EP3864724B1 - Sealing element for a connector and connector - Google Patents

Description

The invention is based on a sealing body according to claim 1. The invention also relates to a connector with a sealing body.

Generally, a connector comprises several electrical contact elements and is used as a connection piece on cables or directly on housings as a panel plug or socket. Protection classes must be maintained with regard to sealing against dust, splash water, or immersion.

A generic connector comprises, in addition to electrical contact elements, also an elastic sealing body in order to provide a sufficient seal to a housing wall to which the connector is to be mounted.

It is generally desirable to provide an illuminated indicator that indicates the status of an electrical interface for which the connector is used.

Devices with a lower protection class, such as IP20, often have status indicators integrated directly into the connectors. RJ45 connectors, such as those used for network cables, can use light signals to indicate the status of a network connection, for example, regarding the establishment of a connection or data transfer via the connector. Devices with a higher protection class, such as IP67, use Status indicators consist of separate LEDs arranged independently of the connector in respective openings on the housing. These openings can have their own seal, or they can be covered with transparent adhesive, for example, or equipped with a screwed-in lens. Therefore, for higher protection classes, a significant additional expense is usually required to provide a status indicator.

State of the art

The DE 10 2012 202 225 B4 shows a connector with contact elements and elastic seals on a cable end and a plug end of the connector. DE 20 2016 104 369 U1 and the DE 20 2016 008 383 U1 A connector with a seal between two housing parts is known. A status indicator is not described in these documents. DE 20 2017 100 608 U1 describes a connector with a status indicator. For this purpose, LEDs with corresponding electronics are integrated into the connector housing. EP 1156554 A1 describes a cable connector consisting of a base body in the form of a printed circuit board with applied conductor tracks, wherein the base body is enclosed in an elastic potting compound. Light-emitting diodes can also be attached to the cable connector. The potting compound and bellows seals can be made of a transparent, rubber-like plastic, allowing the light-emitting diodes embedded in the potting compound to shine through. EP 1351340 B1 , which discloses the preamble of claim 1, describes a socket which can be used in particular for an electrical connection between a towing vehicle and a trailer vehicle. For more convenient operation of the socket, an external space outside the socket as well as an interior of the socket are to be illuminated for easier identification of the electrical contact areas. The illumination of the socket interior can be provided by a light guide, which translucent sealing ring. The EP 1315248 B1 This relates to a status indicator for a connector that uses a transparent light guide ring. The light guide ring has a curved upper surface with separating joints at the edges of the light-emitting surfaces. Elongated light guides extend opposite the upper surface toward the light sources.

Task

One object of the invention is to provide a connector that offers a light indicator with the best possible seal and a simple design. Furthermore, a corresponding sealing body is to be specified.

This object is achieved by the sealing body having the features of independent claim 1 and the connector having the features of claim 2.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to the invention, in the connector of the above-mentioned type, the elastic sealing body comprises a transparent sealing ring which is connected to at least one light guide arm which extends away from the sealing ring.

By using a sealing ring made of transparent material, the sealing ring can be used not only for sealing, but also for emitting light. The transparency should be present in the visible wavelength range or at least a sub-range thereof. The at least one light guide arm enables light to be guided from a light source to the sealing ring. The light source can in particular be located in a housing to which the This means that no additional components are required besides the connector to transmit and emit light from a light source.

This means that a single housing opening is sufficient for the connector and no additional opening is required for an illuminated indicator.

The light guide arm extends in an axial direction away from the sealing ring. The light guide arm thus leads from the sealing ring into the housing, i.e., away from the plug end where the electrical contact elements are located. The axial direction characterizes the longitudinal direction of the connector; the sealing ring runs in a ring around this axis. In addition to an axial directional component, the longitudinal axis of the light guide arm can also comprise another directional component. For example, the light guide arm can be spiral-shaped or comprise a spiral-shaped section. Alternatively, the light guide arm can also extend inward in a radial direction from the sealing ring. In addition, a light guide arm can also have one or more kinks or bends. It is also possible for two or more light guide arms to have different shapes.

