Electronic control unit

The electronic control unit's innovative wiring stand design with specific terminal block configurations simplifies wiring paths, reducing wire complexity and increasing space, leading to a more efficient and compact unit.

JP2025138000APending Publication Date: 2025-09-25YAZAKI CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024036602
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-03-11
Publication Date
2025-09-25

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing electronic control units face limitations in the degree of freedom in internal wiring due to random terminal arrangements and mixing of multiple electric wires, which complicates the routing and increases the complexity of the wiring space.

Method used

The electronic control unit incorporates a wiring stand with a base portion, side wall, and terminal blocks that include opening grooves and wire passing grooves, allowing for improved routing of electric wires by ensuring the terminal blocks have a specific configuration that enhances the freedom in wiring arrangements.

Benefits of technology

This configuration simplifies the wiring paths, reduces the number of electric wires needed, increases the wiring space, and allows for a smaller and lighter main body design, while maintaining the wires in a desired state, thus improving the overall freedom in internal wiring.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide an electronic control unit that improves a degree of freedom of an internal wiring.SOLUTION: In an electronic control unit 1, a first terminal base 54 in a wiring base 50 has an opening groove 81 that penetrates in a first direction orthogonal to a normal direction of the wiring surface 51a and exposes a part of a second end 20b of a terminal 20 therein. At least a part of an upper surface of the first terminal base 54 is a wiring region surface 82a crossing in a second direction orthogonal to the normal direction of the wiring surface 51a and the first direction. A height position of a wiring region surface 82a from the wiring surface 51a is set higher than a bottom surface 81a of the opening groove 81 and lower than a dimension value of an outer diameter D of an electric wire 30 from the height position of a tip edge 52a of a side wall part 52. A third width W3 along the first direction of the wiring region surface 82a is set to be wider than the dimension value of the outer diameter D of the electric wire 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic control unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with electronic control units used to control various functions. Generally, electronic control units include a circuit board on which electronic components are mounted. As an example of such a circuit board, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology relating to an electrical junction box including a wiring board having a plurality of reinforcing protrusions for supporting male terminals for connecting fuses. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-58129 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is also conceivable to connect electric wires to terminals on a substrate such as the wiring board disclosed in Patent Document 1, one end of which is joined to the substrate. Furthermore, when multiple electric wires are routed on the substrate, a wiring stand may be provided parallel to the substrate, and the multiple electric wires may be routed on the wiring stand, after which the ends of the electric wires may be connected to some of the terminals previously exposed on the wiring stand. However, for example, when the arrangement of the multiple terminals exposed on the wiring stand is random or when a large number of electric wires are mixed on the wiring stand, there is room for improvement to increase the degree of freedom in wiring.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic control unit that improves the degree of freedom in internal wiring. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An electronic control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of terminals, a plurality of electric wires whose first terminals are connected to ends of any of the plurality of terminals, and a wiring stand for wiring the plurality of electric wires introduced from outside. The wiring stand has a base portion having a wiring surface facing the wired electric wires, a side wall portion provided on the edge of the base portion and protruding in a normal direction to the wiring surface, and a plurality of terminal blocks provided on the wiring surface. The terminal blocks have an opening groove that penetrates in a first direction perpendicular to the normal direction of the wiring surface and exposes a portion of the end of the terminal inside. At least a portion of the upper surface of at least one of the plurality of terminal blocks is a wiring area surface that crosses in a second direction perpendicular to the normal direction of the wiring surface and the first direction. The height position of the wiring area surface from the wiring surface is higher than the bottom surface of the opening groove and is set lower than the dimensional value of the outer diameter of the electric wires from the height position of the tip edge of the side wall portion. The width of the wiring area surface along the first direction is set wider than the dimensional value of the outer diameter of the electric wires. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic control unit that improves the degree of freedom in internal wiring. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electronic control unit according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a circuit unit included in the electronic control unit. [Figure 3] 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an electric wire connection portion corresponding to part III in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a circuit unit including an example of wiring on a wiring stand. [Figure 5] 5 is an enlarged plan view of an electric wire connection portion corresponding to the V portion in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 6 is a side view of the electric wire connection portion corresponding to the cross section VI-VI of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view of the electric wire connection portion corresponding to the VII-VII cross section of FIG. 5. [Figure 8]8 is a side view of the electric wire connection portion corresponding to the VIII-VIII cross section of FIG. 5. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view of the electric wire connection portion corresponding to the cross section IX-IX of FIG. 5. [Figure 10] 7 is a side view of another example of the electric wire connection portion drawn according to FIG. 6. FIG. [Figure 11] 9 is a side view of another example of the electric wire connection portion drawn according to FIG. 8. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An electronic control unit according to one embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the term "electronic control unit" will be abbreviated as "ECU." ECU is an abbreviation for Electronic Control Unit. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ECU 1 according to an embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a circuit unit 3 included in the ECU 1.

