WO2013153051A1

WO2013153051A1 - Electrical plug type connector, in particular for mounting on printed circuit boards, having a separate contact carrier plate

Info

Publication number: WO2013153051A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/057364
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juergen Ryll; Peter Nickelfeld
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-04-13
Filing date: 2013-04-09
Publication date: 2013-10-17
Also published as: DE102012103203A1; DE102012103203B4

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical plug type connector (1), in particular for mounting on printed circuit boards, and a method for the production thereof. The plug type connector is provided with contact pins (6, 6a, 6b) and a housing (2). The housing (2) has a base (3). In order to be able to still mount filigree contact pins (6b) even with large material thicknesses (16) of the base (3), there is provision for at least some of the contact pins (6, 6a, 6b) to extend both through the base (3) and through at least one separate contact carrier plate (14) which is constructed so as to be able to be fitted to the housing (2). In particular the filigree contact pins (6b) and/or contact pins in a narrow grid arrangement may be secured in the contact carrier plate (14). The contact carrier plate (14) may be produced from a harder material than the housing (2) so that, even with high insertion forces (S) and, with filigree contact pins (6a), only small abutment faces, no plastic deformations are produced and the contact pins (6a) are securely retained in the contact carrier plate (14) in spite of reduced material thickness (16a).

Description

ELECTRICAL PLUG TYPE CONNECTOR, IN PARTICULAR FOR MOUNTING ON PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS, HAVING A SEPARATE CONTACT CARRIER

PLATE

The invention relates to an electrical plug type connector, in particular for mounting on printed circuit boards, having contact pins and a housing which has a base.

Such plug type connectors are known. The base of the housing generally separates two regions of the housing which each serve to connect plug type connectors and/or printed circuit boards. It is thus possible, for example, for one side of the plug type connector with respect to the base to be constructed to be connected to a printed circuit board, whilst the other side is used for connection to a mating connector. In such a case, the mating connector is thus connected to the printed circuit board by means of the plug type connector.

The contact pins are adapted to the respective function. For insertion in printed circuit boards, industrially standardised pin geometries are often used and are laterally pressed together in a resilient manner when inserted in the printed circuit board and then retained in the printed circuit board in a frictionally-engaging manner. For connection to a mating connector, the contact pins may be constructed in a pin or socket-like manner at least at one end. In this instance, the contact pins also have standardised geometries. Alternatively, the two regions separated from each other by the base may also be constructed for connection to a mating connector.

Plug type connectors by means of which a large number of data flows are conducted often require many contact pins which are arranged in a high contact density in a space-saving manner. In regions of high contact density, the contact pins may be spaced apart from each other by much less than 1 mm. In many technology fields, for example, during data transmission in vehicles, not only data flows, but at the same time also switching signals and electrical power supplies are directed via the plug type connectors. The latter usually require relatively large contact pins so that a plug may often have different contact pins. With a high contact density and small, filigree contact pins having cross-section dimensions in the region of half a millimetre, the plug type connectors are difficult and complex to configure. If a plug type connector further also has regions of different contact densities and/or contact pins of different sizes, the configuration of the plug type connectors is again made more complex.

An object of the present invention is consequently to improve a plug type connector of the type mentioned in the introduction in such a manner that the configuration with contact pins is simplified, even with high contact densities and/or regions of different contact density and/or contact pins of different sizes.

This object is achieved according to the invention for the plug type connector mentioned in the introduction in such a manner that at least some of the contact pins extend both through the base and through at least one separate contact carrier plate which is constructed so as to be able to be fitted to the housing.

The contact carrier plate affords the advantage that it can be preconfigured with contact pins separately from the housing or the remaining regions of the base. The contact carrier plate, owing to its more simple geometry with respect to the housing of the plug type connector, can further be configured in a much more simple manner so that the production complexity is considerably reduced.

In the case of filigree contact pins, the material thickness through which they can be inserted in order to be fitted to the plug type connector without bending is limited. With the solution according to the invention, the danger of bending is reduced, since the entire material thickness through which the contact pins extend is divided into the material thickness of the contact carrier plate and the material thickness of the remaining base. In particular when the contact pins are preassembled on the contact carrier plate, a smaller material thickness has to be overcome than when they are assembled directly in the base.

