Controller

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device having a plurality of electrical component elements which are arranged in at least one channel of the control device (10), the control device (10) being surrounded by a moulding compound (12) in such a way that the electrical component elements are each surrounded by the moulding compound (12), and the control device (10) being designed as a cover of a motor housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a control unit, in particular a control unit for use in a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] A controller is an electronic module that is used, for example, in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, at various locations to control and / or regulate vehicle processes and / or components. Such a controller comprises, for example, a printed circuit board substrate on which at least one electrical or electronic component element is received.

[0003] Mechanically coupled systems are known in the field of steering and braking. In these systems, the electronic components are accommodated in a housing. The housing is used to protect sensitive electronic components from environmental influences.

[0004] When switching to so-called drive-by-wire technology, the requirements in the area of ​​safety or security increase. More attention is paid to preventing the ingress of water and moisture. Customer requirements tend to separate the electronics into multiple compartments in order to prevent a single fault, such as a damaged seal, from leading to a complete failure of the system.

[0005] Note that two-chamber or multi-chamber controllers (also known as dual-chambers) are complex and expensive.

[0006] A control unit is known from the publication DE 10 2012 204 630 A1, which has a printed circuit board substrate on which at least one electrical or electronic component is accommodated. The printed circuit board substrate and the at least one electronic component are surrounded by a molded core. The molded core is surrounded by a further encapsulation structure formed by a thermoplastic material. Summary of the invention

[0007] Against this background, a control device is described having the features of claim 1. Embodiments are derived from the dependent claims and from the description.

[0008] The controller described has a plurality of electrical component elements, which are arranged in at least one channel of the controller. The electrical component elements include both electrical and electronic component elements.

[0009] The control unit is surrounded, for example, injection-coated, with the molding compound in such a way that the electrical component elements are each at least almost completely surrounded by the molding compound, specifically in such a way that the component elements are typically separated or isolated from one another in terms of installation space or mechanically.

[0010] The proposed controller is characterized in that it is configured as a cover of a motor housing. The motor housing can be, for example, a motor housing of a steering system, that is to say the motor housing surrounds the motor of the steering system and thus the steering or servomotor. In principle, the controller can also be used as an independent controller.

[0011] The electrical components can be arranged in a plurality of channels, for example in two channels. The two channels can then be designed redundantly with respect to one another, ie the component elements contained in the channels perform corresponding functions.

[0012] Furthermore, a plurality of domains can be provided in each channel. A domain is then associated, for example, with a steering device or a steering system, while other domains are associated, for example, with a brake or a brake system.

[0013] The control unit can have a printed circuit board substrate, for example a printed circuit board (PCB), on which electrical or electronic components are accommodated.

[0014] The molding material can be surrounded at least in sections by a further thermoplastic encapsulation. The control unit can then be surrounded by the thermoplastic encapsulation beyond the sealing region in the region exposed to moisture.

[0015] The thermoplastic encapsulation structure can be made of, for example, a thermoplastic including spherical fillers.

[0016] In one embodiment, the controller typically carries a sealing ring on the underside, which serves to seal the motor housing. The controller, which serves as a cover, is typically mounted over the opening of the motor housing in order to close it. The sealing ring then reliably ensures that no moisture and no dirt can enter the motor housing.

[0017] Thus, an easily processable, robust solution is provided for the mechanical protection of such safety-related applications. In addition, the solution reliably protects against water and moisture ingress without the need to use multiple chambers.

[0018] Other functions of the housing, such as, for example, electronic and mechanical interfaces for actuators and sensors of the vehicle and for steering and braking systems, can be retained.

[0019] The chosen encapsulation is important in that it not only protects the entire electronic component as a unit, but also physically separates all components from one another and in addition prevents moisture from penetrating. This encapsulation can also be referred to as direct encapsulation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention are apparent from the description and the drawings.

[0021] It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention. Among them:

[0022] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the described controller,

[0023] Figure 2 Two views show a section through a motor housing with a control unit in the form of a cover.

[0024] Figure 3 A schematic diagram shows an embodiment of the described controller for a high-availability, safety-related system.

[0025] Figure 4 A further specific embodiment of the described control unit is shown in a schematic diagram. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The invention is schematically illustrated in the drawings based on exemplary embodiments and is described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 One embodiment of the described control unit is shown in two views, namely from above on the left and from below on the right, which is generally denoted by reference numeral 10. The control unit 10 serves as a cover for the motor housing. In addition, the control unit 10 and in particular the component elements contained therein are completely surrounded by a molding compound 12.

