Controller with Insertable Radio Module, as well as Radio Module, Cover and Plug

Abstract

An electronic controller includes a housing. The housing has an opening configured such that a radio module is removably insertable into the housing, and a cover and plug are also insertable into the housing.

Claims

1. An electronic controller, comprising: a housing including a side having an opening; control electronics positioned in the housing; wherein the opening is configured such that a radio module is insertable into the opening so as to form an electrical connection with the control electronics.

2. The electronic controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured such that the radio module, when inserted into the opening, is removable via the opening.

3. The electronic controller of claim 1, further comprising: contact surface configured and arranged such that the contact surfaces are contactable via the opening.

4. The electronic controller of claim 3, wherein the contact surfaces are ring segments.

5. The electronic controller of claim 3, further comprising: a contact plate that includes the contact surfaces, wherein the contact surfaces are flat.

6. The electronic controller of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes: an installation space configured to receive the radio module; at least one section formed from a metallic material; and a section bordering the installation space, and that is formed from a radio wave permeable material.

7. The electronic controller of claim 6, wherein the radio wave permeable material substantially hemispherically surrounds the installation space.

8. The electronic controller of claim 1, further comprising: a rotary closure positioned at the opening and configured to lock the radio module when the radio module is inserted into the opening.

9. The electronic controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to actuate a hydraulic valve.

10. The electronic controller of claim 1, further comprising: a radio module configured so as to be insertable into the opening, and further configured to form the electrical connection.

11. The electronic controller of claim 10, further comprising: contact surface configured and arranged such that the contact surfaces are contactable via the opening; wherein the radio module includes contact elements that correspond with the contact surface of the electronic controller.

12. The electronic controller of claim 11, wherein: the contact elements are telescopic spring pins; and the telescopic spring pins are pretensioned so as to be configured to provide an equalizing abutment.

13. The electronic controller of claim 1, further comprising: a cover configured to form a tight closure of the opening.

14. The electronic controller of claim 13, wherein the cover is further configured to secure the radio module in the opening when the radio module is inserted into the opening.

15. The electronic controller of claim 14, wherein the cover includes: a substantially circular or rounded section configured such that the radio module is insertable in the section; and an oblong section having a substantially rectangular outer contour.

16. The electronic controller of claim 1, further comprising: a plug configured so as to be insertable into the opening, and further configured to form the electrical connection via a cable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure shall now be explained more closely with the aid of schematic drawings.

[0030] There are shown:

[0031] FIG. 1, a controller according to a first embodiment,

[0032] FIG. 2, a cross-section through the controller, a radio module and a cover according to the first embodiment,

[0033] FIG. 3, a view of a detail of an electrical connection between the controller and the radio module according to the first embodiment,

[0034] FIG. 4, a view of an electronics in the controller according to the first embodiment,

[0035] FIG. 5, a controller according to a second embodiment, and

[0036] FIG. 6, a cross-section through the controller, the radio module and the cover according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The controller 1 according to the disclosure shown in FIG. 1 contains an electronics, which is accommodated in a metallic housing section 2. The metallic housing section 2 has a top side 4. Through a recess 6 in the top side 4 of the metallic housing section 2, there is arranged a cap 8, which is a housing section. In turn, in this cap 8 there is made an opening 10, which is closed with a cover 12 according to the disclosure. The connection between the cap 8 and the cover 12 occurs by a screw closure or a kind of bayonet lock. The cap 8 and the cover 12 are made from a plastic permeable to radio waves.

[0038] According to the cross-section of FIG. 2, the cap 8 is placed in a closing manner on the top side 4 of the metallic housing section 2. It can be seen in the center of FIG. 2 that the recess 6 accommodates the metallic housing section 2 on the top side 4 of the metallic housing section 2. A circuit board 14 is placed embedded in this recess 6. A Bluetooth module, designated overall as 16 and being a radio module according to the disclosure, is arranged in the opening 10. The Bluetooth module 16 contains a Bluetooth chip 18, which is arranged on a carrier 20 adapted in circular shape to the shape of the opening 10. On one side facing towards the circuit board 14, spring pins 22 protrude from the carrier 20. The spring pins 22 are the contact elements of the Bluetooth module 16.

[0039] FIG. 3 shows the contacting of the likewise circular circuit board 14 with the Bluetooth module 16. The spring pins 22 passing through the carrier 20 are connected to contact surfaces 24 of the circuit board 14 shaped as ring segments.

[0040] In the present exemplary embodiment, the Bluetooth module 16 is arranged such that it is located inside the cap 8, yet distinctly outside the metallic housing section 2. Such an arrangement produces a good signal strength, affected little if at all by the metallic housing section 2. Furthermore, a changing or replacement of the Bluetooth module 16 is simplified by the arrangement outside the metallic housing 2. By removing the cover 12 from the cap 8, one has direct access to the Bluetooth module 16. Thus, the Bluetooth module 16 can be easily removed from the circuit board 14 through the opening and out from the cap 8.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the electronics comprises a plurality of electronic components, which are connected to the circuit board for example via an internal wiring.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a controller 1 in a second exemplary embodiment. The basic shape of the housing 2 is largely unchanged from the preceding exemplary embodiment, while the cap 8 and the cover 12 have an altered configuration. Along a longitudinal direction of the housing 2, the cap 8 is formed on one side 4, being elongated along this longitudinal direction. The cover 12 in keeping with the cap 8 is likewise elongated in configuration and has a rectangular outer contour with rounded edges and sides. A kind of luminous band (not shown) can be introduced circumferentially in a fillet of the side of the cover 12 facing away from the housing 2, putting out an optical signal to the user, for example as to the status of the control electronics.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional representation of the second exemplary embodiment. In the recess 6 of the metallic housing section 2, there is arranged a contact plate 26. Such a contact plate 26 may be configured as a Flexprint circuit board. As compared to the first exemplary embodiment, the recess 6 is not pierced centrally for a plug-in connection with respect to the metallic housing section 2, but instead has an opening 30 situated in a margin region, which is configured to be so small that a connection cable 28 can be led through this opening 30 into the metallic housing section. This connection cable 28 can be designed as a Flexprint cable. The contact plate 26 in the present exemplary embodiment has the function of the circuit board 14 of the first exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the contact plate 26 is circular. The opening 10 of the cap 8, the carrier 20 which carries the Bluetooth module 16, and an inner contour of the cover 12 are likewise circular or rounded in this exemplary embodiment.

[0044] Of course, the second exemplary embodiment may be combined with the first embodiment, so that the contact plate 26 may also be used in place of the circuit board 14 and vice versa.

[0045] According to a further embodiment, not shown, the contact surfaces 24 of the circuit board 14, after the Bluetooth module 16 has been removed from the opening 10, may be used as an interface for a wireline diagnostics or service unit. Such a plug would likewise be circular in shape, so that its base surface, as well as its contact units, would match up with those of the carrier 20 and the spring pins 22.

[0046] There is disclosed an electronic controller 1 having a housing 2, 8, wherein a radio module 16, such as a Bluetooth module, is insertable in an opening 10 of the housing 2, 8 and preferably is removable again. Moreover, a radio module 16 insertable in the opening 10, a cover 12 insertable therein, and a plug insertable therein.