Automotive liquid-cooled electronic control apparatus

• US 4,893,590 A
• Filed: 09/28/1988
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kashimura, Yuichi, Suda, Seiji, Watanabe, Shizuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US07/250,064
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.31, 123/195 E, 165/80.4, 174/15.1
• US Class Current: 123/41.31
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/30 Circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/18 Packaging of the electronic circuit in a casing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3005 Details not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20872 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

An electronic control apparatus for use in an automobile has a base of a good thermal conductivity having one side disposed in contact with engine cooling water. Semiconductor devices are disposed on the other side of the base so that the semiconductor devices are maintained at the temperature of the engine cooling water, whereby the influence of high ambient air temperature to the semiconductor devices is reduced.

Claims

1. An electronic control apparatus for use in an automobile, comprising:

(a) a base having a passage defined therein for circulation of an engine cooling water and semiconductor devices disposed on a side of said base, said base being made of a material having a good thermal conductivity; and

(b) an enclosure fixed to said side of said base to hermetically cover said semiconductor devices;

wherein a flow control valve is disposed at an inlet side of said passage, said flow control valve being arranged to open when a temperature of said engine cooling water has reached a predetermined temperature.

2. An electronic control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a temperature sensor is disposed on said base.

3. An electronic control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a knock sensor is disposed on said base.

4. An electronic control apparatus for use in an automobile, comprising:

(a) a base having a passage defined therein for circulation of an engine cooling water and semiconductor devices disposed on a side of said base, said base being made of a material having a good thermal conductivity; and

(b) an enclosure fixed to said side of said base to hermetically cover said semiconductor devices;

wherein a board for carrying said semiconductor devices is disposed between said base and said enclosure, input and output units being disposed between said board and said base, and an arithmetic unit and a data storage device being disposed between said board and said enclosure.

5. An electronic control apparatus for use in an automobile, comprising:

(a) a first passage for cooling water formed in a wall of an intake manifold of an engine and having an opening which communicates with said first passage and opens to atmosphere;

(b) a base mounted on said intake manifold so as to cover said opening of said first passage, said base having one side in which a second passage for circulation of the cooling water is formed, said second passage communicates with said opening and said first passage and another side on which semiconductor devices are disposed, said base being made of a material having a good thermal conductivity; and

(c) an enclosure fixed to said another side of said base to hermetically cover said semiconductor devices.

6. An electronic control apparatus for use in an automobile, comprising:

a base of a material having a good thermal conductivity;

a closure member;

said base having one side cooperating with said closure member to define a passage for the circulation of an engine cooling water; and

semiconductor devices disposed on the other side of said base wherein a board for carrying said semiconductor devices is disposed between said base and an enclosure, said enclosure covering the other side of said base and said semiconductor devices, input and output units being disposed between said board and said base and an arithmetic unit and a data storage device being disposed on said board.

7. An electronic control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a flow control valve is disposed at the inlet side of said passage, said flow control valve being arranged to open when the temperature of said engine cooling water has reached a predetermined temperature.

8. An electronic control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a temperature is disposed on said base.

9. An electronic control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a knock sensor is disposed on said base.

10. An electronic control apparatus for use in an automobile, comprising:

a portion of an engine intake manifold which has a passage for cooling water and an opening which communicates with said passage;

a base mounted on said intake manifold so as to cover said opening of said first passage, said base having one side facing said opening so that said one side is exposed to the cooling water;

said base being made of a material having a good thermal conductivity;

semiconductor devices disposed on the other side of said base; and

an enclosure fixed to said base to hermetically cover said semiconductor devices.