Electronic Device, Drying Assembly and Method

Abstract

A control device in a vehicle has an electronic housing in which control components are accommodated, and a drying assembly having a dryer housing in which a hygroscopic drying agent is accommodated and which has at least one opening communicating with the electronic housing. The drying assembly is adapted such that the opening prevents the passage of the drying agent into the electronic housing.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising: an electronic housing in which control components are accommodated; and a drying assembly having a dryer housing in which a hygroscopic drying agent is accommodated and which has at least one opening communicating with the electronic housing, wherein the drying assembly is adapted such that the opening prevents the passage of the drying agent into the electronic housing.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a grid or screen that is provided in the dryer housing, and wherein the drying agent is fixed or retained in the dryer housing via the grid or the screen.

3. The electronic device according to claim, wherein the dryer housing is detachably connected to the electronic housing.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the dryer housing is configured to be at least substantially or sectionally rigid, wherein the rigid section of the dryer housing is provided with a fastener that releasably connects the dryer housing to the electronic housing.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a regeneration device that is configured to regenerate the drying agent.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the regeneration device comprises at least one PTC heating element which is convectively and/or radiantly coupled to the drying agent.

7. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the regeneration device is accommodated in the dryer housing.

8. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the dryer housing is configured in at least two parts and forms an accommodation chamber for the drying agent and a separate accommodation chamber for the regeneration device.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a PTC heating element which is electrically connected to the electronic device, which can be controlled by at least one of the control components, and which is configured for heating a heat carrier.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to be installed in a vehicle.

11. A drying assembly for a control device in a vehicle, wherein the control device comprises an electronic housing with control components accommodated therein, the drying assembly comprising: a rigid dryer housing in which a hygroscopic drying agent is accommodated and which comprises at least one opening communicating with the electronic housing, wherein the drying assembly is adapted such that the opening prevents passage of the drying agent into the electronic housing.

12. The drying assembly according to claim 11, wherein the dryer housing has a further opening formed therein.

13. The drying assembly according to claim 11, wherein the drying assembly comprises a regeneration device for regenerating the drying agent and/or a fastener for releasable connecting the drying assembly to an electronic housing

14. A method for operating a control device in a vehicle, comprising: cyclically recycling, via a regeneration device, a hygroscopic drying agent exposed to the atmosphere inside the electronic device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Further details and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. Therein:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows an electronic device comprising a drying assembly, which is arranged in a vehicle, in a schematic side view,

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a further electronic device with a drying assembly comprising a regeneration device in a schematic side view,

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a further electronic device, in which a drying assembly is placed, in a schematic side view,

[0044] FIG. 4 shows an electronic device comprising a drying assembly electrically connected to a PTC heating element for heating a heat carrier in a perspective schematic view, and

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a method for regenerating a drying agent by way of a regeneration device in a schematic view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an electronic device 10. This is a control device in a vehicle F containing the device 10 and shown abstractly framing the device 10. The control components 14 accommodated in an electronic housing 12 are configured, for example, for controlling a drive motor of the vehicle F, which is configured as an electric vehicle. Moreover, the electronic housing 12 has air L which may contain moisture. The device 10 comprises a drying assembly 20.

[0047] In a rigid dryer housing 22 of the drying assembly 20 containing air L, more specifically in an accommodation chamber 34 of the dryer housing 22, a hygroscopic drying agent 24 containing activated aluminum oxide is accommodated. The dryer housing 22 includes an opening 26 communicating with the electronic housing 12. The drying assembly 20 is adapted such that the opening 26 prevents the drying agent 24 from passing into the electronic housing 12 because the opening 26 is sufficiently small relative to the drying agent 24, and because the opening 26 is provided with a membrane 28 that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor.

[0048] A retainer 30 formed as a grid is arranged in the dryer housing 22. The grid fixes the drying agent 24 in the dryer housing 22 in the lower area. In the upper area, another retainer 30 is provided to further prevent the passage of the drying agent 24 into the electronic housing 12.

[0049] The dryer housing 22 is detachably connected to the electronic housing 12 by means of a fastener 32 configured in particular as a cylindrical external thread, in that it is screwed there into a fastener 32 configured as a threaded bore. Via the connection at the fastener 32, the opening 26 is directed into the electronic housing 12, so that here the drying agent can enter into fluid communication with the volume or the air L therein.

