Control device with a holding device having a multitude of screw passage openings and being arranged between two printed circuit boards and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (10) for a vehicle, comprising at least a first printed circuit board (20) and a second printed circuit board (22), wherein the printed circuit boards (20, 22) are arranged in a stacking direction (18) one above the other in a housing (16) of the control device (10). The control device (10) comprises a holding device (32), by which the printed circuit boards (20, 22) are arranged in the housing (16) at a distance from one another. The holding device (32) is arranged between the printed circuit boards (20, 22) and has a multitude of intersections (34), at which walls (36) of the holding device (32) converge. In at least some of the intersections (34) passage openings (38) are configured, wherein through at least two of the passage openings (38) fastening elements (30) are passed. The printed circuit boards (20, 22) are fixed by the fastening elements (30) to a housing part (24) of the housing (16). Moreover, the invention relates to a vehicle with such a control device (10).

Description

[0001] Control device with a holding device having a multitude of screw passage openings and being arranged between two printed circuit boards and vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a control device for a vehicle, comprising at least a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit boards are arranged in a housing of the control device in a stacking direction one above the other. The control device comprises a holding device, by which the printed circuit boards are arranged in the housing at a distance from one another. Moreover, the invention relates to a vehicle with at least one such control device.

[0003] Document US 10 624 226 B1 describes an information processing system with a plurality of printed circuit boards, which are arranged one above the other within a computer housing. The printed circuit boards in this connection are retained by a mount bracket, which is configured to support the circuit boards.

[0004] In the subject matter of document US 10 624 226 B1 via the mount bracket a robust fixation of the printed circuit boards in the housing cannot be achieved.

[0005] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a control device of the initially mentioned kind, in which a particularly flexible and at the same time robust fixation of the printed circuit boards is realized, and to indicate a vehicle with such a control device.

[0006] This objective is solved by a control device having the features of claim 1 and by a vehicle having the features of claim 11 . Advantageous configurations with expedient further developments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0007] The control device for a vehicle according to the invention comprises at least a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board. The printed circuit boards are arranged in a housing of the control device in a stacking direction one above the other. The control device comprises a holding device by which the printed circuit boards are arranged in the housing at a distance from one another. In this connection the holding device is arranged between the printed circuit boards, and the holding device comprises a multitude of intersections, at which walls of the holding device converge. In at least some of the intersections passage openings are configured, wherein through at least two of the passage openings fastening elements are passed. The printed circuit boards are fixed by the fastening elements to a housing part of the housing.

[0008] Due to the configuration of the holding device with a multitude of intersections a very large number of passage openings may be provided in the holding device, which may be used for passing the fastening elements through. For the purpose of fixing the printed circuit boards to the housing part of the housing by the fastening elements the respective fastening element, to start with, passes through the first printed circuit board, then through the passage opening configured in the intersection, and subsequently through the second printed circuit board. By the fixing of the fastening elements to the housing part of the housing a particularly robust fixation of the printed circuit boards in the housing is realized. In this connection the respective fastening element is passed through the two printed circuit boards and through the passage opening configured in the intersection.

[0009] The fixation is moreover particularly flexible. This is because since the holding device comprises a multitude of intersections and in at least some of the intersections the passage openings are configured, those passage openings may be used for fixing the printed circuit boards to the housing which are particularly easily accessible with regard to equipping the respective printed circuit board with electronic components and / or conductor paths. Consequently a very high flexibility is given. This is because, depending on the design of the respective printed circuit board, that is depending on an arrangement of electronic components and / or conductor paths on the respective printed circuit board, a conveniently situated passage opening may be used for passing the respective fastening element through, wherein the passage opening is configured in one of the intersections. It is for instance convenient to use a passage opening which is in alignment with a portion of the respective printed circuit board, in which no components or conductor paths interfere with or impair the passing of the fastening element through the respective printed circuit board. This is advantageous.

[0010] By arranging the holding device between the two printed circuit boards, moreover, vibrations of the printed circuit boards during the operation of the control device may be largely avoided. This is in particular advantageous when using the control device in the vehicle since during driving operation of the vehicle mechanical stresses on the control device, such as in the form of shocks and / or vibrations, may occur.

