An ECU for a vehicle and a mounting assembly of a fan module with ecu

Abstract

The ECU 100 comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 112 with at least input / output (I / O) interface 108 and a power supply circuitry. The ECU 100 also comprises a housing 102 enclosing the PCB 112 (also referred to as main / primary PCB 112). The housing 102 is either a single encapsulated molding or combination of base and cover. A fan module 104 is mounted to an external surface of the housing 102, characterized in that, the fan module 104 is electrically connected to the PCB 112 using a floating connector assembly 110 and through an opening 114 in the external surface. In contrast to conventional solution where ECU 100 is connected to the fan module 104 through an external harness, the present invention provides a solution by integrating the fan module 104 to the PCB 112 of the ECU 100. A sealing member is provided at an interface of the opening 114.

Description

FORM 2THE PATENTS ACT, 1970(39 of 1970) & The Patents Rules 2003COMPLETE SPECIFICATION(SECTION 10 and Rule 13)1. Title of the invention:AN ECU FOR A VEHICLE AND A MOUNTING ASSEMBLY OF A FAN MODULE WITH ECU2. Applicants: a. Name: Bosch Global Software Technologies Private Limited Nationality: INDIAAddress: 123, Industrial Layout, Hosur Road, Koramangala, Bangalore - 560095, Karnataka, India b. Name: Robert Bosch GmbHNationality: GERMANYAddress: Postfach 30 02 20, 0-70442, Stuttgart, GermanyComplete Specification:The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.Field of the invention:

[0001] The present invention relates to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for a vehicle and a mounting assembly of a fan module with the ECU.Background of the invention:

[0002] In conventional design or integration of a fan module with an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), the fan module is connected to a harness externally to an Input / Output (VO pins) interface of the ECU. This creates additional component, cost increase and additional manufacturing and assembly steps.

[0003] According to a prior art US10021775, a circuit board and fan frame connection structure is disclosed. The circuit board and fan frame connection structure includes a fan frame, a circuit board and an adhesive member having multiple through holes. The fan frame includes a bottom board, a bearing cup disposed at the center of the bottom board and multiple perforations formed through the bottom board. The bottom board has an upper surface and a lower surface. The circuit board is adhered to the lower surface of the bottom board via the adhesive member. The electronic components arranged on the circuit board pass through the aligned through holes and perforations.Brief description of the accompanying drawings:

[0004] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings,

[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for a vehicle and an isometric cut-section view of the ECU, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded cross-section view and an assembled crosssection view of the ECU, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

[0007] Fig. 3 illustrates the housing of the ECU and different views of a fan module, according to an embodiment of the present invention.Detailed description of the embodiments:

[0008] Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for a vehicle and an isometric cut-section view of the ECU, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ECU 100 comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 112 with at least input / output (VO) interface 108 and a power supply circuitry. The ECU 100 also comprises a housing 102 enclosing the PCB 112 (also referred to as main / primary PCB 112). The housing 102 is either a single encapsulated molding or combination of base and cover as shown in the Fig. 1. A fan module 104 is mounted to an external surface of the housing 102, characterized in that, the fan module 104 is electrically connected to the PCB 112 using a floating connector assembly 110 and through an opening 114 in the external surface. A first isometric view 124 shows the ECU 100 with detached fan module 104. A second isometric view 126 shows the cut-section of the ECU 100 without the base cover.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the floating connector assembly 110 comprises a first connecting portion 120 and a second connecting portion 122 (shown in Fig. 2). The first connecting portion 120 is electrically connected to the PCB 112 of the ECU 100 and the second connecting portion 122 is electrically connected to a PCB of the fan module 104. The first connecting portion 120 and the second connecting portion 122 enable plug-and-play connection. The first connecting portion 120 and the second connecting portion 122 are selected from a plug and socket type connecting elements for engagement. In an alternative, the first connecting portion 120 is electrically connected to the PCB of the fan module 104 and the second connecting portion 122 is electrically connected to the PCB of the ECU 100.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the housing 102 and the fan module 104 are structurally connected through guiding features comprising guiding grooves 116 and guiding protrusion 118. In an embodiment, the guiding protrusion 118 is provided on the housing 102 and the guiding grooves 116 are provided in the fan module 104. In another embodiment the guiding protrusion 118is provided on the fan module 104 and the guiding grooves 116 are provided on the housing 102. The guiding features enables X and Y direction alignment of the fan module 104 before the mating engagement of the first connecting portion 120 and the second connecting portion 122.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a sealing member (not shown) is positioned on the external periphery of the opening 114. The sealing member seals the interface between the opening 114 of the housing 102 and a contact surface of the fan module 104. In an embodiment, the fan module 104 is fixed to the housing 102 through at least one of fasteners 126 and snap mechanism. This ensures that the opening 114 is sealed and protected from ingress of dust and water or moisture.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the housing 102 comprises fins 106 positioned beside an outlet port 306 (shown in Fig. 3) of the fan module 104. The fan module 104 discharges air through the outlet port 306 which is further directed by the fins 106 to enable temperature control of the housing 102. The fan module 104 takes in air through an inlet port 304 (shown in Fig. 3).