The basic notion of the invention can be further improved by the following embodiments and developments which can be combined freely with each other and which are advantageous per se. Thus, it is advantageous for the contact carrier plate to be produced from a harder material than the housing. The hardness of the material can be determined simply in accordance with the Shore method (Shore hardness) or in accordance with other standardised hardness measurement methods. Particularly with small contact pins, owing to the small dimensions, very high surface pressures may occur during the assembly and can quickly lead to a plastic deformation of the housing material and displacement of the contact pins. Such a plastic deformation may take place, for example, in the region of stops, which are intended to limit the insertion of the contact pins in the plug type connector. If such a plastic deformation occurs, the predetermined tolerances can often no longer be complied with. If a harder material is used for the contact carrier plate, a plastic deformation which would otherwise potentially occur if a softer housing material were used can be prevented.

A harder contact carrier plate further affords another advantage when the plug type connector is inserted, for example, into a printed circuit board or a mating connector. With such an insertion operation, high insertion forces are often applied to the individual contact pins. The insertion forces must be absorbed by the contact plate without a plastic deformation occurring at the locations at which the insertion force of the contact pin is directed into the contact carrier plate.

In order to use the contact carrier plate in the most advantageous manner possible as a pressing plate for the contact pins when the plug type connector is assembled, the force path of an insertion force required when the plug type connector is connected to a printed circuit board and/or a mating connector, can be directed from the housing via the contact carrier plate to the plug type contacts. The contact pins which extend through the contact carrier plate can thus be supported in at least one direction during an insertion operation. In particular the contact carrier plate may be arranged between a stop of a contact pin and the base.

The at least one contact carrier plate and the housing may be produced from plastics material. In particular, the contact carrier plate may be produced from fibre-reinforced, in particular carbon-fibre-reinforced, but preferably glass -fibre-reinforced plastics material. According to another advantageous embodiment, there is provision for the contact pins which extend through both the contact carrier plate and the base to be secured in the contact carrier plate. Retention elements of these contact pins, which fix the contact pins in the longitudinal direction thereof, may in this embodiment be in engagement with the contact receiving members only in the region of the contact carrier plate. In the base, the contact pins which extend through the contact carrier plate may be fixed preferably only transversely relative to the insertion direction. The fixing in the insertion direction or longitudinal direction of the contact pins is in contrast preferably carried out exclusively in the contact carrier plate.

A fixing of the contact pin in the longitudinal direction is not necessary in the region of the base when the contact pins are already fixed in the longitudinal direction thereof by means of the contact carrier plate. The contact carrier plate with the contact pins preassembled thereon can then additionally be assembled in a simpler manner since the contact pins can be inserted through the contact receiving members in the base with less force.

In one embodiment, the contact pins in the contact carrier plate may have sockets which extend at one side into the contact carrier plate. The preferably harder contact carrier plate in this instance prevents the sockets from being able to penetrate more deeply into the material of the contact carrier plate when being connected to complementary pins and from plastically deforming the contact carrier plate. However, the contact pins may also protrude at one side or both sides from the contact carrier plate. All the forms may be provided at the same time on one contact carrier plate. Regardless of the shape of the contact pins, it is advantageous for the contact pins to have stops which abut the contact carrier plate. The stops serve, on the one hand, to fix the end position when the contact pins are assembled. On the other hand, owing to the stop, the insertion force required to connect the plug type connection is transferred from the contact pin to the contact carrier plate or from the contact carrier plate to the contact pin.

The stops may be constructed in the form of a step-like or tapered shoulder which expands in a curved manner. In order to receive such a stop and support it in the most complete manner possible, the contact receiving member which is associated with the contact pin may be constructed, in particular may be expanded, at the location of the stop so as to complement the stop.

The stops may be arranged at the side of the contact carrier plate facing away from the base or at the side of the contact carrier plate facing the base.