[0011] The ECU 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and controls various functions. The ECU 1 includes a circuit board 10, a plurality of terminals 20, a plurality of electric wires 30, a connector 40, a wiring base 50, a first cover 60, and a second cover 70.

[0012] In this embodiment, a unit configured from the substrate 10, the plurality of terminals 20, some of the plurality of electric wires 30, the wiring base 50, the first cover 60, and the second cover 70 is referred to as the "main body 2." Also, a unit configured from the substrate 10, the plurality of terminals 20, the plurality of electric wires 30, the connector 40, and the wiring base 50 is referred to as the "circuit unit 3."

[0013] The substrate 10 is, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB) on which a plurality of electronic components 11 (see FIG. 6, etc.) are pre-mounted. The plurality of electronic components 11 may include a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory. In this embodiment, the substrate 10 is considered to be a substantially rectangular flat plate that is parallel to a virtual XY plane defined by an X direction and a Y direction that are orthogonal to each other, and has two end sides along the X direction and two end sides along the Y direction.

[0014] Each of the multiple terminals 20 electrically connects one of the electric wires 30 to a predetermined circuit on the substrate 10. Each terminal 20 is a flat, rod-shaped metal member. Each terminal 20 has a first end 20a, which is one end, and a second end 20b, which is the other end opposite the first end 20a (see FIG. 6, etc.). The first end 20a is connected to a predetermined circuit on the substrate 10. In this embodiment, the substrate 10 is regarded as a flat plate parallel to the XY plane, and each terminal 20 is disposed on the mounting surface 10a (see FIG. 6, etc.) so as to protrude along the Z direction, which is perpendicular to both the X and Y directions. The second end 20b connects to a first terminal 31 (see FIG. 4) of one of the electric wires 30. The second end 20b includes, for example, two parallel protruding pieces. The first terminal 31 can be easily connected by sandwiching the core wire of the electric wire 30 between the two protruding pieces. At least a portion of the second end 20b is supported by the first terminal block 54 or the second terminal block 55. At least a portion of the second end 20b supported by the first terminal block 54 or the like is exposed on the wiring surface 51a of the base portion 51 through the open groove 81.

[0015] Each of the multiple electric wires 30 electrically connects the connector 40 to one of the terminals 20. Each electric wire 30 is an electric wire in which a core wire, which is a conductor, is covered with an insulator. Each electric wire 30 has a first terminal 31, which is one end, and a second terminal 32, which is the other end opposite the first terminal 31. As described above, the first terminal 31 is connected to one of the second ends 20b of the terminals 20. The second terminal 32 is connected to the connector 40. Note that for both the first terminal 31 and the second terminal 32, the portion that actually comes into contact with the second end 20b or the connector 40 is the core portion where the insulation has been stripped off and a portion is exposed.

