Vehicle Steering Device Moisture Sealing via Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle steering devices are prone to errors or failures due to moisture ingress into the electronic control unit, which can lead to malfunctions during autonomous driving, posing safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle steering device design featuring a power pack housing with a motor and substrate housing, where a sealing member is injected through a communication hole to fill the empty space above the printed circuit board and solidify, preventing moisture entry and ensuring the electronic control unit's reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the electronic control unit is exposed to the external environment for normal operation, then the ease of operation and accessibility is improved, but moisture ingress occurs causing errors or failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of electronic control unitVSAvoiderror-free operation of electronic control unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic control unit is divided into two functional parts: the printed circuit board remains accessible within the housing for electrical connections, while the empty space above it is sealed off with a housing cover and filling material. This segmentation allows the operational components to remain accessible while protecting the internal environment from moisture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A housing cover is introduced as an intermediary element between the external environment and the electronic control unit. The cover creates a physical barrier that prevents moisture ingress while maintaining the operational functionality of the printed circuit board through the communication hole.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the electronic control unit is sealed to prevent moisture ingress, then reliability is improved, but accessibility for maintenance and operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure-free operation of electronic control unitVSAvoidaccessibility for maintenance of electronic control unit

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing is applied locally only to the empty space above the printed circuit board, not to the entire electronic control unit. The housing cover seals the upper portion while leaving the printed circuit board accessible through the communication hole, maintaining local accessibility for maintenance while providing protection where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If redundant electronic control units are provided for autonomous driving safety, then reliability during autonomous driving is improved, but the risk of moisture-induced failure in multiple units increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure-free autonomous driving operationVSAvoidmoisture ingress risk to multiple control units

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Each electronic control unit is segmented into a protected zone (empty space above the printed circuit board) and an operational zone (printed circuit board area). The housing cover and filling material create a protective barrier for each unit, allowing multiple redundant units to be deployed without proportionally increasing the moisture ingress risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

The solution effectively prevents errors and failures in the electronic control unit, ensuring the safety of the driver by maintaining the integrity of the steering system during autonomous driving and in dual-unit configurations.

Implementation Method 1

a sealing member injected through the communication hole to fill the empty space and solidified

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInjection molding:

Implementation Method 2

a sealing member injected through the communication hole to fill the empty space and solidified

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change (liquid to solid): Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS20240351632A1Vehicle steering device

Publication Date: 2024.10.24 HL MANDO CORP

AI summary

A vehicle steering device comprises a power pack housing having a motor housing in which a motor is embedded and a substrate housing in which a printed circuit board is embedded; a housing cover forming an empty space above the printed circuit board, coupled to an end of the substrate housing, and having a communication hole for communicating with the empty space; and a sealing member injected through the communication hole to fill the empty space and solidified in the empty space of the housing cover.