the circuit board 39 is clamped and so a clamping force on the circuit board 39 is exercised. At the same time either contacted one of the seventh or eighth contact arms 40, 41 or both on the printed circuit board 39 contact surfaces. On in this way a connection device is created with the ribbon cable can be connected to each other as well as the ribbon cable at the same time as the circuit board 39 or contact surfaces applied thereon can be.

As shown in Figure 3, can replace the third contact section contact pins 42 can also be provided with whose help the connecting device z. B. on a circuit board can be soldered or with a complementary one Connector can be connected.

It is essential that the ribbon cable on one connection side into superimposed insertion openings in the provided contact strips are inserted and jammed can, the superimposed contact strips in Are constructed essentially the same and with the ribbon cable 4a, 4b substantially the same length in of the connecting device to be contacted to become.

Of course, more than two can also be provided Contacting devices one above the other in the same way to be arranged, the contact element being made in one piece only becomes. The one-piece design of the contact element offers also the possibility of simple assembly of the invention Connecting device.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

casing

2

contact element

3

contact area

4

Ribbon cable conductors

5

first contact section

6

second contact section

7

first contact arm

8th

second contact arm

9

third contact arm

10

fourth contact arm

11

support surface

12

first sliding section

13

first Schierber element

14

first sliding surface

15

first bed surface

16

first contact area

17

second contact area

18

Recesses in ribbon cables

19

first locking element

20

second support surface

21

second sliding element

22

second surface

23

second sliding surface

24

second sliding section

25

third contact area

26

further contacting section

27

housing section

28

third contact section

29

third sliding element

30

fifth contact arm

31

sixth contact arm

32

lock

33

first recess

34

second recess

39

circuit board

40

seventh contact arm

41

eighth contact arm

42

contact pins

Claims (11)

Connection device for contacting and connecting a first and a second contact carrier (4a, 4b), each provided with a plurality of contact surfaces (3), the first contact carrier (4a) having a first contact strip (7) and the second contact carrier (4b) in a housing (1) ) a second contact strip (9) is assigned, the contact strips being formed by contact elements (2) made in one piece, which are arranged to contact the contact surfaces (3) of the contact carriers (4a, 4b), the contact elements (2) have a first contact arm (7) for contacting the first contact carrier (4a) and a second contact arm (9) for contacting the second contact carrier (4b) in order to connect the respectively assigned contact surfaces (3) of the first and the second contact carrier (4a, 4b) ) electrically connect to each other, characterized in that
the contact elements (2) are formed in such a way that the contact strips are arranged one above the other so that the first and second contact carriers (4a, 4b) can be inserted parallel to one another and in the same direction. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (1) has a connecting part (26) via which the connecting device can be connected to a circuit, at least one of the contact elements (7) having a contacting section (28) which is in the connecting part (26) is sufficient so that the respective contact surface of the first and the second contact carrier (4a, 4b) can be contacted via the at least one contact element (2). Connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the contacting section (28) has a connecting pin (42). Connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the connecting part (26) is designed to receive a third contact carrier provided with contact surfaces, the contacting section (26) having a third contact arm (30). Connecting device according to claim 4, characterized in that the third contact arm (30) is arranged in the housing such that the third contact arm is braced by receiving the third contact carrier (39) and a contact surface arranged on the third contact carrier (39) is contacted. Connection device according to claim 4, characterized in that a third locking element (29) is provided to cooperate with the third contact arm (30) so that the associated contact surface of the third contact carrier (39) is contacted and the third contact carrier (39) is clamped , Connection device according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a first locking element (13) is provided in order to cooperate with the first contact arm (7) in such a way that the associated contact surface of the first contact carrier (4a) is contacted and the first contact carrier (4a) is jammed, and / or a second locking element (21) is provided in order to cooperate with the second contact arm (9) such that the associated contact surface of the second contact carrier (4b) is contacted and the second contact carrier (4b) is jammed. Connection device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first locking element (13) is coupled to the first contact arm (7) so that when the first locking element (13) moves in translation with respect to the housing (1) the first contact arm (7) To move in the direction of the assigned contact surface (3) so that the contact surface (3) is contacted and / or the second locking element (21) is coupled to the second contact arm (9) in order to translate the second locking element (21 ) with respect to the housing (1) to move the second contact arm (9) in the direction of the associated contact surface (3), so that the contact surface (3) is contacted. Connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that the first and / or the second contact arm (7, 9) of the contact element (2) have a sliding section (12), the sliding section (12) of the first and / or the second contact arm (7 , 9) during the translational movement of the first and / or the second locking element (13, 21) on a sliding surface (14, 23) of the first and / or the second locking element (13, 21), the sliding surface (14, 23) is designed such that when the first and / or the second locking element (13, 21) moves, the first and / or the second contact arm (7, 9) is moved in the direction of the associated contact surface (3). Connecting device according to claim 9, characterized in that the sliding surface (14, 23) is designed as inclined planes with respect to the first and / or second contact arm (7, 9). Connection device according to claim 1 to 10, characterized in that the first and / or the second contact arm (7, 9) are designed to be resilient in order to provide a permanent force on the jamming of the first and / or the second contact arm (7, 9) Exercise contact carrier (4a, 4b).

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