Control device arrangement comprising further liquid-cooled control units arranged in juxtaposition at a housing part of a first control unit and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device arrangement (10) for a vehicle, comprising a first electronic control unit (16), which comprises at least one circuit board (18) and a first cooling duct (24), through which a liquid coolant is capable of flowing. At least one further electronic control unit (30) comprises at least one further circuit board (52) and a further cooling duct (28), through which the liquid coolant is capable of flowing. The first cooling duct (24) is formed in a housing part (20) of the first electronic control unit (16), wherein the cooling duct (28) of the at least one further electronic control unit (30) is fluidically connected with the first cooling duct (24). The housing part (20) of the first electronic control unit (16) comprises a receiving portion (38) for the at least one further electronic control unit (30), wherein at least two further electronic control units (30) are arranged in juxtaposition in the receiving portion (38). Moreover, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising at least one such control device arrangement (10).

Description

[0001] Control device arrangement comprising further liquid-cooled control units arranged in juxtaposition at a housing part of a first control unit and vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a control device arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a first electronic control unit, which comprises at least one first circuit board and a first cooling duct. A liquid coolant is capable of flowing through the first cooling duct. At least one further electronic control unit of the control device arrangement comprises at least one further circuit board and a further cooling duct, wherein the liquid coolant is capable of flowing through the further cooling duct. The first cooling duct is formed in a housing part of the first electronic control unit, and the cooling duct of the at least one further electronic control unit is fluidically connected to the first cooling duct. Moreover, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising such a control device arrangement.

[0003] In the automobile industry a trend towards assisted driving and towards autonomous driving may be observed. In particular, in this connection high-performance control device arrangements are to be provided, which comprise a plurality of electronic control units. The layout design and development of such new control device arrangements in this connection is growing increasingly complex and challenging. In particular, control device arrangements for vehicles may comprise a performance, which renders a cooling by a liquid coolant during operation of the control device arrangement reasonable. Moreover, it is beneficial if a control device arrangement for a vehicle is of a modular setup and thus may be easily extended by additional control units.

[0004] WO 2023 / 217928 A1 describes a liquid-cooled electronic control system for a vehicle, in which in a housing a first electronic control unit and a second electronic control unit are arranged stacked one above the other. Each of the control units comprises a cooling channel, through which a liquid coolant is capable of flowing. A hydraulic manifold of the control system comprises hosing pipes connected to respective coolant inlets and to respective coolant outlets of the cooling channels of the control units.

[0005] Such a hydraulic manifold requires a relatively large amount of construction space. Moreover, a removal of the, viewed in the stacking direction, top control unit from the housing is required to gain access to the, viewed in the stacking direction, bottom control unit.

[0006] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a control device arrangement of the initially mentioned kind, which is particularly compact and easy to maintain, and to indicate a vehicle comprising such control device arrangement.

[0007] This objective is solved by a control device arrangement with the features of claim 1 and by a vehicle with the features of claim 14. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0008] The control device arrangement for a vehicle according to the invention comprises a first electronic control unit, which comprises at least one first circuit board and a first cooling duct. Through the first cooling duct a liquid coolant is capable of flowing. At least one further electronic control unit of the control device arrangement comprises at least one further circuit board and a further cooling duct, wherein the liquid coolant is capable of flowing through the further cooling duct. The first cooling duct is formed in a housing part of the first electronic control unit, and the cooling duct of the at least one further electronic control unit is fluidically connected to the first cooling duct. The housing part of the first electronic control unit comprises a receiving portion for the at least one further electronic control unit. Herein, at least two further electronic control units are arranged in juxtaposition in the receiving portion.

[0009] This entails that the at least two further electronic control units are particularly easy to access. In particular, it is not necessary to remove one of the further electronic control units from the receiving portion in order to gain access to the other one of the at least two further electronic control units. Consequently, the control device arrangement is particularly easy to maintain. Furthermore, there is no need for a complex hydraulic manifold. This is because the respective further cooling duct, which pertains to the respective further electronic control unit, is fluidically connected to the first cooling duct, which is formed in the housing part of the first electronic control unit. Thereby the control device arrangement is rendered particularly compact. In the receiving portion the at least two further electronic control units are not arranged in height direction one above the other, but rather in juxtaposition along a bottom of the receiving portion. By providing this receiving portion, moreover, the control device arrangement may very easily be equipped with additional further electronic control units and thus be extended. This is advantageous with regard to a simple modular setup of the control device arrangement.

[0010] All electronic control units of the control device arrangement comprise respective cooling ducts, through which the liquid coolant is capable of flowing. Thereby, moreover, a high performance of the control device arrangement may be realized. This is because via the liquid coolant heat from the control units of the control device arrangement may be dissipated very well.

[0011] Moreover, one of the further electronic control units may be replaced very easily by a more powerful electronic control unit in order to increase the performance of the entire control device arrangement and / or to provide further or other functions of the control device arrangement. Also in this regard the modular setup of the control device arrangement is advantageous.

