Electronic devices

Abstract

The electronic device includes a housing having a storage compartment formed therein and including a polymer resin; a printed circuit board disposed in the storage compartment; a connector connected to the printed circuit board; and a shielding member disposed in the storage compartment and covering at least a portion of the printed circuit board, the shielding member including a first region and a second region disposed at a step in the vertical direction relative to the first region, and the connector including a ground pin contacting the second region.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present embodiment relates to an electronic device. [Background technology]

[0002] The most common electronic devices in automobiles are the engine electrical systems (starting system, ignition system, charging system) and lighting systems, but in recent years, as vehicles have become more electronically controlled, the trend has been for most systems, including the chassis electrical systems, to be electric and electronic.

[0003] The various electronic devices installed in automobiles, such as lamps, audio, heaters, and air conditioners, are powered by the battery when the automobile is stopped, and by the generator when the automobile is running. In these cases, the generating capacity of the 14V power supply system is used as the normal power supply voltage.

[0004] In recent years, with the development of the information technology industry, various new technologies (motorized power steering, Internet, etc.) have been incorporated into vehicles with the aim of increasing the convenience of automobiles, and it is expected that the development of new technologies that will enable the maximum utilization of current automobile systems will continue in the future.

[0005] The electronic device has an outer shape formed by a housing, and a plurality of electronic components are arranged inside the housing for driving the electronic device. These electronic components generate heat when driven. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present embodiment aims to provide an electronic device that can be made lighter and at the same time improve the heat dissipation efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The electronic device of this embodiment includes a housing having a storage compartment formed therein and including a polymer resin, a printed circuit board disposed in the storage compartment, a connector connected to the printed circuit board, and a shielding member disposed in the storage compartment and covering at least a portion of the printed circuit board, wherein the shielding member includes a first region and a second region disposed at an upward and downward step relative to the first region, and the connector includes a ground pin in contact with the second region.

[0008] The shielding member may be made of a metal material and may be integrally formed with the housing by insert injection molding.

[0009] The second region may be disposed so as to at least partially overlap the connector and the printed circuit board in the vertical direction.

[0010] The storage section may include a support section protruding from the bottom surface, and the shielding member may include a third region arranged with a step in the vertical direction relative to the first region, and the third region may be arranged on the support section.

[0011] The printed circuit board may be placed on the support, and the printed circuit board, the third region, and the support may be screw-coupled together.

[0012] The housing may include a grounding member disposed within the housing, one end of which is disposed within the support portion and is screw-coupled to the printed circuit board, the third region, and the support portion.

[0013] The housing may include a vehicle body coupling portion protruding from an outer surface and including a first screw hole, and the other end of the grounding member may be formed with a second screw hole facing the first screw hole.

[0014] The grounding member may be integrally formed with the housing by insert injection.

[0015] The printed circuit board, the third region, the support portion, and the ground member may be arranged to overlap each other in the vertical direction.

[0016] The shielding member may include a side portion extending from an edge of the first region, and the side portion may be arranged to face an inner surface of the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] In this embodiment, the shielding member and grounding member made of a metal material are integrally formed in the plastic housing by insert injection molding, thereby preventing electrical noise from occurring between the space inside the housing and the external area, and easily realizing a grounding structure between the housing, connector, and printed circuit board. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a housing and a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing a coupling structure of a housing and a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram showing a coupling structure of a connector, a shielding member, a printed circuit board, and a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a coupling structure of a grounding member and a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] However, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to some of the described embodiments, but may be embodied in various other forms, and one or more of the components of the embodiments may be selectively combined or substituted for each other within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0026] Furthermore, unless otherwise clearly defined and described, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted in a way that would be commonly understood by a person having ordinary knowledge in the field of technology to which the present invention belongs, and commonly used terms, such as terms defined in a dictionary, may be interpreted in light of the contextual meaning of the relevant technology.

[0027] Furthermore, terms used in the examples of the present invention are intended to explain the examples and not to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular form may include the plural form unless otherwise specified in the phrase, and when it is stated as "at least one (or one or more) of A, B, and C," it may include one or more of all combinable combinations of A, B, and C.

[0028] Furthermore, when describing components of an embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used.

[0029] These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another, and do not limit the nature, procedure, or order of the components.

[0030] Furthermore, when it is stated that one component is "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, this includes not only the case where one component is directly coupled, coupled, or connected to the other component, but also the case where another component is interposed between the one component and the other component and the other component is "coupled," "coupled," or "connected."

