Electronic control device

Abstract

To provide an electronic control device capable of improving workability upon assembly while maintaining waterproofness.SOLUTION: An electronic control device 1 comprises: a control unit 2 including a connector 5 to which wiring 80 is connected; a housing 3 mounted to a door of a vehicle 100, the housing storing the control unit 2 and having an opening 30 that is formed to expose a connection terminal of the connector 5; and a cover member 4 that covers at least a surface 34 on an opposite side of the door side of the housing 3, the cover member being provided so as to extend beyond an end on the opening 30 side, and including a bent cover portion 41 on an end side, which can be bent in a direction away from the connector 5 of the housing 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic control device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an electronic control device has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic control device including a control unit, a housing that houses the control unit, and a sheet (cover member) that covers the upper surface of the housing. The electronic control device is disposed inside a console box disposed between a driver's seat and a passenger seat. The control unit includes a connector to which wiring is connected. The housing includes a side surface provided with an opening for exposing the connector of the control unit and an upper surface that contacts the upper edge of the side surface. The sheet includes a main body portion and a eaves portion. The main body portion covers the entire upper surface of the housing. The eaves portion projects from the upper edge by being continuous with the main body portion to cover the connector. The sheet is formed of a synthetic resin having water impermeability. Water droplets dripping from above the opening of the housing are dripped onto the eaves portion and also dripped downward from the edge of the eaves portion away from the opening.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Although not described in Patent Document 1 above, it is considered that wiring is connected to a connector covered by the visor portion of the seat in an electronic control device assembled to a vehicle by an operator. At this time, the connector exposed from the opening on the side surface of the housing is arranged to be sandwiched between the visor portion of the seat formed to protrude from the upper edge of the housing and the vehicle member to which the housing is attached, and is arranged away from the tip of the visor portion of the seat. That is, since the connector is located on the back side away from the tip of the visor portion in the region sandwiched between the visor portion of the seat (cover member) and the vehicle member, there is a problem that it is difficult for the operator to access the connector when connecting the wiring to the connector. Therefore, while maintaining waterproofness, it is desired to improve workability during assembly.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and one object of the present invention is to provide an electronic control device capable of improving workability during assembly while maintaining waterproofness.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, an electronic control device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a control unit including a connector to which wiring is connected, a housing attached to a door of a vehicle, accommodating the control unit, and having an opening formed to expose a connection terminal of the connector, and a cover member that covers at least the surface of the housing opposite to the door side and is provided so as to extend beyond the end on the opening side and includes a bent cover portion on the tip side that can be bent in a direction away from the connector of the housing.

[0008] In the electronic control device according to one aspect of the present invention, as described above, a cover member is provided that covers at least the surface of the housing opposite to the door side, extends beyond the end on the opening side, and includes a bent cover portion on the tip side that can be bent in a direction away from the connector of the housing. Thereby, even when the connector is located on the back side away from the tip of the cover member in the region sandwiched between the cover member and the door, the bent cover portion on the tip side of the cover member can be bent in a direction away from the connector of the housing, so that an operator can easily access the connector when connecting the wiring to the connector. Therefore, workability during assembly can be improved while maintaining waterproof performance.

[0009] In the electronic control device according to the above one aspect, preferably, the control unit is provided on the back door of the vehicle, and the cover member includes, in addition to the bent cover portion, a fixed cover portion provided on the side opposite to the tip side and fixed to the housing, and a bent fulcrum provided at the boundary portion between the fixed cover portion and the bent cover portion and capable of bending the bent cover portion in a direction away from the connector of the housing.

[0010] Here, when wiring is connected to the connector of the control unit in the electronic control device provided on the back door of the vehicle, the wiring is connected to the connector by an operator with the back door fully opened with respect to the vehicle. In the opened state, the fixed cover portion of the cover member covers the lower surface of the housing opposite to the upper surface on the door side. If configured to include the above-mentioned bent fulcrum, the bent cover portion can be easily bent downward away from the connector of the housing via the bent fulcrum with respect to the fixed cover portion fixed to the housing. Therefore, the operator can more easily access the connector. As a result, workability during assembly can be further improved while maintaining waterproof performance.

[0011] In this case, preferably, the bent fulcrum includes a groove-shaped notch that extends in the vehicle width direction and is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction in the closed state where the back door is closed.