[0050] In particular, the fastener 32 seals within itself or the fastener 32 seal against each other. This is because the fastener 32 of the dryer housing 22 has a sealing means 33 configured as a sealing ring, which circumferentially abuts and seals the electronic housing 12. Alternatively, the thread can be configured conically to achieve a seal by compression.

[0051] The dryer housing 22 includes another opening 27 which is in communication with the environment U of the electronic housing 12 and can accommodate, dehumidify and deliver air L therethrough to the electronic housing 12. The further opening 27 is provided with a further membrane 28 and a one-way valve 29, in particular to prevent water from entering the dryer housing 22 from the vehicle and to prevent air from escaping away from the electronic housing 12. The valve 29 is also temperature-sensitive or has a thermostat and opens above a predetermined or predeterminable temperature.

[0052] The further opening 27 is opposite, or more precisely diagonally opposite, the opening 26. The fastener 32 is arranged between the further opening 27 and the opening 26. The further opening 27 thus enables pressure equalization of the electronic housing 12.

[0053] The dryer housing 22 is further provided with a lock 23 in the form of a screw cap, by means of which the dryer housing 22 is configured to be openable. The dryer housing 22 can be unscrewed thanks to the lock 23, for example in order to replace the drying agent 24.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of an electronic device 10. This device 10, too, can be used in the same way as the device 10 of FIG. 1 of a vehicle F, which is however hidden in the present case. The device 10 is a control device with an electronic housing 12, in which two control components 14 are accommodated, and which otherwise has air L or humid air L. A drying assembly 20 having a dryer housing 22 containing air L is in fluid communication with the electronic housing 12 or with the air L therein via an opening 26 provided with a membrane 28. The drying assembly 20 is screwed to the electronic housing 12 via fastener 32, wherein an external thread on the dryer housing 22 is configured conically and therefore seals in a clamping manner in the cylindrical internal thread of the electronic housing 12, in particular wherein Teflon tape is applied to the external thread here to improve the sealing. The drying assembly 20 can thus keep the electronic housing 12 free of atmospheric moisture or water vapor.

[0055] The dryer housing 22 is configured in two parts and has two accommodation chambers 34, 36 which are separated from one another by a partition wall 38. In this regard, the partition wall 38 causes the accommodation chambers 34, 36 to be thermally coupled. For example, the partition wall 38 can transmit or conduct a heat flow between the accommodation chambers 34.

[0056] In an accommodation chamber 34, which is the upper accommodation chamber 34 in FIG. 2, a drying agent 24 is accommodated, wherein the drying agent 24 is fixed between two retainers s 30 configured as a grid. Another retainer 30 is arranged near the opening 26. The opening 26 prevents the drying agent 24 from passing into the electronic housing 12 because it is smaller than the drying agent 24 and due to the membrane 28.

[0057] In the dryer housing 22, there is further arranged an indicator 39 that can be used to determine the saturation of the drying agent 24. The indicator 39 may also determine a humidity and/or temperature within the dryer housing 22.

[0058] In the other accommodation chamber 36, a regeneration device 40 is accommodated for regeneration, i.e. treatment or dehumidification, of the drying agent 24, which in the present case has five PTC heating elements 42. The mass of the PTC heating elements 42, for example, is accessible via electrical poles 44 projecting from the end face of the dryer housing 22. At the height of the partition wall 38, an electrical pole 46 is accessible, for example a positive pole of all PTC heating elements 42.

[0059] Likewise at the other accommodation chamber 36, an opening 26 provided with a membrane 28 is arranged in the present case in order to keep moisture also out of this accommodation chamber 36. This is because, during operation of the PTC heating elements 42, heat in the accommodation chamber 36 will thus ensure dehumidification of this accommodation chamber 36 and ultimately the escape of moisture from the opening 26.

[0060] To the extent that the regeneration device 40 is operated, thus basically operating the PTC heating elements 42, this leads to heating of the entire dryer housing 22 or both accommodation chambers 34, 36. The partition wall 38 thereby acts as a kind of hearth plate. By heating the accommodation chamber 34 and the drying agent 24 contained therein, the drying agent 24 is regenerated and can absorb new moisture. By heating, the moisture from the drying agent 24 is released into water vapor or air L and in turn can escape from the accommodation chamber 34 through the opening 26.

[0061] In FIG. 2, the regeneration device 40 is not electrically connected, in particular not electrically connected to one of the control components 14. The reason for this is that the regeneration device 40 is not to be operated in the installed state on the electronic housing 12 or on the control components 14. In particular, the drying assembly 20 is to be released or the detachable connection is to be released and then, outside of the electronic housing or outside of a vehicle F, the regeneration device 40 is to be electrically connected and operated so that the drying agent 24 is regenerated.

