# US 2014/0154904 A1 · Mechatronic plug-in connector system

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- Number: US 2014/0154904 A1
- Document ID: US20140154904A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/176,520
- Filed: 2014-02-10
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-07-10
- Assignees: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
- Applicants: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
- Inventors: Christian STROBL; Michael NAUMANN; Frank GERDINAND
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154904A1

## CPC

- H01R 13/665: {with built-in electronic circuit (H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence)}
- H01R 13/7038: {making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A mechatronic plug-in connector system having a main contact and an auxiliary contact which lags during an unplugging operation and with a semiconductor electronic which is series-connected to the auxiliary contact and is parallel-connected to the main contact for extinguishing an arc produced during the unplugging operation, wherein the semiconductor electronic has two series-connected semiconductor switches and an energy accumulator which is connected to the semiconductor switches and which for charging taps the arc voltage produced between the semiconductor switches during the unplugging operation. The invention further relates to a multiple plug system having at least two plug-in connectors each having a main contact and a lagging auxiliary contact and with a semiconductor electronic which is common to the plug-in connectors and is series-connected to each of the auxiliary contacts via a diode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mechatronic plug-in connector system with a main contact comprising:
a main plug-in contact;
a main opposite contact;
an auxiliary contact lagging behind the main contact in an unplugging operation;
an auxiliary plug-in contact;
an auxiliary opposite contact; and
a semiconductor electronic device series-connected to the auxiliary contact and parallel-connected to the main contact for extinguishing an arc produced during the unplugging operation, the semiconductor electronic device having two series-connected semiconductor switches and an energy storage device that is connected to the semiconductor switches and adapted to charge taps the arc voltage produced between the semiconductor switches during the unplugging operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mechatronic plug-in connector system according to claim 1, wherein the main contact is connected to a forward conductor or a return conductor leading from a DC source to a load, and wherein the auxiliary contact is parallel-connected to the main contact.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The mechatronic plug-in connector system according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor switches are an IGBT and a MOSFET.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The mechatronic plug-in connection system according to claim 2, further comprising a third contact connected in the return conductor or in the forward conductor and comprises a plug-in contact and an opposite contact.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The mechatronic plug-in connector system according to claim 4, wherein the third contact lags behind the main contact in the unplugging operation.

### Claim 6

A mechatronic multi-plug system comprising:
at least two plug-in connectors each with a main contact comprising a main plug-in contact and a main opposite contact;
an auxiliary contact lagging behind the main contact in an unplugging operation;
an auxiliary plug-in contact;
an auxiliary opposite contact; and
a semiconductor electronic device for extinguishing an arc produced during the unplugging operation, the semiconductor electronic device shared by the plug-in connectors is series-connected to each of the auxiliary contacts via a diode of the semiconductor electronic device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The mechatronic multi-plug system according to claim 6, the semiconductor electronic device has two series-connected semiconductor switches and an energy storage device that is connected to the semiconductor switches and adapted to charge taps the arc voltage produced between the semiconductor switches during the unplugging operation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The mechatronic multi-plug system according to claim 6, wherein the plug-in connector has a third contact comprising a plug-in contact and an opposite contact.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The mechatronic multi-plug system according to claim 7, wherein the third contact leads the auxiliary contact during the unplugging operation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The mechatronic multi-plug system according to claim 7, wherein the third contact lags behind the auxiliary contact during the unplugging operation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

A semiconductor electronic device for a mechatronic multi-plug system with a plurality of single plug-in connectors formed of a multiple socket strip or multiple outlet strip, according to claim 6.