[0012] Here, generally, a vehicle's back door is provided with a back door panel, a back door glass, and a back door trim that covers the lower part inside the vehicle of the back door panel. When the back door is closed, water due to condensation occurring on the inside of the back door glass runs along the back door glass and drips into the gap between the back door panel and the back door trim, and may also drip onto the cover member of the electronic control device attached to the back door panel. If the above-mentioned bending fulcrum is configured to include a groove-shaped notch inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, during assembly, the bending cover portion can be more easily bent in a direction away from the connector of the housing through the groove-shaped notch. And, unlike the case where the groove-shaped notch is formed along the horizontal, since water flows downward along the inclined groove-shaped notch, it is possible to effectively suppress water from staying at the bending fulcrum.

[0013] When the above control unit is provided on the back door of the vehicle and the cover member has a configuration including a fixed cover portion and a bending fulcrum, preferably, in addition to the bending cover portion and the fixed cover portion, the cover member is joined on the side opposite to the bending cover portion in the fixed cover portion, and includes a joined side cover portion provided to cover the door side surface of the housing and extend beyond the end portion on the opening side. The joined side cover portion is formed of a material harder than the bending cover portion and the fixed cover portion.

[0014] If configured to include the above-mentioned joined side cover portion, it is possible to suppress water that has entered the door side surface of the housing from dripping onto the connector exposed from the opening of the housing by the joined side cover portion provided to extend beyond the end portion on the opening side. Also, if configured such that the joined side cover portion is formed of a material harder than the bending cover portion and the fixed cover portion, when wiring is connected to the connector by an operator in an open state where the back door is fully opened with respect to the vehicle, it is possible to suppress the joined side cover portion provided to extend beyond the end portion on the opening side from bending downward towards the connector of the housing.

[0015] In addition, in the electronic control device in the above-described one aspect, the following configuration is also conceivable.

[0016] (Additional item 1) That is, in the electronic control device in which the control unit is provided on the back door of the vehicle and the cover member includes a fixed cover portion and a bending fulcrum, the bending fulcrum is configured to be able to bend the bending cover portion in a direction away from the connector of the housing and in the vertical direction by its own weight.

[0017] With this configuration, when wiring is connected to the connector by an operator in an open state where the back door of the vehicle is fully opened, the bending cover portion that covers the lower surface on the side opposite to the upper surface on the door side of the housing is bent downward away from the connector of the housing through the bending fulcrum by its own weight. Therefore, the operator can access the connector more easily. As a result, workability during assembly can be further improved while maintaining waterproofness.

[0018] (Additional item 2) In this case, the bending fulcrum has a cross-sectional shape of an arc shape.

[0019] With this configuration, compared with the case where the bending fulcrum has a V-shaped cross-sectional shape, when forming the bending fulcrum, it is possible to make the bending fulcrum less likely to be cut.

[0020] (Additional item 3) In the electronic control device in which the bending fulcrum extends in the vehicle width direction and includes a groove-shaped notch that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction in a closed state where the back door is closed, each of both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the bending fulcrum is provided above the lower end of the housing in the closed state.

[0021] With such a configuration, when wiring is connected to the connector by an operator with the back door fully open in the open state with respect to the vehicle, the fixed cover portion does not have a portion extending beyond the end portion on the opening side, and the bent cover portion is bent downward away from the connector of the housing via a bending fulcrum from in front of the end portion on the opening side. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the operator's access to the connector from being obstructed by the fixed cover portion when connecting the wiring to the connector.

[0022] (Additional item 4) In the electronic control device according to the above aspect, the cover member includes a flange portion provided so as to extend beyond each of both end portions in the vehicle width direction on the surface of the housing opposite to the opening.

[0023] With such a configuration, in the closed state where the back door is closed, when water due to condensation generated on the vehicle interior side of the back door glass drips onto the cover member of the electronic control device attached to the back door panel, it is possible to suppress the dripping water from dripping from the vehicle width direction side of the cover member and along the side surface of the housing onto the connector exposed from the opening of the housing.

[0024] (Additional item 5) In the electronic control device in which the bending fulcrum extends in the vehicle width direction and includes a groove-shaped notch that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction in the closed state where the back door is closed, the electronic control device further includes a strip-shaped joining member that joins the fixed cover portion and the surface of the housing opposite to the door side, and in the closed state, the lower end portion of the joining member is provided so as to extend inclined with respect to the horizontal direction along the bending fulcrum.