If the electrical plug type connector is constructed to be fitted at one side to a printed circuit board, larger insertion forces may occur when the plug type connector is fitted to the printed circuit board than during connection to a mating connector. In order to receive these higher insertion forces, it is advantageous for the stops to be arranged at the side of the contact carrier plate facing the printed circuit board. Furthermore, the contact carrier plate may be arranged at the side of the base facing the printed circuit board. These arrangements, independently of each other, when the plug type connector and printed circuit board are connected, lead to the contact pins being supported with the stop thereof on the contact carrier plate and not on the base. This arrangement may naturally also be advantageous when, in place of the printed circuit board, there is intended to be fitted to one side of the plug type connector a mating connector which requires a higher insertion force than a second mating connector which is intended to be fitted to the other side of the plug type connector.

In order to absorb the insertion forces which occur during connection in at least one direction, the contact carrier plate can be supported counter to a movement of the housing which is directed in the longitudinal direction of the contact pins. The support may be carried out, for example, by means of the base. Alternatively or additionally, the contact carrier plate may also be retained and/or supported by means of positive-locking elements, such as clips, catches, bars or toggles. In addition to or in place of a positive-locking connection of the housing and contact carrier plate, for example, a frictionally engaging connection is also possible by means of pressing or compression of the contact carrier plate in the housing. The securing of the contact carrier plate by means of positive-locking engagement and/or frictional engagement is preferable to other means, such as welding, screwing or pinning, for reasons of cost. The contact receiving members, through which the contact pins extend in the base of the housing, may have a larger cross-section transversely relative to the longitudinal extent of the contact pins in a portion facing the contact carrier plate than in a portion facing away from the contact carrier plate. The portion with the smaller cross-section is intended to support the contact pin in the transverse direction so that it cannot be laterally displaced during assembly. Owing to the region with the larger cross-section, the friction when inserting the contact pin into the base-side region of the contact receiving member is reduced. In the region of the base facing the contact carrier plate, the contact pin is preferably spaced apart from the base. At the end facing away from the contact carrier plate, the contact receiving member preferably abuts the contact pin.

It has been found to be advantageous for the portion of the contact receiving member with the smaller cross-section to extend over a length which corresponds to a maximum of the material thickness of the contact carrier plate. Preferably, the length of this portion is a maximum of three times the largest diameter of the contact pins at the location of the small cross-section. This length is sufficient to support the contact pins in the transverse direction, without causing excessive friction when the contact pins are inserted.

Since the entire material thickness through which at least a portion of the contact pins protrudes into the plug type connector is divided according to the invention into two part- regions, that is to say, a region which extends through the contact carrier plate and a region which extends through the base, long contact receiving members and a large spacing between the two sides of the connector can be achieved even with filigree contact pins. In one embodiment, the base may have a larger material thickness than the contact carrier plate. The material thickness of the base, at least in the region which is overlapped by the contact carrier plate, may in particular be more than double the material thickness of the contact carrier plate. The spacing of the contact pins relative to each other, owing to the division into the contact carrier plate and base, may be less than one tenth, even less than one twentieth, of the entire width of the base.

The base may be formed integrally with the housing or may be a separate element. In order to receive the contact carrier plate, the housing and/or the base may have a receiving member, for example, in the form of a pocket or recess. The recess may be surrounded by a raised edge or a collar. The contact carrier plate may be in alignment with the edge and/or a base face of the housing.

The contact carrier plate may form a base-side assembly face of the plug type connector. The base-side assembly face acts as a stop and abutment face which delimits the insertion depth of the plug type connector during connection, for example, to a printed circuit board.

The base of the housing may have, in the region overlapped by the contact carrier plate, a reduced material thickness in comparison with at least a portion of the non-overlapped region. In the regions of the base not having a reduced material thickness, there may also be provided electrical contacts which extend through the base.

The contact pins which are used in the non- overlapped region may in particular be larger than the contact pins of the contact carrier plate. Larger contact pins, owing to their greater inherent stability compared with more filigree contact pins, may also be inserted through a greater material thickness. The division of the overall material thickness into the material thicknesses of the contact carrier plate and base is consequently no longer absolutely necessary with larger contact pins. If contact pins having differently sized cross-sections are provided, according to another independent and advantageous embodiment, at least some, preferably the majority, of the contact pins, but preferably all the contact pins, with the smallest cross-sections can extend through the contact carrier plate, and at least some, preferably the majority, of the contact pins, but preferably all the contact pins, with the largest cross-section, cannot extend through the contact carrier plate.