[0016] The connectors 40 are connected to external connectors (not shown) provided on an object to which the ECU 1 is attached. In this embodiment, the ECU 1 is provided with, for example, three connectors 40: a first connector 40a, a second connector 40b, and a third connector 40c. The second terminals 32 of the electric wires 30 are connected to either the first connector 40a, the second connector 40b, or the third connector 40c. Each connector 40 is not directly installed on the board 10, but is connected to the main body 2 of the ECU 1 only via the electric wires 30.

[0017] The wiring stand 50 routes each electric wire 30 inside the main body 2 while connecting the first terminal 31 of each electric wire 30 to the corresponding terminal 20. The wiring stand 50 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, and is a flat member arranged parallel to the board 10. Note that the wiring stand 50 can also be referred to as a "wiring layer" because it is maintained in a position such that it is stacked on the board 10. The wiring stand 50 has a base portion 51, a side wall portion 52, a pedestal portion 53, at least one first terminal block 54 (see FIG. 6, etc.), multiple second terminal blocks 55, and an electric wire introduction portion 56.

[0018] The base portion 51 is a plate portion that faces the substrate 10 in the Z direction. The planar shape of the base portion 51 is the same as the planar shape of the substrate 10. One surface of the base portion 51 is a routing surface 51a on which a portion of each electric wire 30 is routed. The normal direction of the routing surface 51a is the Z direction. The other surface of the base portion 51 is a back surface 51b (see Figure 6, etc.) that is located on the opposite side to the routing surface 51a and faces the substrate 10.

[0019] The side wall portion 52 is continuous with the edge portion of the base portion 51 and protrudes in the Z direction, i.e., along the normal direction of the wiring surface 51a, so as to surround the wiring space on the wiring surface 51a. However, the side wall portion 52 is not a frame-like portion that surrounds the entire wiring space on all four sides as in this embodiment, but is continuous with at least one wire introduction portion 56.

[0020] The pedestal portion 53 is continuous with the edge of the base portion 51 and protrudes along the Z direction so that at least a portion of the pedestal portion 53 contacts the outer edge of the mounting surface 10a of the substrate 10. This maintains a constant distance between the base portion 51 and the substrate 10.

[0021] The first terminal block 54 and the second terminal block 55 are each provided on the wiring surface 51a and support at least one of the terminals 20 with a second end 20b partially exposed. The arrangement of each terminal 20 depends on the circuit configuration on the mounting surface 10a of the board 10. Therefore, the arrangement of the first terminal block 54 and the second terminal block 55 is also determined based on the circuit configuration of the board 10.

[0022] Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the electric wire connection portion 4 corresponding to part III in Fig. 2. Here, the electric wire connection portion 4 refers to a component where the electric wire 30 is connected to the second end 20b of the terminal 20 in the first terminal block 54 or the second terminal block 55.

[0023] The first terminal block 54 is a terminal block having a wiring area surface 82a on at least a portion of the first upper surface 83. In this embodiment, as an example, three first terminal blocks 54 are provided. The first terminal blocks 54 have opening grooves 81 that expose a portion of the second end 20b. For each electric wire 30, a portion of the first terminal 31 is inserted into a predetermined opening groove 81, thereby connecting the core wire of the first terminal 31 to the second end 20b. Hereinafter, the three electric wire connection portions 4 each including the first terminal block 54 will be referred to as the first electric wire connection portion 4a, the second electric wire connection portion 4b, and the third electric wire connection portion 4c. The first electric wire connection portion 4a, the second electric wire connection portion 4b, and the third electric wire connection portion 4c are aligned in the direction opposite to the X direction. The specific configuration of the electric wire connection portion 4 including the first terminal blocks 54 will be described in detail below.

[0024] The second terminal block 55 is a terminal block that does not have a surface like the wiring area surface 82a on its upper surface. In other words, the shape of the second terminal block 55 is the same as the shape of the first terminal block 54, except that the second terminal block 55 does not have the wire passing groove 82 that includes the wiring area surface 82a as its bottom surface. Note that the second terminal block 55 may have a shape in which a plurality of second terminal blocks 55, each supporting the second end of one terminal 20, are continuously arranged in parallel and integrated together.

