JP2012195164A - Electronic control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic control unit which can prevent void generation and excels in waterproof performance.SOLUTION: While a connection box 31 is fitted with a connector 32 and while a housing chamber 35 for the connection box 31 has its reference plane BP held horizontally, a fluid resin 380 is poured into the housing chamber 35. The liquid level of the fluid resin 380 rises inside a cylindrical portion 47 of a connector housing 41 from a first end part 53 of the cylindrical portion 47 to a second end part 54 at higher elevation. To ensure that the fluid resin inside the cylindrical portion 47 has no dead air space remaining therein, an inside upper wall 58 of the second end part 54 is inclined so as to be displaced upward as it goes toward a second opening 57 of the second end part 54.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic control unit.

In a method for manufacturing a PWM module, a technique for filling a potting agent by holding a housing for housing a substrate on which electronic components are mounted in an attitude in which the substrate is inclined has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). .
Further, in the waterproof electronic control device, when the gap between the connector insertion part of the ECU case and the connector is sealed with the adhesive of the silicone resin composition, the connector is used to improve the filling workability of the adhesive. A technique has been proposed in which the cross-sectional shape of the insertion portion is formed into a plurality of stepped shapes whose dimensions increase from the inside toward the outside, or an inclined shape (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-183796 JP 2008-244379 (refer to paragraph 51 of the specification and FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings)

When the inventor of the present application pours the flowable resin into the required part of the ECU case, the flowable resin is also poured into the connector housing of the connector, and then the flowable resin is cured to give the connector housing a waterproof function. Thought to do.
Thereby, it is not necessary to equip the connector itself with a waterproof function, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

However, if air particles remain in the fluid resin poured into the connector housing, so-called voids are generated in the cured resin, which may reduce the waterproof performance.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic control unit that can prevent the generation of voids and is excellent in waterproofness.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes an ECU case (30) containing a substrate (25), a connection box (31) attached to the ECU case, and a connector coupled to the connection box. (32), and the connection box includes a box housing (36) that defines a storage chamber (35) having a reference surface (BP) that is horizontal during resin potting, and the substrate accommodated in the storage chamber. A plurality of terminals (37) connected to the housing, a potting resin (38) filled in the storage chamber, and connector mounting portions (39, 40) provided in the box housing, A connector housing (41) and a plurality of contacts (42) held by the connector housing; The kuta housing has a mounted portion (45) attached to the connector mounting portion, and a tubular portion (47) extending from the attached portion and through which a plurality of covered electric wires (46) are inserted. Each of the contacts has a first portion (421) connected to the conductor end (46a) of the corresponding covered wire, and a second portion (422) connected to the corresponding terminal, The shape portion has a first end (53) having a first opening (56) into which the covered electric wire is introduced and a second opening (57) from which the covered electric wire is led out and is adjacent to the attached portion. The second end (54), and when the reference plane is horizontal, the second end is disposed higher than the first end of the cylindrical portion, and The inner upper wall (58) of the second end portion is inclined so as to be displaced upward toward the second opening. Providing an electronic control unit (12) being.

In addition, although the alphanumeric character in a parenthesis represents the corresponding component etc. in embodiment mentioned later, this does not mean that this invention should be limited to those embodiment as a matter of course. The same applies hereinafter.
Further, as in claim 2, the connector housing has an extending portion (55) extending from the attached portion into the accommodating chamber, and the extending portion includes through holes (59, 60), A contact holding portion (61) for holding the contact; and an inspection probe insertion hole (62) provided in the contact holding portion and opposed to the lower surface of each contact. , And may communicate with the through hole.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the extending portion may include a slit (63, 64) that communicates each of the inspection probe insertion holes with a corresponding through hole.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the box housing includes a first side wall (49) and a second side wall (50) facing each other, and the connector mounting portion is provided on the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively. A first mounting groove (39) and a second mounting groove (40) which are provided and are opposed to each other, and the mounted portion includes a first side edge (fitting to the first mounting groove and the second mounting groove, respectively) 43) and a mounted plate (45) having a second side edge (44), and a part of the storage chamber may be partitioned by the first side wall, the second side wall and the mounted plate. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the second portion of each of the contacts and each of the terminals may extend in parallel with a direction in which the first mounting groove and the second mounting groove extend.