According to another advantageous embodiment, at least a portion, preferably all, of the contact pins which extend both through the base and through the contact carrier plate may be arranged at least partially in a more narrow grid or at a higher contact density than at least a portion, preferably all, of the contact pins which do not extend through the contact carrier plate. The invention also relates to a housing having contact pins for a plug type connector in one of the embodiments described above which in particular has one or more of the above- described features. Such a housing may also be marketed without the associated contact carrier plate and may be connected to a correspondingly constructed contact carrier plate, which is preassembled on a printed circuit board with contact pins, only when in situ.

Finally, the invention also relates to a method for producing an electrical plug type connector, in which contact pins are inserted into contact receiving members of a base of a housing. According to the invention, the method is distinguished in that the contact pins are inserted through a contact carrier plate which is arranged on the base and the base. According to another advantageous embodiment, the contact pins can be preassembled in the contact carrier plate.

In a development, the contact carrier plate with the optionally preassembled contact pins may be connected to an electrical structural element, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB), a housing or a mating connector and subsequently the housing may be fitted to the contact carrier plate. The connection to the electrical structural element may be carried out, for example, by the contact pins being mounted. Other contact pins may be preassembled on the housing. The contact pins which are preassembled on the housing may be located next to the contact carrier plate, but may also be inserted through the contact carrier plate. Larger contact pins are preferably preassembled on the housing than on the contact carrier plate.

The invention finally relates to an electrical structural element on which a contact carrier plate which has contact pins and which can be connected to a housing of a plug type connector is preassembled.

The invention is explained in greater detail below by way of example with reference to embodiments and the drawings. The features explained above can be added to the embodiments described or removed from them if the advantage connected with this feature is not relevant to a particular application. For the sake of simplicity, the same reference numerals are always used in the Figures for elements which correspond in terms of function and/or structure.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a plug type connector according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a section along the plane II- II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a contact carrier plate;

Figure 4 is a partially sectioned schematic side view of the contact carrier plate of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a schematic view from below of the contact carrier plate of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a contact carrier plate which is configured with contact pins;

Figure 7 is a schematic section along the plane VII- VII of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a housing without contact pins and contact carrier plate of the embodiment of Figure 1 in a section along the plane II- II;

Figure 9 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of a plug type connector according to the invention;

Figure 10 is a schematic plan view in the direction of the arrow X of Figure 9.

The structure and function of an embodiment of an electrical plug type connector according to the invention will first be explained by way of example with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows a plug type connector 1 which is constructed according to the invention and whose housing 2 has a base 3 which separates two connector regions 4, 5 from each other. One connector region 4 is constructed purely by way of example as a receiving member open at one side for a mating connector which is not illustrated, whilst the other connector region 5 is left free and serves, for example, to be mounted on a printed circuit board (not illustrated).

Contact pins 6 extend through the base 3, as the schematic sectioned illustration of Figure 2 particularly shows. As illustrated, the contact pins 6 may be sized differently or have differently sized cross-sections with the overall length being substantially the same. For easier differentiation, the larger contact pins are given the reference numeral 6a and the smaller, more filigree contact pins are given the reference numeral 6b.

The contact pins 6 may be combined to form fields 7. The fields 7 may have different contact densities, that is to say, numbers of contact pins per surface-area unit. Individual fields 7a may have a high contact density in which a spacing 8 between the contact pins is smaller than in one or more fields 7b with a lower contact density. Generally, as also shown in Figures 1 and 2, the contact density is greater the smaller the contact pins 6 are. The fields 7a of high contact density may therefore have the smaller contact pins 6b. The fields 7b may in particular combine the larger contact pins 6a. In the fields of high contact density, the spacing 8 may be substantially below 1 mm, in particular under 0.8 mm. Spacings 8 below 0.5 mm are also possible.

