Electronic control device and jig device therefor having casing inclination compensating part

• US 6,275,385 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sahara, Fujio, Fujimura, Toshio, Shigemura, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, TUAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/419,898
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 361/727-730, 361/683-688, 439/297-298
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0039 having a tubular housing wherein the PCB is inserted longitudinally
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1414 with power interlock

Abstract

Ribs are unitarily formed on an outer wall surface of a casing to compensate for an inclination of an inner wall surface corresponding to a draw angle provided for molding the inner wall surface. The direction of pins of a casing connector which connects an electronic control circuit of a printed circuit board accommodated within the casing to external wiring coincides with the direction of insertion of a checker connector. Alternatively, a protrusion or recess may be formed on a jig device on which the casing is placed for connection to an operation checking apparatus.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

an electronic control device having a printed circuit board, a casing having a pair of non-parallel side walls to accommodate the printed circuit board therebetween and an opening at a top end surface of the casing, and a casing connector mounted on the printed circuit board near the opening, the casing connector being held in non-parallel relation with the side walls;

a jig device having a plane to hold the electronic control device thereon so that the casing connector may be connectable to a checker connector held movably for checking an operation of the electronic control device by a checking apparatus; and

an inclination compensating part provided on one of the electronic control device and the jig device to maintain the casing connector and the checker connector in a non-inclined relation therebetween.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inclination compensating part includes a rib formed unitarily on an outer wall surface of one of the side walls of the casing which is placed on the plane of the jig device.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the rib has a thickness which corresponds to an angle of inclination of the printed circuit board relative to the side walls of the casing.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein the thickness of the rib decreases as it extends toward the opening.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the rib extends continuously from the opening to a bottom of the casing.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the rib is formed adjacent and parallel to a bottom of the casing opposite the opening.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inclination compensating part includes an inclined part provided on the jig device.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein the inclined part has a raised part at a position opposite to the checker connector.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inclination compensating part comprises first and second ribs formed on one side wall of the casing.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein the ribs extend continuously from the opening to a bottom of the casing.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein the ribs are formed near a bottom side of the casing, opposite the opening.

12. A method for connecting an electronic control device to a jig device, the electronic control device including a printed circuit board, a casing having a pair of non-parallel side walls to accommodate the printed circuit board therebetween and an opening at a top end surface of the casing, and a casing connector mounted on the printed circuit board near the opening, the casing connector being held in non-parallel relation with the side walls, said jig device including a plane to hold the electronic control device thereon so that the casing connector may be connectable to a check connector fixed for checking an operation of the electronic control device by a checking apparatus, said method comprising:

maintaining a non-inclined relation between the casing connector and the checker connector by providing an inclination compensating part on one of the electronic control device and the jig device; and

causing a relative movement between the jig device and the electronic control device in a direction in which the casing connector and the checker connector face each other to connect the check connector with the casing connector.