[0025] In this embodiment, the case is exemplified where, of the multiple terminal blocks on the wiring surface 51a, there are three first terminal blocks 54, and all other than the first terminal blocks 54 are second terminal blocks 55. However, of the multiple terminal blocks, there may be more first terminal blocks 54 than second terminal blocks 55. Furthermore, all of the multiple terminal blocks may be first terminal blocks 54. In other words, the presence of second terminal blocks 55 is not essential.

[0026] The wire introduction portion 56 supports a portion of the wire 30 and introduces the wire 30 from the outside of the wiring table 50 onto the wiring surface 51a of the base portion 51. The wire introduction portion 56 is at least one convex portion provided on the outer edge of the wiring table 50 on the side of the wiring surface 51a. In the present embodiment, as an example, there are three wire introduction portions 56: a first wire introduction portion 56a extending along the Y direction, and a second wire introduction portion 56b and a third wire introduction portion 56c each extending along the X direction. When routing the wire 30, it is not necessary to use all of the wire introduction portions 56. FIG. 1 shows, as an example, a configuration in which all of the wires 30 are introduced from the connector 40 into the main body 2 through only the first wire introduction portion 56a.

[0027] The first cover 60 and the second cover 70 are combined with each other to accommodate at least the substrate 10, the plurality of terminals 20, and the wiring stand 50 included in the circuit unit 3. The first cover 60 and the second cover 70 may be made of, for example, synthetic resin or metal.

[0028] The first cover 60 is a cover that is assembled from the side facing the board 10. The first cover 60 has a first flat plate portion 61 (see FIG. 6 ) that covers the board 10, and a first frame portion 62 that is continuous with the edge of the first flat plate portion 61. The first frame portion 62 protrudes, for example, along the Z direction, which is the direction in which the first cover 60 is assembled to the second cover 70, so as to surround the board 10. A part of a first tip edge 62a of the first frame portion 62 is adjacent to, but not in contact with, the electric wire introduction portion 56 of the wiring table 50.

[0029] The second cover 70 is a cover that is assembled from the side facing the wiring surface 51a of the wiring table 50. The second cover 70 has a second flat plate portion 71 (see FIG. 6 ) that covers the wiring table 50 and a second frame portion 72 that is continuous with an edge portion of the second flat plate portion 71. The second frame portion 72 protrudes, for example, in the direction opposite to the Z direction, which is the direction in which the second cover 70 is assembled to the first cover 60, so as to surround at least a portion of the wiring table 50. A portion of the second tip edge 72a of the second frame portion 72 is adjacent to but not in contact with the wire introduction portion 56 of the wiring table 50. A portion of the area sandwiched between the first tip edge 62a of the first frame portion 62 of the first cover 60 and the second tip edge 72a of the second frame portion 72 of the second cover 70 becomes an opening area that allows a plurality of wires 30 to pass between the inside and outside of the main body 2.

[0030] The first cover 60 has a plurality of first locking portions 63 on the first frame portion 62. Meanwhile, the second cover 70 has a plurality of second locking portions 73 on the second frame portion 72. The second cover 70 is combined with the first cover 60 by engaging the second locking portions 73 with the first locking portions 63.

[0031] Next, a specific configuration of the electric wire connecting portion 4 including the first terminal block 54 will be described.

[0032] 4 is a plan view of the circuit unit 3 including an example of wiring on the wiring base 50. FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the wire connection portion 4 including the first terminal block 54, corresponding to the V portion in FIG.

[0033] Here, although a large number of electric wires 30 can actually be routed on the wiring stand 50, for the sake of simplicity, only two electric wires 30, a first electric wire 30a and a second electric wire 30b, will be illustrated below.