The contact pins 6 are received in contact receiving members 9, in which they are retained, for example, by means of frictional engagement in the direction of the longitudinal extent L thereof and in the direction Q transverse relative to the longitudinal extent. The fixing in the longitudinal direction L may be carried out, at one side, by means of stops 10 whose diameter is greater than the clearance of the associated contact receiving member 9 at the end 11 of the contact receiving member facing the stop. Furthermore, the contact pins 6 may have retention elements 12 which are in engagement with the contact receiving member 9 and bring about a frictional and/or positive-locking engagement in the longitudinal direction L.

The fixing in the transverse direction Q is carried out in that the contact pins 6 are supported at least at one of the ends 11, 13 of the contact receiving members in the transverse direction and, to this end, are in abutment with the corresponding end 11, 13.

The plug type connector 1 is provided according to the invention with a separate contact carrier plate 14 through which at least some of the contact pins 6 extend. The contact pins 6 which extend through the contact carrier plate 14, also extend through the base 3, as shown in Figure 2. Therefore, a portion of the contact receiving members 9 is divided in the region 15, in which the contact carrier plate 14 and the base 3 overlap, into a region 9a in the contact carrier plate 14 and a region 9b which extends through the base 3. The regions 9a and 9b are in alignment with each other.

The contact pins 6 are preferably retained exclusively in the contact carrier plate 14 in the longitudinal direction L. In the region of the base 3 or in the portion 9b of the contact receiving member 9, a stabilisation takes place only in the transverse direction Q.

At least one contact carrier plate 14 is provided on the plug type connector 1. The contact carrier plate preferably extends over those regions of the base 3 on which the smaller more filigree contact pins 6b are arranged. These regions may overlap with the fields 78a of high contact density.

Owing to the contact carrier plate 14 and the division of the contact receiving member 9 into two aligned contact receiving members 9a, 9b which are arranged one behind the other, the material thickness which has to be penetrated per component by the contact pins 6 is reduced, as can be seen in particular in Figure 2. Whilst the material thickness 16 can be very high outside the overlap region 15 in which the contact pins 6a with the largest cross- section are preferably arranged, the material thickness in the overlap region 15 is divided into the material thickness 16a of the contact carrier plate 14 and the remaining material thickness 16b of the base 3, which are each smaller than the material thickness 16 outside the overlap region.

The smaller material thicknesses enable simplified assembly of the contact pins 6 which are received in the contact carrier plate 14 since, in each of the two components 3, 14, a smaller material thickness per se has to be overcome. In particular, the contact pins 6 first can be preassembled in the contact carrier plate 14 and be subsequently inserted together in the preassembled state into the contact receiving member 9b of the base 3. The latter can take place when the contact carrier plate with the contact pins is already fitted to an electrical structural element, for example, a printed circuit board, a housing or a connector.

The material thickness 16a of the contact carrier plate, as shown in Figure 2, may be smaller than the material thickness 16b in the overlap region 15 and in particular smaller than the material thickness 16 outside the overlap region 15. The material thickness 16b of the base in the region 15 is preferably also smaller than the material thickness 16. The small material thicknesses 16a, 16b prevent the contact pins 6 from being able to bend when they are assembled in the contact carrier plate 14.

The contact carrier plate 14 is preferably produced from a harder material than the housing 2. If plastics material is used as a material for the contact carrier plate 14, it may be fibre- reinforced, in particular carbon-fibre-reinforced, but preferably glass-fibre-reinforced.

As a result of the greater hardness of the contact carrier plate 14, in spite of the small material thickness 16a of the contact carrier plate 14, the contact pins 6 are retained in a secure manner. Owing to the greater hardness, the wall of the contact receiving member 9a affords greater resistance for the retention elements 12 of the contact pins 6. The contact carrier plate can consequently produce a higher retention force.

Particularly with contact pins 6b having small cross-sections in the range below 0.5 mm , the support faces of the stops 10 are very small, whilst the large number of contact pins owing to the high contact density makes a high insertion force K necessary. The high insertion force K leads to a high surface pressure below the stops 10, which does not lead to a plastic deformation only in the case of harder materials.