[0031] Furthermore, when it is described as being formed or disposed "above (above) or below (below)" each component, "above (above)" or "below (below)" includes not only the case where the two components are in direct contact with each other, but also the case where one or more other components are formed or disposed between the two components. Furthermore, when it is expressed as "above (above) or below (below)," it may mean not only above but also below based on one component.

[0032] The electronic device according to this embodiment is provided in a vehicle and may include a converter, a pump, an electronic control unit (ECU), etc. However, this is merely an example, and the electronic device may include various devices including at least one electronic component disposed in a housing and electrically connected via external terminals and connectors.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a housing and a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the connection structure of a housing and a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the connection structure of a connector, a shielding member, a printed circuit board, and a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the connection structure of a grounding member and a shielding member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] 1 to 6, an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a housing 100, a cover 200, a printed circuit board 300, a connector 400, a shielding member 500, and a grounding member 600.

[0035] The housing 100 may form the outer shape of the electronic device 10. The housing 100 may have a rectangular cross section. The housing 100 may be formed in a box shape. A receiving portion 110 may be formed inside the housing 100 to accommodate components for operating the electronic device 10, including a printed circuit board 300 and a shielding member 500. The receiving portion 110 may be open upward. The cover 200 may be coupled to the top surface of the housing 100 to cover the top surface of the receiving portion 110.

[0036] The housing 100 may include a bottom plate 102 and a side plate 104 that extends upward from an edge of the bottom plate 102. The bottom plate 102 may form the bottom of the electronic device 10. The side plate 104 may form the side of the electronic device 10. At least one hole 120 may be formed in the side plate 104. When the housing 100 is viewed from above, the hole 120 may have a groove shape that is stepped downward compared to other regions. The connector 400 may be disposed in the hole 120. A plurality of the holes 120 may be provided, and may be disposed adjacent to each other on one side of the housing 100.

[0037] A support part 150 may be disposed in the receiving part 110 within the housing 100. The support part 150 may have a shape that protrudes upward from an upper surface of the lower plate 102. An upper surface of the support part 150 may be disposed lower than an upper surface of the side plate 104. The upper surface of the support part 150 may support a lower surface of the printed circuit board 300. The upper surface of the support part 150 may contact a lower surface of the printed circuit board 300. The lower surface of the printed circuit board 300 may be spaced apart from the upper surface of the lower plate 102 in the vertical direction via the support part 150.

[0038] A plurality of the support parts 150 may be provided and disposed at four corner regions of the receiving part 110 in the housing 100, respectively.

[0039] A protrusion 154 and a first coupling hole 152 may be formed on the upper surface of the support part 150. The protrusion 154 may have a shape that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the support part 150. The first coupling hole 152 may have a shape that is recessed downward from the upper surface of the support part 150 relative to other regions. The protrusion 154 may be coupled to a second coupling hole 534 of the shielding member 500, which will be described later. The first coupling hole 152 may be disposed to vertically face a third coupling hole 532 of the shielding member 500, which will be described later.

[0040] The top surface of the housing 100 may be formed with a first coupling groove 140 that is recessed more than other areas. The first coupling groove 140 may be formed on the top surface of the side plate 104 of the housing 100. A side plate 220 of the cover 200 may be coupled to the first coupling groove 140. The first coupling groove 112 may be formed along the periphery of the top surface of the housing 100. The side plate 104 of the housing 100 may be referred to as a first side plate, and the side plate 220 of the cover 200 may be referred to as a second side plate.

[0041] A second coupling groove 122 having a shape that is more recessed than other regions may be formed on the inner surface of the hole 120 of the housing 100. The second coupling groove 122 may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the hole 120. The second coupling groove 122 may be connected to the first coupling groove 140. The first coupling groove 140 and the second coupling groove 122 may each have a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

[0042] A vehicle body coupling portion 130 may be formed on the outer surface of the housing 100. The vehicle body coupling portion 130 may have a shape that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the housing 100 more than other regions. A plurality of vehicle body coupling portions 130 may be provided, and may be arranged at each corner region of the housing 100. A first screw hole 132 into which a screw (not shown) is coupled may be formed on the upper surface of the vehicle body coupling portion 130. The electronic device 10 may be coupled to a vehicle body that forms a frame of an automobile, such as a chassis, through the vehicle body coupling portion 130. In this case, a screw may be threadedly coupled to the vehicle body and the first screw hole 132 of the vehicle body coupling portion 130.

[0043] The housing 100 may be made of a polymer resin or plastic, which may reduce the weight of the electronic device 10 compared to a metal housing.