In one embodiment of the invention, the sealing ring and the at least one light-guiding arm are formed as a single piece, for example, by injection molding, whereby both are made of the same transparent and elastic material. A single-piece design can be advantageous to ensure a seamless connection between the light-guiding arm and the sealing ring, even under pressure when the seal is pressed against a housing wall.

To press the sealing ring against a housing wall, the connector can include a screw nut. This can be screwed onto an external thread of a housing wall of the connector and be adjustable relative to the sealing ring in order to build up pressure between the sealing ring and the housing wall.

Even if the sealing ring and the at least one light-guiding arm are not formed as a single piece, they can be made of the same material. This prevents or at least reduces light losses due to reflections that occur at interfaces between materials with different refractive indices. The at least one light-guiding arm can also be connected to the sealing ring via a respective gate.

In this description, the terms outer surface, inner side, end face, and sealing surface are used to describe the different sides of the sealing ring. The outer surface designates the circumferential surface that runs around the longitudinal axis of the connector. Opposite the outer surface, i.e., towards the inside, the inside borders the sealing ring. The end face of the sealing ring faces a plug end/connecting end of the connector. The end face can be flat or have a different shape, for example, wavy or rounded. Opposite the end face, the sealing ring comprises the sealing surface, which is preferably flat to provide a seal, in particular to a housing wall.

At least one light guide arm is connected to the sealing ring on the inside of the sealing ring. Light is thus guided from the light guide arm into the sealing ring on the inside. Deformations on the inside due to the sealing pressure are relatively minimal, which can be advantageous for the desired light transmission.

Each light guide arm may include a deflection surface at which light traveling within the light guide arm is reflected toward the sealing ring. The deflection surface may be located at the level of the sealing ring in the axial direction and may be at an angle of 45°, or more generally 35° to 55°, to the axial direction.

A light guide arm and its deflection surface can thus be arranged in a central area within the sealing ring, viewed in the radial direction.

The deflection surface can be positioned at an angle to the light guide arm, so that light is reflected off the deflection surface by total internal reflection. This eliminates the need for additional components for light guidance and deflection. The possible angle for total internal reflection depends on the refractive index of the material of the light guide arm and the wavelength of the light, whereby in this case light in the visible spectral range is assumed. For total internal reflection, the angle of incidence relative to a surface normal must be sufficiently large; to make this possible, each light guide arm can also have two consecutive deflection surfaces. Light is thus reflected twice in succession and is thereby deflected by a total of approximately 45°.

Instead of total internal reflection, deflection can also be achieved by mirroring the deflection surface. In this case, a reflective layer, such as silver, can be vapor-deposited onto the surface.

An outer surface and/or a front side of the ring can be roughened for diffuse light emission. On the other hand, an inner side of the ring and the surface of the at least one light guide arm can be smooth in order to facilitate light extraction at these surfaces. Avoid. The terms "roughened" and "smooth" can be understood to mean that the roughened surfaces have a higher roughness than the smooth surfaces. The surface of the light guide arm should include its light entry surface as well as its side surfaces, which can be essentially perpendicular to its light entry surface.

The term "light guide arm" can be understood as an elongated shape whose main directional component can run in the axial direction of the connector. One end of the light guide arm, pointing away from the sealing ring, can represent the light entry side.

In particular, to achieve a more uniform light distribution in the sealing ring, the cross-section of at least one light guide arm can increase toward the sealing ring. Alternatively or additionally, the light deflection surface can be curved for the same purpose, so that reflected light is spread out.

To ensure that the light propagation in the sealing ring is as uniform as possible, the sealing ring can also be spread radially at each connection area to a light guide arm.

For a more uniform light propagation, scattering centers can also be formed in the sealing ring, for example gas bubbles or interference inclusions.