  According to the invention of claim 1, in the step of potting the resin into the storage chamber of the connection box to which the connector is connected at the time of manufacture, when the flowable resin is poured into the storage chamber with the reference surface horizontal, The liquid level of the fluid resin rises from the first end portion to the higher second end portion in the cylindrical portion of the connector housing. At this time, since the inner upper wall of the second end portion is inclined so as to be displaced upward toward the second opening, there is no possibility that an air pocket remains in the fluid resin in the cylindrical portion. Therefore, voids are not generated in the cured resin, and the waterproof property does not deteriorate.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the step of potting the resin, the air present in the inspection probe insertion hole of the contact holding portion can be moved to the through hole and escaped upward from the light transmission. There is no risk of air remaining in the insertion hole. Therefore, voids are not generated in the cured resin, and the waterproof property does not deteriorate.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the step of potting the resin, air existing in the inspection probe insertion hole can be released upward from the through hole through the slit. There is no fear of remaining.

According to the invention of claim 4, since each side edge of the mounted plate is fitted into the corresponding mounting groove, the connector can be easily attached to the ECU case, and the sealing performance can be enhanced by the potting resin.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when each side edge of the mounted plate is fitted into the corresponding mounting groove, each contact can be reliably connected to the corresponding terminal.

It is a mimetic diagram showing a schematic structure of an electric power steering device to which an electronic control unit of an embodiment of the invention is applied. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of ECU, and is sectional drawing of the principal part of ECU including the cross section which follows the II-II line | wire of FIG. 4 mentioned later. (A) shows the state after manufacture, and (b) shows the potting process. It is a schematic exploded perspective view of a connector and a connection box. It is a top view of the connector of the state which removed the electric wire bundle. It is a bottom view of a connector in the state where an electric wire bundle was removed. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the periphery of an outside contact. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the periphery of an inner contact.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric power steering apparatus 1 as a vehicle steering apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an electric power steering apparatus 1 includes a steering wheel 2 as a steering member, a steering mechanism 4 that steers a steered wheel 3 in conjunction with rotation of the steering wheel 2, and steering of a driver. And a steering assist mechanism 5 for assisting. The steering wheel 2 and the steering mechanism 4 are mechanically coupled via a steering shaft 6 and an intermediate shaft 7.

In the present embodiment, a description will be given according to an example in which the steering assist mechanism 5 applies assist force (steering assist force) to the steering shaft 6. However, the present invention can also be applied to a structure in which the steering assist mechanism 5 applies an assist force to a pinion shaft described later, or a structure in which the steering assist mechanism 5 applies an assist force to a rack shaft described later.
The steering shaft 6 includes an input shaft 8 connected to the steering wheel 2 and an output shaft 9 connected to the intermediate shaft 7. The input shaft 8 and the output shaft 9 are connected via a torsion bar 10 so as to be relatively rotatable on the same axis.

  A torque sensor 11 disposed around the steering shaft 6 detects the steering torque input to the steering wheel 2 based on the relative rotational displacement amounts of the input shaft 8 and the output shaft 9. The torque detection result of the torque sensor 11 is input to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 12 as a control device. Further, the vehicle speed detection result from the vehicle speed sensor 90 is input to the ECU 12. The intermediate shaft 7 connects the steering shaft 6 and the steering mechanism 4.

The steered mechanism 4 includes a rack and pinion mechanism including a pinion shaft 13 and a rack shaft 14 as a steered shaft. A steered wheel 3 is connected to each end of the rack shaft 14 via a tie rod 15 and a knuckle arm (not shown).
The pinion shaft 13 is connected to the intermediate shaft 7. The pinion shaft 13 rotates in conjunction with the steering of the steering wheel 2. A pinion 16 is provided at the tip (lower end in FIG. 1) of the pinion shaft 13.