[0044] The cover 200 may be disposed on the upper part of the housing 100. The cover 200 may be coupled to cover the upper surface of the storage section 110. The cover 200 may include a top plate 210 and a side plate 220 extending downward from an edge of the top plate 210. The top plate 210 may form the top surface of the electronic device 10, and the side plate 220 may form the side surface of the electronic device 10 together with the side plate 104 of the housing 100. A lower end of the side plate 220 may be coupled to the first coupling groove 140. A portion of the lower end of the side plate 220 may be coupled to a third coupling groove (452, see FIG. 5 ) of a connector module 400, which will be described later.

[0045] The printed circuit board 300 may be disposed in the receiving portion 110 within the housing 100. The printed circuit board 300 may be formed in a plate shape, and at least one electronic component for driving the electronic device 10 may be disposed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces. The printed circuit board 300 may be coupled to pins (470, see FIG. 5 ) of the connector 200, which will be described later. The printed circuit board 300 may include pinholes to which the pins 470 are coupled, and the pins 470 may be coupled to the pinholes.

[0046] The lower surface of the printed circuit board 300 may be supported by the upper surface of the support 150. The upper surface of the support 150 may contact the lower surface of the printed circuit board 300. The printed circuit board 300 may include a fourth coupling hole 310 facing the first coupling hole 152 formed on the support 150. A screw may pass through the fourth coupling hole 310 of the printed circuit board 300 and the third coupling hole 532 of the shielding member 500 and be screwed into the first coupling hole 152 of the support 150. The printed circuit board 300 may include a fifth coupling hole 320 to which the protrusion 154 is coupled. The fifth coupling hole 320 may have a shape that penetrates from the upper surface to the lower surface of the printed circuit board 300. The protrusion 154 may be coupled to the second coupling hole 534 of the shielding member 500 and the fifth coupling hole 320 of the printed circuit board 300.

[0047] A portion of the lower surface of the printed circuit board 300 may be supported by the connector 400. A portion of the lower surface of the printed circuit board 300 may be in contact with an upper surface of the connector 400.

[0048] The connector 400 may be disposed to penetrate a side surface of the housing 100. The connector 400 may be disposed to penetrate the hole 120. The connector 400 may be coupled to the hole 120.

[0049] The connector 400 is coupled to an external terminal, through which power may be provided to the electronic device 10 or control signals related to the operation of the electronic device 10 may be transmitted and received from an external component.

[0050] The connector 400 may have one end disposed in the receiving portion 110 within the housing 100 and the other end opposite the one end and disposed outside the housing 100 .

[0051] The connector 400 may have an outer shape formed by a connector housing. The connector housing may be made of plastic. A pin 470 may be disposed at one end of the connector housing disposed in the receiving portion 110 within the housing 100. The pin 470 protruding from one end of the connector housing may have at least one bent region to be coupled with the printed circuit board 300.

[0052] Specifically, a connector housing that forms the outer shape of the connector 400 may include a first region 410 , a second region 450 , and a guide 430 .

[0053] The first region 410 may be disposed on the outside of the housing 100. An external terminal may be coupled to the first region 410. For this reason, the first region 410 may be called a connector lead-out portion. The first region 410 may have a shape that protrudes outward from the housing 100.

[0054] The second region 450 may be disposed within the housing 100. At least a portion of the second region 450 may be coupled to the hole 120. The pin 470 may be disposed to protrude from an end of the second region 450. The pin 470 may be disposed along the first region 410, the guide 430, and a space within the second region 450, and one end of the pin 470 may be coupled to the external terminal and the other end of the pin 470 may be coupled to the printed circuit board 300. Thus, when the external terminal of the connector 400 is coupled to the pin 470, the electronic device 10 and the external terminal may be electrically connected to each other.

[0055] A rib protruding upward from other regions may be disposed on an upper surface of the second region 450. The rib may be disposed to penetrate the printed circuit board 300. The printed circuit board 300 may have a hole formed therein so that the rib can be coupled thereto.

[0056] A third coupling groove 452 may be formed on an upper surface of the second region 450, the third coupling groove 452 being recessed more than other regions. The third coupling groove 452 may be arranged to overlap with a side panel of the housing 100. The third coupling groove 452 may be connected to the first coupling groove 140. The third coupling groove 452 may be arranged to correspond to an area where the hole 120 is formed. Therefore, when the cover 200 is coupled to the housing 100, a portion of the lower end of the cover 200 may be coupled to the first coupling groove 140, and the other portion may be coupled to the third coupling groove 452.