The sealing ring can project radially further outward than the other components of the connector, which are located outside the housing when installed. The front side of the sealing ring is therefore not completely covered. As a result, light emission at the front side is at least not completely blocked by the other components of the connector. In other words, the radius of the sealing ring can be larger than the radius of the other components of the Connectors located between the sealing ring and a plug end of the connector. If a fastening component, in particular a screw, nut, or washer, and a corresponding counterpart on the end face of the sealing ring are used to press the sealing ring against the housing wall, the sealing ring has a correspondingly larger diameter. As a result, the contact area of the sealing ring is smaller than the surface area of the end face (or smaller than the surface area of the sealing side) of the sealing ring.

Multiple light guide arms can also be connected to the sealing ring. These can run parallel to one another. Light from a different light source can be guided via each light guide arm. The light guide arms can be evenly distributed around the circumference, for example two light guide arms facing each other, or three light guide arms arranged 120° apart. If light sources are used that emit light in the same spectral range, a more uniform light emission can be achieved across the circumference of the sealing ring. In the case of light sources that emit light in different spectral ranges, the sealing ring can emit light in different colors via the different light guide arms. This can be used, for example, to display different status states.

The invention also encompasses an electronic device with a housing having at least one opening in which a connector according to the invention is arranged. The sealing ring creates a seal between the connector and the housing wall in which the opening is formed. Thus, the opening is closed liquid-tight, for example, according to IP67. At least one light source is present in the housing and arranged such that light emitted by the light source is coupled via a light entry side into the at least one light guide arm of the connector. The electronic device's light indicator allows light to be guided out of the housing via the light guide arm that runs through the opening, where it is emitted through the sealing ring that rests on an outer side of the housing.

The at least one light source can be located on a circuit board in the housing. The light entry side of the at least one light guide arm can be arranged next to the at least one light source. In principle, the elastic material of the light guide arm can be pressed into direct contact with the light source. To avoid self-reflection, however, a distance between the light entry side and the associated light source can also be provided. The light entry side can also be concave, i.e., curved inward, so that incident light is coupled in as completely as possible.

Several light sources, each differing in the spectral ranges they emit, can be arranged on the circuit board. As previously described, the light from the multiple light sources can be guided via multiple light guide arms. Alternatively, light from the multiple light sources can also be guided to the sealing ring via the same light guide arm. For this purpose, an area of the light entry side can be sufficiently large that it is adjacent to several light sources on the circuit board.

The connector may comprise a cylindrical section that, when installed, is located within the housing. The cylindrical section may be made of metal, for example, and may have an axial groove for each light guide arm to accommodate the respective light guide arm. This can improve the retention of the sealing body to the other components of the connector.

The electronic device may comprise an electronic control unit configured to switch the at least one light source on whenever to switch on when data is transferred via the associated connector. This allows a status indicator to be created without the need for separate housing openings. In the case of multiple light sources whose light can be guided via the light guide arms, the electronic control unit can be configured to indicate different states by activating the different light sources.

The connector of the invention can also be integrated as an interface with a display in, for example, a switch. The invention can be used flexibly for various applications, for example as a wall feedthrough. The size and geometry can in principle be any desired size. In a circular connector design, the sealing ring can have a circular cross-section. For other connector shapes, however, the sealing ring can also have a different cross-section, for example a rounded, rectangular ring. The connector can be designed as a male plug or panel plug, or as a female coupling or socket. Accordingly, the electrical contact elements can be contact pins or contact openings.

The invention also relates to a sealing body. This comprises an elastic, transparent sealing ring connected to at least one light-guiding arm extending from the sealing ring. Advantageous embodiments of the sealing body correspond to the variants described for the sealing body of the connector. The sealing body according to the invention can be used for the connector described here, or also for other electrical or electronic components that are to be sealingly attached to a housing opening. These can be, for example, switches, buttons, input devices, cable outlets, sensors, displays, or transmitters.