[0011] Moreover, due to passing the fastening elements through the two printed circuit boards and the passage opening of the holding device configured in the intersection a warpage and / or a bending and / or a crack formation in the printed circuit boards may be largely avoided. Thus, it may in particular be prevented that due to a deformation of the printed circuit boards a contact of the printed circuit boards with one another occurs in spots that are not intended for this. Moreover, functionally adverse effects on the printed circuit boards may thus be avoided. Both is advantageous.

[0012] Moreover, passage openings or holes in the printed circuit boards may be arranged specifically where passage openings are configured in intersections of the holding device. This is beneficial for a high flexibility with regard to the equipping of the printed circuit boards with electronic components and conductor paths.

[0013] Moreover, the configuration of the holding device with the walls converging at the intersections advantageously provides for a distance to be present between the printed circuit boards, which substantially corresponds to a height of the walls extending in the stacking direction. This is in particular advantageous if at least one of the sides of the printed circuit boards, which face each other, is equipped with electronic components. This is because the height of the walls may very simply be chosen in such a way that an arrangement of components on these sides of the printed circuit boards, which are facing each other, is possible particularly unhindered.

[0014] In particular, thereby components may be arranged on at least one of the sides of the printed circuit boards, which face each other, that have a relatively large height in the stacking direction. This is because by providing a correspondingly larger height of the walls in the stacking direction, which preferably coincides with an axial direction of the passage openings, installation space for such components may be very easily provided between the printed circuit boards.

[0015] Since the holding device comprises the walls, which converge at the intersections or merge into one another at the intersections, respectively, the holding device in comparison to a mount of solid design has an advantageously low weight. With regard to a correspondingly low weight of the control device this is beneficial. Moreover, the holding device with the walls converging at the intersections may be manufactured with little effort. This is advantageous for a cost-effective manufacturing of the control device.

[0016] In particular due to the multitude of the intersections and the passage openings configured in at least some of the intersections, depending on the concept of the equipping of the printed circuit board a very flexible fixation of the printed circuit boards to the housing part of the housing may be realized. Consequently, respective holding devices of similar kind for control devices with differently equipped printed circuit boards can be used. This is advantageous for a multi-purpose usability of the holding device.

[0017] Preferably, the walls of the holding device form a grid, which comprises a multitude of recesses, wherein the recesses are bounded in the circumferential direction by the walls. By providing the recesses, installation space for electronic components arranged on at least one of the sides of the circuit boards, which face each other, may be provided very easily. And by the arrangement of these components within a recess, which in the circumferential direction is bounded by the walls, a good electromagnetic shielding of the components may be advantageously achieved, if the walls are made from an electrically conductive material. By the configuration of the holding device as grid the holding device is moreover mechanically very stable. This, too, is advantageous.

[0018] Preferably, the walls of the holding device form a polygonal honeycomb structure. Thereby, the large number of intersections may very easily be provided, wherein in at least some of these intersections the passage openings are configured. The polygonal honeycomb structure moreover is beneficial for a high mechanical stability and a low weight of the holding device.

[0019] In particular the walls of the holding device can form a hexagonal honeycomb structure. Thereby, at particularly low material input a particularly large number of intersections may be provided. Besides, the walls then bound hexagonal recesses in the circumferential direction. This is advantageous for providing relatively large recesses in relation to the amount of material to be provided for the walls. This is because a maximally dense packing of the recesses may be achieved if the walls form the hexagonal honeycomb structure. Moreover, depending on the use case, the size of the hexagonal recesses may be very easily adapted to the design of the respective printed circuit board. Preferably, the holding device comprises a frame, which surrounds the intersections circumferentially. Hereby ends of some of the walls at respective terminal spots merge into the frame. By the frame, which surrounds the totality of the intersections circumferentially, the holding device is imparted with a particularly high stability.