[0057] A protrusion 490 that protrudes downward from the other regions may be formed on the lower surface of the second region 450. The protrusion 490 may be coupled to the second coupling groove 122. The cross-sectional shape of the protrusion 290 may correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the second coupling groove 122. The protrusion 490 may be coupled to the inner surface of the hole 120.

[0058] The guide 430 may be disposed between the first region 410 and the second region 450. The guide 430 may have a larger cross-sectional area than the first region 410 and the second region 450. The guide 430 may be coupled to a side of the housing 100. The inner surface of the guide 430 may contact the outer surface of the housing 400. As shown in FIG. 5, the side of the housing 100 that the guide 430 contacts may have a shape that protrudes outward more than other regions.

[0059] The connector 400 may include a ground pin 480. The ground pin 480 may be disposed within the connector housing. One end of the ground pin 480 may be disposed to protrude downward from a lower surface of the second region 450. A hole through which one end of the ground pin 480 passes may be formed in the lower surface of the second region 450. One end of the ground pin 480 may have at least one bent region. One end of the ground pin 480 may be formed with a contact portion 482 for contacting the shielding member 500 (described below). The contact portion 482 may have a substantially U-shaped cross section. A plurality of ground pins 480 may be provided and may be disposed spaced apart from each other. The ground pin 480 may have a ground power source. The other end of the ground pin 480 may be disposed within the first region 410. The other end of the ground pin 480 may be coupled to an external terminal.

[0060] The electronic device 10 may include a shielding member 500. The shielding member 500 may be called a shield plate. The shielding member 500 may be disposed in the receiving portion 110 within the housing 100. The shielding member 500 may be made of a metal material. The shielding member 500 may be integrally formed with the housing 100 by insert injection molding. The shielding member 500 is disposed in the receiving portion 110 within the housing 100 and can prevent electrical noise from being generated with an external region. The shielding member 500 may be connected to at least one of the printed circuit board 300, the connector 400, and the vehicle body to form a ground power source.

[0061] Specifically, the shielding member 500 may include a first region 510, a second region 520, and a third region 530. The first region 510, the second region 520, and the third region 530 may be integrally formed. The first region 510, the second region 520, and the third region 530 may be arranged with a step between them in the vertical direction.

[0062] The first region 510 may be formed in a plate shape. The first region 510 may be disposed on the lower plate 102 of the housing 100. A lower surface of the first region 510 may be spaced a predetermined distance from an upper surface of the lower plate 102. The first region 510 may be disposed parallel to the lower plate 102.

[0063] The second region 520 may have an upper surface that is stepped downward relative to an upper surface of the first region 510. When the region where the second region 520 is formed is viewed from above, the second region 520 may have a groove shape in which a portion of the first region 510 is recessed downward. The second region 520 may be arranged to overlap the connector 400 in the vertical direction. The second region 520 may be arranged to be adjacent to the hole 120. The second region 520 may be arranged to overlap the coupling region of the pin 470 and the pinhole in the vertical direction.

[0064] The second region 520 may be in contact with the ground pin 480 of the connector 400. The second region 520 may be in contact with the housing 100. The second region 520 may be in contact with the contact portion 482 formed on an end of the ground pin 480. The contact portion 482 may be in contact with an upper surface of the second region 520. The shielding member 500 may be grounded through contact between the contact portion 482 and the second region 520. Through contact between the contact portion 482 and the second region 520, the shielding member 500 may prevent electric shock accidents due to leakage current in an area where a plurality of terminals are electrically connected to each other, and a reference potential of zero potential may be set.

[0065] The third region 530 may be disposed such that an upper surface thereof is stepped higher than an upper surface of the first region 510. The third region 530 may be disposed on the support part 150. A lower surface of the third region 530 may contact an upper surface of the support part 150. The shielding member 500 may include a connecting part 538 connecting the first region 510 and the third region 530. The connecting part 538 may have a shape that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the first region 510. The connecting part 538 may be disposed perpendicular to the first region 510 and the third region 530.

[0066] The third region 530 may be coupled to the printed circuit board 300 and the housing 100. The third region 530 may include a third coupling hole 532 arranged to face the first coupling hole 152 of the housing 100 and the fourth coupling hole 310 of the printed circuit board 300, and a second coupling hole 534 arranged to receive the protrusion 154 of the housing 100. The second coupling hole 534 and the third coupling hole 532 may each have a shape that penetrates from the upper surface to the lower surface of the third region 530. The second coupling hole 534 and the third coupling hole 532 may be arranged adjacent to each other.

