ECU Anti-Theft Structure Using Double-Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-theft structures for electronic control units are prone to mishandling and assembly errors, leading to start failures and operational issues due to vibrations and ambient changes, which can result in the separation of safety brackets from the units.
Innovation Solution
A double-locking mechanism is implemented using assembly brackets and connector mounting grooves with guide protrusions and bracket coupling portions, ensuring secure engagement between connectors and a safety bracket, preventing separation due to external factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a safety bracket is coupled to the IBU using a simple bracket structure, then the anti-theft function is provided, but mishandling and assembly errors occur during coupling, leading to start failures and operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide protrusions and guide grooves as intermediary elements between the bracket and connector. These guide features act as mediators that automatically align and guide the bracket during assembly, preventing mishandling and assembly errors while maintaining the anti-theft function.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide protrusions and guide grooves are pre-formed on the bracket and connector before assembly. This preliminary action of creating guiding features ensures that the bracket automatically aligns correctly during assembly, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment and preventing assembly errors.
2Reliability
If a safety bracket is coupled to the IBU, then theft prevention is achieved, but vibration or ambient changes cause separation of the bracket from the unit
Solution Approach 1:
The guide protrusions and guide grooves serve as intermediary elements that create a stable, precise fit between the bracket and connector. This intermediary mechanism ensures that the bracket remains firmly connected even under vibration or ambient changes, preventing separation while maintaining theft prevention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the alignment and securing function into separate guide protrusions and guide grooves, which are distinct from the main bracket structure. This separation of functions allows the guide features to specifically address stability and prevention of separation, while the bracket maintains its anti-theft function.
3Reliability
If the connector coupling portions are secured to the electronic control unit, then connector separation is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex with multiple coupling components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guide features and coupling portions into an integrated structure where guide protrusions and guide grooves are formed as part of the bracket and connector themselves. This merging approach prevents connector separation while avoiding the need for separate, additional coupling components, thus maintaining structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-theft structure for an electronic control unit which includes an electronic control unit including assembly brackets mounted on both sides thereof and connector mounting grooves formed in an upper portion thereof to be spaced apart from each other; connectors coupled to the connector mounting grooves, and including connector coupling portions therein; and a safety bracket including side coupling portions on both ends of the safety bracket, the side coupling portions being engaged with assembly brackets, and bracket coupling portions corresponding to the connector coupling portions and the bracket coupling portions being engaged with the connector coupling portions.