[0028] The controller 10 carries on its underside a closed sealing ring 14 which performs a sealing function once the controller 10 is mounted on the motor housing. This encapsulation of the controller 10 is also referred to as direct encapsulation.

[0029] In this type of encapsulation, the molding material is distributed over the electronic components and hardens. The molding material completely surrounds each individual electronic component or component element and the printed circuit board, which is represented here as a circuit carrier. This prevents the ingress of dirt and moisture. The components are separated from each other. This means that a single fault cannot cause moisture to reach multiple components.

[0030] Figure 2 The two views show a section through a motor housing with a control unit in each case in the form of a cover. On the left, a motor housing 50 is shown which carries a cover 52 which is in turn in the form of a control unit.

[0031] Correspondingly, a further motor housing 70 is shown on the right, which in turn carries a cover 72 .

[0032] Figure 3 The housing assembly 100 is shown, in which a control unit 105 for a high-availability, safety-related system is constructed. The illustration shows a first vehicle plug 102, a second vehicle plug 103 and a housing assembly 100, which comprises a housing cover 104, which is divided into a first chamber 106 and a second chamber 108 and comprises the control unit 105. The two chambers 106, 108 are separated from each other by a partition wall 130. The housing assembly 100 comprises a housing cover or lid 104 at the top and a motor housing 107 at the bottom. The lid 104 closes the motor housing 107.

[0033] An electrical or electronic component 110 arranged on a printed circuit board 112 is arranged in the first chamber 106 of the cover 104. In addition, a plug connector 114 is provided for an actuator, in this case a motor 140. Likewise, an electrical or electronic component 120 arranged on a printed circuit board 122 is arranged in the second chamber 108. In addition, a plug connector 124 is provided for an actuator, in this case a motor 140. Air is contained in the second chamber 108, as indicated by reference numeral 142.

[0034] The electronic component elements 110 , 120 located in the two chambers 106 , 108 on printed circuit boards 112 and 122 form a control unit 105 which in turn is designed as a cover 104 .

[0035] The existing molding material is not shown here. This molding material is located in the area filled here with air 142. In addition, a motor 140, which is not shown in detail here, is located in the motor housing 107.

[0036] Figure 4 An implementation of a directly packaged controller is shown. The figure shows a housing assembly generally indicated by reference numeral 200. The housing assembly 200 includes a cover 202 and a motor housing 204. The cover 202 includes a controller 206, and a motor 208, not shown in greater detail here, is disposed in the motor housing 204.

[0037] The illustration further shows a first vehicle plug 210 , a second vehicle plug 212 , an electrical component element 214 on a printed circuit board 216 , and a plug connector 218 for an actuator, in this case a motor 208 .

[0038] The cover 202 is composed of a molded material 220 which surrounds all component elements 214. Since a structure with a directly encapsulated controller is shown here, air and chamber dividers are omitted.

Claims

1. A controller having a plurality of electrical component elements (110, 120, 214), which are arranged in at least one channel of the controller (10, 105, 206), wherein: The controller (10, 105, 206) is surrounded by a molding material (12, 220) in such a way that the electrical component elements (110, 120, 214) are respectively surrounded by the molding material (12, 220), and The controller (10, 105, 206) is configured as a cover (52, 72, 104, 202) of a motor housing (50, 70, 107, 204).

2. The control unit according to claim 1, which is designed as a cover (52, 72, 104, 202) of a motor housing (50, 70, 107, 204) of a steering system.

3. The controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The electrical component elements (110, 120, 214) are arranged in a plurality of channels.

4. A controller according to claim 3, comprising two channels.

5. The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: A plurality of domains are provided in each channel.

6. The controller according to claim 5, wherein: In each channel, a domain for the steering device and a domain for the brake are provided.

7. The control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a printed circuit board substrate on which the electrical component elements (110, 120, 214) are received.

8. The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The molding material (12, 220) is surrounded at least in sections by a further thermoplastic encapsulation.

9. The control unit according to claim 8, which is surrounded by a thermoplastic encapsulation structure beyond the sealing area in the area exposed to moisture.

10. A control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, carrying a sealing ring (14) for sealing the motor housing (50, 70, 107, 204).

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