Steering Control Device PCB Segmentation for Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering systems with electric motors and control devices lack effective insulation, leading to potential failures due to electrically conductive particles and inefficiencies in installation, component, performance, and cost efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a printed circuit board featuring an electrically non-conductive separating section that separates independent subsystems, providing improved insulation and redundancy, along with a communication unit for secure communication between subsystems, ensuring no unwanted electrical connections and maintaining system integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple independent subsystems are integrated on a single printed circuit board, then component efficiency and installation space efficiency are improved, but the risk of unwanted electrical connections between subsystems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printed circuit board is divided into separate regions by non-conductive separating sections that electrically isolate different subsystems. This segmentation allows multiple independent subsystems to coexist on a single board while preventing unwanted electrical connections, thus maintaining both component efficiency and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Non-conductive separating sections act as intermediary elements between conductive traces and subsystems. These separating sections serve as physical and electrical barriers that prevent direct contact between different subsystems, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of conductive particles while allowing the subsystems to remain integrated on the same board.
2Reliability
If redundant subsystems are implemented for controlling the electric motor, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple redundant subsystems are merged onto a single printed circuit board, combining their functions while maintaining electrical isolation through separating sections. This merging approach achieves system redundancy for improved reliability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity, as the subsystems share common mounting space and structural support.
3Reliability
If conductive particles are present in the assembly, then manufacturing complexity increases, but without separating sections, both subsystems would fail simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
Non-conductive separating sections are incorporated into the printed circuit board design beforehand to prevent unwanted electrical connections between subsystems. This preliminary protective measure ensures that even if conductive particles are present during manufacturing or operation, they cannot bridge the isolation barriers, thereby preventing simultaneous failure of both subsystems without requiring additional protective components.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device, in particular a steering control device, includes (i) an electronics unit that has at least two separate and mutually independent subsystems for controlling an electric motor and/or for detecting at least one operating variable of the electric motor, and (ii) a printed circuit board on which the electronics unit is arranged. The printed circuit board has at least one electrically non-conductive separating section which electrically separates the two subsystems from one another.