[0034] The first electric wire 30a is an example of an electric wire 30 that is drawn into the main body 2 from a connector (not shown) similar to the connector 40 through the second electric wire introduction portion 56b. The first electric wire 30a is routed linearly from the second electric wire introduction portion 56b toward the first electric wire connection portion 4a on the routing surface 51a, passing through, for example, gaps between a plurality of second terminal blocks 55. A first terminal 31 of the first electric wire 30a is connected to a second end portion 20b of a terminal 20 at the first electric wire connection portion 4a.

[0035] The second electric wire 30b is an example of an electric wire 30 that is drawn from the connector 40 into the main body 2 through the first electric wire introduction portion 56a. The second electric wire 30b is routed linearly from the first electric wire introduction portion 56a to the second end 20b of the terminal 20 supported by one of the second terminal blocks 55 on the routing surface 51a, for example, while passing through gaps between the plurality of second terminal blocks 55. Hereinafter, for convenience, the second terminal block 55 that supports the second end 20b to which the first terminal 31 of the second electric wire 30b is connected will be referred to as the "connection terminal block 55a." The connection terminal block 55a is provided near another side wall portion 52 that faces in the X direction the side wall portion 52 on which the first electric wire introduction portion 56a is provided.

[0036] The second electric wire 30b passes through an electric wire passing groove 82 formed in the first terminal block 54 included in each of the first electric wire connection portion 4a, the second electric wire connection portion 4b, and the third electric wire connection portion 4c. The second electric wire 30b passes through an upper portion of the first electric wire 30a connected to the first electric wire connection portion 4a. Here, the "upper portion" of each portion refers to a region corresponding to the upper side when the routing surface 51a is regarded as a horizontal plane and the normal direction of the routing surface 51a is taken as a bottom-to-top direction.

[0037] 6 and 7 are views of the first wire connection portion 4a, the second wire connection portion 4b, and the third wire connection portion 4c as viewed in the Y direction. Fig. 6 is a side view of the wire connection portion 4 corresponding to the VI-VI cross section in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the wire connection portion 4 corresponding to the VII-VII cross section in Fig. 5. The cross section in Fig. 7 is an XZ plane passing through a middle position in the thickness direction, which corresponds to the Y direction, of the terminal 20 supported by the first terminal block 54.

[0038] 8 and 9 are views of the first wire connecting portion 4a as viewed in the direction opposite to the X direction. Fig. 8 is a side view of the first wire connecting portion 4a corresponding to the VIII-VIII cross section in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the first wire connecting portion 4a corresponding to the IX-IX cross section in Fig. 5. The cross section in Fig. 9 is a YZ plane passing through a middle position in the width direction, which corresponds to the X direction, of the terminal 20 supported by the first terminal block 54.

[0039] The three electric wire connecting portions 4 including the first terminal block 54 have the same configuration. Therefore, the following will mainly focus on the first electric wire connecting portion 4a and explain the shape of each portion.

[0040] First, as described above, the second end 20b of the terminal 20 is supported by the first terminal block 54 so that at least a portion thereof is exposed on the wiring surface 51a, and the wire 30 is connected by clamping the core wire of the wire 30 between the two protruding pieces above the wiring surface 51a.

[0041] In this embodiment, the first terminal block 54 is provided for each terminal 20, and therefore there are three first terminal blocks 54, one for the first wire connection portion 4a, one for the second wire connection portion 4b, and one for the third wire connection portion 4c. Note that, similar to the example of the second terminal block 55 described above, the first terminal block 54 may have a shape in which three first terminal blocks 54, each supporting the second end portion 20b of one terminal 20, are continuously arranged in parallel and integrated together.

[0042] The first terminal block 54 has an overall rough shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with one end continuing with the wiring surface 51a of the base portion 51. Hereinafter, the upper surface of the first terminal block 54 refers to the surface of the first terminal block 54 that is located above the wiring surface 51a in the normal direction corresponding to the Z direction and that faces the second flat plate portion 71 of the second cover 70 in the Z direction when the ECU 1 is assembled. When the assembly of the ECU 1 is complete, the first upper surface 83 faces closely to the second flat plate portion 71 of the second cover 70 in the Z direction, as shown in FIG. 6 . The first terminal block 54 has a terminal through-hole 80, an opening groove 81, and an electric wire passing groove 82.

