Connector Cover Clearance Structure for Compact Waterproof Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic units face challenges in achieving high waterproofness while maintaining a compact size, as increased protrusions for water diffusion can lead to larger sizes and reduced compactness.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a case with a cover and through holes, featuring first and second clearance portions with the first clearance being larger and extending to the second while maintaining a constant clearance, preventing water entry through capillary phenomena and eliminating the need for water pooling, thus enhancing waterproofness without increasing size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a diffusion pocket is formed in the case to diffuse water droplets, then waterproofness is improved, but the size of the electronic control unit increases due to increased connector protrusion in the horizontal direction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from horizontal water diffusion (requiring large protrusions) to vertical water discharge (requiring minimal protrusion). By forming the water discharge hole in the bottom surface of the case and utilizing vertical gravity-driven flow, the connector protrusion in the horizontal direction is minimized while maintaining effective waterproofing through a different spatial dimension approach
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing water to enter and then diffusing it horizontally within the case (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by preventing horizontal water accumulation and directly discharging water vertically downward through the bottom surface, reversing the water management strategy from horizontal containment to vertical expulsion
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively increases the waterproofness of electronic units while keeping them compact, preventing water entry through gaps between the cover and case or connectors, and reducing the case's size by eliminating the need for additional water pooling regions.
Implementation Method 1
a first clearance portion and a second clearance portion are provided in at least one of a portion located between the cover and the case at a position of the opening and a portion located between the cover and the connector at a position of the through hole, a clearance in the first clearance portion is larger than a clearance in the second clearance portion, the second clearance portion is located on an inner side of the case relative to the first clearance portion, and the first clearance portion extends and reaches the second clearance portion while maintaining a constant clearance
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic unit includes: a case; a circuit board; and a cover, wherein a portion of a connector, which is provided on the circuit board, to be connected to a mating connector is exposed to the outside through a through hole of the cover, a first clearance portion and a second clearance portion are provided in at least one of a portion located between the cover and the case at a position of the opening and a portion located between the cover and the connector at a position of the through hole, a clearance in the first clearance portion is larger than a clearance in the second clearance portion, the second clearance portion is located on an inner side of the case relative to the first clearance portion, and the first clearance portion extends and reaches the second clearance portion while maintaining a constant clearance.