Housing for an electronic control device in motor vehicles

• US 6,839,240 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Skofljanec, Robert, Lange, Reinhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, HUNG S
• Application Number:
  US10/253,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 361/752, 361/797, 361/800, 361/714, 361/724, 361/748, 361/825, 361/682, 361/796, 361/760, 361/736, 361/720
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0043 comprising a frame housing mating with two lids wherein the PCB is flat mounted on the frame housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/142 Spacers not being card guides

Abstract

A housing for electronic control devices in motor vehicles comprises a generally parallelepipedal frame of plastics and a metallic envelope with spaced parallel top and bottom walls interconnected by parallel side walls and at least one open face. The top, bottom and side walls define a space and the frame is fitted into such space. The control device includes a printed circuit board and electronic components connected to the printed circuit board and engaged in shaped holding structures of the frame. The printed circuit board is located between the bottom wall and the frame. The printed circuit board is rigidly connected to the metallic envelope by metallic fasteners extending from the top wall through the frame and to the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising an electronic control device for a motor vehicle, and a housing for said electronic control device, said housing comprising a generally parallelepipedal frame of plastics and a metallic envelope with spaced parallel top and bottom walls, parallel side walls interconnecting said parallel top and bottom walls and at least one open face, said top, bottom and side walls defining a space and said frame being fitted into said space, said control device comprising at least one printed circuit board and electronic components connected to said printed circuit board and engaged in shaped holding structures of said frame, said printed circuit board being located between said bottom wall and at least a part of said frame, and said printed circuit board being rigidly connected to said metallic envelope by metallic fasteners extending from said top wall through said frame and to said printed circuit board.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said metallic fasteners comprise elongate cylindrical studs each having a first end rigidly connected to said top wall and a second end connected to said printed circuit board.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second stud ends extend across said printed circuit board and are rigidly connected to said bottom wall.

4. The housing according to claim 2, wherein said studs have internally widening recesses at said first ends and said top wall is caulked to engage into said recesses.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said metallic fasteners establish an electrical ground connection between said envelope and said printed circuit board.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said open face is closed by a front plate carrying a plug socket.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said envelope is made of aluminum by means of flow-molding.

8. Apparatus comprising an electronic control device for a motor vehicle, and a housing for said electronic control device, said apparatus comprising a generally parallelepipedal frame of plastics and a metallic envelope with spaced parallel top and bottom walls, parallel side walls interconnecting said parallel top and bottom walls and at least one open face, said top, bottom and side walls defining a space and said frame being fitted into said space, said control device comprising at least one printed circuit board and electronic components connected to said printed circuit board and engaged in shaped holding structures of said frame, said printed circuit board being located between said bottom wall and at least part of said frame, and said printed circuit board being rigidly connected to said metallic envelope by metallic fasteners, said metallic fasteners comprising studs, each of said studs extending from said top wall through said frame and to said bottom wall of said envelope.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said metallic fasteners each have a step which bears on said printed circuit board.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said envelope has an inner surface and an outer surface and the axial ends of said metallic fasteners are in contact with the inner surface of said envelope after said frame has been fitted into said space defined by said envelope.

11. Apparatus comprising an electronic control device for a motor vehicle, and a housing for said device, said housing comprising a generally parallelepipedal frame of plastics and a metallic envelope with spaced parallel top and bottom walls interconnected by parallel side walls and at least one open face, said top, bottom and side walls defining a space and said frame being fitted into such space, said control device comprising at least one printed circuit board and electronic components connected to said printed circuit board and engaged in shaped holding structures of said frame, said printed circuit board being located between said bottom wall and at least part of said frame, and said printed circuit board being rigidly connected to said metallic envelope by metallic fasteners extending from said top wall through said frame and to said printed circuit board, said metallic fasteners comprising elongate cylindrical studs each having a first end rigidly connected to said top wall end a second end connected to said printed circuit board, said second stud ends extending across said printed circuit board and being rigidly connected to said bottom wall, said studs have internally widening recesses at said second ends end said bottom wall being caulked to engage into said recesses.