[0043] The terminal through-hole 80 accommodates the second end 20b of the terminal 20. The terminal through-hole 80 penetrates along the Z direction, which is the direction in which the base portion 51 and the substrate 10 face each other. One opening of the terminal through-hole 80 is located on the bottom surface 81a of the opening groove 81. In this embodiment, the other opening of the terminal through-hole 80 is located on the back surface 51b of the base portion 51. In this embodiment, the direction in which the second end 20b sandwiches the first electric wire 30a (hereinafter referred to as the "sandwiching direction") is along the X direction. Therefore, in order to stably support the second end 20b, parts of the wall portion defining the terminal through-hole 80 may be a pair of fitting grooves that face each other in the X direction in accordance with the sandwiching direction and into which parts of the second end 20b are fitted.

[0044] The opening groove 81 is a groove that is open at the first upper surface 83 and penetrates in a first direction perpendicular to the normal direction of the wiring surface 51a. In this embodiment, the first direction corresponds to the Y direction. The opening groove 81 communicates with the terminal through-hole 80 and exposes a portion of the second end 20b of the terminal 20 therein. The opening groove 81 must satisfy the conditions that the first terminal 31 of the first electric wire 30a is introduced along the first direction and the introduced first terminal 31 is sandwiched and connected by the second end 20b. Therefore, the first width W1 of the opening groove 81 in the second direction along the sandwiching direction is set to be larger than the dimensional value of the outer diameter D of the first electric wire 30a, as shown in FIG. 6 . Meanwhile, the second width W2 of the opening groove 81 in the first direction perpendicular to the first width W1 is synonymous with the width of the first terminal block 54 in the first direction.

[0045] The open groove 81 has a bottom surface 81a that is spaced apart from the height position of the first upper surface 83 in the direction opposite to the normal to the wiring surface 51a and that is spaced apart from the height position of the wiring surface 51a in the normal direction. The bottom surface 81a is approximately parallel to the first upper surface 83 and the wiring surface 51a. The height position of the bottom surface 81a may be set so that when the first terminal 31 of the first electric wire 30a introduced into the open groove 81 is in contact with the bottom surface 81a, the second end 20b of the terminal 20 connects to the first terminal 31 at a desired position.

[0046] The wire passing groove 82 is a groove that is open at the first upper surface 83 and penetrates in a second direction perpendicular to the normal direction of the wiring surface 51a. In this embodiment, the second direction corresponds to the X direction. The wire passing groove 82 passes a second wire 30b that is different from the first wire 30a connected to the terminal 20 supported by the first terminal block 54. Therefore, the wire passing groove 82 is formed in the first terminal block 54 so as to cross a part of the open groove 81.

[0047] The wire passing groove 82 has, as its bottom surface, a wiring area surface 82a that crosses the first terminal block 54 in the second direction. The wiring area surface 82a is an end surface located on the opposite side of the imaginary end surface P in the Z direction, and therefore can be considered to be part of the upper surface of the first terminal block 54.

[0048] The height position of the wiring area surface 82a in the Z direction relative to the wiring surface 51a is set higher than the bottom surface 81a of the open groove 81. In addition, as shown in Fig. 9, the height position of the wiring area surface 82a is set to a position lower by a distance L from the height position of the tip edge 52a of the side wall portion 52. The distance L is larger than the dimension value of the outer diameter D of the electric wire 30.

[0049] 9, the third width W3 of the wiring area surface 82a along the first direction is set to be narrower than the second width W2 and wider than the dimension value of the outer diameter D of the electric wire 30. Here, the third width W3 may have a dimension value that is two or more times the dimension value of the outer diameter D of the electric wire 30 so that multiple electric wires 30 can pass through the electric wire passing groove 82 at the same time.

[0050] Next, the effects of the ECU 1 will be described.

