# US 12,009,620 B1 · Round plug having an adjustment element

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- Number: US 12,009,620 B1
- Document ID: US12009620B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/287,673
- Filed: 2022-04-21
- Published: 2024-06-06
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-04-21
- Assignees: Ifm Electronic GmbH
- Applicants: IFM Electronic GmbH
- Inventors: Gerold Dillmann; Ralf Withum
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009620B1

## CPC

- H01R 13/6658: {on printed circuit board (H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence)}
- H01R 13/6683: {with built-in sensor}
- H01R 13/622: Screw-ring or screw-casing (H01R13/623 takes precedence)
- H01R 24/86: Parallel contacts arranged about a common axis
- H01R 29/00: Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, {programmable connectors}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

The invention relates to a round plug (1) for industrial applications of the automation industry. The round plug (1) comprises a circuit board (20) in the interior of the round plug (1), together with: a sensor element (21) disposed on the circuit board (20); an evaluation circuit (22) applied to the circuit board (20); an interface (S); a collar surface (30) on the periphery of the round plug (1); an axis of rotation (31); and a sleeve-type adjustment element (10), which partly rotates about the axis of rotation (31); wherein: the adjustment element (10) consists of an inner sleeve (11), an outer sleeve (12), a spring wire (13) and a magnet (14), and the magnet (14) is inserted into the outer sleeve (12); the adjustment element (10) is pressed onto the round plug (1) such that the inner sleeve (11) is fixedly and interlockingly connected to the collar surface (30) of the round plug (1); an initial position (G) is assumed by—the movable parts of the adjustment element (10), —the outer sleeve (12) and—the magnet (14) when the spring wire (13) is in spring equilibrium; the sensor element (21) can detect the initial position (G) and, when the adjustment element (10) is rotated out of the initial position (G), can distinguish a first direction of rotation (A) from a second, opposite direction of rotation (B).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A round plug (1) for industrial applications in the automation industry, comprising a printed circuit board (20) in the interior of the round plug (1) with a sensor element (21) arranged on the printed circuit board (20), an evaluation circuit (22) applied onto the printed circuit board (20), an interface (S), a collar surface (30) located at the circumference of the round plug (1), an axis of rotation (31) and a sleeve type adjustment element (10) partially rotating about the axis of rotation (31);
wherein the sleeve-type adjustment element (10) comprises an inner sleeve (11), an outer sleeve (12), a spring wire (13) and a magnet (14), and wherein the magnet (14) is introduced into the outer sleeve (12); the adjustment element (10) being pressed onto the round plug (1) in such a way that the inner sleeve (11) is firmly and form-fittingly connected to the collar surface (30) of the round plug (1); wherein the movable parts of the adjustment element (10), the outer sleeve (12) and the magnet (14) assume a basic position (G) in the spring equilibrium of the spring wire (13); wherein the sensor element (21) is able to detect the basic position (G) and can distinguish a first direction of rotation (A) from a second, opposite direction of rotation (B) when the adjustment element (10) is rotated out of the basic position (G).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The round plug (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor element (21) is able to convert the rotary position of the magnet (14) via the evaluation circuit (22) into signals and output these signals via an interface (S) at the round plug (1).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The round plug (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sleeves (11, 12) of the adjustment element (10) are formed in such a way that they lie on top of one another and the sleeves (11, 12) each have an internal, elongate web (40a, 40b) for holding the spring wire (13), the spring wire (13) has two elongate parallel ends (15) which extend parallel to the axis of rotation (31), and in the basic position (G) the ends (15) abut parallel the longitudinal sides of the two webs (40a, 40b), and when the adjustment element (10) is rotated out of the basic position (G), the spring wire (13) exerts a force against the direction of rotation (A, B) on the outer sleeve (12).