CA1133107A - Fire-proof construction for an automobile instrument - Google Patents
Fire-proof construction for an automobile instrumentInfo
- Publication number
- CA1133107A CA1133107A CA334,398A CA334398A CA1133107A CA 1133107 A CA1133107 A CA 1133107A CA 334398 A CA334398 A CA 334398A CA 1133107 A CA1133107 A CA 1133107A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- casing
- instrument
- printed circuit
- narrowed portions
- circuit board
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 title abstract description 9
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000005011 phenolic resin Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000010304 firing Methods 0.000 abstract description 5
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- YCKRFDGAMUMZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fluorine atom Chemical compound [F] YCKRFDGAMUMZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011889 copper foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920006267 polyester film Polymers 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K35/00—Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K10/00—Arrangements for improving the operating reliability of electronic equipment, e.g. by providing a similar standby unit
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Fuses (AREA)
- Instrument Panels (AREA)
- Non-Metallic Protective Coatings For Printed Circuits (AREA)
- Indication And Recording Devices For Special Purposes And Tariff Metering Devices (AREA)
- Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A fire-proof construction for an automobile instrument with a flexible printed circuit board comprises an instrument casing in contact with the board, which casing is formed with through apertures or recesses or provided with incombustible material filled in the recesses in opposition to narrowed portions of the printed circuit so as not to be in direct contact with the narrowed portions, thereby preventing the casing from firing due to heating of the narrowed portions before they are fused.
Description
~L33~L~7 This invention relates to a fire-proof construction for an automobile instrument using flexible printed circuit board, such as meters9 warning lamps and the like.
The flexible printed circuit board comprises in general a substrate of a flexible material to which is applied a printed circuit. The printed circuit is usually in close contact with an instrument casing and includes therein narrowed portions to form fuses for the circuit.
When an overcurrent flows through the circuit, the narrowed portions may be red heated to be fused by the current. -Since, however, the casing is partially heated by the narrowed portions while they are being fused, there is a risk of firing of the casing.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved fire-proof construction for an automobile instrument whose casing being provided in opposition to narrowed portions of a printed circuit with spaces or incombustible material so as not -to be in direct contact with the narrowed portions, thereby preventing the firing of the casing.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the space is formed by a through aperture formed in the casing.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the space is formed by a recess formed in the casing or further comprises an incombustible material filled in the recess to avoide the firing of the casing.
The invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed specification and claims taken in connection with the appended drawings.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a backside of
The flexible printed circuit board comprises in general a substrate of a flexible material to which is applied a printed circuit. The printed circuit is usually in close contact with an instrument casing and includes therein narrowed portions to form fuses for the circuit.
When an overcurrent flows through the circuit, the narrowed portions may be red heated to be fused by the current. -Since, however, the casing is partially heated by the narrowed portions while they are being fused, there is a risk of firing of the casing.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved fire-proof construction for an automobile instrument whose casing being provided in opposition to narrowed portions of a printed circuit with spaces or incombustible material so as not -to be in direct contact with the narrowed portions, thereby preventing the firing of the casing.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the space is formed by a through aperture formed in the casing.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the space is formed by a recess formed in the casing or further comprises an incombustible material filled in the recess to avoide the firing of the casing.
The invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed specification and claims taken in connection with the appended drawings.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a backside of
- 2 - ~
~33~
an instrument equipped with a flexible printed circuit board;
Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along ~he line II-II in Fig. 1 showing the construction of a casing of the prior art;
Fig. 3a is an elevation of an exemplary -flexible printed circuit board;
Fig. 3b is an enlarged explanatory view of the portion encircled by a circle IIIb in Fig. 3a;
Fig. ~a is a partial elevation illustrating a first embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4b is a partial sectional view taken along the line IVb-IVb in Fig. 4a;
Fig. 5a is a partial elevation illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 5b is a partial sectional view taken along the line Vb-Vb in Fig. 5a; and Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 1 illustrates an instrument 2 incorporating therein a flexible printed circuit board 1 which is generally in closely contact with a casing 2a of the instrument 2 as shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, the flexible printed circuit board 1 comprises a substrate la of a transparent polyester film and a printed whole circuit lb made of a copper foil~ adhering to the substrate la by a suitable adhesive and including fuses formed by narrowed portions lc which are generally located at relatively safe places, for example, remote from a bulb socket. In the drawings, the numeral ld shows a transparent overlay film.