[0025] With such a configuration, unlike the case where the lower end portion of the joining member does not follow the bending fulcrum, the bent cover portion can be bent in a direction away from the connector of the housing along the bending fulcrum. Therefore, at a desired position where the bending fulcrum is provided, the bent cover portion can be appropriately bent.

Effects of the Invention

[0026] According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to provide an electronic control device that can improve workability during assembly while maintaining waterproofness.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0029] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, the configuration of the electronic control device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the drawings, the forward direction of the vehicle 100 is defined as the X1 direction, the reverse direction is defined as the X2 direction, and the combined direction of the X1 direction and the X2 direction is defined as the X direction. When facing the X1 direction from the vehicle interior, the right direction is defined as the Y1 direction, the left direction is defined as the Y2 direction, and the combined direction of the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction is defined as the Y direction. Also, the vertical direction is defined as the Z direction, the upward direction is defined as the Z1 direction, and the downward direction is defined as the Z2 direction.

[0030] (Arrangement Position of Electronic Control Device 1) As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic control device 1 is provided on the power back door 90 of the vehicle 100. The power back door 90 is a flip-up type back door that can automatically open and close the door opening at the rear of the vehicle body by a drive unit (not shown). The power back door 90 is attached to the rear of the vehicle body so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. Although details will be described later, as shown in FIG. 2, the electronic control device 1 includes a control unit 2, a housing 3 that houses the control unit 2, and a cover member 4 that covers the housing 3. The control unit 2 includes a connector 5 to which a wiring 80 is connected. The control unit 2 is, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The control unit 2 is configured to control the opening and closing of the door opening by the power back door 90 via the drive unit. The housing 3 includes an opening 30 that exposes the connection terminals of the connector 5. In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, the illustration of the back door trim 93 (see FIG. 2) provided on the back door panel 91 so as to cover the electronic control device 1 is omitted. The power back door 90 is an example of the "back door" in the claims.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the power back door 90 includes a back door panel 91, a back door glass 92, and a back door trim 93.

[0032] The back door panel 91 is a panel member that constitutes the back door. A back door glass opening 94 (see FIG. 1) is formed in the back door panel 91. The back door glass 92 is disposed so as to cover the back door glass opening 94. A back door trim 93 is provided on the vehicle interior side below the back door glass opening 94. The back door trim 93 is disposed so as to form a predetermined space S between the back door panel 91.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic control device 1 is attached to the back door panel 91 on the Y1 direction side when viewed from the interior of the vehicle in a predetermined space S between the back door trim 93 and the back door panel 91. Specifically, the housing 3 that houses the control unit 2 is attached to the back door panel 91 with screws 38 in the predetermined space S.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, at the upper end of the back door trim 93, there is a gap formed between the back door trim 93 and the back door panel 91 for inserting the wiring 80 or the like. When the power back door 90 is in the closed state, water due to condensation generated on the inner side of the back door glass 92 runs along the back door glass 92 and drips into the gap between the back door panel 91 and the back door trim 93, and may drip onto the electronic control device 1 attached to the back door panel 91. When water drips onto the electronic control device 1 attached to the back door panel 91, it is possible to suppress the water from dripping onto the connector 5 exposed from the opening 30 of the housing 3 by the cover member 4 provided so as to cover the electronic control device 1.

[0035] (Configuration of the electronic control device) As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic control device 1 includes a control unit 2 (see FIG. 2), a housing 3, a cover member 4, a first joining member 6, and a second joining member 7 (see FIG. 4). Note that the electronic control device 1 shown in FIG. 3 is an example of the state of the electronic control device 1 when the power back door 90 is in the closed state. Also, the first joining member 6 is an example of the "joining member" described in claim 5.

[0036] The housing 3 houses therein the control unit 2 including the connector 5 to which the wiring 80 is connected. The housing 3 includes an upper surface 31 that forms an upper end portion in a closed state where the power back door 90 is closed, a lower surface 32 that forms a lower end portion in a closed state where the power back door 90 is closed, and side surfaces. An opening 30 for exposing the connection terminals of the connector 5 is formed in the lower surface 32. The side surfaces include a back door side surface 33 on the power back door 90 side, a passenger compartment side surface 34 on the side opposite to the back door side surface 33, and first and second side surfaces 35 and 36 that connect the back door side surface 33 and the passenger compartment side surface 34. Mounting members 37 for being attached to the back door panel 91 with screws 38 are provided on the first side surface 35 and the second side surface 36, respectively. Note that the back door side surface 33 is an example of the "door side surface" in the claims. Also, the passenger compartment side surface 34 is an example of the "surface on the side opposite to the door side" in the claims.