  The rack shaft 14 extends linearly along the left-right direction of the automobile. A rack 17 that meshes with the pinion 16 is formed in the middle of the rack shaft 14 in the axial direction. By the pinion 16 and the rack 17, the rotation of the pinion shaft 13 is converted into the axial movement of the rack shaft 14. The steered wheel 3 can be steered by moving the rack shaft 14 in the axial direction.

When the steering wheel 2 is steered (rotated), this rotation is transmitted to the pinion shaft 13 via the steering shaft 6 and the intermediate shaft 7. The rotation of the pinion shaft 13 is converted into an axial movement of the rack shaft 14 by the pinion 16 and the rack 17. Thereby, the steered wheel 3 is steered.
The steering assist mechanism 5 includes an electric motor 18 for assisting steering and a speed reduction mechanism 19 for transmitting the output torque of the electric motor 18 to the steering mechanism 4. The speed reduction mechanism 19 includes a worm shaft 20 as a drive gear (input shaft) to which the driving force of the electric motor 18 is input, and a worm wheel 21 as a driven gear that meshes with the worm shaft 20. The speed reduction mechanism 19 is accommodated in the gear housing 23.

The worm shaft 20 is connected to an output shaft (not shown) of the electric motor 18 through a joint (not shown). The worm shaft 20 is rotationally driven by the electric motor 18. Further, the worm wheel 21 is connected to the steering shaft 6 so as to be integrally rotatable.
When the electric motor 18 rotationally drives the worm shaft 20, the worm wheel 21 is rotationally driven by the worm shaft 20, and the worm wheel 21 and the steering shaft 6 rotate integrally. As a result, the steering assist force is transmitted to the steering shaft 6.

  The electric motor 18 is controlled by the ECU 12. The ECU 12 controls the electric motor 18 based on the torque detection result from the torque sensor 11 and the vehicle speed detection result from the vehicle speed sensor 90. Specifically, the ECU 12 determines a target assist amount using a map in which the relationship between the torque and the target assist amount is stored for each vehicle speed, and controls the assist force generated by the electric motor 18 to approach the target assist amount. To do.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the ECU 12. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the ECU 12. The ECU 12 includes an ECU case 30 made of, for example, an aluminum alloy that houses the board 25, a connection box 31 attached to the ECU case 30, and a connector 32 attached to the connection box 31.
As shown in FIG. 2A, for example, a rectangular attachment hole 34 is provided in the outer wall 33 of the ECU case 30, and the connection box 31 is attached so as to cover the attachment hole 34 so as to protrude from the attachment hole 34. It has been.

  The connection box 31 includes, for example, a synthetic resin box housing 36 that defines a storage chamber 35 having a reference surface BP that is horizontal during resin potting, and a plurality of terminals 37 that are stored in the storage chamber 35 and connected to the substrate 25. A potting resin 38 filled in the storage chamber 35 and a first mounting groove 39 and a second mounting groove 40 as connector mounting portions provided in the box housing 36 adjacent to the storage chamber 35 are provided.

The connector 32 includes a connector housing 41 arranged at the end YHa of the wire bundle YH and a plurality of contacts 42 held by the connector housing 41.
As shown in FIG. 3, the connector housing 41 has a rectangular shape as a mounted portion having a first side edge 43 and a second side edge 44 attached to the first attachment groove 39 and the second attachment groove 40 of the box housing 36. It includes a mounted plate 45 and a cylindrical portion 47 extending from the mounted plate 45 and through which a plurality of covered electric wires 46 of the wire bundle YH are inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, each contact 42 has a first portion 421 in which the conductor end 46a of the corresponding covered wire 46 of the wire bundle YH is connected by resistance welding and a first portion 421 connected to the corresponding terminal 37. Two portions 422. The first portion 421 and the second portion 422 are orthogonal to each other, and the first portion 421 is parallel to the reference plane BP. The second portion 422 of the contact 42 and each terminal 37 are parallel to the extending direction of the first mounting groove 39 and the second mounting groove 40.