[0012] Moreover, it is advantageous that in the housing part of the first electronic control unit, on the one hand, the first cooling duct is configured and by the housing part moreover the receiving portion for the further electronic control units is provided. This is because thereby the housing part of the first electronic control unit comprises an extended functionality.

[0013] Preferably, the at least two further electronic control units are inserted into the receiving portion in an installation direction. In this connection the fluidic connecting of the cooling ducts pertaining to the at least two further electronic control units to the first cooling duct is effected by the inserting of the further electronic control units into the receiving portion in the installation direction. This is beneficial to a simplified mounting during the manufacture of the control device arrangement. This is because when inserting, in particular introducing, the further electronic control units into the receiving portion, at the same time the fluidic or hydraulic coupling of the further cooling ducts to the first cooling duct may be accomplished. Thereby, the installation and a removal of the further electronic control units is particularly easy. Besides, when installing the further control units, the fluidic connection of the cooling ducts of the further electronic control units to the first cooling duct is very safe in terms of function and little complex to realize.

[0014] Preferably, the housing part comprises in the receiving portion at least one guiding element, wherein the further electronic control units are brought along the at least one guiding element in the installation direction into a mounting position. As guiding elements for example guiding rails may be configured in the receiving portion, which are in engagement with corresponding structures of the further electronic control units. This is beneficial to a simple and functionally safe mounting when bringing the further electronic control units into the mounting position.

[0015] Preferably, the further electronic control units are retained in the mounting position by at least one locking element. Thereby, a good securing of the further electronic control units in their mounting position is achieved. For instance, the at least one locking element may be configured in the fashion of a snap-fit element so that the further electronic control units in their mounting position are snap-fitted in the receiving portion. Thereby, by a person concerned with the mounting of the further electronic control units it may be very reliably determined, in particular in a haptically and / or acoustically and / or optically capturable way, whether the further electronic control units have reached their mounting position.

[0016] Preferably, the further electronic control units after an unlocking of the at least one locking element are capable of being removed from the receiving portion. This renders the removal of the further electronic control units from the receiving portion particularly easy, for example as part of a maintenance and / or an exchange of at least one of the further electronic control units.

[0017] At least one of the further electronic control units may be inserted into the receiving portion in an installation direction extending in parallel or substantially in parallel to a bottom of the receiving portion. This is beneficial since in particular at the bottom of the receiving portion it is very easy to provide guiding elements or insertion aids of this kind, which may be used when inserting the further electronic control units into their mounting position. Besides, this allows for optically checking very reliably whether upon reaching the mounting position also the fluidic connection or coupling of the further cooling ducts, which pertain to the further electronic control units, to the first cooling duct has been realized.

[0018] In particular, all further electronic control units may be inserted into the receiving portion in the installation direction extending in parallel or at least substantially in parallel to the bottom of the receiving portion. Thereby a uniform mounting concept is realized which promotes a reliable and swift mounting of the further electronic control units.

[0019] Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the further electronic control units may be inserted into the receiving portion in an installation direction extending perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a bottom of the receiving portion. This promotes the compact setup of the control device arrangement. In particular connector pieces of the further electronic control units, by which the further cooling ducts are connected to the further electronic control units, may be arranged on a bottom side of the further electronic control unit. Thereby it is accomplished that such connector pieces do not project beyond the further electronic control unit in the circumferential direction of the further electronic control unit. This is advantageous for a construction space saving arrangement of the further electronic control units in the receiving portion.

[0020] In particular all further electronic control units may be inserted into the receiving portion in the installation direction extending perpendicular or at least substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the receiving portion. Thus, as part of the manufacture of the control device arrangement, during installing the further electronic control units into the receiving portion a uniform mounting concept may be realized. This, in turn, facilitates a swift and reliable arranging of the further electronic control units in the receiving portion.

[0021] Preferably, on the first circuit board a connector part for a supplying of the first electronic control unit with electric energy is arranged. In this connection, the circuit boards of the further electronic control units are coupled to the first circuit board via respective plug connectors. The further electronic control units are capable of being supplied with electric energy via the plug connectors, which is capable of being provided via the connector part. This allows for the supply of electric energy to the further electronic control units to be realized with very little effort involved. This is because the connector part, via which the first electronic control unit is supplied with electric energy, is to be provided anyway. However, no further such connector parts need to be arranged at the further electronic control units. This is advantageous.

[0022] The plug connectors of the further electronic control units may in particular be arranged in a floating manner on the respective circuit board of the further electronic control unit. This allows for compensating tolerances, in particular manufacturing tolerances, particularly easily when coupling the further circuit boards to the first circuit board via the plug connectors. Besides, such a floating arrangement of the plug connector simplifies the mechanical connection of the plug connector to corresponding connector elements of the first circuit board.

[0023] Preferably, the circuit boards of the further electronic control units are coupled to the first circuit board via respective plug connectors, wherein the plug connectors are configured for a data transfer between the first electronic control unit and the respective further electronic control units. This is in particular advantageous in order to provide a high performance with regard to a processing of data by the control device arrangement.

[0024] The plug connectors, via which the further electronic control units can be supplied with electric energy, may at the same time be configured as the plug connectors, via which the data transfer between the first electronic control unit and the respective further electronic control unit are capable of being realized during operation of the control device arrangement. Then the number of plug connectors configured for example as circuit board connectors is advantageously small.

[0025] Preferably, when coupling the plug connectors to the first circuit board a coupling direction coincides substantially with the installation direction. In this way, the coupling of the plug connector to the first circuit board is very easy to realize when mounting the control device arrangement and inserting the further electronic control units into the receiving portion in the installation direction. This is advantageous with regard to a small mounting effort.

[0026] Preferably, the receiving portion is provided by a depression formed in the housing part of the first electronic control unit, wherein the further electronic control units are arranged sunk in the depression. Thereby, it is advantageously avoided that the further electronic control units project beyond edges of the depression. This promotes the compact setup of the control device arrangement. Moreover, during manufacture of the housing part of the first electronic control unit the depression is very easy to be provided at the same time, sunk in which the further electronic control units may be arranged when mounting the control device arrangement.

[0027] Preferably, at the housing part of the first electronic control unit a first coolant connector configured as inlet and a second coolant connector configured as outlet are arranged. The liquid coolant, which is capable of being supplied to the first cooling duct via the inlet, in this connection is capable of being introduced into the further cooling ducts starting from the first cooling duct. Thereby, providing the further cooling ducts with the liquid coolant is particularly easy to accomplish.

[0028] Preferably, the further electronic control units comprise connector pieces, by which the further cooling ducts are connected to the first cooling duct. Thereby, the fluidic coupling of the further cooling ducts to the first cooling duct is particularly easy to realize when mounting the control device arrangement. This is because it is merely required to introduce the connector pieces into receiving portions and / or to be coupled to connector sockets, which are provided in the housing part of the first electronic control unit or arranged at the housing part.

[0029] Preferably, the connector pieces are arranged in a floating manner on the further electronic control units. Thereby, tolerances, in particular manufacturing tolerances, are particularly easy to compensate when fluidically connecting the further cooling ducts to the first cooling duct.

[0030] Connector openings of the first cooling duct, into which the connector pieces of the further electronic control units are capable of being inserted, may be configured in such a way that the connector openings are closed, unless the respective connector piece is inserted into the connector opening. In analogy this applies if at the housing part the first electronic control unit connector sockets or connector elements of such kind are arranged, to which the connector pieces of the further electronic control units may be mechanically connected.

[0031] Additionally or alternatively, it may be envisaged that the connector openings or the connector elements are closed by a plug or a closure element of such kind. Such a closure element is to be removed from the connector opening or from the connector element, when mounting the control device arrangement, in order to introduce the connector piece into the connector opening or to couple it to the connector element. Also in this way an invariably reliable sealing of the first cooling duct towards the surroundings of the first electronic control unit may be realized.

[0032] Preferably, the further electronic control units comprise respective module housings, wherein the further cooling duct, which pertains to the respective further electronic control unit, is formed in the module housing. Thereby, the further cooling duct may be provided in the module housing in such a way that, upon the liquid coolant flowing through the further cooling duct, heat may be dissipated very efficiently from the at least one circuit board of the further electronic control unit. Besides, the provision of the module housings promotes the modular setup of the control device arrangement.

[0033] Preferably, the housing part of the first electronic control unit is larger than the module housings of the further electronic control units. In this way, in the housing part of the first electronic control unit the receiving portion, in which the further electronic control units may be arranged in juxtaposition in the horizontal direction, is very easy to be provided.

[0034] Preferably, the housing part of the first electronic control unit is configured as cast component. In this way, the first cooling duct is very easy to be formed in the course of manufacturing the housing part.

[0035] In particular, the housing part of the first electronic control unit, which is configured as cast component, may be formed from an aluminum alloy. This is advantageous with regard to a low weight and a high robustness of the housing part.

[0036] Additionally or alternatively, the module housings may be configured as cast components. Thereby, the further cooling ducts may be provided very easily when manufacturing the module housing.

[0037] Preferably, the module housings configured as cast components are formed from an aluminum alloy. This promotes a low weight and a high robustness of the module housings. The vehicle according to the invention comprises at least one control device arrangement according to the invention. Thus, by the control units of the control device arrangement in the vehicle a high computing power may be provided. By the control device arrangement in particular a control device for at least one driver assistance system of the vehicle may be provided.

[0038] For the vehicle, which is preferably configured as a motor vehicle, in particular a vehiclecentric, zone-oriented architecture of the electronic components of the vehicle may be provided. In particular, at least one main controller, for example a single main controller, can be provided in such a vehicle architecture, which can also be referred to as the main control unit or vehicle computer, and which can be designed to perform the main computing operations for vehicle-specific applications, for example autonomous driving. The main controller can be provided by the first electronic control unit.

[0039] The main controller may be connected to several zonal controllers by means of signaling technology, which may also be referred to as zone control units. The zonal controllers can be designed to perform less demanding computing operations compared to the main computing operations of the main controller. The zonal controllers can be provided by the further electronic control units.

[0040] For example, the electronic vehicle architecture can be divided into zones, wherein a respective zonal controller can be provided for each zone. In particular, the main controller can be connected via the zonal controllers to other electrical and / or electronic components of the vehicle, in particular to smaller, distributed control units, as well as to a large number of sensors and actuators of the vehicle.

[0041] The zone-oriented architecture of the electronic components can be provided by the control device arrangement. Such a vehicle-centric, zone-oriented architecture of the electronic components can be advantageous at least to the extent that it is less complex than domain-oriented architectures. In particular, the computing operations of the complex, vehicle-specific applications of distributed control units can be consolidated on a single, very powerful main controller or on a few such main controllers.

[0042] Preferably, the at least one control device arrangement is configured to process sensor data capable of being captured by at least one sensor device of the vehicle. This is because in particular in the processing of such sensor data a high computing power of the control device arrangement is advantageous. Therefore, it is beneficial, if the electronic control units of the control device arrangement during operation are capable of being cooled by the liquid coolant.

[0043] The at least one sensor device of the vehicle is preferably configured to capture an environment of the vehicle. This is based on the insight that sensor data provided by environment sensors of a vehicle is comparatively challenging with regard to a processing by the at least one control device arrangement. Therefore, the high computing power of the control device arrangement for processing the sensor data provided by environment sensors of the vehicle is advantageous.

[0044] The sensor device configured for capturing the environment of the vehicle may for instance comprise or include at least one radar device and / or at least one Lidar device and / or at least one ultrasonic sensor or the like. Such sensor devices are advantageous if the environment of the vehicle is to be captured for instance for an assisted and / or at least partly automated driving of the vehicle.

[0045] The advantages and preferred embodiments described for the control device arrangement according to the invention equally apply to the vehicle according to the invention and vice versa.

[0046] The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following and / or shown alone in the figures are capable of being employed not only in the respective indicated combination, but also in other combinations, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, also embodiments are to be considered as comprised and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, however, derive from the explained embodiments by separated feature combinations and may be generated therefrom. Also embodiments and feature combinations are to be regarded as disclosed, which thus do not comprise all features of an originally formulated independent claim. Moreover, embodiments and feature combinations are to be regarded as disclosed in particular by the above set out explanations, which go beyond the feature combinations set out in the back-references of the claims or deviate therefrom. Further features of the invention derive from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. Therein show:

[0047] Fig. 1 a schematic exploded view of a control device arrangement, which comprises a first electronic control unit and three further electronic control units;

[0048] Fig. 2 the control device arrangement according to Fig. 1 in the assembled or mounted state, respectively, wherein the further control units are arranged in juxtaposition in a receiving portion, which is provided by a housing part of the first control unit;

[0049] Fig. 3 schematically a vehicle, which comprises the control device arrangement according to Fig. 1 and / or the control device arrangement according to Fig. 4 as well as at least one sensor device;

[0050] Fig. 4 in a further exploded view a variant of the control device arrangement, in which during mounting the further control units are installed in a different installation direction in the receiving portion than this is the case in the control device arrangement shown in Fig. 1 ; and

[0051] Fig. 5 the control device arrangement according to Fig. 4 in the assembled or mounted state, respectively.

[0052] In the figures same elements or elements having the same function are provided with identical reference signs.

[0053] In Fig. 1 a first variant of a control device arrangement 10 is shown in an exploded view as it may be employed in a vehicle 12, which is for example configured as motor vehicle (see Fig. 3). In the vehicle 12 the control device arrangement 10 may in particular be configured to process sensor data captured during operation of the vehicle 12 by at least one sensor device 14 of the vehicle 12 (see Fig. 3). For instance the sensor device 14 may be configured to capture an environment of the vehicle 12 and be provided for example by at least one camera. In particular, the processing of sensor data from the sensor device 14, which is configured to capture an environment of the vehicle 12, involves a high computing effort. It is therefore advantageous if the control device arrangement 10 comprises a high computing power. This entails a high cooling effort. In order to be able to very effectively dissipate heat during operation of the control device arrangement 10, it is, in turn, very beneficial if during operation of the control device arrangement 10 a liquid coolant is used for cooling the control device arrangement 10.

[0054] In the present case, the control device arrangement 10 comprises a first electronic control unit 16, which in particular may be configured as main control unit of the control device arrangement 10. A first circuit board 18 pertains to the first electronic control unit 16, which may be configured as main circuit board of the control device arrangement 10. The first electronic control unit 16 comprises a housing, of which in Fig. 1 a first housing part 20 as well as a second, plate-like housing part 22 are shown in a perspective view.

[0055] The first housing part 20 is preferably a cast component formed from an aluminum alloy and comprises a first cooling duct 24, which is easy to discern in Fig. 1 . A liquid coolant is capable of flowing through the first cooling duct 24, which pertains to the first electronic control unit 16. Accordingly, during operation of the control device arrangement 10 heat is easily dissipated from electronic components (not shown in detail in the present case), with which the first circuit board 18 is equipped.

[0056] The first cooling duct 24 in the present case moreover acts as manifold device, via which the liquid coolant may be introduced into further cooling ducts 28, which pertain to further electronic control units 30 of the control device arrangement 10. In Fig. 1 three such further electronic control units 30 are shown exemplarily, the cooling ducts 28 of which are fluidically connected to the first cooling duct 24 or may be fluidically connected, respectively, to the first cooling duct 24 during mounting.

[0057] The control device arrangement 10 is shown in Fig. 1 in its assembled state, in which the cooling ducts 28 of the further electronic control units 30 are fluidically connected or coupled to the first cooling duct 24. Accordingly, liquid coolant may in particular be introduced from the first cooling duct 24 into the further cooling ducts 28 and subsequently be returned from the further cooling ducts 28 into the first cooling duct 24. The first cooling duct 24 according to Fig. 1 is configured open at the top in the first housing part 20. In the mounted or assembled state, respectively, of the control device arrangement 10 the first cooling duct 24 is closed towards the top side by a plate 32, which for example may be configured as an aluminum plate. For tight closing of the first cooling duct 24 the plate 32 may in particular be attached by welding to the first housing part 20.

[0058] If the second housing part 22 is fixed to a bottom side of the first housing part 20, the second housing part 22 closes a receiving space of the housing of the first control unit 16, wherein the first circuit board 18 is arranged in the receiving space.

[0059] At the first housing part 20, which pertains to the first electronic control unit 16, a first coolant connector 34 configured as inlet and a second coolant connector 36 configured as outlet are arranged. To these coolant connectors 34, 36 lines (not shown) may be connected in order to introduce cold cooling liquid into the first cooling duct 24 and to discharge the heated liquid coolant or the heated cooling liquid, respectively, from the first cooling duct 24.

[0060] In the variant of the control device arrangement 10 exemplarily shown in Fig. 1 three modules in the form of the further electronic control units 30 are shown, which may be arranged at the housing part 20 of the first electronic control unit 16. In further variants of the control device arrangement 10, however, also fewer or more than the three further control units 30 exemplarily shown in the present case may be arranged at the first housing part 20 of the first control unit 16.

[0061] The number of the at least two further control units 30 and thus the size of the first housing part 20 may in particular be made depending on how large the computing power to be provided by the control device arrangement 10 is and / or which functions are to be provided by the modules in the form of the further control units 30.

[0062] In the present case, the first housing part 20 comprises a receiving portion 38, in which at least two further electronic control units 30 may be arranged in juxtaposition. In the case of the variant exemplarily shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2, three further electronic control units 30 are arranged in juxtaposition in the receiving portion 38. Thereby, in the control device arrangement 10 the further control units 30 are easily accessible, for example from the top side of the first housing part 20.

[0063] Moreover, the modular setup of control device arrangement 10 allows for raising the functionality and in particular the computing power of the control device arrangement 10 by coupling a correspondingly large number of further control units 30 to the first control unit 16. In this connection, the further cooling ducts 28, which pertain to the respective further control unit 30, may very easily be fluidically connected to the first cooling duct 24 or hydraulically coupled to the first cooling duct 24.

[0064] For this purpose, the respective further electronic control units 30 may comprise connector pieces 40, which are easy to discern in the exploded view of one of the further electronic control units 30. These connector pieces 40 may be fluidically connected to connector sockets 42, wherein in Fig. 1 two of these connector sockets 42 are provided with a reference sign. The connector sockets 42 may be arranged on a housing wall 44 of the first housing part 20 or inserted into passages, which are formed in the housing wall 44, respectively. By the housing wall 44 according to Fig. 1 the first cooling duct 24 is bounded towards the receiving portion 38.

[0065] If during mounting or assembly, respectively, of the control device arrangement 10 the further control units 30 are inserted into the receiving portion 38, the cooling ducts 28 of the further control units 30 are very easy to be fluidically connected to the first cooling duct 24.

[0066] Providing the cooling ducts 28 in the further control units 30 moreover allows for avoiding heat transfer materials, such as heat-conducting pads, in the control device arrangement 10, in order to achieve a good heat transfer between the first housing part 20 and the further control units 30. Consequently, it is not required to apply a high contact pressure to compress such heat transfer materials for the purpose of good heat transfer. This facilitates the manufacture of the control device arrangement 10. Moreover, it is not necessary to ensure that the high contact pressure is maintained during operation of the control device arrangement 10, in particular even if during operation stresses such as vibrations or the like occur. This is advantageous in particular with regard to the employment of the control device arrangement 10 in the vehicle 12 (see Fig. 3). As described for the first housing part 20, the further control units 30 may comprise respective module housings 46, which preferably are configured as cast components from an aluminum alloy. According to Fig. 1 the further cooling ducts 28 formed in the module housing 46, which pertain to the respective further control unit 30, are closed towards their top side by respective plate elements 48, which in particular may be formed from an aluminum alloy. As described for the first cooling duct 24, also the plate elements 48, which close the further cooling ducts 28 at the top, may be connected to the respective module housing 46 by welding. Moreover, the module housings 46 according to Fig. 1 may be closed towards their bottom side by a respective bottom housing part 50, one of which may be discerned in Fig. 1 in the exploded view of one of the further control units 30. The bottom housing part 50 pertains to the respective further control unit 30.

[0067] The second housing part 22 of the first control unit 16 in the same way as the bottom housing part 50 of the respective further control unit 30 may be configured as stamped part, that is as component, which for instance may be provided from an aluminum sheet by stamping. In this connection, also a forming of the sheet may take place.

[0068] By the module housing 46 and the bottom housing part 50 of the respective further control unit 30 a receiving space for at least one further circuit board 52 is bounded, which pertains to the respective further control unit 30. Electronic components (not shown in further detail in the present case), which are arranged on the further circuit board 52 and which pertain to the respective further control unit 30, may be cooled by the liquid coolant, which during operation of the control device arrangement 10 flows through the respective further cooling duct 28.

[0069] According to Fig. 1 on a first circuit board 18 a connector part 54 is arranged, via which the first electronic control unit 16 may be supplied with electric energy. In the present case, the supply of the further electronic control units 30 with electric energy is effected via the first circuit board 18. For this purpose, on the further circuit boards 52, which pertain to the respective further control unit 30, respective plug connectors 56 are arranged. The plug connectors 56 may be coupled to corresponding connector elements 58, which are arranged on the first circuit board 18. Accordingly, by the plug connectors 56 circuit board connectors or components of circuit board connectors are provided. Via these plug connectors 56, on the one hand, the further control units 30 may be provided with electric energy. Moreover, the plug connectors 56 are preferably configured for a data transfer between the first electronic control unit 16 and the respective further electronic control unit 30.

[0070] From Fig. 1 it may further be seen that in the housing wall 44, which bounds the receiving portion 38 towards the first cooling duct 24, passages 60 may be formed. Through these passages 60 the plug connectors 56 of the further control units 30 may be coupled to the connector elements 58, which are arranged on the first circuit board 18.

[0071] If the further control units 30 shown in Fig. 1 are introduced into the receiving portion 38, preferably guiding elements, for instance in the form of guiding rails 62, ensure an ordered installation in an installation direction 64, which is illustrated in Fig. 1 by an arrow. By pushing the respective further control unit 30 into the receiving portion 38 in this installation direction 64, on the one hand, the hydraulic coupling of the respective further cooling duct 28 to the first cooling duct 24 and, on the other hand, the electrical connection as well as preferably the connection for data transfer between the circuit boards 18, 52 may be ensured.

[0072] The circuit board connectors are preferably provided by the plug connectors 56 and the connector elements 58 corresponding to the plug connectors 56. At least one such component of the respective circuit board connector preferably has a certain ability to move in the installation direction 64 as well as in the height direction z of the first housing part 20 and / or in the lateral direction y of the first housing part 20. This is because in this way minor deviations of an actual position of the plug connector 56 and / or the connector elements 58 from a nominal position may very easily be compensated for. Moreover, thus, a particularly reliable electrical connection of further circuit boards 52 to the first circuit board 18 may be ensured. The height direction z as well as the lateral direction y and a depth direction x of the first housing part 20 are illustrated in Fig. 1 by a coordinate system.

[0073] The coupling of the further cooling ducts 28 to the first cooling duct 24, which in particular may be effected by connecting the connector pieces 40 to the connector sockets 42, provides for a liquid-tight fluidic connection of the further cooling ducts 28 to the first cooling duct 24. Also with regard to the connector pieces 40 and / or the connector sockets 42 it is advantageous if at least one of these mutually corresponding components is configured to be floating, meaning that it has a certain ability to move in the installation direction 64 as well as in the height direction z of the first housing part 20 and / or in the lateral direction y of the first housing part 20.

[0074] Preferably, the further electronic control units 30 are retained by a respective locking element 66 in a mounting position, in which the control units 30 have reached their respective final position in the receiving portion 38. In Fig. 1 merely one such a locking element 66 is schematically represented. For example, between the locking element 66 and a recess 68 formed at the module housing 46 of the further control unit 30 a snap-fit connection may be created if the respective control unit 30 is in its mounting position. Thereby, the control units 30 are retained very securely in the receiving portion 38, which is formed in the first housing part 20. Upon unlocking the locking element 66 the control unit 30 may be removed again from the receiving portion 38 contrary to the installation direction 64.

[0075] According to Fig. 1 the receiving portion 38 is configured as depression in the first housing part 20, wherein the further control units 30 are arranged sunk in the depression. Accordingly, it may be provided that the further control units 30 in the height direction z of the first housing part 20 may not project beyond sidewalls 70 of the receiving portion 38, which bound the receiving portion 38 in the lateral direction y of the receiving portion 38.

[0076] The coolant system of the control device arrangement 10 enables a heat dissipation from the main circuit board or first circuit board 18 as well as from the circuit boards 52, which pertain to the further control units 30. Since every module in the form of the respective control unit 30 comprises the further cooling duct 28 integrated into the module housing 46, heat may be dissipated very well also from components of the respective further control unit 30, which heat up during operation. Components releasing heat or heating up during operation may for instance be arranged in the form of electronic components (not shown in detail in the present case) on the respective circuit board 52 of the respective further control unit 30.

[0077] According to Fig. 1 the circuit boards 52 of the further electronic control units 30 at an open side of the receiving portion 38 preferably comprise module connectors 72 for connecting for example data lines or communication devices of such kind to the respective further control unit 30.

[0078] In the variant of the control device arrangement 10 shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2, the further control units 30 are inserted into the receiving portion 38 in the installation direction 64, which extends in parallel to a bottom 74 of the receiving portion 38. In the mounting position shown in Fig. 2 the further control units 30 are mechanically connected to the main housing in the form of the first housing part 20. Upon unlocking the respective locking elements 66 (see Fig. 1) the respective further control unit 30 may be removed again from the receiving portion 38 contrary to the insertion direction or installation direction 64 illustrated in Fig. 2 by the arrow.

[0079] In the variant of the control device arrangement 10 shown in Fig. 4, in the receiving portion 38 provided by the first housing part 20 equally three further electronic control units 30 may be arranged in juxtaposition. However, here, too, in further variants it may be deviated from this exemplarily shown number of at least two further control units 30. Also in Fig. 4 the height direction z, the width direction y, and the depth direction x of the first housing part 20 or the first control unit 16, respectively, are illustrated by a coordinate system.

[0080] In the variant shown in Fig. 4, the installation of the further electronic control units 30 does, however, not take place in the horizontal direction which is in Fig. 1 illustrated by the arrow. In Fig. 1 the arrow indicates the installation direction 64, which coincides with the depth direction x. Rather, in the variant shown in Fig. 4, the installation direction 64 extends perpendicular to the bottom 74 of the receiving portion 38 and thus in parallel to the height direction z. This means that the control units 30 during mounting or assembly of the control device arrangement 10 are installed or introduced from the top side into the receiving portion 38. Corresponding guiding elements, which for example may be arranged at one of the sidewalls 70 and / or at the housing wall 44, which bounds the receiving portion 38 in the depth direction x, are not shown in further detail for reasons of clarity.

[0081] Also in the variant of the control device arrangement 10 shown in Fig. 4 the further electronic control units 30 comprise the respective module housings 46, in which the respective further cooling duct 28 is formed. Moreover, as described with regard to Fig. 1 , the further cooling duct 28 is closed towards the top by the respective plate element 48.

[0082] However, in the variant of the control units 30 shown in Fig. 4, the plug connectors, which may be coupled to the connector elements 58, are not shown. This is because the connector elements 58, which pertain to the first circuit board 18, are arranged at the top side of the first circuit board 18. The plug connectors corresponding to these connector elements 58, by contrast, are arranged at the bottom side of the respective further circuit board 52 and are therefore not visible in Fig. 4.

[0083] Accordingly, the respective bottom housing part 50, which pertains to the respective further control unit 30, comprises a first passage opening 76, through which the plug connectors of the respective further control unit 30 may be coupled to the connector elements 58, which pertain to the first circuit board 18. And in the bottom 74 of the receiving portion 38 corresponding apertures 78 are formed, through which the connector elements 58 of the first circuit board 18 are accessible for the plug connectors (not shown) of the further circuit boards 52.

[0084] Moreover, in the variant of the control device arrangement 10 shown in Fig. 4, the connector pieces 40 of the respective further control unit 30 extend downwards from the module housing 46. Thereby, the connector pieces 40 can easily be coupled to the connector sockets 42, which project into the first cooling duct 24, wherein the first cooling duct 24 pertains to the first control unit 16. The first cooling duct 24 is not directly shown in Fig. 4. However, from the size of the plate 32 covering the first cooling duct 24 at the bottom side the approximate spatial extension of the first cooling duct 24 may be derived. This is because the plate 32, which is partly shown in Fig. 4, closes the first cooling duct 24 towards the environment.

[0085] Equally, based on the arrangement of passage openings 80 formed in the bottom 74 of the receiving portion 38, the position of the first cooling duct 24 in the first housing part 20 may be discerned. This is because into these passage openings 80 the connector sockets 42 are introduced, to which the connector pieces 40 may be connected. According to Fig. 4 the circuit board 52, which pertains to the respective further control unit 30, may comprise an opening 82 for the connector pieces 40. Moreover, in the present case in the bottom housing part 50, which is arranged at the respective module housing 46 at the bottom side, a further opening 84 is formed, through which the connector pieces 40 project. If the control units 30 are introduced into the receiving portion 38 in the height direction z or in the installation direction 64 illustrated in Fig. 4 by a further arrow (this means from above), respectively, the further cooling ducts 28 are fluidically connected to the first cooling duct 24. For this purpose, the connector pieces 40 may be connected to the connector sockets 42.

[0086] Moreover, the further circuit boards 52, which pertain to the further control units 30, are connected via the plug connectors (not shown in Fig. 4) to the first circuit board 18. In this way, a supply of the further control units 30 with electrical power is ensured. Preferably, also a data transfer between the further circuit boards 52 and the first circuit board 18 is thereby enabled.

