HOUSING FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, AND CONTROL UNIT

Abstract

A housing for electronic components, for example, for a control unit of a vehicle is disclosed. The housing comprises a housing element having an upper wall and a peripheral wall surrounding three sides of the housing element, the upper wall and the peripheral wall defining an interior for receiving one or more electronic components, the housing element having on one side a substantially U-shaped receiving portion for receiving a connection element. The housing element may have a ventilation portion configured to allow a gas flow between the interior and the exterior of the housing element. The ventilation portion comprises a flow chamber having first and second opening, the first opening communicating with the atmosphere and the second opening communicating with the interior of the housing element. A corresponding control unit comprising such a housing is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A housing for electronic components, for a control unit of a vehicle, comprising a housing element which has an upper wall and a peripheral wall surrounding three sides of the housing element, the upper wall and the peripheral wall defining an interior for receiving one or more electronic components, wherein the housing element has on one side a substantially U-shaped receiving portion for receiving a connection element.

2. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing element has a ventilation portion which is configured to allow a gas flow between the interior and an exterior of the housing element, the ventilation portion comprising a flow chamber having a first and second opening, the first opening communicating with the atmosphere and the second opening communicating with the interior of the housing element.

3. A housing for electronic components for a control unit of a vehicle, comprising a housing element having an upper wall and a peripheral wall surrounding three sides of the housing element, the upper wall and the peripheral wall defining an interior for receiving one or more electronic components, wherein the housing element has a ventilation portion configured to allow a gas flow between the interior and an exterior of the housing element, the ventilation portion comprising a flow chamber having first and second openings, the first opening communicating with the atmosphere and the second opening communicating with the interior of the housing element.

4. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing element has on one side a substantially U-shaped receiving portion for receiving a connection element.

5. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the substantially U-shaped receiving portion is arranged on the outer peripheral edge of the upper wall and/or the peripheral wall.

6. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the substantially U-shaped receiving portion on one side of the housing element extends substantially over the entire outer peripheral edge.

7. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the receiving portion is substantially U-shaped in cross-section.

8. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the substantially U-shaped receiving portion is open downwardly and/or inwardly.

9. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the substantially U-shaped receiving portion defines a window space through which the connection element can protrude in some sections, in particular into the interior of the housing element.

10. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the substantially U-shaped receiving portion has an upper portion running substantially parallel to the upper wall and/or two lateral portions running substantially parallel to the peripheral wall.

11. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the substantially U-shaped receiving portion is configured so as to position the connection element on the housing element and/or to guide it into position and/or hold it in position.

12. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing element between the substantially U-shaped receiving portion and the upper wall and/or peripheral wall has a sealing portion.

13. The housing as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sealing portion is stepped toward the upper wall and/or peripheral wall.

14. The housing as claimed in at claim 12, wherein the sealing portion has an upper portion running substantially parallel to the upper wall and/or two lateral portions running substantially obliquely to the peripheral wall.

15. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing has the connection element, the connection element being positioned in the substantially U-shaped receiving portion of the housing element.

16. The housing as claimed in claim 15, wherein the connection element has a frame portion projecting and/or engaging into the substantially U-shaped receiving portion of the housing element.

17. The housing as claimed in claim 15, wherein between the connection element and the housing element, a sealing element is provided, which seals the connection element and the housing element with respect to each other, in a liquid-tight and/or gas-tight manner.

18. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ventilation portion has a first channel forming the first opening, and/or wherein the ventilation portion has a second channel forming the second opening.

19. The housing as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first channel and the second channel are fluidically connected to each other via the flow chamber.

20. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second opening and/or the first and second channel are arranged substantially adjacently to each other.

21. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second opening and/or the first and second channel are arranged substantially on opposite sides of the flow chamber.

22. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second opening and/or the first and second channel are arranged substantially at an end of the flow chamber facing the upper wall of the housing element.

23. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second opening and/or the first and second channel are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

24. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and/or second channel is/are arranged at an angle smaller than or greater than 90° to the flow chamber and/or to the flow path of the flow chamber.

25. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ventilation portion has a third opening communicating with the atmosphere.

26. The housing as claimed in claim 25, wherein the third opening is arranged substantially at an end of the flow chamber facing away from the upper wall of the housing element.

27. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing element has a bottom portion, the flow chamber extending substantially between the bottom portion and the upper wall.

28. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the flow chamber and/or its flow path extends substantially obliquely to the upper wall and/or peripheral wall and/or bottom portion of the housing element.

29. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the housing and/or the housing element is arranged in a normal upright position, the first and/or second opening or the first and/or second channel is higher above the ground than a third opening.

30. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ventilation portion and/or the flow chamber has an outer surface which is rounded at least in some sections.

31. A control unit, for a vehicle, the control unit having a housing as claimed in claim 3.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] In the following, exemplary arrangements of the disclosure are described in more detail with reference to figures, which show schematically and by way of example:

[0031] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a housing for a control unit in an unassembled state;

[0032] FIG. 2 a first sectional view of the housing of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 a second sectional view of the housing of FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 4 a perspective view of the housing element of the housing of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 5 a sectional view of a ventilation portion of the housing of FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 6 a sectional view of a housing with an alternative ventilation portion;

[0037] FIG. 7 a perspective view of a control unit with the housing of FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 8 a front view of the control unit of FIG. 7; and

[0039] FIG. 9 a view of the plug to housing interface of the control unit of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a housing 1 for a control unit of a motor vehicle in the unassembled state. The housing 1 is used for waterproof storage of electronic components of the control unit.

[0041] The housing 1 has a housing element 2, a connection element 3 and a housing cover 4. The housing element 2 is designed as a housing cover. The connection element 3 is designed as a socket with electronic terminals 5, In one exemplary arrangement, the housing cover 4 is designed as a base plate with a sealing element 6. The housing cover 4 and the housing element 2 can be screwed to each other, with the sealing element 6 sealing the housing cover 4 and the housing element 2 together in a fluid-tight manner. The connection element 3 and the housing cover 4 are connected to each other in a fluid-tight manner.

[0042] The housing element 2 has an upper wall 7 and a peripheral wall 8. The peripheral wall 8 surrounds three sides of the housing element 4. The upper wall 7 and the peripheral wall 8 form and define an interior 9 for receiving one or more electronic components of the control unit.

[0043] FIGS. 2 and 3 show two different sectional views of the housing 1 in the assembled state. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing element 2 has a substantially U-shaped receiving portion 10 on one side for receiving the connection element 3. The substantially U-shaped receiving portion 10 is arranged at the outer peripheral edge of the upper wall 7 of the peripheral wall 8 and in one exemplary arrangement, extends substantially over the entire outer peripheral edge at the side of the housing element 2.

[0044] The receiving portion 10 is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and is open downwardly and inwardly. The receiving portion 10 forms a groove 11 so to speak, running around three side parts. Furthermore, the substantially U-shaped receiving portion 10 defines a window space 12, through which the connection element 3 projects in some sections into the interior 9 of the housing element 2.

[0045] The receiving portion 10 has an upper portion 13 running substantially parallel to the upper wall 7 and two lateral portions 14 running substantially parallel to the peripheral wall 8. The receiving portion 10 is configured so as to position the connection element 3 on the housing element 2 or to guide it and hold it in position.

[0046] The housing element 2 has a sealing portion 15 between the substantially Li-shaped receiving portion 10 and the upper wall 7 and peripheral wall 8. The sealing portion 15 is stepped or constricted inwardly toward the upper wall 7 and substantially toward the peripheral wall 8. The sealing portion 15 has an upper portion 16 running substantially parallel to the upper wall 7 and two lateral portions 17 running substantially obliquely to the peripheral wall 8.

[0047] As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connection element 3 is positioned in the substantially U-shaped receiving portion 10 of the housing element 2. The connection element 3 has a frame portion 18 which protrudes or engages into the substantially U-shaped receiving portion 10 of the housing element 2. A sealing element 19 is provided between the connection element 3 and the housing element 2 or the sealing portion 15 and seals the connection element 3 and the housing element 2 in a liquid-tight and gas-tight manner with respect to each other.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the housing element 2 of the housing 1 having a ventilation portion 20, and FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the ventilation portion 20 of the housing 1. The housing element 2 has the ventilation portion 20, which is configured to allow a gas flow between the interior 9 and the exterior of the housing element 2. The ventilation portion 20 comprises a flow chamber 21. The ventilation portion 20 has a first channel 22 and a second channel 23. The first channel 22 forms a first opening and the second channel 23 forms a second opening. The first channel 22 is in fluidic communication with the atmosphere and the flow chamber 21. The second channel 23 is in fluidic communication with the interior 9 of the housing element 2 and the flow chamber 21. The first channel 22 and the second channel 23 are fluidically connected to each other via the flow chamber 21.

