Electronic Control Devices

Abstract

An electronic control device using a connector-integrated housing and a flexible printed circuit board is disclosed. The electronic control device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a housing having a first main body portion with an opening formed on one side and a second main body portion connected to the first main body portion through a hinge portion, and the opening is closed as the second main body portion rotates; a printed circuit board having a first substrate portion and a second substrate portion connected through a flexible connection portion; and a connector combined with the second main body portion, the first substrate portion being inserted into the first main body portion, and the second substrate portion being combined with the connector and connected to the second main body portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic control device, and more particularly to an electronic control device using a connector-integrated housing and a bendable printed circuit board. Background Art

[0002] Generally, an electronic control device such as an ECU for electronically controlling various devices is installed in a vehicle. Such an electronic control device obtains information from sensors or switches installed in various parts of the vehicle. The electronic control device processes the information thus obtained to improve the riding experience and safety of the vehicle, or performs various electronic control functions to provide various conveniences to the driver and passengers.

[0003] For example, ECU is an electronic control device that controls the status of a vehicle's engine or automatic transmission, ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System), etc. through a computer. As vehicle and computer performance develop, it plays a role in controlling all parts of the vehicle, including the drive system, brake system, steering system, etc., starting with automatic transmission control.

[0004] The structure of the electronic control device such as ECU includes a shell composed of an upper cover and a lower base, a printed circuit board (PCB) accommodated in the shell, and a connector combined with the front end of the printed circuit board to connect to an external plug.

[0005] On the one hand, a housing in which the cover and the base are made into a single injection molded object has been disclosed in the past. However, even a housing in which the cover and the base are made into a single injection molded object has the disadvantage that the connector needs to be combined with the cover and the base as an additional structure.

[0006] [Prior art literature]

[0007] [Patent Literature]

[0008] (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1816032 Summary of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide an electronic control device in which a housing and a connector are integrated to save costs and simplify the assembly process.

[0010] An electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a housing having a first main body portion with an opening formed on one side and a second main body portion connected to the first main body portion via a hinge portion, wherein the opening is closed as the second main body portion rotates; a printed circuit board having a first substrate portion and a second substrate portion connected via a flexible connection portion; and a connector combined with the second main body portion, the first substrate portion being inserted into the first main body portion, and the second substrate portion being combined with the connector to be connected to the second main body portion.

[0011] Preferably, the present invention is characterized in that when the second main body portion rotates toward the first main body portion, the first substrate portion is inserted into the first main body portion while at least a portion of the first substrate portion rises or falls along with the position of the hinge portion.

[0012] Preferably, the present invention is characterized in that the first main body portion includes: a coupling portion coupled to the second main body portion; and a flat portion formed at an inner end of the first main body portion and into which one side of the first substrate portion is inserted.

[0013] Preferably, the present invention is characterized in that the first main body portion further comprises: an inclined portion formed on the inner upper end surface of the first main body portion, extending from one side of the flat portion and inclined to form a certain angle relative to the flat portion; and a fixing portion fixing the other side of the first substrate portion.

[0014] Preferably, the present invention is characterized in that the inclined portion guides movement of the first substrate portion when the first substrate portion is inserted into the first main body portion.

[0015] Preferably, the present invention is characterized in that the first substrate portion includes a protrusion portion inserted into the fixing portion on the other side.

[0016] Preferably, the present invention is characterized in that, when the second main body portion is coupled to the coupling portion, the second substrate portion forms a vertical angle with the first substrate portion.

[0017] Preferably, the present invention is characterized in that at least one terminal is provided on one side of the connector, and the terminal is connected to one side of the second substrate portion.

[0018] Effects of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, there is an advantage that a housing and a connector can be integrally formed to provide an electronic control device, thereby achieving cost savings.

[0020] In addition, since the housing and the connector are formed as one body, it has the advantage of being able to provide an electronic control device with a relatively small number of components and a simple assembly process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 1 is an overall perspective view of an electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention from a side view.

[0023] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state where the electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is opened.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing a state in which an electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is opened from a side view.

[0025] Figure 5 The figure schematically shows the change in position of the printed circuit board when assembling the electronic control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an assembly process of an electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a side cross-sectional view of an assembly process of an electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Reference numerals:

[0029] 100: electronic control device, 10: housing, 11: first main body, 12: second main body, 13: hinge, 14: connector, 20: printed circuit board, 22: first substrate, 24: second substrate, 26: flexible connection DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, when assigning reference numerals to the constituent elements of each of the accompanying drawings, it should be noted that for the same constituent elements, even if they are shown in different drawings, the same reference numerals should be given as much as possible. In addition, when describing the present invention, when it is determined that the specific description of the relevant known structure or function may confuse the gist of the present invention, its detailed description will be omitted. In addition, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below, but the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to or restricted thereto, and can be implemented in a variety of ways by those skilled in the art.