[0087] In Fig. 5 the variant of the control device arrangement 10 shown in Fig. 4 is shown in the mounted or assembled state, respectively. Accordingly, the module connectors 72 of the further control units 30 are accessible from the open side of the receiving portion 38, this means from the side opposite the housing wall 44. This housing wall 44 is configured as rear bounding wall of the receiving portion 38 in the depth direction x of the receiving portion 38.

[0088] However, (unlike in the variant of the control device arrangement 10 shown in Fig. 1) in this rear housing wall 44 there are no apertures for the connector pieces 40 or the connector sockets 42 formed. This is because in the variant of the control device arrangement 10 shown in Fig. 5 the further control units 30 are installed in the height direction z into the receiving portion 38, that is perpendicular to the bottom 74 of the receiving portion 38. The corresponding installation direction 64 is also illustrated by an arrow in Fig. 5.

Claims

Claims1 . Control device arrangement (10) for a vehicle (12), comprising a first electronic control unit (16), which comprises at least one first circuit board (18) and a first cooling duct (24), through which a liquid coolant is capable of flowing, and comprising at least one further electronic control unit (30), which comprises at least one further circuit board (52) and a further cooling duct (28), through which the liquid coolant is capable of flowing, wherein the first cooling duct (24) is formed in a housing part (20) of the first electronic control unit (16), and wherein the cooling duct (28) of the at least one further electronic control unit (30) is fluidically connected to the first cooling duct (24), characterized in that the housing part (20) of the first electronic control unit (16) comprises a receiving portion (38) for the at least one further electronic control unit (30), wherein at least two further electronic control units (30) are arranged in juxtaposition in the receiving portion (38).

2. Control device arrangement (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least two further electronic control units (30) are inserted into the receiving portion (38) in an installation direction (64), wherein the fluidic connecting of the cooling ducts (28) pertaining to the at least two further electronic control units (30) to the first cooling duct (24) is effected by the inserting of the further electronic control units (30) into the receiving portion (38) in the installation direction (64).

3. Control device arrangement (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing part (20) comprises in the receiving portion (38) at least one guiding element (62), wherein the further electronic control units (30) are brought along the at least one guiding element (62) in the installation direction (64) into a mounting position.

4. Control device arrangement (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the further electronic control units (30) are retained in the mounting position by at least one locking element (66), wherein after an unlocking of the at least one locking element (66) the further electronic control units (30) are capable of being removed from the receiving portion (38).

5. Control device arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least one of the further electronic control units (30) is inserted into the receiving portion (38) in an installation direction (64) extending in parallel to a bottom (74) of the receiving portion (38) and / or at least one of the further electronic control units (30) is inserted into the receiving portion (38) in an installation direction (64) extending perpendicular to a bottom (74) of the receiving portion (38).

6. Control device arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the first circuit board (18) a connector part (54) for a supplying of the first electronic control unit (16) with electric energy is arranged, wherein the circuit boards (52) of the further electronic control units (30) are coupled to the first circuit board (18) via respective plug connectors (56), and wherein the further electronic control units (30) are capable of being supplied with electric energy via the plug connectors (56), which is capable of being provided via the connector part (54).

7. Control device arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit boards (52) of the further electronic control units (30) are coupled to the first circuit board (18) via respective plug connectors (56), wherein the plug connectors (56) are configured for a data transfer between the first electronic control unit (16) and the respective further electronic control units (30).

8. Control device arrangement (10) according to claim 6 or 7 in their back reference to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in thata coupling direction in the coupling of the plug connector (56) to the first circuit board (18) substantially coincides with the installation direction (64).

9. Control device arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving portion (38) is provided by a depression formed in the housing part (20) of the first electronic control unit (16), wherein the further electronic control units (30) are arranged sunk in the depression.

10. Control device arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the housing part (20) of the first electronic control unit (16) a coolant connector (34) configured as inlet and a second coolant connector (36) configured as outlet are arranged, wherein the liquid coolant, which is capable of being supplied via the inlet to the first cooling duct (24), starting from the first cooling duct (24), is capable of being introduced into the further cooling ducts (28), and wherein the further electronic control units (30) comprise connector pieces (40), by which the further cooling ducts (28) are connected to the first cooling duct (24).11 . Control device arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further electronic control units (30) comprise respective module housings (46), wherein the further cooling duct (28), which pertains to the respective further electronic control unit (30), is formed in the module housing (46).

12. Control device arrangement (10) according to claim 11 , characterized in that the housing part (20) of the first electronic control unit (16) is larger than the module housings (46) of the further electronic control units (30).

13. Control device arrangement (10) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the housing part (20) of the first electronic control unit (16) is configured as cast component formed in particular from an aluminum alloy and / or the module housings (46) are configured as cast components formed in particular from an aluminum alloy.

14. Vehicle (12) comprising at least one control device arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one control device arrangement (10) is configured to process sensor data capable of being captured by at least one sensor device (14) of the vehicle (12), wherein the at least one sensor device (14) is in particular configured to capture an environment of the vehicle (12).

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