# US 10,483,664 B2 · Electronic terminal block for a data bus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,664 B2 - Document ID: US10483664B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/176,931 - Filed: 2018-10-31 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-04 - Assignees: Beckhoff Automation GmbH - Applicants: Beckhoff Automation GmbH - Inventors: Hans Beckhoff; Michael Jost; Martin Podrouschek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483664B2 ## CPC - H01R 9/2658: {with built-in data-bus connection} - H01R 9/2608: {Fastening means for mounting on support rail or strip (H01R9/2691 takes precedence; for switch or other electrical device H02B1/042)} - H05K 7/1468: {Mechanical features of input/output (I/O) modules} - H05K 7/1469: {Terminal blocks for connecting sensors} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract An electronic terminal block for a data bus has control electronics comprising first and second data-bus-contacting units connected via an internal data-bus line, and a connecting unit for connecting bus subscribers. The metal housing comprises a first face having a receptacle in a carrier rail, a second face having a recess for the connecting unit, a first side face, an opening for the first data-bus-contacting unit, and a second side face opposite the first side face with an opening for the second data-bus-contacting unit. A first non-metallic coupling plate for mounting onto the first housing side face comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the opening of the first side face, and a second non-metallic coupling plate for mounting onto the second side face comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the opening of the second side face. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic terminal block for a data bus having: control electronics comprising a first and a second data-bus-contacting unit connected via an internal data-bus line and a connecting unit for connecting bus subscribers; a metal housing in which the control electronics are arranged and which comprises a first housing face having a receptacle in a carrier rail, a second housing face having a recess for the connecting unit of the control electronics, a first housing side face, a first opening for the first data-bus-contacting unit, and a second housing side face opposite to the first housing side face, which comprises a first opening for the second data-bus-contacting unit of the control electronics; a first coupling plate for mounting onto the first housing side face, which comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the first opening of the first housing side face; and a second coupling plate for mounting onto the second housing side face, which comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the first opening of the second housing side face; wherein the first and second coupling plates are made of a non-metallic material; and wherein the engagement features comprise protruding enclosures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic terminal block of claim 1, wherein the first coupling plate comprises two laterally protruding C-shaped rails for engaging with slits and the second coupling plate comprises two lateral slits for engaging with the C-shaped rails. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic terminal block of claim 1, wherein the engagement feature of the first recess of the first coupling plate secures the first data-bus-contacting unit of the control electronics and the engagement feature of the first recess of the coupling plate secures the second data-bus-contacting unit of the control electronics. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic terminal block of claim 3, wherein the first and the second data-bus-contacting unit form a resilience-bus contact comprising at least one outside-pointing contact spring and an associated contact plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic terminal block of claim 1, wherein the first and the second coupling plate each comprise a third recess for engaging a cross contact on the associated housing side face. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic terminal block of claim 1, wherein a thermal base is provided which is in thermal contact with the control electronics and connects the control electronics to the metal housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic terminal block of claim 1, wherein at least one ventilation aperture is provided in each of two opposite housing side faces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic terminal block of claim 1, wherein two opposite thermally conductive mounting flanges are provided which elongate the housing face comprising the recess for the carrier rail. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic terminal block of claim 1, wherein at least one screw adapter is provided adjacent to the housing face comprising the recess for the connecting unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic terminal block of claim 1, wherein the metal housing is cast or milled or manufactured by a 3D method. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electronic terminal block of claim 1, wherein, preferably an electric insulator non-metallic material. ### Claim 12 An electronic terminal block for a data bus having: control electronics comprising an electrical contacting unit connected via an internal current line, a data-bus-contacting unit connected via an internal data-bus line and a connecting unit for connecting bus subscribers; a metal housing in which the control electronics are arranged and which comprises a first housing face having a receptacle in a carrier rail, a second housing face having a recess for the connecting unit of the control electronics and a housing side face, wherein the housing side face comprises a first opening for the data-bus-contacting unit of the control electronics and a second opening for the electrical contacting unit of the control electronics; and a coupling plate for mounting onto the housing side face, which comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the first opening of the first housing side face as well as a second recess having an engagement feature in the region of the second opening of the housing side face; wherein the coupling plate is made of a non-metallic material, preferably an electrical insulator; and wherein the engagement features comprise protruding enclosures. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic terminal block of claim 12, wherein a first and a second electrical contacting unit are connected via an internal current line; wherein a first and a second data-bus-contacting unit are connected via an internal data-bus line, wherein a first housing side face comprises a first opening for the first data-bus-contacting unit of the control electronics and a second opening for the first electrical contacting unit of the control electronics, wherein a second housing side face opposite to the first housing side face comprises a first opening for the second data-bus-contacting unit of the control electronics and a second opening for the second electrical contacting unit of the control electronics; wherein a first coupling plate for mounting on the first housing side face comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the first opening of the first housing side face and a second recess having an engagement feature in the region of the second opening of the first housing side face; wherein a second coupling plate for mounting on the second housing side face comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the first opening of the second housing side face and a second opening having an engagement feature in the region of the second opening of the second housing side face; wherein the first and the second coupling plate are made of the non-metallic material; and wherein the engagement features comprise protruding enclosures. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electronic terminal block of claim 13, wherein the first coupling plate comprises two laterally protruding C-shaped rails for engaging with slits and the second coupling plate comprises two lateral slits for engaging with the C-shaped rails. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The electronic terminal block of claim 13, wherein the first electrical contacting unit comprises at least one contact pin and the second electrical contacting unit comprises at least one contact opening, wherein the engagement feature of the second recess of the first coupling plate extends between the contact pin and the second opening of the first housing side face, and wherein the engagement feature of the recess of the second coupling plate extends between the contact opening and the second opening of the second housing side face. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic terminal block of claim 15, wherein the second recess of the second coupling plate is a slit hole in a guiding slit running across the outside of the contact plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The electronic terminal block of claim 13, wherein the engagement feature of the first recess of the first coupling plate secures the first data-bus-contacting unit of the control electronics and the engagement feature of the first recess of the coupling plate secures the second data-bus-contacting unit of the control electronics. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electronic terminal block of claim 17, wherein the first and the second data-bus-contacting unit form a resilience-bus contact comprising at least one outside-pointing contact spring and an associated contact plane. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The electronic terminal block of claim 13, wherein the first and the second coupling plate each comprise a third recess for engaging a cross contact on the associated housing side face. ### Claim 20 A bus-bar station comprising a bus coupler and a plurality of electronic terminal blocks which may be arranged side-by-side on a carrier rail; wherein an electronic terminal bar comprises a metal housing in which the control electronics are arranged and which comprises a first housing face having a receptacle in a carrier rail, a second housing face having a recess for the connecting unit of the control electronics, a first housing side face, a first opening for the first data-bus-contacting unit, and a second housing side face which comprises a first opening for the second data-bus-contacting unit of the control electronics; a first coupling plate for mounting onto the first housing side face, which comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the first opening of the first housing side face; a second coupling plate for mounting onto the second housing side face, which comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the first opening of the second housing side face; wherein the first and second coupling plates are made of a non-metallic material; and wherein the engagement features comprise protruding enclosures. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The bus-bar station of claim 20, wherein the first coupling plate of the electronic terminal block comprises two laterally protruding C-shaped rails for engaging with slits and the second coupling plate comprises two lateral slits for engaging with the C-shaped rails. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The bus-bar station of claim 20, wherein in the electronic terminal block the first and the second data-bus-contacting unit form a resilience-bus contact comprising at least one outside-pointing contact spring and an associated contact plane. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The bus-bar station of claim 20, wherein in the electronic terminal block the first and the second coupling plate each comprise a third recess for engaging a cross contact on the associated housing side face.