Electronic device

• US 6,265,840 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Wiezorek, Hans-Werner, Wolf, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duda, Rina I.
• Application Number:
  US09/464,607
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 361/601, 361/679, 361/704, 361/712, 361/734, 318/139, 318/434, 307/10.1, 307/10.7
• US Class Current: 318/434
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0239 Electronic boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0056 characterized by features for protecting electronic components against vibration and moisture, e.g. potting, holders for relatively large capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20854 Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure H05K7/20863 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic device for a motor vehicle, having an electronics unit designed for switching high currents in a two-part housing, a capacitor unit being arranged in the housing to suppress the interference signals produced by said high currents.

In an electronic device which is easy to manufacture and in which the heat produced by the electronic circuits has no further effect on the operation of the electronic circuit, the capacitor unit, which is designed to have a large surface area, is thermally connected to a first housing part (1), and the electronics unit (8, 9) is thermally connected to a second housing part (2).

Claims

1. An electronic device for a motor vehicle, comprising an electronics unit for switching high currents in a two-part housing, a capacitor unit being arranged in said housing to suppress interference signals produced by said high currents, wherein the capacitor unit (7). which is provided with a large surface area, is thermally connected to a first housing part (1), and the electronics unit (8, 9) is thermally connected to a second housing part (2), wherein the capacitor unit (7) is fitable into a connector unit (6) which is of modular form and is mounted on the first housing part (1).

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said capacitor unit (7) is prestressed against the first housing part (1) by a spring element (22) supported on the second housing part (2).

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a thermally conductive adhesive layer (21) is arranged between the capacitor unit (7) and the first housing part (1).

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein contact elements (16, 17) of the connector unit (6), which are of integral formation and are guided outward, run below the capacitor unit (7) and are connectable to electrical connections of the electronics unit (8, 9) at a bonding surface (18) which faces an interior of the housing.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electronics unit (8, 9) rests flat on the second housing part (2), which is of plate-like form, for the purpose of thermal coupling.

3. An electronic device for a motor vehicle, comprising an electronics unit for switching high currents in a two-part housing, a capacitor unit being arranged in said housing to suppress interference signals produced by said high currents, wherein the capacitor unit (7), which is provided with a large surface area, is thermally connected to a first housing part (1), and the electronics unit (8, 9) is thermally connected to a second housing part (2), wherein a connector unit (6) and the capacitor unit (7) are mechanically mounted independently of one another on the second housing part.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a thermally conductive adhesive layer (21) is arranged between the capacitor unit (7) and the first housing part (1).

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein contact elements (16, 17) of the connector unit (6), which are of integral formation and are guided outward, run below the capacitor unit (7) and are connectable to electrical connections of the electronics unit (8, 9) at a bonding surface (18) which faces an interior of the housing.

7. An electronic device for a motor vehicle, comprising an electronics unit for switching high currents in a two-part housing, a capacitor unit being arranged in said housing to suppress interference signals produced by said high currents, wherein the capacitor unit (7), which is provided with a large surface area, is thermally connected to a first housing part (1), and the electronics unit (8, 9) is thermally connected to a second housing part (2), wherein the two housing parts (1, 2) have a rib-like outer surface (4, 5) which is formed with different thicknesses.

8. An electronic device for a motor vehicle, comprising an electronics unit for switching high currents in a two-part housing, a capacitor unit being arranged in said housing to suppress interference signals produced by said high currents, wherein the capacitor unit (7), which is provided with a large surface area, is thermally connected to a first housing part (1), and the electronics unit (8, 9) is thermally connected to a second housing part (2), wherein the first housing part (1) holds individual capacitor elements (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e) forming the capacitor unit (7).

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein an inner surface of the first housing part (1) has semicircular depressions (23) corresponding to an outer contour of the capacitor elements (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e).

10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the capacitor elements (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e) form two regions (28, 29) which are isolated by baffle plates (30, 31) which connect the capacitor elements (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e) to different electrical potentials.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the baffle plates are approximately L-shaped.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first housing part (1) rests on a hybrid frame (34) which is connected to the second housing part (2), which bears the electronics unit (8, 9), with a form fit.