[0037] The back door side surface 33 and the passenger compartment side surface 34 are larger than the upper surface 31 and the lower surface 32. The housing 3 has a vertical posture in which the upper surface 31 constitutes the upper end portion and the lower surface 32 constitutes the lower end portion in a closed state where the power back door 90 is closed. Also, the housing 3 has a horizontal posture (see FIG. 7(a)) in which the back door side surface 33 constitutes the upper end portion and the passenger compartment side surface 34 constitutes the lower end portion in an open state where the power back door 90 is fully opened.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover member 4 will be described. FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show the sheet-like cover member 4 before covering the housing 3. The cover member 4 is provided to cover the housing 3. The cover member 4 is formed of a resin material having waterproofness and insulation. The cover member 4 includes a fixed cover portion 40, a bent cover portion 41, a bending fulcrum 42, and a joining side cover portion 43.

[0039] In the cover member 4, a part of the fixed cover portion 40 and the bent cover portion 41 are bent in a direction approaching the other part of the fixed cover portion 40 and the joint side cover portion 43 via a first upper surface notch 45a described later. Also, in the cover member 4, the other part of the fixed cover portion 40 and the joint side cover portion 43 are bent in a direction approaching a part of the fixed cover portion 40 and the bent cover portion 41 via a second upper surface notch 45b described later. As a result, the housing 3 that houses the control unit 2 and the connection portion between the connector 5 of the control unit 2 and the wiring 80 are covered so as to be sandwiched between a part of the fixed cover portion 40 and the bent cover portion 41 and the other part of the fixed cover portion 40 and the joint side cover portion 43.

[0040] The bent cover portion 41 is provided so as to cover a part of the vehicle interior side surface 34 of the housing 3 and extend beyond the end portion (lower surface 32) on the opening 30 side of the housing 3. The bent cover portion 41 includes the end portion on the tip 4a side of the vehicle interior side surface 34 of the cover member 4. The bent cover portion 41 is configured to be bendable in a direction away from the connector 5 of the housing 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the bent cover portion 41 is configured to be bendable downward (Z2 direction) away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 in an open state where the power back door 90 is fully opened. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the length L1 from the end portion on the opening 30 side of the housing 3 in the bent cover portion 41 to the tip 4a of the bent cover portion 41 is longer than the length L2 from the end portion on the opening 30 side of the housing 3 in the joint side cover portion 43 to the tip 4b of the joint side cover portion 43.

[0041] The fixed cover portion 40 is a portion that covers a part of the vehicle compartment side surface 34, the upper surface 31, and a part of the back door side surface 33 of the housing 3 and is fixed to the housing 3. The fixed cover portion 40 is provided on the side opposite to the end portion on the tip 4a side of the bent cover portion 41. The fixed cover portion 40 is joined to the vehicle compartment side surface 34 of the housing 3 via the first joining member 6. Further, the fixed cover portion 40 is joined to the back door side surface 33 of the housing 3 via the second joining member 7. The first joining member 6 and the second joining member 7 are, for example, strip-shaped double-sided tapes. Note that the first joining member 6 and the second joining member 7 are not limited to double-sided tapes, and materials capable of joining the fixed cover portion 40 to the housing 3 can be appropriately used.

[0042] The bent cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40 are integrally formed by the same member. The bent cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40 are formed of, for example, a polypropylene film. Note that the materials of the bent cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40 are not limited to polypropylene films, and materials having waterproofness and insulation can be appropriately used.