[0020] Moreover, if the frame is made from an electrically conductive material, by the frame a very good electromagnetic shielding of electronic components and / or conductor paths arranged on the printed circuit boards can be achieved. By the shielding which can be effected by the frame of the holding device accordingly an electromagnetic influencing of the components and / or conductor paths as well as an emitting of electric and / or magnetic fields into the environment of the circuit boards may be limited to a particularly large extent. Consequently, a high performance of the control device with regard to the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) may be achieved. This is advantageous.

[0021] In particular the frame may be integrally formed with the walls. This is advantageous in terms of uniform properties of the holding device and a simple manufacturability of the holding device.

[0022] At least a subportion of the frame may project perpendicularly to the stacking direction beyond an edge of at least one of the printed circuit boards. This is in particular advantageous to achieve an electromagnetic shielding of electronic components and / or conductor paths located on the printed circuit board towards the environment.

[0023] Preferably, in at least one further subportion of the frame the edge of at least one of the printed circuit boards projects perpendicularly to the stacking direction beyond the frame. Thus, a size of the holding device may be configured to a particularly large extent independent of a size of the printed circuit boards. This is advantageous with regard to the high flexibility when using the holding device.

[0024] Preferably at least some of the walls comprise positioning lugs, which engage corresponding slots, wherein the slots are configured in the printed circuit boards. This is beneficial for a very vibration-resistant and robust fixation of the printed circuit boards.

[0025] Moreover, as part of the manufacturing of the control device by introducing the positioning lugs in the slots of the printed circuit boards a pre-fixation of the printed circuit boards relative to the holding device may be very easily ensured. Following such a pre-fixation the fastening elements may be very easily passed through the two printed circuit boards and through the passage openings configured in the intersections and then be fixed to the housing part of the housing. This is advantageous.

[0026] In particular if the walls are made from an electrically conductive material, at least some of the positioning lugs may, moreover, very well be used for connecting the printed circuit boards in the manner of a grounding to a common reference potential. With regard to a high electromagnetic compatibility of the control device this is advantageous.

[0027] Preferably, the holding device is made from an electrically conductive material, wherein the printed circuit boards for the purpose of connecting to a reference potential are connected via the fastening elements to the housing part of the housing. By such a connecting of the printed circuit boards to the reference potential in the manner of a grounding adversely occurring electric currents may be diverted into the housing of the control device. This is advantageous with regard to an avoidance of disturbances in the operation of the control device. In particular, when installing the control device into the vehicle, the reference potential of the housing may be equal to a mass potential of the vehicle which can in particular be configured as a motor vehicle.

[0028] By making the holding device from an electrically conductive material in addition to connecting the printed circuit boards to the same reference potential, moreover, advantageously a cavity resonance may be avoided to a particularly large extent. A cavity resonance may occur if within a conductive enclosure during operation of the printed circuit boards electromagnetic operating frequencies occur, which correspond to the resonant frequency of the enclosure. In particular if the housing is made from an electrically conductive material, by the holding device made from the electrically conductive material therefore the occurring of such a cavity resonance may be avoided to a particularly large extent.

[0029] In particular the complete holding device may be made from an electrically conductive metal. This is particularly advantageous for a good electromagnetic shielding, for a simple and secure connecting of the printed circuit boards to a common reference potential, as well as for avoiding or limiting the cavity resonance. Preferably, by narrow sides of some of the walls contacting regions of the holding device are formed, wherein the respective printed circuit board in the contacting regions abuts on the holding device. Moreover, the respective printed circuit board in sections of the holding device, which are different from the contacting regions, is spaced apart from the narrow sides of the walls. In this way an occurring of mechanical stresses in the printed circuit boards may be avoided particularly easily. Besides, the fixation of the printed circuit boards to the housing part of the housing turns out to be particularly easy if during the manufacturing or mounting of the control device the respective fastening element is passed in the contacting region of the holding device through the associated passage opening.

[0030] Preferably, the fastening elements are configured as screw bolts, wherein end portions of the screw bolts are screwed into the screw domes, which are formed on the housing part of the housing. By such a screwing of a subassembly comprising the printed circuit boards and the holding device arranged between the printed circuit boards to the housing part, a particularly stable and vibration-resistant fixation of the printed circuit boards in the housing is achievable.