The greater hardness of the contact carrier plate 14, when the plug type connector 1 is placed in an insertion direction S, for example, on a printed circuit board, results in the stops 10 of the contact pins located in the insertion direction S being able to be supported on the respective ends 11 of the contact receiving member 9a with greater surface pressure, without the material of the contact carrier plate 14 becoming deformed.

A force path 17, along which the force required for insertion is directed from the housing 2 to the contact pins 6, consequently advantageously extends from the housing 2 to the contact carrier plate 14 and from there via the stops 10 to the contact pins 10, when the greater hardness of the contact carrier plate is intended to be used.

The transmission of great contact forces can be ensured in a simple manner by the contact carrier plate 14 being in abutment at a side 18, preferably a flat side, over the complete surface-area on the housing 2 or the base 3. Via the side 18, the force path 17 is directed in at least one direction during assembly.

The contact carrier plate 14 may form an outer assembly face M of the plug type connector 1 (Figure 1). The assembly face M abuts, for example, a printed circuit board when the plug type connector 1 is inserted. The stops 10 may abut the assembly face M at the bottom.

The contact carrier plate 14 may be secured to the housing 2 in a positive-locking and non- releasable manner by securing means which are not illustrated in greater detail. It is possible to use, for example, catches, bars or toggles as positive-locking elements. It is also possible to press in or compress the contact plate. In addition, the contact carrier plate may also be welded.

In a variation, individual, in particular larger, contact pins may also be secured in the base 3 and extend through the contact carrier plate 14 in which they are then preferably stabilised only in the transverse direction Q.

Figures 3 to 5 are a plan, side and bottom view of the contact carrier plate 14 without contact pins 6 and a housing 2, respectively.

The contact carrier plate 14 is preferably constructed substantially as a flat parallelepiped. The side 18 adjacent to the base 3 of the housing 2 (cf. Figure 2) is planar.

The contact receiving members 9, 9a extend through the contact plate 14. At the ends 11 facing the stops 10 (cf. Figure 2), the contact receiving members 9, 9a expand in the longitudinal direction L or insertion direction S. At the ends 11, the contact receiving members 9, 9a are preferably constructed so as to complement the contact pins 6, in particular the stops 10 thereof.

The cross-sectional shape of the contact receiving member 9, 9a transversely relative to the longitudinal direction L is dependent on the cross- sectional shape of the contact pins. If contact pins 6 with a rectangular cross-section are used as in the illustrated embodiment, the contact receiving members also preferably have a rectangular cross-section. In order to save material, the contact carrier plate 14 may be provided with recesses 19 in particular between individual fields.

The arrangement of the contact receiving members 9, 9a in the contact carrier plate 14 is based on the requirements of the respective application. For example, as shown, the contact receiving members may be grouped into fields 7b with a high contact density. The spacing between the fields 7 is greater than the spacing of the contact receiving members 9, 9a within a field.

The clearance 20 of the contact receiving member 9, 9a in the contact carrier plate 14 may be smaller than 1 mm, in particular smaller than 0.5 mm and only increase in the region of the ends 11.

Figures 6 and 7 show the contact carrier plate 14 in the preassembled state with contact pins 6, 6b in the contact receiving members 9, 9a. The contact pins 6, 6b are retained in the contact carrier plate 14 in a non-releasable and securely assembled manner. The stops 10 are in the insertion region 5, in this case at the side of the printed circuit board, and abut a printed-circuit-board-side side 21 of the contact carrier plate 14. The printed-circuit-board- side side 21 is opposite the side 18 and may in particular form an assembly face 21 which delimits an insertion path and which forms an abutment face, for example, for the printed circuit board (not illustrated).

The length 22 of the contact pins 6, 6b may according to Figures 6 and 7 be considerably larger than the material thickness 16a of the contact carrier plate 14 and may be a multiple of the material thickness 16a. The length 22 of the contact pins may in particular be more than seven times larger than the material thickness 16a of the contact carrier plate 14. The contact pins 6, 6b may protrude further at the side 4 of the contact carrier plate 14 associated with an insertion region than at the side 5 facing the other insertion region. The side with the longer ends of the contact pins may in particular be the side of the contact carrier plate 14 facing the base 3. The contact pins 6, 6b and the associated contact receiving members 9, 9a are, at least in the contact carrier plate 14, sized in such a manner that, at least partially, for example, in the region of the retention elements 12, there is a press fit. The contact pins 6, 6b and the contact carrier plate 14 are in mutual engagement in the region of the contact receiving member 9, 9a, which leads to a frictionally-engaging fixing in the longitudinal direction L. In the transverse direction Q, retention elements 12 of the contact pins 6, 6b protrude and become pressed into the material of the contact carrier plate 14 and lead to an increase of the frictional engagement and, when there is plastic deformation, to an at least small positive-locking engagement.