[0043] The bending fulcrum 42 is provided at the boundary portion between the fixed cover portion 40 and the bent cover portion 41. The bending fulcrum 42 is configured to be able to bend the bent cover portion 41 in a direction away from the connector 5 of the housing 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the bending fulcrum 42 is configured to be able to bend the bent cover portion 41 in the downward direction (Z2 direction) away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 and in the vertical direction by its own weight in the fully opened state where the power back door 90 is fully opened.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bending fulcrum 42 includes a groove-shaped notch 42a that extends in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 100 and is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction in the closed state where the power back door 90 is closed. The inclination angle θ of the groove-shaped notch 42a with respect to the horizontal direction is configured to be larger than the inclination of the vehicle 100 in the left-right direction with respect to the horizontal direction assumed during normal driving and normal parking of the vehicle 100. That is, regardless of whether the vehicle 100 tilts to the left or right in the left-right direction during normal driving and normal parking of the vehicle 100, the groove-shaped notch 42a is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction in the tilted vehicle 100.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, the bending fulcrum 42 is a boundary portion between the fixed cover portion 40 and the bending cover portion 41, and is provided on the vehicle interior side opposite to the housing 3 side. The bending fulcrum 42 (see FIG. 5) has an arc-shaped cross-sectional shape. Each of both end portions of the bending fulcrum 42 in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 100 is provided above the lower end of the housing 3 in the closed state where the power back door 90 is closed. Further, in the closed state where the power back door 90 is closed, the lower end portion of the first joining member 6 is provided so as to extend inclined with respect to the horizontal direction along the bending fulcrum 42.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the joining-side cover portion 43 is provided so as to cover a part of the back door side surface 33 of the housing 3 and extend beyond the end portion (lower surface 32) on the opening 30 side of the housing 3. The joining-side cover portion 43 includes the end portion on the tip 4b side of the back door side surface 33 of the cover member 4. The length from the end portion on the opening 30 side of the housing 3 to the tip 4b of the joining-side cover portion 43 in the joining-side cover portion 43 is shorter than the length from the end portion on the opening 30 side of the housing 3 to the tip 4a of the bending cover portion 41 in the bending cover portion 41.

[0047] The joining-side cover portion 43 is joined on the side opposite to the bent cover portion 41 in the fixed cover portion 40. That is, the joining-side cover portion 43 is formed of a separate member from the bent cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40. The joining-side cover portion 43 has higher rigidity than the bent cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40. The joining-side cover portion 43 is formed of a material harder than the bent cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40. The joining-side cover portion 43 is formed of, for example, a biaxially stretched polyester film. Also, the thickness of the joining-side cover portion 43 is thicker than the thicknesses of the bent cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40. Note that the material of the joining-side cover portion 43 is not limited to a biaxially stretched polyester film, and a material having waterproofness and insulation and being harder than the bent cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40 can be appropriately used.

[0048] The joining-side cover portion 43 is joined on the side opposite to the bent cover portion 41 in the fixed cover portion 40 via a third joining member 8 (see FIG. 4(a)). The third joining member 8 is, for example, a strip-shaped double-sided tape. Note that the third joining member 8 is not limited to a double-sided tape, and a material capable of joining the joining-side cover portion 43 and the fixed cover portion 40 can be appropriately used. At the joining portion between the joining-side cover portion 43 and the fixed cover portion 40, the joining-side cover portion 43 is disposed on the side of the housing 3, and the fixed cover portion 40 is disposed on the side of the power back door 90.

[0049] The cover member 4 includes a eaves portion 44 provided so as to extend beyond each of both end portions in the vehicle width direction on the surface of the housing 3 opposite to the opening 30. That is, in the portion of the fixed cover portion 40 that covers the upper surface 31 of the housing 3, an eaves portion 44 is provided so as to extend beyond each of both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the housing 3. Also, the end portion on the side opposite to the tip of the eaves portion 44 is connected to the upper surface 31 of the housing 3, the upper portion of the vehicle interior side surface 34, and the upper portion of the back door side surface 33 in the fixed cover portion 40.

[0050] Also, as shown in FIG. 4(b), in the portion of the fixed cover portion 40 that covers the upper surface 31 of the housing 3, a groove-shaped upper surface side notch 45 is provided on the housing 3 side. The groove-shaped upper surface side notch 45 includes an upper surface side first notch 45a formed to extend along the connection portion between the upper surface 31 of the housing 3 and the vehicle compartment side side surface 34, and an upper surface side second notch 45b formed to extend along the connection portion between the upper surface 31 of the housing 3 and the back door side side surface 33. Since the cover member 4 can be easily bent by the upper surface side notch 45, the housing 3 can be easily covered from the upper surface 31 side of the housing 3 by the cover member 4.

[0051] (State of the cover member when wiring is attached to the connector during vehicle manufacturing) As shown in FIG. 6, during the manufacture of the vehicle 100, when the wiring 80 is connected to the connector 5 of the control unit 2 provided on the power back door 90 of the vehicle 100, the wiring 80 is connected to the connector 5 by an operator with the power back door 90 fully opened in the open state with respect to the vehicle 100. Also, when the wiring 80 is connected to the connector 5 of the control unit 2, the back door trim 93 is not attached to the back door panel 91.