[0031] In particular, at the housing part of the housing screw domes may be formed anywhere where the intersections of the holding device have passage openings. However, merely those screw domes need to be used, in which for the fixation of the printed circuit boards to the housing screw bolts are actually screwed in. This is advantageous with regard to a high flexibility when using a housing part of similar kind for different control devices.

[0032] Preferably, the housing part, to which the printed circuit boards are fixed by the fastening elements, is configured as housing bottom part of the housing. In this connection, the housing comprises a housing top part, which is fixed to the housing bottom part. By the housing bottom part and the housing top part a receiving space is bounded, in which the printed circuit boards of the control device are arranged. Thereby, the printed circuit boards are arranged in the control device in a particularly well-protected manner.

[0033] The vehicle according to the invention comprises at least one control device according to the invention. Thus, by the printed circuit boards of the control device in the vehicle a high computing power may be provided. The control device may in particular pertain to a driver assistance system of the vehicle. Preferably, the at least one control device is configured for processing sensor data, which is capable of being captured by at least one sensor device of the vehicle. This is because in particular when processing such sensor data a high computing power of the control device is advantageous. Therefore, it is beneficial that the control device comprises the at least two printed circuit boards.

[0034] The at least one sensor device of the vehicle is preferably configured for capturing an environment of the vehicle. This is based on the insight that sensor data, which are provided by environmental sensors of a vehicle, are relatively challenging in terms of a processing by the at least one control device. Therefore, the high computing power of the control device is advantageous for processing the sensor data provided by the environmental sensors of the vehicle.

[0035] The sensor device configured for capturing the environment of the vehicle may for example comprise or include at least one camera and / or at least one radar device and / or at least one Lidar device and / or at least one ultrasonic sensor device or the like. Such sensor devices are advantageous if the environment of the vehicle for instance is to be captured for an assisted and / or at least partially automated driving of the vehicle.

[0036] The advantages and preferred embodiments described for the control device according to the invention also apply to the vehicle according to the invention and vice versa.

[0037] 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:

[0038] Fig. 1 in a schematic exploded view a control device for a vehicle, wherein between two printed circuit boards of the control device a holding device with a hexagonal honeycomb structure is arranged, and wherein during the manufacturing or mounting of the control device a subassembly of the control device comprising the printed circuit boards and the holding device is screwed to a housing bottom part of a housing of the control device;

[0039] Fig. 2 schematically the vehicle, which comprises the control device according to Fig. 1 as well as at least one sensor device;

[0040] Fig. 3 a top view of the holding device as well as of one of the two printed circuit boards in a stacking direction of the printed circuit boards;

[0041] Fig. 4 the frame-like holding device in a perspective view as well as an enlarged sectional view of a positioning lug pertaining to the holding device, which in the mounted state of the control device engages a slot, wherein the slot is configured in one of the printed circuit boards; and

[0042] Fig. 5 in a schematic sectional view a section of the printed circuit boards as well as the holding device of the control device arranged between the printed circuit boards.

[0043] In the figures same elements or elements having the same function are provided with identical reference signs.

[0044] Fig. 1 schematically shows a control device 10 as it may be employed in a vehicle 12 (see Fig. 2) that is for instance configured as a motor vehicle. In the vehicle 12 the control device 10 may in particular be provided for processing sensor data, which during operation of the vehicle 12 are captured by at least one sensor device 14 of the vehicle 12 (see Fig. 2). For example the sensor device 14 may be configured for capturing an environment of the vehicle 12 and for example be provided by at least one camera. In particular, the processing of sensor data of the sensor device 14, which is configured for capturing an environment of the vehicle 12, involves a high computational effort. Therefore, it is an advantage if the control device 10 has a high computing power. For this purpose, in a housing 16 of the control device 10 at least two printed circuit boards 20, 22 of the control device 10 are arranged one above the other in a stacking direction 18, which in Fig. 1 is illustrated by an arrow. According to Fig. 1 the first printed circuit board 20 with regard to the stacking direction 18 is arranged above the second printed circuit board 22. Depending on the arrangement of the control device 10 in the vehicle 12 the stacking direction 18, however, does not need to coincide with a height direction of the housing 16, as shown in Fig. 1 .