Examples of implementation

Fig. 1

eine Perspektivansicht eines Steckverbinders in einem eingebauten Zustand;

Fig. 2

eine Perspektivansicht eines Dichtungskörpers des Steckverbinders aus Fig. 1 und

Fig. 3

eine Perspektivansicht des Steckverbinders aus Fig. 1 in einem nicht eingebauten Zustand.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a connector in an installed state;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a sealing body of the connector from Fig. 1 and

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the connector Fig. 1 in a non-installed state.

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. Identical elements are generally identified by identical reference numerals.

An embodiment of a connector 1 according to the invention is described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 described. Figure 1 shows the connector 1 in an installed state in an opening of a housing wall 12 of an electronic device 10. On the other hand, Figure 3 the connector 1 in a non-installed state, wherein a housing flange of the connector 1 is visible, while electrical contacts of the connector 1 are hidden.

As in Figure 1 As shown, the connector 1 comprises several electrical contacts 2 at its plug end and is designed as a circular connector in the example shown, although other shapes are also possible.

In order to produce a desired seal between the connector 1 and the housing wall 12, the connector 1 comprises a sealing body 4. The sealing body 4 is in Fig. 2 shown in more detail and comprises a sealing ring 5 and at least one light guide arm 8, In the example shown, several light-guiding arms 8 are present. The sealing body 4 comprises or consists of an elastic material, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer. This allows the sealing ring 5 to be pressed sealingly against the housing wall. This allows a seal according to a higher protection class to be achieved. At the same time, an optical signal display should be made possible in a simple manner without impairing the sealing properties or requiring complex additional measures. This is achieved by the sealing body 4 being made of a transparent material and having light-guiding arms 8, which guide light from a light source in the housing to the sealing ring 5. Light can then be emitted via the sealing ring 5. Advantageously, no additional housing windows or holes are required for this. With reference to Fig. 1 Rather, a single bore or opening in the housing wall 12 for the connector 1 is sufficient to provide both an electrical connection via the contact elements 2 and an optical indication via a lighting of the sealing body 4.

As in Fig. 1 As shown, the electronic device 10 can comprise at least one light source 15, for example a laser or an LED, which is arranged on a circuit board 14 in the housing 12. Each light-guiding arm 8 of the sealing body 4 extends axially into the housing and ends next to one of the light sources 15. A side of the light-guiding arm 8 adjacent to the light source 15 is referred to herein as the light entry side. A light signal can be emitted by the light-guiding arms 8 without electrical elements being absolutely necessary in the connector for this purpose. Rather, the light source 15 and an electronic control unit connected thereto can be arranged on the circuit board 14 in the housing of the electronic device. Alternatively, one or more light sources can also be arranged within the connector, with emitted light being guided via the at least one light-guiding arm 8 to the sealing ring 5. becomes.

Fig. 2 The arrows 16 indicate the direction of propagation of light which is coupled in from light sources (not shown here) via the light entry sides of the light guide arms 8. Light travels in the light guide arms 8 in the axial direction, i.e. in the direction of the arrows 17 in the longitudinal direction of the connector. At an end opposite the light entry side, each light guide arm 8 has a deflection surface 9 which is inclined to the axial direction. At the deflection surface 9, light is reflected within the respective light guide arm 8 and thus coupled into the sealing ring 5. The shape of a light guide arm 8 can also be selected to be different from the shape shown. In particular, a light guide arm 8 can also be curved or angled in several parts or be at an angle to the axial direction of the connector.

The Fig. 2 The sealing body 5 shown can also be used for components other than the connector of the Figures 1 and 3 be used.

To ensure that light is extracted from the sealing ring 5 more easily and as evenly as possible, an end face 6 and a lateral surface 7 of the sealing ring 5 can be roughened. Since extraction and the direction of radiation depend on the angle of incidence of the light on the end face 6 or the lateral surface 7, a rough surface leads to more even radiation. Since light extraction should be avoided as much as possible on the remaining surfaces of the sealing body 4, the remaining surfaces can be smoother than the end face 6 and the lateral surface 7.

In order for light to be emitted via the front side 6, it should not be completely covered. As in Fig. 1 shown, has for this purpose a fastening component 3A, which is arranged on the front side of the sealing ring 5 and is attached to the Housing wall 12, has a smaller diameter or a smaller cross-sectional area than the sealing ring 5. With a fastening counterpart 3B, for example a screw nut, the sealing ring 5 can be pressed sealingly against the housing wall 12.

In the embodiments described above, the connector of the invention provides a light indicator with a good seal to a housing wall without requiring additional optical openings in the housing wall for the light indicator.

connectors List of reference symbols

1

connectors

2

Electrical contact elements

3A

Fastening component

3B

Mounting counterpart

4

Sealing body

5

Sealing ring

6

Front side of the sealing ring

7

Surface of the sealing ring

8

Fiber optic arm

9

Deflection surface on the light guide arm

10

Electronic device

12

Housing wall

14

circuit board

15

light source

16

Direction of light propagation from the light source

17

Direction of light propagation within the light guide arms

Claims (14)

1. An elastic sealing body for a plug connector,

   comprising a sealing ring (4),

   wherein the sealing ring (4) is transparent,

   characterized in that

   at least one light guide arm (8) is connected with the sealing ring (4) at an inner face of the sealing ring (4) and extends away from the sealing ring (4) in an axial direction.
2. A plug connector
   with a plurality of electrical contact elements (2) and an elastic sealing body (5) as claimed in claim 1.
3. The plug connector as claimed in claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the sealing ring (4) and the at least one light guide arm (8) are formed of the same material and, in particular, integrally.
4. The plug connector according to claim 2 or 3,
   characterized in that
   each light guide arm (8) comprises a deflection face (9) at which light travelling inside the light guide arm (8) is reflected in the direction of the sealing ring (4).
5. The plug connector according to the preceding claim,
   characterized in that
   the deflection face (9) is oriented at an angle to the light guide arm (8) so that light is reflected at the deflection face (9) through total internal reflection.
6. The plug connector as claimed in claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the deflection face (9) is mirror-finished.
7. The plug connector as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6,
   characterized in that

   an external jacket face (7) and/or an end face (6) of the sealing ring (4) is roughened so that light is radiated out diffusely, and

   an inner face of the sealing ring (4) and a surface of the at least one light guide arm (8) is smooth in order to reduce an outward coupling of light.
8. The plug connector as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7,
   characterized in that
   the sealing ring (4) is widened in the radial direction towards the at least one light guide arm (8) in order to provide a more uniform light propagation in the sealing ring (4).
9. The plug connector as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9,
   characterized in that
   a cross-section of the at least one light guide arm (8) is enlarged toward the sealing ring (4) in order to achieve a more uniform light distribution in the sealing ring (4).
10. The plug connector as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9,
    characterized in that
    a radius of the sealing ring (4) is greater than a radius of other components of the plug connector that are located between the sealing ring (4) and a plug end of the plug connector, in order to at least not completely block an outward light radiation at an end face (6) of the sealing ring (4).
11. The plug connector as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10,
    characterized in that
    to couple in light from multiple light sources, multiple light guide arms (8) are connected to the sealing ring (4).
12. An electronic device with a housing that comprises at least one opening,
    characterized in that

    a plug connector as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 11 is arranged in the opening,

    at least one light source is present in the housing, and is arranged such that light radiated from the light source is coupled via a light inlet face into the at least one light guide arm (8) of the plug connector.
13. The electronic device as claimed in the preceding claim,
    characterized in that

    a circuit board (14) on which the at least one light source (15) is located is arranged in the housing, and

    the light inlet face of the at least one light guide arm (8) is arranged next to the at least one light source (15) and is curved inward.
14. The electronic device as claimed in the preceding claim,
    characterized in that

    multiple light sources (15) that differ in the spectral bands that they transmit are arranged on the circuit board (14), and

    light of the multiple light sources (15) can be guided to the sealing ring (4) via the same light guide arm (8).

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