[0052] In the open state where the power back door 90 is fully opened with respect to the vehicle 100, the fixed cover portion 40 of the cover member 4 covers the vehicle compartment side side surface 34 of the housing 3. The bent cover portion 41 is bent downward (in the Z2 direction) and vertically away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 by its own weight via the bending fulcrum 42 with respect to the fixed cover portion 40 fixed to the housing 3. Since the joint side cover portion 43 is formed of a material harder than the bent cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40, the bending downward (in the Z2 direction) by its own weight approaching the connector 5 of the housing 3 is suppressed. In the state where the bent cover portion 41 is bent downward (in the Z2 direction) and vertically away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 via the bending fulcrum 42 by its own weight, unlike the state where the bent cover portion 41 shown by the broken line is not bent, the space below the joint side cover portion 43 is increased.

[0053] (State of the cover member in the open and closed states of the power back door after vehicle manufacturing) As shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), after the manufacture of the vehicle 100, the back door trim 93 is attached to the back door panel 91.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 7(a), in the open state where the power back door 90 is fully opened with respect to the vehicle 100, the portion of the vehicle compartment side surface 34 of the housing 3 in the fixed cover portion 40 covers the vehicle compartment side surface 34 of the housing 3. The bent cover portion 41 is restricted from bending downward (in the Z2 direction) due to its own weight away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 via the bending fulcrum 42 by contacting the back door trim 93. Since the joining side cover portion 43 is formed of a material harder than the bent cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40, the bending due to its own weight downward (in the Z2 direction) approaching the connector 5 of the housing 3 is suppressed. In the open state, the side opposite to the power back door 90 side at the connection portion between the connector 5 of the control unit 2 and the wiring 80 is covered by the bent cover portion 41, and the power back door 90 side at the connection portion between the connector 5 of the control unit 2 and the wiring 80 is covered by the joining side cover portion 43.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 7(b), in the closed state where the power back door 90 is closed with respect to the vehicle 100, the portion of the vehicle compartment side surface 34 of the housing 3 in the fixed cover portion 40 covers the vehicle compartment side surface 34 of the housing 3. The bent cover portion 41 extends downward (in the Z2 direction) of the housing 3 while forming the same plane as the portion of the vehicle compartment side surface 34 of the housing 3 in the fixed cover portion 40 without bending through the bending fulcrum 42. The joining side cover portion 43 extends downward (in the Z2 direction) of the housing 3 without bending. In the closed state, the side opposite to the power back door 90 side at the connection portion between the connector 5 of the control unit 2 and the wiring 80 is covered by the bent cover portion 41, and the power back door 90 side at the connection portion between the connector 5 of the control unit 2 and the wiring 80 is covered by the joining side cover portion 43.

[0056] (Effects of the present embodiment) In this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0057] In this embodiment, as described above, a cover member 4 is provided that covers at least the vehicle compartment side surface 34 of the housing 3 and extends beyond the end on the opening 30 side, and includes a bent cover portion 41 on the tip 4a side that can be bent in a direction away from the connector 5 of the housing 3. Thereby, even when the connector 5 is located on the back side away from the tip 4a of the cover member 4 in the region sandwiched between the cover member 4 and the power back door 90, the bent cover portion 41 on the tip side of the cover member 4 can be bent in a direction away from the connector 5 of the housing 3. Therefore, an operator can easily access the connector 5 when connecting the wiring 80 to the connector 5. Therefore, workability during assembly can be improved while maintaining waterproofness.

[0058] Further, in this embodiment, as described above, the control unit 2 is provided on the power back door 90 of the vehicle 100, and the cover member 4 is provided on the side opposite to the tip 4a side in addition to the bent cover portion 41, and includes a fixed cover portion 40 fixed to the housing 3 and a bent fulcrum 42 provided at the boundary portion between the fixed cover portion 40 and the bent cover portion 41 and capable of bending the bent cover portion 41 in a direction away from the connector 5 of the housing 3. Here, when the wiring 80 is connected to the connector 5 of the control unit 2 in the electronic control device 1 provided on the power back door 90 of the vehicle 100, the wiring 80 is connected to the connector 5 by an operator with the power back door 90 of the vehicle 100 open. In a state where the power back door 90 of the vehicle 100 is open, the fixed cover portion 40 of the cover member 4 covers the vehicle compartment side surface 34 of the housing 3. By including the bent fulcrum 42, the bent cover portion 41 can be easily bent downward (Z2 direction) away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 with respect to the fixed cover portion 40 fixed to the housing 3 via the bent fulcrum 42. Therefore, an operator can access the connector 5 more easily. As a result, workability during assembly can be further improved while maintaining waterproofness.

