Variable-Height Control Box With Rigid Signal Bridging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic control boxes face challenges in varying the height of their housings, leading to mismatched distances between the electronic controller unit and the human control interface, which requires costly adaptations or cumbersome wiring solutions that are prone to failure.

Innovation Solution

The design of an electronic control box with a housing comprising two parts and a separate rigid information transmitting device to bridge the distance between the controller unit and the human control interface, allowing for standard components to be used across varying distances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the height of the housing is varied to accommodate different distances between controller unit and control interface, then the distance requirement is satisfied, but the housing design becomes non-standard and requires individual production

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance adjustment capabilityVSAvoidhousing production complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part that can be separated from each other. The first housing part contains the electronic controller unit, while the second housing part contains the human control interface. This segmentation allows the housing to be configured in different height arrangements by varying the position or combination of these parts, satisfying different distance requirements without requiring completely custom housing designs for each application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separated housing parts are designed with universal mounting features that allow them to be combined in multiple configurations. The first and second housing parts can be assembled in different arrangements to achieve various heights and distances between the controller unit and control interface, making a single housing design serve multiple functional requirements rather than requiring individual production for each variant.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If flexible cable connections are used between controller unit and control interface, then wiring flexibility is improved, but the wiring becomes cumbersome and prone to failure under vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring flexibilityVSAvoidcable durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A rigid information transmitting device is introduced as an intermediary component between the electronic controller unit and the human control interface. This rigid device serves as a mediator that transmits information while providing mechanical stability and resistance to vibration-induced failures, eliminating the need for flexible cables in the signal transmission path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible cable-based mechanical connection system is replaced with a rigid information transmitting device that provides both mechanical stability and signal transmission. This substitution eliminates the drawbacks of flexible cables regarding vibration sensitivity and connection complexity, while maintaining the necessary information transfer functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If standard components are used for controller unit and control interface, then component availability is improved, but the housing must be individually adapted for each application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent standardizationVSAvoidhousing customization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the housing into separable first and second parts that independently accommodate standard components, the design allows universal standard controller units and control interfaces to be used across different applications. The modular housing structure enables standard components to be mounted in various configurations without requiring custom housing adaptations for each specific application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing parts are designed with universal mounting interfaces and configurations that accommodate standard components across multiple applications. This universality allows the same standard controller units and control interfaces to be deployed in different housing configurations, eliminating the need for individually adapted housings while maintaining application-specific distance requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260013051A1Electronic control box with variable height

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 DANFOSS POWER ELECTRONICS AS

AI summary

The disclosure relates to an electronic control box (1) that includes a housing (2) with at least a first part (3) and a second part (4). The electronic control box (1) further includes an electronic controller unit (5) and at least one human control interface (6). The electronic controller unit (5) is mounted in the first part (3) of the housing (2) and the human control interface (6) is arranged in at least one section of the second part (4) of the housing (2). At least one rigid information transmitting device (7, 8) is used that is designed and arranged to transmit an optical (8) and/or an electrical (7) signal between the electronic controller unit (5) and the human control interface (6). The at least one rigid information transmitting device (7, 8) is placed between the electronic controller unit (5) and the human control interface (6), and is separate from the electronic controller unit (5) and the human control interface (6).