Electronic control module having a cover allowing for inspection of right angle press-fit pins

• US 9,293,870 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Koczwara, Lukasz, Baer, James D, Hribar, Edward, Lewandowski, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Gushi, Ross
• Application Number:
  US14/643,318
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/58 terminals for insertion into holes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0069 having connector relating features for connecting the connector pins with the PCB or for mounting the connector body with the housing

Abstract

An electronic control module which has a housing, a cavity formed as part of the housing, and a connector. The control module also includes a plurality of pins, and a portion of the housing is integrally formed around the pins such that a first end of each of the pins are part of the connector, and a second end of each of the pins is located in the cavity. The control module also has a cover with a large portion and a small portion. A sealant is disposed between part of the cover and the housing to provide a seal between the cover and the housing. The small portion of the cover is bendable relative to the large portion to allow an inspection of the pins after the pins are press-fitted into the circuit board as the cover is connected to the housing.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an electronic control module, comprising;

a housing;

a cover having at least one portion that is movable;

a plurality of pins; and

a circuit board connected to part of the cover;

wherein the plurality of pins are press-fitted into the circuit board as the cover is connected to the housing, the plurality of pins are inspected for correct positioning relative to the circuit board, and the at least one portion that is moveable is then attached to the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connector, wherein a first end of each of the plurality of pins is part of the connector.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the connector further comprising a shroud integrally formed as part of the housing, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of pins is disposed within the shroud.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein part of the housing is molded around a portion of each of the plurality of pins.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cavity formed as part of the housing, wherein a portion of the pins are located in the cavity.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sealant disposed between the cover and the housing, such that the sealant provides a sealing function when the cover is attached to the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive, wherein the adhesive connects the cover to the circuit board.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the cover further comprising:

a large portion connected to the circuit board with the adhesive; and

a small portion connected to and movable relative to the large portion;

wherein the small portion is positioned at an angle relative to the large portion when the cover is assembled to the housing, and after the cover is assembled to the housing, the small portion is moved relative to the large portion and connected to the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, each of the plurality of pins further comprising a second end, wherein the second end of each of the plurality of pins is press-fitted into the circuit board as the cover is connected to the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one mounting feature integrally formed with the housing; and

at least one bushing surrounded by the at least one mounting feature;

wherein a fastener is inserted through the at least one bushing to connect the electronic control module to a vehicle.

11. An electronic module, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of pins, each of the plurality of pins having a first end and a second end, a portion of the housing integrally formed around the plurality of pins;

a circuit board;

a cover having a first portion that the circuit board is connected to, and a second portion that is movable relative to the first portion; and

a sealant located on a portion of the cover;

wherein the second portion is in a first position as the cover is connected to the housing, allowing the plurality of pins to be inspected, and after the plurality of pins are inspected, the second portion is moved to a second position and connected to the housing.

12. The electronic module of claim 11, further comprising an adhesive connecting the circuit board to the first portion.

13. The electronic control module of claim 11, the connector further comprising:

a shroud integrally formed with the housing;

wherein the first end of each of the plurality of pins extending out of the housing and surrounded by the shroud.

14. The electronic control module of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one mounting feature integrally formed with the housing; and

at least one bushing surrounded by the at least one mounting feature;

wherein a fastener is inserted through the at least one bushing to connect the electronic control module to a vehicle.

15. The electronic module of claim 11, the first portion of the cover further comprising large portion, wherein the circuit board is attached to the large portion.

16. The electronic module of claim 15, the second portion further comprising a small portion, which is bendable and connected to the housing after the position of each of the plurality of pins is inspected.

17. The electronic module of claim 11, further comprising a cavity formed as part of the housing, wherein a portion of the pins are located in the cavity.

18. An electronic control module, comprising:

a housing;

a cavity formed as part of the housing;

a connector, the connector being part of the housing;

a plurality of pins, each of the plurality of pins having a first end and a second end, a portion of the housing integrally formed around the plurality of pins such that the first end of each of the plurality of pins are part of the connector, and the second end of each of the plurality of pins is located in the cavity;

a sealant;

a cover having a large portion and a small portion, the small portion bendable relative to the large portion, and the sealant is disposed between part of the cover and the housing to provide a seal between the cover and the housing;

a circuit board; and

an adhesive connecting the circuit board to the large portion of the cover;

wherein the small portion of the cover is bendable relative to the large portion to allow an inspection of the plurality of pins after the plurality of pins are press-fitted into the circuit board as the large portion is connected to the housing.

19. The electronic control module of claim 18, the connector further comprising:

a shroud integrally formed with the housing;

wherein the first end of each of the plurality of pins extends out of the housing such that the first end of each of the plurality of pins is substantially surrounded by the shroud.

20. The electronic control module of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one mounting feature integrally formed with the housing; and

at least one bushing surrounded by the at least one mounting feature;

wherein a fastener is inserted through the at least one bushing to connect the electronic control module to a vehicle.

21. The electronic control module of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of pins is configured such that the first end of the plurality of pins is about ninety degrees relative to the second end of each of the plurality of pins.