[0051] The ECU 1 includes a plurality of terminals 20, a plurality of electric wires 30, each having a first terminal 31 connected to a second end 20b of one of the plurality of terminals 20, and a wiring stand 50 for wiring the plurality of electric wires 30 introduced from outside. The wiring stand 50 includes a base 51 having a wiring surface 51a facing the plurality of wires 30, a sidewall 52 provided on an edge of the base 51 and protruding in a normal direction to the wiring surface 51a, and a plurality of terminal blocks provided on the wiring surface 51a. The terminal block has an opening groove 81 that penetrates in a first direction perpendicular to the normal direction to the wiring surface 51a and exposes a portion of the second end 20b of the terminal 20 inside. At least a portion of the upper surface of a first terminal block 54, which is at least one of the plurality of terminal blocks, is a wiring area surface that crosses in a second direction perpendicular to the normal direction of the wiring surface 51a and the first direction. The height position of the wiring area surface from the wiring surface 51a is set to be higher than the bottom surface 81a of the open groove 81 and lower than the dimension value of the outer diameter D of the electric wire 30 from the height position of the tip edge 52a of the side wall portion 52. A third width W3 along the first direction of the wiring area surface is set to be wider than the dimension value of the outer diameter D of the electric wire 30.

[0052] In the ECU 1, the first terminal block 54 may have a wire passing groove 82 through which, for example, a second wire 30b different from, for example, the first wire 30a connected to the terminal 20 supported by the first terminal block 54 passes. The wiring area surface may be a wiring area surface 82a which is a bottom surface of the wire passing groove 82.

[0053] In the above example, the normal direction of the wiring surface 51a corresponds to the Z direction, the first direction corresponds to the Y direction, and the second direction corresponds to the X direction.

[0054] As a comparative example, assume that all of the first wire connection portion 4a, the second wire connection portion 4b, and the third wire connection portion 4c, which include the first terminal block 54 in the above example, include second terminal blocks 55 that do not have wire passing grooves 82 instead of the first terminal block 54. In this comparative example, the first electric wire 30a can be routed along a wiring path equivalent to that of the above example. However, the second electric wire 30b cannot pass over the second terminal block 55 because the second terminal block 55 included in the first wire connection portion 4a does not have the wire passing groove 82 and its upper surface is closely opposed to and faces the second flat plate portion 71 of the second cover 70. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 , a virtual electric wire 130b, which replaces the second electric wire 30b, is routed along a wiring path that avoids multiple second terminal blocks 55. In other words, it is expected that the wiring path of the virtual electric wire 130b will be more complex than the wiring path of the second electric wire 30b. Furthermore, it is assumed that the length of the imaginary electric wire 130b is longer than the length of the second electric wire 30b.

[0055] In contrast, in the ECU 1 according to this embodiment, the first wire connection portion 4a, the second wire connection portion 4b, and the third wire connection portion 4c all include a first terminal block 54 having a wire passing groove 82 that is provided so as to cross the opening groove 81. The height position of the routing area surface 82a, which is the bottom surface of the wire passing groove 82, is higher than the bottom surface 81a of the opening groove 81 and is lower than the dimension of the outer diameter D of the wire 30 from the height position of the tip edge 52a of the side wall portion 52. In addition, the third width W3 of the routing area surface 82a is greater than the dimension of the outer diameter D of the wire 30. Therefore, for example, when it is desired to route some of the wires 30, such as the second wire 30b, in a simple, linear path, the wire passing groove 82 can be used as a routing area for the second wire 30b, which is less likely to interfere with the first terminal block 54. Therefore, the ECU 1 can improve the degree of freedom in wiring the electric wires 30. In particular, instead of the examples shown in the drawings, all the terminal blocks provided on the wiring surface 51a are the first terminal blocks 54, thereby further improving the degree of freedom in wiring the electric wires 30.

[0056] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an ECU 1 that improves the degree of freedom in internal wiring.