[0049] The first channel 22 and the second channel 23 are arranged on opposite sides of the flow chamber 21 substantially adjacently to each other. The first channel 22 and the second channel 23 are arranged substantially at an end 24 of the flow chamber 21 facing the upper wall 7 of the housing element 2. The first channel 22 and the second channel 23 are oriented substantially parallel to each other. The first channel 22 and the second channel 23 are arranged at an angle smaller and greater than 90°, respectively, to the flow chamber 21 and to the flow path of the flow chamber 21.

[0050] The ventilation portion 20 has a third opening 25 in fluid communication with the atmosphere and the flow chamber 21. The third opening 25 is arranged substantially at an end 26 of the flow chamber 21 remote from the upper wall 7 of the housing element 2. When the housing 1 or the housing element 2 is arranged in a normal upright position, the first channel 22 and the second channel 23 are higher above the around than the third opening 25. Water, for example, can flow through the third opening.

[0051] The housing element 2 also has a partially peripheral bottom portion 27 oriented substantially parallel to the upper wall 7. The flow chamber 21 extends substantially between the bottom portion 27 and the upper wall 7, the flow chamber 21 and its flow path being substantially oblique to the upper wall 7, to the peripheral wall 7 and to the bottom portion of the housing element 2.

[0052] The ventilation portion 20 has, in particular in the region of the flow chamber 21, an outer surface 28 which is rounded at least in some sections. This outer surface 28 is designed to allow a liquid, such as water, to flow off it or to flow down the outside of the housing element 2, in particular without any or at least without substantial penetration into the first channel 22 of the ventilation portion 20.

[0053] For the rest, reference is made by way of complement in particular to FIGS. 1 to 3 and the associated description.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a housing 1 with an alternative ventilation portion 29. The housing 1 and the ventilation portion 29 are substantially like the housing 1 described above and/or below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 and the ventilation portion 20 thereof.

[0055] However, as can be seen in FIG. 6, instead of a first and second channel 22, 23, the ventilation portion 29 has a first opening 30 and a second opening 31. The first opening 30 and the second opening 31 are formed as bores in the wall of the flow chamber 21 and perform the same function as the first channel 22 and the second channel 23 of the ventilation portion 20 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0056] For the rest, reference is made by way of complement in particular to FIGS. 1 to 5 and the associated description.

[0057] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a waterproof control unit 32 with the housing 1 described above and/or below according to FIGS. 1 to 5 in the assembled state. The control unit is for a motor vehicle. For example, the control unit may be an airbag control unit or brake control unit. The housing 1 of the control unit 32 has the housing element 2, the connection element 3 and the housing cover 4. A printed circuit board with electronic components of the control unit is arranged in the interior 9 of the housing 1, which is enclosed by the housing 1 in a substantially watertight manner. The printed circuit board is electrically connected to the connection element 3 or to electrical terminals 5 thereof. FIG. 8 shows a front view of the control unit 32 with the connection element 3 and the electrical terminals 5. The connection element 3 is inserted by its frame portion 18 from below into the substantially U-shaped receiving portion 10 of the housing element 2, so that it abuts against the sealing element 19 and thus against the upper portion 16 of the receiving portion 10, where it is in sealing contact. FIG. 9 shows a view of the interface of connection element 3 to the housing element 2 of the control unit 32.

[0058] In addition, reference is made in particular to FIGS. 1 to 5 and the associated description.

[0059] Optional features of the disclosure are designated in particular by “can”. Accordingly, there are also further development and/or exemplary arrangements of the disclosure which additionally or alternatively have the particular feature or features.

[0060] If necessary, isolated features can also be selected from the feature combinations disclosed herein and used in combination with other features to delimit the subject matter of the claim, while breaking down any structural and/or functional relationship possibly existing between the features.