Recyclable electric junction box applicable to automotive vehicles

• US 7,107,183 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Alonso, Juan Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/904,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20060100822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 702182-185, 702/188, 324/512, 700/1, 701/34
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2642 Testing semiconductor operation lifetime or reliability, e.g. by accelerated life tests
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/74 Testing of fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0201 Thermal arrangements, e.g. for cooling, heating or preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10159 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/163 Monitoring a manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/178 Demolishing, e.g. recycling, reverse engineering, destroying for security purposes; Using biodegradable materials
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/22 Secondary treatment of printed circuits H05K3/1283 takes precedence; embedding circuits in grooves by pressure H05K3/107
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A recyclable electric junction box applicable to automotive vehicles, of the type comprising at least one casing housing a series of circuits inside materialized in one or more printed circuit boards with a series of electroconducting tracks on at least one of its sides, and with a series of components assembled on said plates, welded on said tracks and responsible for carrying out at least one power stage and one signal stage.

Claims

1. A recyclable junction box for use in automotive vehicles comprising:

a recyclable junction box casing suitable for housing;

at least one printed circuit board having a plurality of electro-conducting tracks on at least one side, and further a plurality of components welded on said electro-conducting tracks, said plurality of components comprising at least one power stage and one signal stage;

a detection means for determining the working condition parameters of said plurality of components including at least the type and number of operations carried out by each of said plurality of components;

at least one memory component;

an electronic system for storing said working condition parameters in said memory component, accessing data stored in said at least one memory component, process said data, and calculating an approximate useful remaining life of said recyclable junction box; and

said recyclable junction box provides information to the operator or others as to how to safely disassemble and dispose of said box or components needing replacement.

2. A recyclable junction box according to claim 1, characterized in that said detection means further determines the working condition parameters of said electroconducting tracks.

3. A recyclable junction box according to claim 2, characterized in that said detection means comprises at least one temperature sensor and at least one current sensor.

4. A recyclable junction box according to claim 3, characterized in that said detection means further comprises at least one voltage sensor.

5. A recyclable junction box according to claim 4, characterized in that said detection means comprises:

a plurality of temperature sensors for detecting at least maximum temperatures and minimum temperatures;

a plurality of current sensors for detecting at least maximum currents; and

a plurality of voltage sensors for detecting at least maximum voltages;

said detections being carried out in at least said components.

6. A recyclable junction box according to claim 4, characterized in that said detection means comprises:

a plurality of temperature sensors for detecting at least maximum temperatures and minimum temperatures;

a plurality of current sensors for detecting at least maximum currents; and

a plurality of voltage sensors for detecting at least maximum voltages;

said detections being carried out in at least said different areas of said electro-conducting tracks.

7. A recyclable junction box according to claim 4, characterized in that said detection means comprises:

a plurality of temperature sensors for detecting at least maximum temperatures and minimum temperatures;

a plurality of current sensors for detecting at least maximum currents; and

a plurality of voltage sensors for detecting at least maximum voltages;

said detections being carried out in at least said components and different areas of said electro-conducting tracks.

8. A recyclable junction box according to claim 2, characterized in that said detection means further comprises at least one accelerometer for detecting at least maximum vibration conditions in said recyclable junction box.

9. A recyclable junction box according to claim 2, characterized in that said detection means further comprises at least one hydrometer for detecting internal humidity levels of said recyclable junction box which are above a certain threshold.

10. A recyclable junction box according to claim 2, characterized in that said electronic system comprises at least one microprocessor linked in a two-way connection to said at least one memory component.

11. A recyclable junction box according to claim 2, characterized in that said memory component has stored therein data introduced by the manufacturer related to said recyclable junction box and the contents thereof.

12. A recyclable junction box according to claim 11, characterized in that said data comprises at least the year of manufacture, manufacturer, total weight, hazardous material content, location thereof recyclable material content, list of components that can be reused, and information related to precautions during disassembly of said recyclable junction box.

13. A recyclable junction box according to claim 2, characterized in that said electronic system comprises at least one communication interface to transmit said data stored in said memory component to an external receiver.

14. A recyclable junction box according to claim 13, characterized in that said external receiver is connected to a computer.

15. A recyclable junction box according to claim 14, characterized in that said computer is provided with software for managing and processing said data, and for carrying out a series of calculations using said data.

16. A recyclable junction box according to claim 15, characterized in that said computer carries out an estimate of the approximate remaining useful life of said recyclable junction box and informs the user of the suitable treatment thereof and the possible recycling options at the end of the useful life of said recyclable junction box.