Vehicle sensor

• US 7,819,004 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Steele, Ryan N., Kerby, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US11/905,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20080084005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 734/93, 736/54, 738/65, 739/665, 738/665, 298/41, 298/27, 298/32
• US Class Current: 73/493
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/02 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/284 for encapsulating mounted components H05K1/185 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle sensor assembly includes a housing assembly and a printed circuit board having a plurality of electronic components provided thereon, mounted in the housing assembly. A connector interface is integrally formed with the housing assembly by a polymer overmold. The connector interface includes a shroud member. The shroud member is made of a polymer harder than the polymer overmold.

Claims

1. A sensor assembly for a vehicle sensor, comprising:

a housing assembly;

a printed circuit board having a plurality of electronic components provided thereon, mounted in the housing assembly; and

a connector interface integrally formed with the housing assembly by a polymer overmold,

wherein the connector interface includes a shroud member, and

wherein the shroud member is made of a polymer harder than the polymer overmold.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the polymer overmold is a low-pressure, low temperature polyamide.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the polymer overmold protects the electronic components from thermal stress.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the polymer overmold seals the electronic components from an ambient environment.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud member is made of a hard injection molded polymer.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud member includes a connector locking feature.

7. The sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the connecting locking feature protrudes through an outside portion of the shroud member.

8. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud member is a thin-walled polybutylene terephthalate polymer shroud.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mounting assembly configured to be fastened to a vehicle body.

10. A crash sensor assembly, comprising:

a housing assembly;

a printed circuit board having a plurality of electronic components provided thereon, mounted in the housing assembly; and

a shroud member formed on the housing assembly,

wherein the shroud member is made of a polymer harder than a polymer overmold of the housing assembly.

11. The crash sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the polymer overmold is a low-pressure, low temperature polyamide.

12. The crash sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the polymer overmold protects the electronic components from thermal stress.

13. The crash sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the polymer overmold seals the electronic components from an ambient environment.

14. The crash sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the shroud member is made of a hard injection molded polymer.

15. The crash sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the shroud member includes a connector locking feature.

16. The crash sensor assembly of claim 15, wherein the connecting locking feature protrudes through an outside portion of the shroud member.

17. The crash sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the shroud member is a thin-walled polybutylene terephthalate polymer shroud.

18. The crash sensor assembly of claim 10, further comprising a mounting assembly configured to be fastened to the vehicle.

19. The crash sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the polymer overmold is only molded around a closed end portion of the shroud member.

20. A method for overmolding a crash assembly, comprising:

mounting a printed circuit board having a plurality of electronic components provided thereon, in a housing assembly;

forming a connector interface with the housing assembly by a polymer overmold; and

providing a shroud member in the connector interface made of a polymer harder than the polymer overmold.