Contactless plug connector and contactless plug connector system

• US 9,634,439 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2012
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Nederland B.V. (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom)), TE Connectivity Nederland B.V. (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Riezebos, Dirk-Jan, Bergner, Bert, Habraken, Gied
• Primary Examiner(s): Jia, Xin
• Application Number:
  US14/351,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20140248801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The invention relates to contactless plug connectors and contactless plug connector systems for electromagnetically connecting a corresponding mating plug connector. In order to allow for an electromagnetic connection, the invention suggest providing at least one input terminal for inputting a baseband input signal; an antenna element arranged at the mating end of the contactless plug connector; and a transmitting circuit for modulating the inputted baseband input signal on a predetermined carrier frequency and for transmitting the modulated baseband input signal via the antenna element as a radio wave with the predetermined carrier frequency. In particular, the contactless plug connector and contactless plug connector system include an electromagnetic shielding element arranged to surround the transmitting circuit and the antenna element with a rim portion forming an opening at the mating end of the contactless plug connector.

Claims

1. A contactless plug connector for electromagnetically connecting a corresponding mating connector comprising:

at least one input terminal for inputting a baseband input signal;

an antenna element arranged at the mating end of the contactless plug connector;

a transmitting circuit for modulating the inputted baseband input signal on a predetermined carrier frequency and for transmitting the modulated baseband input signal via the antenna element as a radio wave with the predetermined carrier frequency;

an electromagnetic shielding element arranged to surround the transmitting circuit and the antenna element with a rim portion forming an opening at the mating end of the contactless plug connector, wherein the rim portion of the shielding element is arranged such that it overlaps, in a mated state, a corresponding shielding element of the mating connector by a predefined distance based on the predetermined carrier frequency,

wherein the connector is provided as a radial connector allowing the connector to rotate in the mated state and the shielding element has a cylindrical shape; and

a power terminal for connection to a power supply; and

an inductive coupling element connected to the power terminal for transmitting/receiving power to/from the corresponding mating connector,

wherein the inductive coupling element is arranged so as to form in the mated state an induction loop with a corresponding inductive coupling element of the mating connector.

2. The contactless plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the predefined distance corresponds to a quarter of the wavelength of the predetermined carrier frequency.

3. The contactless plug connector according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving circuit for demodulating a radio wave received via the or another antenna element to a baseband output signal; and

at least one output terminal for outputting the baseband output signal.

4. The contactless plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting circuit is connected to the power terminal.

5. The contactless plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the antenna element is a circular polarized antenna.

6. The contactless plug connector according to claim 1, further comprising a housing structure arranged so as to prevent the shielding element from directly contacting the corresponding shielding element of the corresponding mating connector.

7. The contactless plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the shielding element is surrounded by dielectric material.

8. The contactless plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is embedded in a housing that is sealed against intrusion of water.

9. A contactless plug connector system comprising a contactless plug connector according to claim 1 and a corresponding mating connector, wherein the rim portion of the shielding element of the contactless plug connector is arranged so as to fit closely about the corresponding shielding element of the mating connector.

10. A contactless plug connector for electromagnetically

connecting a corresponding mating connector comprising:

an antenna element arranged at the mating end of the contactless plug connector;

a receiving circuit for demodulating a radio wave of a predetermined carrier frequency received via the antenna element to a baseband output signal;

at least one output terminal for outputting the demodulated radio wave as the baseband output signal;

an electromagnetic shielding element arranged to surround the receiving circuit and the antenna element, with a rim portion forming an opening at the mating end of the contactless plug connector;

a power terminal for connection to a power supply; and

an inductive coupling element connected to the power terminal for transmitting/receiving power to/from a corresponding mating connector;

wherein the inductive coupling element is arranged so as to form, in a mated state, an induction loop with a corresponding inductive coupling element of the mating connector,

wherein the connector is provided as a radial connector allowing the connector to rotate in the mated state and the shielding element has a cylindrical shape, and

wherein the rim portion of the shielding element is arranged such that it overlaps, in the mated state, a corresponding shielding element of the mating connector by a distance corresponding to a quarter of the wavelength of the predetermined carrier frequency.

11. The contactless plug connector according to claim 10, further comprising:

at least one input terminal for inputting a baseband input signal;

a transmitting circuit for modulating the inputted baseband input signal on a predetermined carrier frequency and for transmitting the modulated baseband input signal via the or another antenna element as a radio wave with the predetermined carrier frequency.

12. The contactless plug connector according to claim 10, wherein the receiving circuit is connected to the power terminal.

13. The contactless plug connector according to claim 10, wherein the antenna element is a circular polarized antenna.

14. The contactless plug connector according to claim 10, further comprising a housing structure arranged so as to prevent the shielding element from directly contacting the corresponding shielding element of the corresponding mating connector.

15. The contactless plug connector according to claim 10, wherein the shielding element is surrounded by dielectric material.

16. The contactless plug connector according to claim 10, wherein the connector is embedded in a housing that is sealed against intrusion of water.

17. A contactless plug connector system comprising a contactless plug connector according to claim 10 and a corresponding mating connector, wherein the rim portion of the shielding element of the contactless plug connector is arranged so as to fit closely about the corresponding shielding element of the mating connector.

18. A contactless plug connector for electromagnetically connecting a corresponding mating connector comprising:

at least one input terminal for inputting a baseband input signal;

an antenna element arranged at the mating end of the contactless plug connector;

a transmitting circuit for modulating the inputted baseband input signal on a predetermined carrier frequency and for transmitting the modulated baseband input signal via the antenna element as a radio wave with the predetermined carrier frequency; and

an electromagnetic shielding element arranged to surround the transmitting circuit and the antenna element with a rim portion forming an opening at the mating end of the contactless plug connector, wherein the connector is provided as a radial connector allowing the connector to rotate in a mated state and wherein the shielding element has a cylindrical shape.