In the direction towards the stops 10, the diameter of the contact pins 6, 6b in the contact receiving members 9, 9a increases so that a greater support face is provided at these locations. This support face serves to better receive forces which act in the transverse direction Q when the contact pins 6, 6b are inserted in the insertion region 5, for example, in a printed circuit board, and to distribute them over a larger surface-area.

Figure 8 is a schematic sectioned illustration through the housing 2 without contact pins 6 and a contact carrier plate 14.

It can be seen that the housing forms a pocket or receiving member 24 for the contact carrier plate 14. A securing element 25 which complements the securing elements 23 on the contact carrier plate 14 (cf. Figure 4 and 6), for example, a catch hook, may be provided in the receiving member. The contact receiving members 9, 9b in the overlap region 15 open in the insertion direction S in the receiving member 24.

The receiving member 24 may be surrounded by an edge 26 which protrudes from the housing 2 in the insertion direction 2 or longitudinal direction L. Alternatively, the edge 26 may naturally be in alignment with the remaining base face 27.

At least a portion of the contact receiving member 9b in the overlap region 15 is provided, in the portion 28 facing the receiving member 24 or the contact carrier plate 14, with a larger cross-section or a larger clearance than a portion 29 at the end 13 facing away from the contact carrier plate 14. The portion 29 serves to fix and stabilise the contact pin 6 in the connector region 4. The length 30 in the longitudinal or insertion direction of the portion 29 is smaller than the length 31 of the portion 28. The length 30 of the portion 29 in the longitudinal direction is preferably at a maximum as large as the material thickness 16a (Figure 2) of the contact carrier plate 14. Even with a length of the region 29 of a maximum of twice the largest clearance in this portion, good retention properties can be achieved.

As finally shown in the embodiment of Figure 9 by way of example, the housing 2 of the plug type connector 1 may have a plurality of mutually adjacent connector portions 32. Each connector portion 32 is constructed in a similar manner to the plug type connector 1 in one of the above embodiments.

The connector portions 32 are connected to each other in an integral manner by means of a common base 33, for example, in the form of a base plate.

The plug type connector 1 in this embodiment may have one or more contact carrier plates 14 which may each also extend over a plurality of connector portions 32.

The plug type connector 1 may be used, for example, in order to connect a plurality of different mating connectors (not illustrated) to an electrical structural component which is arranged in the insertion region 5, in particular a printed circuit board.

In this instance, the at least one contact carrier plate 14 may also be preassembled on the electrical structural element with the secured contact pins 6, 6a before the housing 2 is connected to the contact carrier plate 14.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the side facing away from the insertion region 5 towards the embodiment of the plug type connector according to the invention in accordance with Figure 9. The plurality of adjacent connector portions 32, have different arrangements of contacts. When viewed from the left, the first three connector portions 32 may have contact carrier plates which are constructed in the same manner and which each have 5 contacts in a row and 8 contact rows which are arranged in pairs, although the contact arrangements of the connector portions are different. The fourth connector portion 32 from the left has a different contact arrangement and also another contact carrier plate. The fifth connector portion 32 from the left has a different contact arrangement again and has no contact carrier plate. The last connector portion 32 from the left has another contact arrangement and also again another contact carrier plate.

Any combinations of contact arrangements and contact carrier plates in a connector portion of a plug type connector as shown here, but also in different plug type connectors, are possible.

