Automotive control module housing
First Claim
1. An automotive electronic control module assembly comprising:
- a housing defining an inner cavity;
a printed circuit board positioned within said cavity and mounted to said housing;
a cover plate positioned over said cavity to enclose said printed circuit board within said housing;
a plurality of resilient members formed on said housing; and
a retaining surface formed on said cover plate wherein said resilient members engage said retaining surface to securely attach said cover plate to said housing.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automotive control module includes a plastic housing with a snap-fit metal cover. A printed circuit board is positioned within a cavity formed in the housing, and is attached to the housing with a plurality of fasteners. Resilient tabs are formed on side walls of the housing and grip a cover plate surface to define a snap-fit attachment. Once the cover is attached to the plastic housing, the printed circuit board is enclosed within the cavity between the cover and the housing. The cover includes a plurality of heat transfer fins and/or stamped indentations that form surfaces that are positioned in close proximity to the printed circuit board. The cover utilizes these fins and surfaces to form a heat sink for cooling electronics mounted to the printed circuit board.
29 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An automotive electronic control module assembly comprising:
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a housing defining an inner cavity;
a printed circuit board positioned within said cavity and mounted to said housing;
a cover plate positioned over said cavity to enclose said printed circuit board within said housing;
a plurality of resilient members formed on said housing; and
a retaining surface formed on said cover plate wherein said resilient members engage said retaining surface to securely attach said cover plate to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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7-12. -12. (canceled)
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13. An automotive electronic control module assembly comprising:
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a plastic housing including a bottom portion, a first pair of opposing outer side walls extending upwardly from said bottom portion, a second pair of opposing outer side walls extending between both of said first pair of opposing outer side walls and cooperating with said bottom portion to define a cavity, and a pair of opposing inner side walls positioned within said cavity in an orientation parallel to and spaced apart from said first pair of opposing outer side walls;
a printed circuit board positioned within said cavity between said inner side walls;
a cover positioned over said cavity to enclose said printed circuit board within said housing, said cover having a body portion and including at least one heat transfer member that is positioned closer to said printed circuit board than said body portion to form a heat sink to facilitate heat transfer from said printed circuit board to said cover;
a plurality of resilient members formed on said housing; and
a retaining surface formed on said cover wherein said resilient members engage said retaining surface to securely attach said cover to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 32, 33)
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14-16. -16. (canceled)
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18-19. -19. (canceled)
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20. A method for assembling an automotive electronic control module comprising the steps of:
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a) mounting a printed circuit board within a cavity formed within a plastic housing; and
b) enclosing the printed circuit board within the cavity by snapping a cover plate into gripping engagement with the housing to form a secure snap-fit attachment between the housing and the cover plate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 24, 34, 35)
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23. (canceled)
Specification