[0031] Figure 1 is an overall three-dimensional diagram of an electronic control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a diagram showing an electronic control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention from a side view, Figure 31 is a diagram showing a state where the electronic control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is opened. Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the electronic control device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention in an open state from the side. Figure 4 The printed circuit board 20 described later is omitted.

[0032] refer to Figures 1 to 4 According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic control device 100 includes: a housing 10, a connector 14 integrated with the housing 100, and a printed circuit board 20 inserted into the housing 10. At this time, the housing 10 and the connector 14 can be injection molded into one body.

[0033] Although not shown, a plurality of electronic control components may be formed on one side of the printed circuit board 20 , and the plurality of electronic control components may be electrically connected to the connector 14 to perform various electronic controls.

[0034] In detail, the housing 10 may include a first body portion 11 having an opening formed at one side and a second body portion 12 connected to the first body portion 11 via a hinge portion 13 , and the opening is opened or closed as the second body portion 12 rotates.

[0035] At this time, the second body part 12 can be combined with the combining part 112 formed in the opening part of the first body part 11, so as to be combined with the first body part 11. When the second body part 12 is combined with the combining part 112, one side (opening) of the shell 10 can be closed.

[0036] When the first body 11 and the second body 12 are combined, the gap between the first body 11 and the second body 12 may be sealed by welding, for example, hot plate welding, vibration welding, or ultrasonic welding.

[0037] In addition, the connector 14 mentioned above may be integrated with the second body portion 12 .

[0038] The printed circuit board 20 includes a first substrate portion 22 and a second substrate portion 24 connected via a flexible connection portion 26 .

[0039] As an example, the flexible connection portion 26 may be a flexible circuit or a flexible cable. The flexible connection portion 26 may also be formed by using a portion of the printed circuit board 20 , and the flexible connection portion 26 may be configured to mechanically and electrically connect the first substrate portion 22 and the second substrate portion 24 .

[0040] At least one terminal 142 may be provided on one side of the connector 14. Preferably, the terminal 142 may be coupled to the connector 14 by a press-in method (eg, a press-fit method).

[0041] The terminal 142 may be coupled to one side of the second substrate portion 24. Preferably, the terminal 142 may be coupled to the second substrate portion 24 by press-fitting, such as Figure 3 As shown, it can be combined in the approximate center of the second substrate portion 24.

[0042] Thus, the connector 14 can be mechanically and electrically combined with the printed circuit board 20 , especially with the second substrate portion 24 .

[0043] In addition, the second substrate portion 24 may be combined with the connector 14 to be connected to the second body portion 12 .

[0044] Figure 5 FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the position change of the printed circuit board 20 when the electronic control device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is assembled. Figure 5 The configurations of the inclined portion 114 , the flat portion 116 , and the fixing portion 118 , which will be described later, are omitted.

[0045] like Figure 5 As shown, when the second body portion 12 rotates toward the first body portion 11 , the positions of the first substrate portion 22 and the second substrate portion 24 may change.

[0046] At this time, the first substrate 22 may at least partially rise or fall as the position of the hinge 13 changes while the second body 12 rotates toward the first body 11 , and finally be inserted into the first body 11 .

[0047] Specifically, when the second body portion 12 starts to rotate toward the first body portion 11, the first substrate portion 22 can start to be inserted into the first body portion 11. Figure 5 As shown, as the flexible connection portion 26 rises, at least a portion of the first substrate portion 22 may rise.

[0048] Then, when one side of the first substrate portion 22 is completely inserted into the first body portion 11 , as the flexible connection portion 26 descends, the first substrate portion 22 may also descend.

[0049] like Figure 5 As shown, when the second body portion 12 rotates toward the first body portion 11 , the second substrate portion 24 may also rise as the flexible connection portion 26 rises.

[0050] Then, when one side of the first substrate portion 22 is completely inserted into the first body portion 11 , as the flexible connection portion 26 descends, the second substrate portion 24 may also descend.

[0051] When one side of the first substrate portion 22 is completely inserted into the first body portion 11 , the second body portion 12 may be coupled to the coupling portion 112 . In this state, the second substrate portion 24 may be perpendicular to the first substrate portion 22 .

[0052] On the one hand, as described above, when the second body portion 12 rotates toward the first body portion 11 , at least a portion of the first substrate portion 22 rises or falls, and at the same time, the first substrate portion 22 can be inserted into the first body portion 11 .

[0053] At this time, if there is no structure to guide the movement of the first substrate portion 22 , the electronic control components provided on the first substrate portion 22 may be damaged due to friction or collision between the electronic control components and the inner surface of the first body portion 11 .

[0054] In order to prevent such a problem, in the present invention, as described later, a sloped portion 114 may be provided on the inner upper end surface of the first body portion 11 .