List of reference numerals

1 Plug type connector

2 Housing

3 Base

4 Connector region

5 Connector region (printed circuit board side)

6 Contact pin

6a Larger contact pins

6b Smaller contact pins

7 Field of contact pins

7a Field with higher contact density

7b Field with lower contact density

8 Spacing between adjacent contact pins

9 Contact receiving member

9a Contact receiving members in the contact carrier plate

9b Contact receiving members in the overlap range 15 in the base 3

10 Stops of the contact pins

11 End of the contact receiving member facing the stop

12 Retention elements of the contact pin

13 End of the contact receiving member opposite the end 11

14 Contact carrier plate

15 Overlap region

16 Material thickness of the base outside the overlap region

16a Material thickness of the contact carrier plate

16b Material thickness of the base in the overlap region

17 Force path

18 Side of the contact carrier plate facing the base

19 Recesses in the contact carrier plate

20 Clearance of the contact receiving members 9a

21 Side of the contact carrier plate facing the printed circuit board

22 Height of the contact pins

23 Securing elements of the contact carrier plate 24 Receiving member for contact carrier plate

25 Securing element of the housing

26 Edge of the receiving member

27 Remaining base face of the housing

28 Portion of the contact receiving member 9b with larger cross-section

29 Portion of the contact receiving member 9b with smaller cross-section

30 Length of the portion 29 in the longitudinal direction L

31 Length of the portion 28 in the longitudinal direction L

32 Connector portions

33 Base

K Insertion force

L Direction of the longitudinal extent, longitudinal direction

M Assembly face

Q Direction transverse relative to the longitudinal extent, transverse direction

S Insertion direction

Claims

1. Electrical plug type connector (1), in particular for mounting on printed circuit boards, having contact pins (6, 6a, 6b) and a housing (2) which has a base (3), characterised in that at least some of the contact pins (6, 6a, 6b) extend both through the base (3) and through at least one separate contact carrier plate (14) which is constructed so as to be able to be fitted to the housing (2).

2. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the contact carrier plate (14) is produced from a harder material than the housing (2).

3. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the contact pins (6, 6a) which extend through both the contact carrier plate (14) and the base (3) are secured in the contact carrier plate (14).

4. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the contact pins (6, 6a, 6b) have stops (10) which abut the contact carrier plate (14).

5. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the contact carrier plate (14) is supported by the housing (2) counter to a movement directed in the longitudinal direction (L) of the contact pins (6, 6a, 6b) in the direction away from the stops (10).

6. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to any one of clams 1 to 5, characterised in that contact receiving members (9, 9b) through which the contact pins (6) extend in the base (3) have a larger cross-section transversely relative to the longitudinal extent (L) of the contact pins (6) in a portion (28) facing the contact carrier plate (14) than in a portion of the contact receiving member (9, 9b) facing away from the contact carrier plate (14).

7. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that the portion (29) with the smaller cross-section extends over a length (30) which corresponds to a maximum of the material thickness (16a) of the contact carrier plate (14).

8. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the contact carrier plate (14) forms a base-side assembly face of the plug type connector.

9. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the housing (2) forms a receiving member (24) in which the contact carrier plate (14) can be received.

10. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the base (3) in the region (15) overlapped by the contact carrier plate (14) has a reduced material thickness (16b) in comparison with at least a portion of the non- overlapped region.

11. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that contact pins (6, 6a, 6b) having differently sized cross-sections are provided and in that at least some of the contact pins (6a) with the smallest cross-sections extend through the contact carrier plate (14) and at least some of the contact pins (6b) with the largest cross-section do not extend through the contact carrier plate (14).

12. Electrical plug type connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that at least a portion of the contact pins (6, 6a, 6b) which extend both through the base (3) and through the contact carrier plate (14) are arranged at least partially at a higher contact density than at least a portion of the contact pins which do not extend through the contact carrier plate (14).

13. Housing (2) for an electrical plug type connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, for assembling with a contact carrier plate (14).

14. Method for producing an electrical plug type connector (1) wherein contact pins (6, 6a, 6b) are inserted into contact receiving members (9, 9a, 9b) of a base (3), characterised in that the contact pins (6, 6a, 6b) are inserted through the base (3) and a contact carrier plate (14).

15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that the contact carrier plate (14) with the contact pins (6) is first connected to an electrical structural element and the housing (2) is subsequently fitted to the contact carrier plate (14).