ECU Housing Partition Recess for Compact Sensor Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic control units for vehicle behavior control devices have a large housing size due to the protrusion of the sensor accommodating portion from the external face, which increases the overall size and weight of the unit.
Innovation Solution
The electronic control unit features a housing with a first room for electric parts and a second room for the sensor and control boards in a stacked condition, where the sensor accommodating portion is formed to protrude into the first room using a recess in the partition portion, allowing efficient use of internal space and eliminating the need for external protrusion, and includes a conductive shielding member to separate and ground electrical noises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sensor accommodating portion protrudes from the external face of the housing, then the sensor can be easily accessed for inspection and adjustment, but the housing size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement by forming the sensor accommodating portion to protrude into the first room (internal space) rather than outward from the external face. This dimensional repositioning allows sensor accessibility while maintaining compact housing external dimensions, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and housing volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor accommodating portion is nested within the housing structure by utilizing the internal first room space. The partition portion with recess creates a nested configuration where the sensor portion is contained within the housing boundaries, eliminating external protrusion while preserving access capability.
2Ease of repair
If the sensor and control board are accommodated separately, then the sensor can be inspected and adjusted independently, but the housing requires larger area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the housing into distinct first and second rooms using a partition portion, with the sensor accommodated in the first room and the control board in the second room. This segmentation enables independent sensor inspection and adjustment while maintaining compact overall area through vertical stacking rather than horizontal expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of arranging the sensor and control board side-by-side in the same plane (horizontal arrangement), the patent uses vertical stacking with the sensor in the first room and control board in the second room. This dimensional change from horizontal to vertical arrangement reduces the required area while preserving independent access capability.
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 design miniaturizes the housing, reduces the number of parts, and enhances detection accuracy by shielding electrical noises and heat, while allowing for efficient inspection and adjustment of sensors without affecting the control board, thus making the entire control unit compact and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor accommodating portion is formed so as to protrude into the first room using an opening formed in the partition portion for separating the first room and the second room from each other, and the sensor is accommodated in the sensor accommodating portion
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control unit which includes: a sensor board to which a sensor for detecting a predetermined physical quantity is attached; a control board which controls an operation of an electric part based on the physical quantity detected by the sensor; and a housing which accommodates the sensor board and the control board, wherein the housing has a first room for accommodating the electric part, a second room for accommodating the sensor board and the control board in a stacked condition, and a partition portion for separating the first room and the second room from each other, wherein a recess which is opened to the second room is formed in the partition portion, and a sensor accommodating portion for accommodating the sensor is formed using the recess.