ELECTRONIC COMPONENT WITH A COMPONENT HOUSING

Abstract

In an electronic component with a component housing and an integrated circuit with sensor function which is accommodated in a plastic electronic housing, wherein the component housing has a cutaway in the region of the circuit with sensor function so that the integrated circuit can perform its function as a sensor through the cutaways, the component housing lies flush with the edge of the cutaway on the electronic housing and is joined in sealing manner with an adhesive bond to the electronic housing. The component housing has an approximately vertical section on the edge of the cutaways, which section extends along the side of the electronic housing. A horizontal section is also present and projects horizontally over the electronic housing.

Claims

1. An electronic component with a component housing and an integrated circuit with sensor function, which is accommodated in an electronic housing made of plastic, wherein the component housing includes a cutaway in the region of the integrated circuit sensor function, so that the integrated circuit is able to perform its function as sensor through the cutaway, wherein, the component housing lies flush against the edge of cutaway on the electronic housing and is joined to the electronic housing in sealing manner by means of an adhesive bond, the component housing has a first section on the edge of the cutaway, which extends along the side of the electronic housing and a second section which projects over the electronic housing.

2. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the first, vertical section is longer than the second, horizontal section.

3. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein a projection is formed in the component housing on the edge of the cutaway, wherein the distance between the projection and the electronic housing is smaller than the distance between the rest of the component housing and the electronic housing.

4. The electronic component according to claim 3, wherein the projection is arranged between the first section and the second section.

5. The electronic housing according to claim 3, wherein the projection when viewed in cross-section is approximately rectangular and is aligned with the edge border of the electronic housing.

6. The electronic component according to claim 3, wherein the distance between the projection and the electronic housing is equal to 40% to 60% of the distance that exists between the edge of the component housing and the electronic housing in other regions.

7. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit with the electronic housing is a SOIC component with a thermosetting plastic housing.

8. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component is a fill level measurement device.

9. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit with sensor function is an ultrasonic sensor.

10. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the component housing seals the electronic housing off from surrounding medium.

11. An internal combustion engine, in particular for a motor vehicle, having an oil-lubricated engine, the engine having a device to measure that fill level of the engine oil, wherein, the device measuring the fill level is equipped with an electronic component according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0011] In the following, the invention will be explained further with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. In detail, the schematic diagrams show in:

[0012] FIG. 1: a top view of an electronic component with the component housing; and

[0013] FIG. 2: a cross-section through the integrated circuit with electronic housing and a part of the component housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] FIG. 1 shows an electronic component 1 with a component housing 2. The component housing 2 does not necessarily have to be the outermost housing of a complete assembly, but is understood to be a component housing 2 or possibly also a sensor housing that covers the actual sensor and/or an integrated circuit 5 with sensor and/or protects it from a surrounding medium. The component housing 2 has a central cutaway 3, below which an electronic housing 4 is arranged.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through electronic housing 4 with the integrated circuit 5 with sensor function accommodated therein. The area 6 to be detected, which is arranged closed to the cutaway 3 in the component housing 2, is located on top of the electronic housing 4. Component housing 2 has an edge 7 around cutaway 3, which lies in sealing manner against electronic housing 4. A narrow gap, remains between the edge 7 and the electronic housing 4, and this is filled with adhesive 8. Edge 7 may be divided into a vertical section 9 and a horizontal section 10. The vertical section 9, which is aligned parallel to a vertical side of the electronic housing 4, is longer than the horizontal section 10 of the edge 7, which is arranged parallel to the horizontal top side, on which the surface to be detected 6 is arranged. A projection 11 is conformed in the edge 7 of the component housing 2 in the transition area between the vertical section 9 and the horizontal section 10. A minimal distance 13, which is smaller than the distance between the electronic housing 4 and the edge 7 in the area of the vertical section 9 of the component housing 2 and is also smaller than the distance between the top side of the electronic housing 4, that is to say particularly in the area of the surface 6 to be detected of the electronic housing 4 and the horizontal section 10 of the component housing 2 is formed between projection 11 and the upper, outer edge border 12 of the electronic housing 4. This minimal distance is so small that capillary forces are effective, and liquid adhesive is drawn particularly into the area of the vertical section 9 and does not flow onto the detecting surface 6 of the electronic housing 4.

[0016] All of the features described in the preceding description and in the claims can be used in any order and combination with the features of the independent claim. The disclosure of the invention is thus not limited to the feature combinations described and claimed, but rather all feature combinations that are practicable within the scope of the invention are to be considered disclosed.