[0045] The housing 16 of the control device 10 comprises a first housing part in the form of a housing bottom part 24 as well as a further housing part in the form of a housing top part 26. In the fully mounted control device 10, when the housing top part 26 is fixed to the housing bottom part 24, by the housing bottom part 24 and the housing top part 26 a receiving space 28 is bounded, in which the printed circuit boards 20, 22 of the control device 10 are arranged.

[0046] For fixing the printed circuit boards 20, 22 to the housing bottom part 24 fastening elements are employed, which in Fig. 1 are schematically and exemplarily shown as screw bolts 30. The screw bolts 30 in this connection, to start with, pass through the first printed circuit board 20, then through a holding device 32 arranged between the printed circuit boards 20, 22 and subsequently through the second printed circuit board 22. For this purpose in the printed circuit boards 20, 22 screw passage openings or similar holes are configured, which in the present case are not shown in detail for reasons of clarity.

[0047] From Fig. 1 in particular in a combined view with Fig. 4 it is evident that the holding device 32 comprises a multitude of intersections 34, at which walls 36 of the holding device 32 converge or merge into one another.

[0048] In the design exemplarily shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 4, in which the walls 36 of the holding device 32 form a hexagonal honeycomb structure, exactly three walls 36 converge at an intersection 34. Accordingly, in the holding device 32 a multitude of intersections 34 are configured, from which for reasons of clarity merely some are provided with a reference sign. In at least some of these intersections 34 in the present case passage openings 38 are configured. This circumstance, namely the configuration of the passage openings 38 in at least some of the intersections 34, in Fig. 1 is merely shown schematically in an enlarged detailed view of one of the hexagonal honeycombs of the honeycomb structure.

[0049] However, for instance from Fig. 1 it may clearly be seen that even if merely some of the intersections 34 have such passage openings 38, in the holding device 32 quite a few passage openings 38 are configured. Moreover, these passage openings 38 are arranged to be distributed very well across the surface of the respective printed circuit board 20, 22. Through at least two of these passage openings 38 the fastening elements are passed during mounting or manufacturing of the control device 10 for fixing the printed circuit boards 20, 22 to the housing bottom part 24, wherein the fastening elements according to Fig. 1 are preferably configured as the screw bolts 30.

[0050] During this fixation of the printed circuit boards 20, 22 to the housing bottom part 24 end portions of the screw bolts 30 are screwed into screw domes 40, which are formed on the housing bottom part 24 of the housing 16. In Fig. 1 the housing bottom part 24 and the housing top part 26 are not shown in a perspective view. Nevertheless, the arrangement of the screw domes 40 on the housing bottom part 24 corresponding to the screw bolts 30 is evident.

[0051] The holding device 32 in the present case is made from an electrically conductive material, such as for example from a metal. In this connection, the holding device 32 provides for the two printed circuit boards 20, 22 to be electrically conductively coupled to one another at least in one location provided for this purpose. Moreover, by fixing the printed circuit boards 20, 22 to the housing bottom part 24 a connecting of the printed circuit boards 20, 22 to a reference potential is realized, in particular by the screw bolts 30 being screwed into the screw domes 40 of the housing bottom part 24. The holding device 32 thus, on the one hand, provides for a kind of grounding of the printed circuit boards 20, 22. In addition, by the holding device 32 an electromagnetic shielding of electronic components 42 (see Fig. 5) arranged on the printed circuit boards 20, 22 and of conductor paths of the printed circuit boards 20, 22, which are presently not shown in further detail, is ensured.

[0052] From Fig. 5 in this regard it is further evident that the providing of walls 36 of the holding device 32 entails that also on the sides of the printed circuit boards 20, 22, which face each other, relatively high electronic components 42 may be arranged. This is because within recesses 44, which are bounded in the circumferential direction by the walls 36, even relatively high electronic components 42 of the respective printed circuit board 20, 22 may be arranged.