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the speed of fan in the fan module 104 is directly controlled by the ECU 100 through board-to-board connection established through the floating connector assembly 110. The ECU 100 comprises an internal temperature sensor mounted on the PCB according to which the fan speed is adjusted in closed-loop manner.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mounting assembly for the fan module 104 with the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 100 of the vehicle is disclosed. The ECU 100 comprises the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 112 with at least input / output interface 108 and the power supply circuitry, and housing 102 enclosing the PCB 112. The mounting assembly is characterized in that, a structuralconnection, and an electrical connection of the fan module 104 with the housing 102 of the ECU 100 is done in a modular manner.

[0015] The structural connection comprises engagement between the guiding grooves 116 and the guiding protrusion 118 provided in the fan module 104 and the housing 102 of the ECU 100. The electrical connection comprises use of the floating connector assembly 110 which comprises engagement between the first connecting portion 120 electrically connected to the PCB of the ECU 100 and the second connecting portion 122 electrically connected to the PCB of the fan module 104.

[0016] According to the present invention, the ECU 100 is refers to computing devices / units comprising components such as memory element such as Random Access Memory (RAM) and / or Read Only Memory (ROM), Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), Digital-to-Analog Convertor (DAC), clocks, timers, and a processor (such as Central Processing Unit (CPU)) (capable of implementing machine learning) connected with each other and to other components through communication bus channels over the PCB 112. The components mentioned are just for understanding and may have more or less components as per requirement. The memory element is prestored with map, table, model, modules, logics, instructions, programs, applications, threshold deviation, or values, which is accessed by the at least one processor as per the defined routines. The internal components of the ECU 100 are not explained for being state of the art, and the same must not be understood in a limiting manner. The ECU 100 is capable to communicate through wired and wireless means such as but not limited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), 3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, serial networks, Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable, micro-USB, and the like.

[0017] Further, the processor may be implemented as any or a combination of one or more microchips or integrated circuits interconnected using a parent board, hardwired logic, software stored in the memory element and executed by amicroprocessor, firmware, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and / or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The processor is configured to exchange and manage the processing of various Artificial Intelligence (Al) modules.

[0018] Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded cross-section view and an assembled crosssection view of the ECU, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In a first cross-section view 200 shows an exploded view of the fan module 104 and the housing 102. The guiding protrusion 118 are visible which are on interior side. The second connecting portion 122 is electrically connected (such as soldering) to the PCB 112. The opening 114 is formed as a port to accommodate the second connecting portion 122.

[0019] A second cross-section view 210 shows an assembled view of the fan module 104 with the ECU 100. The first connecting portion 120 mates with the second connecting portion 122 to establish the electrical connection through the floating connector assembly 110. Simultaneously, the fan module 104 is structurally or physically fixated to the housing 102 through guiding features and fasteners 126 or snap mechanism.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the housing 102 for the ECU 100 of the vehicle is disclosed. The housing 102 made up of heat conducting material such as aluminum and comprises fins 106 on one part and a slot provided on the same surface but on the remaining part to accommodate the fan module 104. The surface is defined with the opening 114 to accommodate the second connecting portion 122 which mates with the first connecting portion 120 of the fan module 104. The housing 102 also comprises one part of the guiding features, i.e. any one of the guiding protrusion 118 and the guiding grooves 116, and the fan module 104 comprises the other of the guiding feature. In addition, the fins 106 and the fan module 104 are flush design so that the packaging is as per the mounting position of the ECU 100 in the vehicle.