~ith this arrangement, when an overcurrent flows ~3~7 through the instrument, the narrowed portions may be red heated to be fused by the current. There is, however, a risk that a portion of the casing 2a in contact with the narrowed portions may fire owing to the heating of the narrowed portions before they are fused.
To solve this problem, it has been suggested that the casing 2a of the instrument is made of an incombustible material, for example, fluorine-contained resin~ phenol resin and the likeg but a casing made of these resins is very expensive.
Referring to Figs. ~a and 4b, according to the invention a casing 2a of an instrument 2 is formed in opposition to narrowed portions lc of a flexible printed circuit board 1 with through apertures 3 to avoid any direct contact of the narrowed portions lc with the casing 2a.
Referring to Figs. 5a and 5b illustrating a second embodiment of the invention, the casing 2a is formed in opposition to the narrowed portions lc with recesses instead o~ the ~hrough apertures 3.
Fig. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention, wherein the recesses 4 of the second embodiment are filled with incombustible material, for example, fluorine- `
contained resin, phenol resin and the like.
As can be seen from the above explanation, the fire-proof construction comprising a casing provided in opposition to narrowed portions of the flexible printed circuit board with spaces such as through apertures, recesses and the like so as to avoid any direct contact of the casing with the narrowed portions, thereby eliminating any firing of the casing even when an overcurrent flows through the ~L33~L[3'7 circuit to red heat the narrowed portions. The -fire-prooE
construction according to the invention is simple in construc-tion and inexpensive. The -fire-proof construction of the third embodiment according to the invention with incombustible material filled in the recesses o-f the casing achieves much greater fire-proo-f effect than other embodiments without increasing a cost in manufacture because of the very small areas to be filled with the material.
~hile the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
~33~
an instrument equipped with a flexible printed circuit board;
Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along ~he line II-II in Fig. 1 showing the construction of a casing of the prior art;
Fig. 3a is an elevation of an exemplary -flexible printed circuit board;
Fig. 3b is an enlarged explanatory view of the portion encircled by a circle IIIb in Fig. 3a;
Fig. ~a is a partial elevation illustrating a first embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4b is a partial sectional view taken along the line IVb-IVb in Fig. 4a;
Fig. 5a is a partial elevation illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 5b is a partial sectional view taken along the line Vb-Vb in Fig. 5a; and Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 1 illustrates an instrument 2 incorporating therein a flexible printed circuit board 1 which is generally in closely contact with a casing 2a of the instrument 2 as shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, the flexible printed circuit board 1 comprises a substrate la of a transparent polyester film and a printed whole circuit lb made of a copper foil~ adhering to the substrate la by a suitable adhesive and including fuses formed by narrowed portions lc which are generally located at relatively safe places, for example, remote from a bulb socket. In the drawings, the numeral ld shows a transparent overlay film.
~ith this arrangement, when an overcurrent flows ~3~7 through the instrument, the narrowed portions may be red heated to be fused by the current. There is, however, a risk that a portion of the casing 2a in contact with the narrowed portions may fire owing to the heating of the narrowed portions before they are fused.
To solve this problem, it has been suggested that the casing 2a of the instrument is made of an incombustible material, for example, fluorine-contained resin~ phenol resin and the likeg but a casing made of these resins is very expensive.
Referring to Figs. ~a and 4b, according to the invention a casing 2a of an instrument 2 is formed in opposition to narrowed portions lc of a flexible printed circuit board 1 with through apertures 3 to avoid any direct contact of the narrowed portions lc with the casing 2a.