[0053] In Fig. 5 lines 46 illustrate a height, until which the components 42 may respectively extend in an unhindered way in the stacking direction 18 towards the opposite printed circuit board 20, 22. The arrangement of the components 42 within the recesses 44, which are bounded in the circumferential direction by the walls 36 of the holding device 32, leads to a very specific electromagnetic shielding of these components 42. The same applies in analogy to the conductor paths (not shown) of the respective printed circuit board 20, 22. In particular from Fig. 5 and Fig. 1 it is evident that also at least one of the sides of the respective printed circuit board 20, 22 facing away from each other may be equipped with electronic components 42 and / or conductor paths.

[0054] According to Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 the holding device 32 comprises a frame 48, which circumferentially surrounds the totality of the intersections 34. In this connection, ends of some of the walls 36 at terminal spots 50 merge into the frame 48. In Fig. 4 this merging of the walls 36 into the frame 48 at the terminal spots 50 is exemplary illustrated for one of the walls 36 by a reference sign.

[0055] From the top view of the second printed circuit board 22 with the holding device 32 arranged in the stacking direction 18 above the second printed circuit board 22 in Fig. 3 it can be discerned well that subportions 52 of the frame 48 may project perpendicularly to the stacking direction 18 beyond an edge 54 of the printed circuit board 22. In further subportions 56 of the frame 48, however, the edge 54 of the printed circuit board 22 may project perpendicularly to the stacking direction 18 beyond the frame 48.

[0056] In particular, from the enlarged detailed view in Fig. 4 it is well discernible that some of the walls 36 may comprise positioning lugs 58, which engage corresponding slots 60 that are configured in the respective printed circuit board 20, 22. The positioning lugs 58 of the holding device 32, on the one hand, serve for the mechanical fixation of the printed circuit boards 20, 22. Moreover, by the positioning lugs 58 an electrically conductive connection between the printed circuit boards 20, 22 to spots intended for this purpose may be established. Accordingly, the positioning lugs 58 may also be used for the grounding of the printed circuit boards 20, 22 or connecting of the printed circuit boards 20, 22 to a common reference potential. By the holding device 32, which comprises the many intersections 34 and a multitude of passage openings 38, a very high flexibility with regard to the positioning of the fastening elements, in the present case in the form of screw bolts 30, is provided when they pass through the printed circuit boards 20, 22 and are screwed into the screw domes 40. This is beneficial as the screw bolts 30 in this way are passed at those locations through the printed circuit boards 20, 22, where this can be easily realized with regard to the arrangement of the electronic components 42 and / or the conductor paths on the printed circuit boards 20, 22. Moreover, due to providing of the holding device 32 between the two printed circuit boards 20, 22 also high electronic components 42 may easily be arranged on the printed circuit boards 20, 22, without major restrictions existing in this connection.

[0057] Moreover, the holding device 32 provides for a very robust fixation of the printed circuit boards 20, 22 to the housing bottom part 24 or such a housing part of the housing 16. In particular, by the holding device 32 it is effectively avoided that in the operation of the control device 10 in the vehicle 12 a bending of the printed circuit boards 20, 22 and / or vibrations of the printed circuit boards 20, 22 occur. In addition, the frame 48 and the walls 36 provide for a good shielding with regard to an electromagnetic influencing of the printed circuit boards 20, 22 and an emitting of electric and / or magnetic fields into the environment of the printed circuit boards 20, 22.

[0058] The size of the holding device 32 advantageously need not match the size of the respective printed circuit board 20, 22 (see Fig. 3). Nevertheless, by the holding device 32 both a good electromagnetic shielding as well as a robust support of the printed circuit boards 20, 22 in the housing 16 of the control device 10 may be achieved.

