DE102016115678A1 - Plug connector with contact-resolved temperature monitoring - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector having at least two electrical contact elements (1, 2), wherein the contact elements (1, 2) are at least partially coated with a material (4) which changes its optical properties when a limit temperature is exceeded and / or the contact elements (1, 2) are at least partially provided with an attachment, wherein the attachment with a material (4) is coated or consists of such a material which changes its optical properties when a limit temperature is exceeded.

Description

The invention relates to a connector according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

Such connectors are used in particular for the transmission of high currents. Therefore, such connectors can be in use strong, up to critical temperatures, heat.

The user of such a connector wants to know when a critical condition, such as reaching a certain temperature limit, is reached.

State of the art

The WO 2015/131883 A1 shows a connector with multiple contact elements. In the housing of the connector sensors are provided for temperature measurement. The sensors are provided in the same number as electrical connection contacts. In each case, a sensor is associated with an electrical contact element.

Due to the complex structure and the number of sensors used such connectors are expensive to produce and therefore relatively expensive.

task

The object of the invention is to propose a connector that is simple and inexpensive to produce.

The object is solved by the characterizing features of independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The connector according to the invention has at least two electrical contact elements. In general, such a connector will have a plurality of electrical contact elements at the same time small size. One speaks then of so-called close-packed electrical connectors.

The contact elements are at least partially coated with a material which changes its optical properties when a limit temperature is exceeded. Alternatively or additionally, the contact elements may be at least partially provided with an attachment, wherein the attachment is coated with a material which changes its optical properties when a limit temperature is exceeded. The attachment may be a ring which is slid over the contact element and which is coated with or consists of said material.

Preferably, the connector has a light source and a photodetector. With these means, temperature changes can be detected at the respective contact elements. The light source generates a light beam having an optical path that contacts the surface of the material-coated area and / or the cap of each individual contact element at least once. The light beam or the optical path ultimately terminate in the photodetector. In order to realize such an optical path of the light beam, the contact elements must be arranged in a specific geometric pattern. All contact elements can then be monitored separately with just one detector. As a result, a connector requiring temperature control can accommodate a large number of contact elements relative to the size.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the materials are thermochromic and / or thermotropic materials. These materials change their optical properties when a limit temperature is exceeded. These properties are, for example, an absorption and / or a frequency change and / or a refractive index change and / or a phase shift.

The invention can equally be applied to contact pins and contact sockets.

Preferably, the change in the optical property of the material is reversible when a limit temperature is exceeded. If the connector or the contact elements have cooled down again after exceeding the limit temperature, the connector can be returned to normal operation.

The said material may be transparent or opaque. If you want to work with refraction, the material must be transparent. In this case also an interaction with the base material of the contact element takes place. If the material is opaque, other mechanisms, such as a wavelength or phase change of the light, may be effective. In opaque materials, the base material of the contact element plays no role.

embodiment

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

1 a schematic diagram of a contact pin which is plugged into a contact socket,

2 a schematic diagram of a plurality of arranged in a connector contact elements with a light source and a detector and

3 a schematic representation of a reflection on a contact element 1 and a contact element 1' ,

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In part, identical reference numerals are used for the same but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements could be scaled differently.

The 1 shows a schematic diagram of two mating contact elements, a contact pin 1 and a contact socket 2 , To the contact elements is in each case an electrical conductor 3 a cable (not shown) connected to the connector (not shown).

The contact elements 1 . 2 are regionally with a material 4 coated. The material 4 changes its optical properties when a limit temperature is exceeded. A subset of such materials are so-called phase change materials. The material is, for example, germanium antimony tellurium, which crystallizes from 100.degree.

In 2 is a schematic diagram of several in a connector geometrically arranged pins 1 to see. The contact pins 1 . 1' are partially with the said material 4 coated. Starting from a light source 5 becomes an optical path 7 generates the contact pins 1 touched in the coated area at least once and from there to the next contact pin 1 is reflected.

At the contact elements 1' a limit temperature, for example 100 ° C, has been exceeded. Part of the incident light is absorbed and light of a lower intensity is reflected. The optical path 7 ' is continued with light of lesser intensity. This change in intensity can be done by a detector 6 be recorded. It can be determined that the connector is outside its normal operating range and a critical condition is reached.

The 3 shows contact elements 1 . 1' that with a transparent material 4 partially coated. When a limit temperature (T> T _G ) is exceeded, the refractive index of the material changes 4 , The optical path 7 ' the light changes. The detector may no longer receive a light signal. As a result, reaching a critical limit temperature of at least one contact element 1' be detected.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 pin

1'

 Contact pin at exceeded limit temperature

2

 Contact socket

3

 ladder

4

 material

5

 light source

6

 detector

7

 Optical path

7 '

optical path after reflection on a contact element 1'

T

 temperature

T _G

 limit temperature

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2015/131883 A1 [0004]

Claims (6)

Connector comprising at least two electrical contact elements ( 1 . 2 ), - wherein the contact elements ( 1 . 2 ) at least partially with a material ( 4 ), which changes its optical properties when a limit temperature (T _G ) is exceeded, and / or - wherein the contact elements ( 1 . 2 ) are at least partially provided with an essay, wherein the article with a material ( 4 ) is coated or consists of such a material, which changes its optical properties when a limit temperature (T _G ) is exceeded. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector at least one light source ( 5 ) and a photodetector ( 6 ) having. Connector according to the preceding claim, characterized in that - the light source ( 5 ) a light beam with an optical path ( 7 . 7 ' ) which produces the surface of the material ( 4 ) coated area and / or the attachment of each contact element ( 1 . 2 ) at least once and - that the optical path ( 7 . 7 ' ) in the photodetector ( 6 ) opens. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is in the material ( 4 ) to a thermochromic and / or thermotropic material ( 4 ). Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is at the contact elements to contact pins ( 1 ) and / or contact sockets ( 2 ). Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the change in the optical property of the material is reversible when a limit temperature (T _G ) is exceeded.

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