Sealed electronic control module housing with integral terminal carrier design

• US 10,455,712 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veoneer US Safety Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Veoneer US Inc. (SSW Partners LP)
• Inventors: Malecke, Floyd J., Sanchez, Luis F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US15/941,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20190306998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 439521
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/58 terminals for insertion into holes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/585 Terminals having a press fit or a compliant portion and a shank passing through a hole in the printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/415 by permanent deformation of contact member
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/743 integral with the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/748 using one or more screws H01R13/746 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/20 for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0047 having a two-part housing enclosing a PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0069 having connector relating features for connecting the connector pins with the PCB or for mounting the connector body with the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing

Abstract

An apparatus includes a terminal carrier and a housing shell. The terminal carrier generally comprises a plurality of terminals and a plurality of fastening tabs. The terminals have a first end with a shoulder on a first side of the terminal carrier and a second end on a second side of the terminal carrier with a bend formed a predetermined distance from the second side of the terminal carrier. The housing shell generally has an integral support. The integral support generally comprises a plurality of ports through which the second ends of the terminals extend, with the shoulders on the first end of the terminals providing support to the terminals for a press fit force applied to the first end of the terminals during assembly to a printed circuit board.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a terminal carrier comprising a plurality of terminals and a plurality of fastening tabs, wherein the terminals have a first end with a shoulder on a first side of the terminal carrier and a second end on a second side of the terminal carrier with a bend formed a predetermined distance from the second side of the terminal carrier; and

a housing shell having an integral support, wherein the housing shell and the integral support are formed as a single integrated structure, the integral support comprises one or more tiers, each having a plurality of ports through which the second ends of the terminals extend when the terminal carrier is assembled to the housing shell, with the shoulders on the first end of the terminals providing support to the terminals for a press fit force applied to the first end of the terminals during assembly to a printed circuit board.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a terminal alignment plate configured to align the second ends of the terminals extending through the ports of the integral support of the housing.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integral support of the housing is configured to provide support to the terminals for the press fit force applied to the first end of the terminals during assembly to the printed circuit board by supporting the bend in the second end of the terminals.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fastening tabs of the terminal carrier are configured to provide a snap fit with the integral support of the housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of fastening tabs of the terminal carrier is configured to fastened the terminal carrier to the integral support of the housing with a threaded fastener.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder of each terminal comprises two tabs extending in opposite directions from the terminal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder of each terminal comprises two curved tabs extending in opposite directions from the terminal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder of each terminal comprises two curved tabs extending from the terminal in a U-shape.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each terminal comprises a tapered portion within the terminal carrier that narrows toward the second end of each terminal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of terminals are stitched into the terminal carrier.

11. A sealed restraint control module comprising:

a terminal carrier comprising a plurality of terminals and a plurality of fastening tabs, wherein the terminals have a first end with a shoulder on a first side of the terminal carrier and a second end on a second side of the terminal carrier with a bend formed a predetermined distance from the second side of the terminal carrier; and

a housing shell having an integral support, wherein the housing shell and the integral support are formed as a single integrated structure, the integral support comprises one or more tiers, each having a plurality of ports through which the second ends of the terminals extend when the terminal carrier is assembled to the housing shell, with the shoulders on the first end of the terminals providing support to the terminals for a press fit force applied to the first end of the terminals during assembly to a printed circuit board.

12. The sealed restraint control module according to claim 11, further comprising a terminal alignment plate configured to align the second ends of the terminals extending through the ports of the integral support of the housing.

13. The sealed restraint control module according to claim 11, wherein the integral support of the housing is configured to provide support to the terminals for the press fit force applied to the first end of the terminals during assembly to the printed circuit board by supporting the bend in the second end of the terminals.

14. The sealed restraint control module according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of fastening tabs of the terminal carrier are configured to provide a snap fit with the integral support of the housing.

15. The sealed restraint control module according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of fastening tabs of the terminal carrier is configured to fastened the terminal carrier to the integral support of the housing with a threaded fastener.