[0057] Furthermore, according to ECU1, the wiring freedom is improved, and the wiring path for each electric wire 30 is simplified, so that the number of electric wires 30 can be reduced, and further, the wiring space on the wiring stand 50 is increased, so that the main body 2 can be made smaller and lighter.

[0058] Furthermore, in the ECU 1, the wire passing groove 82 restricts the movement of the wires 30, such as the second wire 30b, passing through the wire passing groove 82 along the first direction corresponding to the penetration direction of the open groove 81. Therefore, the ECU 1 has an advantage that the wiring paths of the multiple wires 30 in the wiring stand 50 can be easily maintained in a desired state.

[0059] In the above examples using the drawings, the wiring area surface is the wiring area surface 82a, which is the bottom surface of the wire passing groove 82. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and there may also be a form in which the entire upper surface of the first terminal block 54 is the wiring area surface.

[0060] Fig. 10 is a side view of another example of the electric wire connecting portion 4, drawn in accordance with Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a side view of another example of the electric wire connecting portion 4, drawn in accordance with Fig. 8.

[0061] 10 and 11 , the upper surface of the first terminal block 54 is a second upper surface 84 instead of the first upper surface 83 of the above example. The height position of the second upper surface 84 in the normal direction with respect to the routing surface 51a is set to the height position of the routing area surface 82a when the first terminal block 54 has the wire passing groove 82. Therefore, according to such an ECU 1, the wires 30 such as the second wire 30b can be passed above the first terminal block 54, just like in the case where the first terminal block 54 has the wire passing groove 82, and therefore the degree of freedom of wiring inside can be improved.

[0062] Furthermore, the ECU 1 may include a connector 40 to which a second terminal 32 opposite to the first terminal 31 of each electric wire 30 is connected.

[0063] In this ECU 1, the connector 40 is not installed on the board 10, but is merely connected to the main body 2 via a plurality of electric wires 30, and therefore the position of the connector 40 relative to the main body 2 can be freely changed. Therefore, with the ECU 1, it is possible to prevent problems such as the external electric wires causing a bulge around the main body 2, thereby reducing the passenger space inside the vehicle.

[0064] Although one embodiment has been described above, the embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 20 terminals 20b 2nd end 30 Electric wire 30a 1st wire 30b 2nd wire 31 Terminal 1 32 Terminal 2 40 connectors 50 Routing stand 51 Base 51a Routing surface 52 Side wall 52a Tip edge 54 1st terminal block 55 2nd terminal block 81 Opening groove 81a bottom 82 Wire passage groove 82a Routing area surface 83 1st top surface 84 2nd top surface

Claims

1. A plurality of terminals; a plurality of electric wires each having a first terminal connected to any one end of the plurality of terminals; a wiring stand for wiring the plurality of electric wires introduced from the outside, The wiring stand is a base portion having a wiring surface facing the plurality of wires; a side wall portion provided on an edge portion of the base portion and protruding in a direction normal to the wiring surface; a plurality of terminal blocks provided on the wiring surface, the terminal block has an open groove that penetrates in a first direction perpendicular to the normal direction of the wiring surface and exposes a part of the end of the terminal inside; At least a portion of an upper surface of at least one of the plurality of terminal blocks is a wiring area surface that crosses in a second direction perpendicular to the normal direction of the wiring surface and the first direction, a height position of the wiring area surface from the wiring surface is set to be higher than a bottom surface of the opening groove and lower than a dimension value of an outer diameter of the electric wire from a height position of a tip edge of the side wall portion, The width of the wiring area surface along the first direction is set to be wider than the dimension value of the outer diameter of the electric wire.

2. the terminal block has a wire passing groove through which the wire different from the wire connected to the terminal supported by the terminal block passes, The electronic control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the wiring area surface is a bottom surface of the electric wire passing groove.

3. The electronic control unit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a connector to which a second terminal of each of the electric wires is connected, the second terminal being opposite to the first terminal.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Electric junction box and circuit board

    JP2002058129A