[0059] Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the bending fulcrum 42 extends in the vehicle width direction and includes a groove-shaped notch 42a that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction in the closed state where the power back door 90 is closed. In a state where the power back door 90 is closed, water due to condensation generated on the vehicle interior side of the back door glass 92 may drip into the gap between the back door panel 91 and the back door trim 93 while flowing along the back door glass 92, and may drip onto the cover member 4 of the electronic control device 1 attached to the back door panel 91. By including the groove-shaped notch 42a in which the bending fulcrum 42 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the bending cover portion 41 can be easily bent in a direction away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 through the groove-shaped notch 42a during assembly. Further, unlike the case where the groove-shaped notch 42a is formed along the horizontal, since water flows downward along the inclined groove-shaped notch 42a, it is possible to effectively suppress water from staying at the bending fulcrum 42.

[0060] Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, in addition to the bending cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40, the cover member 4 includes a joining side cover portion 43 that is joined on the side opposite to the bending cover portion 41 in the fixed cover portion 40, covers the back door side surface 33 of the housing 3, and is provided so as to extend beyond the end on the opening 30 side. The joining side cover portion 43 is formed of a material harder than the bending cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40. By including the joining side cover portion 43, it is possible to suppress water that has entered the surface on the door side of the housing 3 from dripping onto the connector 5 exposed from the opening 30 of the housing 3 by the joining side cover portion 43 provided so as to extend beyond the end on the opening 30 side. Further, since the joining side cover portion 43 is formed of a material harder than the bending cover portion 41 and the fixed cover portion 40, when the wiring 80 is connected to the connector 5 by an operator in an open state where the back door is fully opened with respect to the vehicle 100, the joining side cover portion 43 provided so as to extend beyond the end on the opening 30 side of the housing 3 can be suppressed from bending downward (in the Z2 direction) toward the connector 5 of the housing 3.

[0061] Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the bending fulcrum 42 is configured to be able to bend the bending cover portion 41 in a direction away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 and in the vertical direction due to its own weight. Thereby, when the wiring 80 is connected to the connector 5 by an operator in an open state where the power back door 90 is fully opened with respect to the vehicle 100, the bending cover portion 41 that covers the vehicle compartment side surface 34 of the housing 3 is bent downward (Z2 direction) away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 via the bending fulcrum 42 due to its own weight. Therefore, the operator can access the connector 5 more easily. As a result, the workability during assembly can be further improved while maintaining waterproofness.

[0062] Also, in the present embodiment, as described above, the bending fulcrum 42 has an arc-shaped cross-sectional shape. Thereby, compared with the case where the bending fulcrum 42 has a V-shaped cross-sectional shape, it is possible to make it difficult for the bending fulcrum 42 to be cut during the formation of the bending fulcrum 42.

[0063] Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, each of both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the bending fulcrum 42 is provided above the lower end of the housing 3 in the closed state. Thereby, when the wiring 80 is connected to the connector 5 by an operator in an open state where the power back door 90 is fully opened with respect to the vehicle 100, the fixed cover portion 40 does not have a portion extending beyond the end portion on the opening 30 side, and the bending cover portion 41 is bent downward (Z2 direction) away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 via the bending fulcrum 42 from in front of the end portion on the opening 30 side. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the access to the connector 5 by the fixed cover portion 40 from being hindered when the wiring 80 is connected to the connector 5 by the operator.

[0064] Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the cover member 4 includes a eaves portion 44 provided so as to extend beyond each of both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the upper surface 31 of the housing 3. Thereby, in a closed state where the power back door 90 is closed, when water due to condensation generated on the vehicle interior side of the back door glass 92 drips onto the cover member 4 of the electronic control device 1 attached to the back door panel 91, the dripping water can be suppressed from dripping onto the connector 5 exposed from the opening 30 of the housing 3 along the first side surface 35 and the second side surface 36 of the housing 3 while dripping down from the vehicle width direction side of the cover member 4.