[0062] However, it is also possible that the regeneration device 40 is operated in the installed state, in particular in a vehicle F; in this case, the regeneration device 40 can be electrically connected to a control component 14, wherein one of the control components 14 is then connected indirectly or directly to the poles 44, 46, and the regeneration device 40 can be controlled by the control component 14 and operated, for example, by means of a method, in particular cyclically.

[0063] FIG. 3 primarily shows an embodiment of the invention in which a drying assembly 20 is completely inserted in an electronic housing 12 of an electronic device 10. The electronic housing 12 has, in addition to air L, in the present case two control components 14 which serve to control on-board electronics in a vehicle F.

[0064] The drying assembly 20 is configured for the electronic device 10 and comprises a rigid dryer housing 22 with a single accommodation chamber 34. A hygroscopic drying agent 24 made of silicate is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 34. The dryer housing 22 has two openings 26 communicating with the electronic housing 12. The drying assembly 20 is adapted such that the openings 26 prevent the drying agent 24 from passing into the electronic housing. Namely, the openings 26 are each provided with a membrane 28. The drying assembly 20 shown and preferred in this respect does not have a regeneration device 40 and can be easily retrofitted in an existing electrical device 10, in particular which does not comprise a drying assembly 20. Likewise, this drying assembly 20 can be easily replaced.

[0065] The drying assembly 20 may have a lock 23 clipped to the dryer housing 22, in particular, to allow the dryer housing 22 to be opened, as is also the case in FIG. 3.

[0066] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment in which an electronic device 10 is configured to heat a heat carrier W, for example air L, flowing through the device 10 in a flow direction S via a PTC heating element 42. Namely, control components 14 in an electronic housing 12 are configured to control or operate the PTC heating element 42 oriented transversely to the flow direction S. In this respect, the electronic device 10 is also configured as that of FIG. 2, thus, it comprises a drying assembly 20 with a dryer housing 22 with a drying agent 24 contained therein and, furthermore, a regeneration device 40 with a PTC heating element 42. Likewise, air L is present in the electronic housing 12 or in the dryer housing 22. The drying assembly 20 is screwed to the electronic housing 12 via fastener 32.

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a method 100 according to the invention for operating an electronic device 10, in which a hygroscopic drying agent 24 exposed to the atmosphere inside the electronic device 10 is cyclically regenerated by means of a regeneration device 40. The method 100 may be carried out in or on the electronic housing 12 of the device 10 or outside thereof, for example at a service provider substantially concerned with the function from the drying agent 24 or with the function of drying assemblies 20. Two preferred variations of the method 100 are described below.

[0068] Preferably, the method 100 of FIG. 5 proceeds as follows. In a first step 110, a saturation of the drying agent 24 is detected by means of an indicator 39, whereupon it is proceeded to the next step 120. In the subsequent step 120, the saturation is compared to a threshold value. If the saturation is lower than the threshold value, a fixed time interval is waited, for example one hour, and the step 110 or method 100 is restarted by continuing to follow the dashed line. When the saturation is higher than the threshold, a third step 130 is initiated. In the third step 130, the regeneration device 40 is operated for a fixed time interval, for example several minutes, wherein a heat is released that heats the drying agent 24 so that the saturation of the drying agent 24 decreases as the moisture evaporates from the drying agent 24. Preferably, an average temperature of the drying agent 24 of 200 C.+/20 C. is reached in the fixed time interval. Subsequently, step 110 can be started again. This method leads to a cyclic regeneration, for example about every hour, which however is also only initiated when the regeneration is appropriate with respect to the saturation of the drying agent 24.

[0069] The method 100 of FIG. 5 may also proceed as follows. In a first step 110, a fixed time interval is waited for, for example one hour, wherein after the time interval has elapsed, step 120 is carried out. In step 120, the regeneration device 40 is operated for a fixed time interval, for example several minutes, wherein heat is released that heats the drying agent 24 so that the saturation of the drying agent decreases as the moisture evaporates from the drying agent 24. Preferably, an average temperature of the drying agent 24 of 200 C.+/20 C. is reached in the fixed time interval. In the subsequent step 130, which is started after completion of step 120, the fixed time interval, for example the one hour, is then restarted and it is immediately returned to step 110, where the time interval is then waited for again. This method results in cyclic regeneration, for example every hour, which occurs regardless of the saturation of the drying agent 24.