[0021] Fig. 3 illustrates the housing of the ECU and different views of a fan module, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A first view 300 of the ECU 100 is shown without the fan module 104. The surface 302 is where the fan module 104 is mounted. The guiding feature comprising the guiding protrusions 118 are clearly visible. The guiding protrusions 118 are also referred to as guiding ribs. A second view 308 shows the fan module 104 with respective guiding grooves 116. A third view 310 shows the inlet port 304 on the fan module 104.

[0022] According to the present invention, the ECU 100 integrated with the fan through floating connector assembly 110 is disclosed. In contrast to conventional solution where ECU 100 is connected to the fan module 104 through an external harness, the present invention provides a solution by integrating the fan module 104 to the PCB 112 of the ECU 100. The additional wiring harness for the fan module 104 and corresponding cost is eliminated. The present invention enables the integration of the fan module 104 to the housing 102 using simple floating connector assembly. The present invention eliminates wiring harness from vehicle architecture and makes the ECU manufacturer responsible for operation of the fan module 104. The present invention enables the optimization of the fan speed based on ECU internal temperature which otherwise was completely open loop. The floating connector assembly 110 connects main / primary PCB 112 of the ECU 100 and the secondary PCB of the fan module 104. The fan module 104 is connected to the main PCB 112 of the ECU 100 without additional wiring harness using Board- to-Board floating connector assembly 110. The fan module 104 comprises sealing member (or component) which enables proper Ingress Protection (IP) sealing for the opening 114 for the fan module 104. The fan module 104 provides very easy plug-and-play mechanism to replace the fan module 104 in field without any special tools and without damaging the sealing member.

[0023] It should be understood that the embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained inthe description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

Claims

We Claim:

1. An Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (100) for a vehicle, said ECU (100) comprises: a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (112) with at least input / output interface (108) and a power supply circuitry; a housing (102) enclosing said PCB (112), and a fan module (104) mounted to an external surface of said housing (102), characterized in that, said fan module (104) electrically connected to said PCB (112) using a floating connector assembly (110) and through an opening (114) in said external surface.

2. The ECU (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said floating connector assembly (110) comprises a first connecting portion (120) and a second connecting portion (122), wherein said first connecting portion (120) is electrically connected to PCB (112) of said ECU (100) and said second connecting portion (122) is electrically connected to a PCB of said fan module (104), wherein said first connecting portion (120) and said second connecting portion (122) enable plug-and-play connection.

3. The ECU (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing (102) and said fan module (104) are structurally connected through guiding features comprising guiding grooves (116) and guiding protrusion (118).

4. The ECU (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sealing member is positioned on an external periphery of the said opening (114), said sealing member seals an interface between said opening (114) of said housing (102) and a contact surface of said fan module (104).

5. The ECU (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said fan module (104) is fixed to said housing (102) through at least one of fasteners (126) and snap mechanism.

6. The ECU (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing (102) comprises fins (106) positioned beside an outlet port of said fan module (104), said fan module (104) discharges air through said outlet port which is further directed by said fins (106) to enable temperature control of said housing (102).

7. The ECU (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein speed of fan in said fan module (104) is directly controlled by said ECU (100) through board- to-board connection established through said floating connector assembly (110).

8. A mounting assembly for a fan module (104) with an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (100) of a vehicle, said ECU (100) comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (112) with at least input / output interface (108) and a power supply circuitry, and housing (102) enclosing said PCB (112), characterized in that, a structural connection and an electrical connection of said fan module (104) with a housing (102) of said ECU (100) is done in a modular manner.

9. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said structural connection comprises engagement between a guiding grooves (116) and a guiding protrusion (118) provided in said fan module (104) and said housing (102) of said ECU (100).

10. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said electrical connection comprises use of a floating connector assembly (110) whichcomprises engagement between a first connecting portion (120) electrically connected to said PCB (112) of said ECU (100) and a second connecting portion (122) electrically connected to a PCB of said fan module (104).Dated 9 August 2024 (Digitally signed)Siddharth Karkhanis (IN / PA- 1195) On-behalf of the Applicants

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