[0065] Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the present embodiment further includes a belt-like first joining member 6 that joins the fixed cover portion 40 and the vehicle interior side surface 34 of the housing 3. In the closed state, the lower end portion of the first joining member 6 is provided so as to extend obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction along the bending fulcrum 42. Thereby, unlike the case where the lower end portion of the first joining member 6 does not follow the bending fulcrum 42, the bending cover portion 41 can be bent away from the connector 5 of the housing 3 along the bending fulcrum 42. Therefore, at a desired position where the bending fulcrum 42 is provided, the bending cover portion 41 can be appropriately bent.

[0066] [Modification Example] It should be considered that the above-described embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the description of the above embodiments but by the scope of claims, and further includes all changes (modification examples) within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

[0067] For example, in the above embodiment, an example where the electronic control device is attached to a door rotatable about a horizontal axis is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the electronic control device may be attached to, for example, a door rotatable about a vertical axis or a sliding door. Also, in the above embodiment, an example where the electronic control device is attached to a power back door is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the electronic control device may be attached to, for example, a front door or a rear door.

[0068] Also, in the above embodiment, an example where the cover member includes a bending fulcrum at which the bent cover portion can be bent in a direction away from the connector of the housing is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cover member may be configured to be bendable at an arbitrary position without including a bending fulcrum.

[0069] Also, in the above embodiment, an example where the cover member includes a bending fulcrum at which the bent cover portion can be bent by its own weight in a direction away from the connector of the housing is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the bent cover member may be configured to be bent by an operator via the bending fulcrum.

[0070] Also, in the above embodiment, an example where the bending fulcrum extends in the vehicle width direction and is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction in the closed state where the power back door is closed is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the bending fulcrum may be configured to extend along the horizontal direction in the closed state where the power back door is closed.

[0071] Also, in the above embodiment, an example where the bending fulcrum has an arc-shaped cross-sectional shape is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the bending fulcrum may have a V-shaped cross-sectional shape or a U-shaped cross-sectional shape with a right-angled corner.

[0072] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which each of both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the bending fulcrum is provided above the lower end of the housing in the closed state where the power back door is closed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, at least one of both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the bending fulcrum may be configured to be provided above the lower end of the housing in the closed state, or each of both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the bending fulcrum may be configured to be provided below the lower end of the housing in the closed state.

[0073] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the cover member includes a joining-side cover portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cover member may not include a joining-side cover portion.

[0074] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the cover member includes an eaves portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cover member may not include an eaves portion.

[0075] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which, in the closed state where the power back door is closed, the lower end portion of the first joining member is provided to extend inclined with respect to the horizontal direction along the bending fulcrum. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the lower end portion of the first joining member may be formed to extend along the horizontal direction without following the bending fulcrum.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0076] 1... Electronic control device, 2... Control unit, 3... Housing, 4... Cover member, 5... Connector, 6... First joining member, 7... Second joining member, 30... Opening, 33... Back door side surface (door side surface), 34... Passenger compartment side surface (surface opposite to the door side), 40... Fixed cover portion, 41... Bending cover portion, 42... Bending fulcrum, 42a... Notch, 43... Joining-side cover portion, 80... Wiring, 90... Power back door (back door), 100... Vehicle

Claims

1. A control unit including a connector to which wiring is connected, a housing attached to a vehicle door, accommodating the control unit, and having an opening formed therein to expose a connection terminal of the connector, and a cover member covering at least a surface of the housing opposite to the door side and provided so as to extend beyond an end portion on the opening side, the cover member including a bent cover portion on a tip side that can be bent in a direction away from the connector of the housing. An electronic control device comprising:

2. The control unit is provided on a rear door of the vehicle, The cover member includes, in addition to the bent cover portion, a fixed cover portion provided on a side opposite to the tip side and fixed to the housing, and a bending fulcrum provided at a boundary portion between the fixed cover portion and the bent cover portion, the bending fulcrum being configured to allow the bent cover portion to be bent in a direction away from the connector of the housing. The electronic control device according to claim 1.

3. The bending fulcrum includes a groove-shaped notch extending in a width direction of the vehicle and inclined with respect to a horizontal direction in a closed state where the rear door is closed. The electronic control device according to claim 2.

4. In addition to the bent cover portion and the fixed cover portion, the cover member includes a joined side cover portion joined on a side opposite to the bent cover portion in the fixed cover portion, covering a surface of the housing on the door side, and provided so as to extend beyond an end portion on the opening side, The joined side cover portion is formed of a material harder than the bent cover portion and the fixed cover portion. The electronic control device according to claim 2.

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