Stacked PCB Electronic Control Device with Angled Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic control devices face challenges in reducing their overall size and increasing the number of mountable electronic elements due to the restricted size of printed circuit boards, which limits their functionality and convenience.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with an opening portion and multiple printed circuit boards, where a first printed circuit board is shorter than a second one connected through a substrate, with connector pins and guide portions that allow for a compact configuration, enabling more electronic elements to be mounted without increasing the device's size. The connector unit includes angled outer connector covers and press-fit connections to optimize space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electronic elements are mounted on a single printed circuit board, then the control functionality is improved, but the board size and device overall size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The printed circuit board is divided into multiple separate PCBs (first PCB and second PCB) that are stacked vertically and connected through substrate connecting portions. This segmentation allows electronic elements to be distributed across multiple smaller boards rather than crowding a single large board, thereby maintaining control functionality while reducing the overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-plane PCB layout to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. Multiple PCBs are arranged in the vertical dimension (thickness direction) and connected via substrate connecting portions, effectively utilizing the Z-axis to increase mounting capacity without expanding the device's footprint or overall volume.
2Quantity of substance
If the printed circuit board size is increased to accommodate more electronic elements, then the number of mountable elements increases, but the housing length and connector length increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the electronic element mounting function across multiple smaller PCBs stacked vertically. Each PCB can be kept compact while collectively accommodating more electronic elements through the stacked arrangement, thus avoiding the need to increase individual board size or housing length.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple PCBs are nested in a vertical stack within the housing, with each board positioned above or below the other. The substrate connecting portions enable electrical connection between nested boards, allowing high element density without increasing the horizontal dimensions of the housing.
3Quantity of substance
If a single large printed circuit board is used, then electronic element mounting capacity increases, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large complex PCB, the system segments the functionality across multiple standard-sized PCBs. Each PCB can be designed and manufactured independently with standard layouts, reducing individual board complexity while achieving high element capacity through vertical stacking and substrate connections.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an electronic control device including: a housing which has an opening portion formed at one side thereof; printed circuit boards which are inserted into the housing; and a connector unit which includes connector pins coupled to the printed circuit boards and closes the opening portion of the housing, in which the printed circuit boards include a first printed circuit board, and a second printed circuit board which is connected to one side of the first printed circuit board through a substrate connecting portion and provided below the first printed circuit board, the connector unit includes a first connector pin connected to the first printed circuit board and a second connector pin connected to the second printed circuit board, and an outer connector cover of the connector unit is disposed to be directed upward.