[0067] The third region 530 may vertically overlap the housing 100, the printed circuit board 300, and the grounding member 600. The third region 530 may include a hole vertically overlapping the housing 100, the printed circuit board 300, and the grounding member 600. The third region 530 may be screw-coupled to the housing 100, the printed circuit board 300, and the grounding member 600.

[0068] The shielding member 500 may include a side portion 540 extending upward from an edge of the first region 510 and forming a side surface of the shielding member 500. The side portion 540 may be disposed inside the side plate 104 of the housing 100. An outer surface of the side portion 540 may contact an inner surface of the side plate 104. The side portion 540 may be disposed perpendicular to the first region 510. A plurality of the side portions 540 may be provided and disposed spaced apart from each other along the edge of the first region 510.

[0069] Meanwhile, the shielding member 500 may be coated inside the housing 100 .

[0070] The grounding member 600 may be disposed within the housing 100. The grounding member 600 may be referred to as an ESD plate.

[0071] The grounding member 600 may be made of a metal material and may be integrally formed with the housing 100 by insert injection molding. The grounding member 600 may be disposed between the inner and outer surfaces of the housing 100. One end of the grounding member 600 may be disposed within the support part 150 and the other end may be disposed within the vehicle body coupling part 130. One end of the grounding member 600 may be formed with a sixth coupling hole disposed to face the first coupling hole 152 of the housing 100, the fourth coupling hole 310 of the printed circuit board 300, and the third coupling hole 532 of the shielding member 500. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 , the screw S may be disposed to pass through the first coupling hole 152, the fourth coupling hole 310, the third coupling hole 532, and the sixth coupling hole. The screw S may be coupled to the first coupling hole 152, the fourth coupling hole 310, the third coupling hole 532, and the sixth coupling hole.

[0072] The screw S may be called a screw or a connecting member.

[0073] Meanwhile, a ground pattern may be formed on the surface of the printed circuit board 300 in an area where the fourth coupling hole 310 is formed.

[0074] The other end of the grounding member 600 may be formed with a second screw hole disposed to face the first screw hole 132 of the housing 100. Therefore, when a screw is coupled to the first screw hole 132 and the second screw hole, the grounding member 600 may be electrically connected to the vehicle body.

[0075] According to the above-described structure, the shielding member and the grounding member made of a metal material are integrally formed in the plastic housing by insert injection molding, which has the advantages of preventing electrical noise from occurring between the space inside the housing and the external area, and of easily realizing a grounding structure between the housing, connector, and printed circuit board.

[0076] Although all components constituting the embodiments of the present invention have been described above as being combined or operating in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such embodiments. That is, all components may be selectively combined and operate in combination with one another within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as "comprise," "comprise," and "have" used above mean that the component in question may be inherent, unless otherwise specified, and should therefore be interpreted as including other components rather than excluding other components. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, unless otherwise specified. Commonly used terms, such as dictionary-defined terms, should be interpreted in a manner consistent with the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined in the present invention.

[0077] The above description merely exemplifies the technical concept of the present invention, and various modifications and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the technical concept of the present invention. The scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the appended claims, and any technical concept within the scope of the claims should be interpreted as being within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. a housing having a storage portion formed therein and including a polymer resin; a printed circuit board disposed in the receiving section; a connector connected to the printed circuit board; a shielding member disposed in the receiving portion and covering at least a portion of the printed circuit board, the shielding member includes a first region and a second region disposed with a step in the up-down direction relative to the first region, The connector includes a ground pin in contact with the second region.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the shielding member is made of a metal material and is integrally formed with the housing by insert injection molding.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second region is disposed so as to at least partially overlap the connector and the printed circuit board in a vertical direction.

4. The storage section includes a support section protruding from a bottom surface, the shielding member includes a third region that is disposed at a step in the up-down direction relative to the first region, The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the third region is disposed on the support.

5. the printed circuit board is disposed on the support; The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the printed circuit board, the third region, and the support are coupled by screws.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5 , further comprising a grounding member disposed within the housing, one end of which is disposed within the support and is screw-coupled with the printed circuit board, the third region, and the support.

7. the housing includes a vehicle body coupling portion protruding from an outer surface and including a first screw hole; The electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein the other end of the grounding member is formed with a second screw hole facing the first screw hole.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein the grounding member is integrally formed with the housing by insert injection.

9. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the printed circuit board, the third region, the support portion, and the ground member are arranged to overlap each other in a vertical direction.

10. the shielding member includes a side portion extending from an edge of the first region, The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the side surface is disposed to face the inner surface of the housing.

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