[0055] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an assembly process of an electronic control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 1 is a diagram showing the assembly process of the electronic control device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention from a side cross-section. Figure 6 (a) and Figure 7 (a) is a diagram showing a state where one side of the housing 10 is opened, Figure 6 (b) and Figure 7 (b) is a diagram showing a state in which the first body portion 11 and the second body portion 12 are combined and one side of the housing 10 is closed.

[0056] refer to Figure 6 as well as Figure 7 The first main body 11 includes a flat portion 116 formed at one inner end of the first main body 11 , an inclined portion 114 formed at an inner upper end surface of the first main body 11 , and a fixing portion 118 formed near the other inner end of the first main body 11 .

[0057] The flat portion 116 may be inserted into one side of the first substrate portion 22. At this time, the one side of the first substrate portion 22 may be the front side of the first substrate portion 22.

[0058] like Figure 6 (b) and Figure 7As shown in (b), when the second main body 12 is rotated 90 degrees toward the first main body 11 and the second main body 12 is completely combined with the first main body 11, one side of the first substrate 22 inserted into the flat portion 116 can be fixed to the first main body 11 without shaking.

[0059] The inclined portion 114 may extend from one side of the flat portion 116 and be inclined to form a certain angle with respect to the flat portion 116. At this time, the inclined portion 114 may guide the movement of the first substrate portion 22 when the first substrate portion 22 is inserted into the first body portion 11.

[0060] The structure of the inclined portion 114 can prevent friction or collision between the electronic control components on the first substrate portion 22 and the inner surface of the first main body portion 11. The friction or collision can be caused by the movement of the first substrate portion 22 as the second main body portion 12 rotates toward the first main body portion 11, resulting from the rise or fall of the first substrate portion 22.

[0061] In addition, when the second body portion 12 rotates toward the first body portion 11 , the first substrate portion 22 can be naturally inserted into the first body portion 11 along the inclined portion 114 .

[0062] The other side of the first substrate portion 22 may be fixed to the fixing portion 118. In this case, the other side of the first substrate portion 22 may be the rear side of the first substrate portion 22. In this case, the first substrate portion 22 may include a protrusion 222 inserted into the fixing portion 118 on the other side.

[0063] like Figure 6 (b) and Figure 7 As shown in (b), when the second main body portion 12 is rotated 90 degrees toward the first main body portion 11 and the second main body portion 12 is completely combined with the first main body portion 11, the protrusion 222 is inserted into the fixing portion 118, so that the other side of the first substrate portion 22 can be fixed to the first main body portion 11 without shaking.

[0064] In addition, Figure 6 (b) and Figure 7 In the state shown in (b), the second substrate portion 24 may be at a perpendicular angle to the first substrate portion 22 .

[0065] According to the present invention, there is an advantage that the housing 10 and the connector 14 are integrally formed, thereby providing an electronic control device 100 that can save costs.

[0066] In addition, since the housing 10 and the connector 14 are integrally formed, there is an advantage that an electronic control device 100 having a relatively small number of components and a simple assembly process can be provided.

[0067] The above description is only a case of illustrating the technical concept of the present invention by way of example. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can make various modifications, deformations and substitutions without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments and drawings disclosed in the present invention are used to illustrate the technical concept of the present invention and are not used to limit it. The scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted through the claims, and should be interpreted as all technical concepts within the equivalent scope thereof are included in the scope of rights of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electronic control device, It is characterized in that include: The housing comprises a first main body having an opening formed on one side and a second main body connected to the first main body via a hinge, wherein the opening is closed as the second main body rotates; A printed circuit board having a first substrate portion and a second substrate portion connected by a flexible connection portion; as well as A connector is integrally formed in the second main body portion, The first substrate is inserted into the first main body, and the second substrate is combined with the connector to be connected to the second main body. When the second main body rotates toward the first main body, the first substrate is inserted into the first main body while at least a portion of the first substrate is raised or lowered according to the position of the hinge.

2. The electronic control device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The first main body comprises: a combining portion, combined with the second main body portion; and The flat portion is formed at one inner end of the first main body portion and is inserted into one side of the first substrate portion.

3. The electronic control device according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The first main body further comprises: an inclined portion formed on an inner upper end surface of the first main body portion, extending from one side of the flat portion and inclined to form a certain angle with respect to the flat portion; and The fixing portion fixes the other side of the first substrate portion.

4. The electronic control device according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The inclined portion guides movement of the first substrate portion when the first substrate portion is inserted into the first body portion.

5. The electronic control device according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The first substrate portion includes a protrusion portion on the other side thereof that is inserted into the fixing portion.

6. The electronic control device according to claim 2, It is characterized in that When the second main body is coupled to the coupling portion, the second substrate portion forms a vertical angle with the first substrate portion.

7. The electronic control device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that At least one terminal is provided on one side of the connector, and the terminal is coupled to one side of the second substrate portion.

Images