Referring to Figs. 5a and 5b illustrating a second embodiment of the invention, the casing 2a is formed in opposition to the narrowed portions lc with recesses instead o~ the ~hrough apertures 3.
Fig. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention, wherein the recesses 4 of the second embodiment are filled with incombustible material, for example, fluorine- `
contained resin, phenol resin and the like.
As can be seen from the above explanation, the fire-proof construction comprising a casing provided in opposition to narrowed portions of the flexible printed circuit board with spaces such as through apertures, recesses and the like so as to avoid any direct contact of the casing with the narrowed portions, thereby eliminating any firing of the casing even when an overcurrent flows through the ~L33~L[3'7 circuit to red heat the narrowed portions. The -fire-prooE
construction according to the invention is simple in construc-tion and inexpensive. The -fire-proof construction of the third embodiment according to the invention with incombustible material filled in the recesses o-f the casing achieves much greater fire-proo-f effect than other embodiments without increasing a cost in manufacture because of the very small areas to be filled with the material.
~hile the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (4)
1. A casing for an automobile instrument, comprising a flexible support a substrate of which support abuts against a wall of said instrument casing and is provided with a printed circuit board having a narrowed portion; characterized in that the casing wall is respectively provided with a cavity at those locations which lie opposite the narrowed portions of the printed circuit board when the substrate abuts on the flexible support so that there is no contact between the casing wall and the narrowed portion of the printed circuit board.
2. An instrument casing according to claim 1, wherein the respective cavity is formed by an opening traversing said casing wall.
3. An instrument casing according to claim 1, wherein the respective cavity is formed by a recess in said casing wall.
4. An instrument casing according to claim 3, wherein the respective recess is filled with an incombustible material such as a fluorine-contained resin and/or phenol resin.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP53119780A JPS5816684B2 (en) | 1978-09-28 | 1978-09-28 | Ignition prevention structure for automobile instruments |
| JP119,780/78 | 1978-09-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1133107A true CA1133107A (en) | 1982-10-05 |
Family
ID=14770031
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA334,398A Expired CA1133107A (en) | 1978-09-28 | 1979-08-24 | Fire-proof construction for an automobile instrument |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5816684B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU517238B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1133107A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2934765C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2437761A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2032187A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6502839B1 (en) | 1997-07-02 | 2003-01-07 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho | Sensor installation structure for vehicles |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4670813A (en) * | 1985-11-29 | 1987-06-02 | The Perkin-Elmer Corporation | Programmable lamp plug |
| KR20200093334A (en) * | 2019-01-28 | 2020-08-05 | 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 | Battery Pack |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT1092128B (en) * | 1977-01-27 | 1985-07-06 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICE FOR TRUNKS OF CONDUCTIVE TRACKS IN A USER ARRANGEMENT |
-
1978
- 1978-09-28 JP JP53119780A patent/JPS5816684B2/en not_active Expired
-
1979
- 1979-08-24 CA CA334,398A patent/CA1133107A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-08-28 DE DE19792934765 patent/DE2934765C2/en not_active Expired
- 1979-09-03 AU AU50522/79A patent/AU517238B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1979-09-10 GB GB7931394A patent/GB2032187A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1979-09-27 FR FR7924055A patent/FR2437761A1/en active Granted
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6502839B1 (en) | 1997-07-02 | 2003-01-07 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho | Sensor installation structure for vehicles |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS5546160A (en) | 1980-03-31 |
| AU517238B2 (en) | 1981-07-16 |
| FR2437761B1 (en) | 1984-07-13 |
| JPS5816684B2 (en) | 1983-04-01 |
| DE2934765A1 (en) | 1980-04-10 |
| AU5052279A (en) | 1980-04-03 |
| DE2934765C2 (en) | 1981-10-15 |
| GB2032187A (en) | 1980-04-30 |
| FR2437761A1 (en) | 1980-04-25 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |