US-12620744-B2 - Connector system with tool-accessible latching mechanism

US12620744B2US 12620744 B2US12620744 B2US 12620744B2US-12620744-B2

Abstract

A connector assembly comprises an elongated inner signal contact and an insulating element, wherein the insulating element includes a first cavity configured to accommodate the inner signal contact, a latching element configured to secure the inner signal contact in the first cavity, and a second cavity extending in an axial direction and configured to receive a tool for separating the latching element from the inner signal contact.

Inventors

Wioleta BACHÓRZ
Piotr NAJDUCH
KRZYSZTOF PITALA
Michał Grudzewski

Assignees

Aptiv Technologies AG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230330
Priority Date: 20220411

Claims (8)

1 . A connector system, comprising: a connector assembly comprising: an elongated inner signal contact; and an insulating element including: a first cavity configured to accommodate the inner signal contact, a latching element configured to secure the inner signal contact in the first cavity, and an elongated second cavity extending in an axial direction and configured to receive a tool for separating the latching element from the inner signal contact, wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the second cavity is adapted so as to allow for a lever movement of the tool, wherein the insulating element defines a pivot bearing for the tool in a vicinity of an entry opening of the second cavity, wherein the pivot bearing comprises two neighboring surface portions, a first surface portion on a left side of the second cavity and a corresponding second surface portion on a right side of the second cavity as viewed in the axial direction, wherein a pivot axis defined by the pivot bearing is perpendicular to the axial direction; and the tool for separating the latching element from the inner signal contact, wherein the tool has a handle and an insertion portion, wherein the tool further comprises a pivot means formed between the handle and the insertion portion, wherein the pivot means is configured to interact with the pivot bearing defined by the insulating element, wherein the pivot bearing and the pivot means come into contact as soon as an end position of the tool inserted into the second cavity is reached, wherein the pivot means comprises two lateral pins extending in opposite directions from a main body of the tool, wherein the pivot axis is located at an interface between the lateral pins and the first and second surface portions.
2 . The connector system according to claim 1 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are separated by the latching element.
3 . The connector system according to claim 1 , wherein the latching element comprises a protrusion extending into the first cavity, the protrusion being configured to interact with a latching shoulder of the inner signal contact when the inner signal contact is accommodated in the first cavity.
4 . The connector system according to claim 1 , wherein the latching element comprises a hook section defining an end portion of the second cavity, the hook section being configured to receive a leading end of an insertion portion of the tool.
5 . The connector system according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot bearing is positioned at an axial distance from the hook section.
6 . The connector system according to claim 1 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity extend substantially parallel to each other.
7 . The connector system according to claim 1 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are configured to allow for insertion of the inner signal contact and the tool from opposite sides of the insulating element.
8 . The connector system according to claim 1 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are configured to allow for insertion of the tool via a front side of the insulating element and removal of the inner signal contact via a back side of the insulating element.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims benefit of priority to European Patent Application No. 22167638.0 filed on Apr. 11, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to a connector assembly, preferably for multi GHz applications. In particular, the disclosure relates to a high speed modular twisted-pair-data connector assembly. BACKGROUND High speed modular twisted-pair-data connector systems are used to provide high speed data connections for various automotive systems, including but not limited to 4K camera systems, autonomous driving systems, RADAR systems, LIDAR systems, high-resolution displays, and rear seat entertainment systems. Data connectors for these systems typically require data transmission rates up to 15 GHz or 20 Gbps while having a small package size. In a known high speed modular twisted-pair-data connector system marketed under the trademark H-MTD® by Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG., an inner signal contact is secured in an insulating element by means of a locking mechanism. For servicing or repair purposes, the locking mechanism can be accessed via a cavity located at a side of the insulating element with a standard tool such as a slotted screwdriver so as to unlock the locking mechanism and, thereby, allow the inner signal contact to be separated from the insulating element. However, the connector assemblies may require multiple cavities containing multiple inner signal contacts mounted in a side-by-side arrangement in the insulating element. Also, the connector assemblies may be mounted within another device, such that the insulating element is only accessible from a front-side thereof. In both cases, accessing a cavity provided on a side of the insulating element may be troublesome or even not possible. In addition, operating the locking mechanism by executing an unguided movement with a standard tool, such as a screwdriver, risks damaging or breaking the locking mechanism. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a high speed modular twisted-pair-data connector system that can be easily, securely, and safely disassembled. SUMMARY In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed at a connector assembly comprising an elongated inner signal contact and an insulating element. The insulating element includes a first cavity configured to accommodate the inner signal contact, a latching element configured to secure the inner signal contact in the first cavity, and an elongated second cavity extending in an axial direction and configured to receive a tool for separating the latching element from the inner signal contact. The first cavity and the second cavity may be separated by the latching element. Furthermore, the latching element may comprise a protrusion extending into the first cavity, which is configured to interact with a latching shoulder of the inner signal contact when the inner signal contact is accommodated in the first cavity. In other words, the protrusion serves as a securing means for securing the inner signal contact in the first cavity. The latching element may also comprise a hook section defining an end portion of the second cavity, wherein the hook section is configured to receive an end of an insertion portion of the tool. In the vicinity of an entry opening of the second cavity, the insulating element may define a pivot bearing for the tool. A pivot axis defined by the pivot bearing may be perpendicular to the axial direction. Furthermore, the pivot bearing may be positioned at an axial distance from the hook section. Thus, when the tool is fully inserted into second cavity, the tool can be pivoted around the pivot axis so as to disengage the protrusion of the latching element from the inner signal contact to thereby allow removal of the inner signal contact from the first cavity. For easy handling, the first cavity and the second cavity may extend substantially parallel to each other. In other words, the second cavity does not need to be inserted from a lateral side of the insulating element which may be cumbersome or even impossible. Instead, it can be inserted from a front side of the insulating element which is usually easily accessible. Furthermore, the first cavity and the second cavity may be configured to allow for insertion of the inner signal contact and the tool from opposite sides of the insulating element. Thus, the tool can be inserted via a front side of the insulating element while the inner signal contact is removed via a back side of the insulating element. According to another aspect, the present disclosure is directed at a connector system comprising a connector assembly of the kind described above and the aforementioned tool. The tool may comprise a handle and an insertion portion. Furthermore, the tool may comprise a pivot means formed between the handle and the insertion portion. The pivot means may be configured