[0059] In particular from Fig. 4 it may be discerned that by narrow sides of some of the walls 36 contacting regions 62 of the holding device 32 may be formed, wherein the respective printed circuit board 20, 22 in at least one of the contacting regions 62 abuts on the holding device 32. In Fig. 4 in this regard only one such contacting region 62 is provided with a reference sign. However, from Fig. 4 it is evident that in this contacting region 62 the walls 36 have a larger height in the stacking direction 18 than further walls 36 of the holding device 32. Accordingly, the hexagonal honeycomb structure contacts the respective printed circuit board 20, 22 preferably not over its entire surface, but merely in these contacting regions 62. In particular in these contacting regions 62 the passage openings 38 of the intersections 34 may be formed, through which the screw bolts 30 are passed or entered for the purpose of fastening the printed circuit boards 20, 22 to the housing bottom part 24. The holding device 32 advantageously results in a stiffening of a subassembly which comprises the printed circuit boards 20, 22 and the holding device 32. This, too, is beneficial for a vibration-resistant fixation of the printed circuit boards 20, 22 in the housing 16 of the control device 10. Moreover, the holding device 32 advantageously provides for a reduction of a cavity resonance in the operation of the control device 10.

Claims

Claims1 . Control device (10) for a vehicle (12), comprising at least a first printed circuit board (20) and a second printed circuit board (22), wherein the printed circuit boards (20, 22) are arranged in a housing (16) of the control device (10) in a stacking direction (18) one above the other, and wherein the control device (10) comprises a holding device (32), by which the printed circuit boards (20, 22) are arranged in the housing (16) at a distance from one another, characterized in that the holding device (32) is arranged between the printed circuit boards (20, 22) and has a multitude of intersections (34), at which walls (36) of the holding device (32) converge, wherein in at least some of the intersections (34) passage openings (38) are configured, wherein through at least two of the passage openings (38) fastening elements (30) are passed, and wherein the printed circuit boards (20, 22) are fixed by the fastening elements (30) to a housing part (24) of the housing (16).

2. Control device (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the walls (36) of the holding device (32) form a grid, which comprises a multitude of recesses (44), wherein the recesses (44) are bounded in the circumferential direction by the walls (36).

3. Control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the walls (36) of the holding device (32) form a polygonal honeycomb structure, in particular a hexagonal honeycomb structure.

4. Control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding device (32) comprises a frame (48), which surrounds the intersections (34) circumferentially, wherein ends of some of the walls (36) at respective terminalspots (50) merge into the frame (48), which is in particular integrally formed with the walls (36).

5. Control device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that at least a subportion (52) of the frame (48) projects perpendicularly to the stacking direction (18) beyond an edge (54) of at least one of the printed circuit boards (20, 22), wherein in at least a further subportion (56) of the frame (48) the edge (54) of at least one of the printed circuit boards (20, 22) projects perpendicularly to the stacking direction (18) beyond the frame (48).

6. Control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the walls (36) comprise positioning lugs (58), which engage corresponding slots (60), wherein the slots (60) are configured in the printed circuit boards (20, 22).

7. Control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding device (32) is made from an electrically conductive material, wherein the printed circuit boards (20, 22) for the purpose of connecting to a reference potential via the fastening elements (30) are connected to the housing part (24) of the housing (16).

8. Control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by narrow sides of some of the walls (36) contacting regions (62) of the holding device (32) are formed, wherein the respective printed circuit board (20, 22) in the contacting regions (62) abuts on the holding device (32), and wherein the respective printed circuit board (20, 22) in sections of the holding device (32), which are different from the contacting regions (62), is spaced apart from the narrow sides of the walls (36).

9. Control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe fastening elements are configured as screw bolts (30), wherein end portions of the screw bolts (30) are screwed into screw domes (40), which are formed on the housing part (24) of the housing (16).

10. Control device (10) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing part, to which the printed circuit boards (20, 22) are fixed by the fastening elements (30), is configured as housing bottom part (24) of the housing (16), wherein the housing (16) comprises a housing top part (26), which is fixed to the housing bottom part (24), and wherein by the housing bottom part (24) and the housing top part (26) a receiving space (28) is bounded, in which the printed circuit boards (20, 22) of the control device (10) are arranged.11 . Vehicle (12) comprising at least one control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one control device (10) is configured for processing sensor data, which is 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 for capturing an environment of the vehicle (12).

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