The box housing 36 of the connection box 31 includes a bottom plate 48 that covers the mounting hole 34 of the ECU case 30 from the inside, and a first side wall 49 and a second side wall 50 that extend outward from the bottom plate 48 through the mounting hole 34 (see FIG. 3), a front wall 51 extending from the bottom plate 48 and having an opening 51a, and a rear wall 52 extending from the bottom plate 48 and having an opening 52a.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the substrate 25 is held in a recess 48 a provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate 48. The accommodation chamber 35 is defined by the bottom plate 48, the side walls 49, 50 and the mounted plate 45 in a state where the opening 51 a of the front wall 51 is covered by the mounted plate 45 attached to the both side walls 49, 50. The In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, a part of storage chamber 35 is divided in the state which the opening 52a of the rear wall 52 was also covered by another member.

The upper surface of the bottom plate 48 constitutes the reference plane BP. One end of the terminal 37 is connected to the conductive portion of the substrate 25 in the ECU case 30, and the terminal 37 extends through the bottom plate 48 through the bottom chamber 48.
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, the tubular portion 47 of the connector housing 41 has a first end portion 53 and a second end portion 54. The mounted plate 45 is a rectangular flange plate provided at the second end portion 54 of the tubular portion 47. Further, the connector housing 41 includes an extending portion 55 that extends from the second end portion 54 into the accommodation chamber 35. As shown in FIG. 2A, the first end 53 has a first opening 56 into which the wire bundle YH is introduced. The 2nd end part 54 has the 2nd opening 57 from which each covered electric wire 46 of electric wire bundle YH was led out.

When the reference surface BP of the ECU case 30 is leveled with the connector housing 41 attached to the ECU case 30, the second end portion 54 is disposed higher than the first end portion 53 of the tubular portion 47. At the same time, the inner upper wall 58 of the second end portion 54 is inclined so as to be displaced upward toward the second opening 57.
As shown in FIG. 3, the outer shape of the cylindrical portion 47 is such that the upper half including the second end 54 forms a quadrangular frustum shape, and the lower half including the first end 53 forms a cylindrical shape. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 4 which is a plan view and FIG. 5 which is a bottom view, the extending portion 55 of the connector housing 41 includes a plurality of through holes 59 and 60 and a contact holding portion 61 which holds the plurality of contacts 42 side by side. And an inspection probe insertion hole 62 that is provided in the contact holding portion 61 and faces the lower surface of each contact 42 (the lower surface of the first portion 421), and a temporary holding hole 70.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, a cylindrical temporary holding convex portion 71 that protrudes upward from the bottom plate 48 of the box housing 36 of the connection box 31 is provided. The temporary holding convex portion 71 shown in FIG. 3 is fitted into the temporary holding hole 70 shown in FIG.
The inspection probe insertion hole 62 is used to inspect the connector 32 alone by bringing the inspection probe into contact with the lower surface of the contact 42 through the inspection probe insertion hole 62 before attaching the connector 32 to the connection box 31. It is done.

Each inspection probe insertion hole 62 communicates with the corresponding through hole 59, 60. Specifically, the inspection probe insertion hole 62 for the contact 42 arranged outside in FIG. 5 communicates with the corresponding through hole 59 via the slit 63 as shown in FIG. The through-hole 59 is a large through-hole provided for removing the meat.
In addition, the inspection probe insertion hole 62 for the contact 42 arranged on the inner side in FIG. 5 communicates with the corresponding through hole 60 through the slit 64 as shown in FIG. The through hole 60 is a small through hole provided exclusively for releasing air particles during potting.

  According to the present embodiment, in the step of potting the resin into the storage chamber 35 of the connection box 31 to which the connector 32 is connected at the time of manufacture, as shown in FIG. 2B, the reference plane BP is horizontal. As the fluid resin 380 is poured into the storage chamber 35, the liquid level of the fluid resin 380 rises from the first end 53 to the higher second end 54 in the tubular portion 47 of the connector housing 41. To go. At this time, since the inner upper wall 58 of the second end portion 54 is inclined so as to be displaced upward toward the second opening 57, an air pocket remains in the fluid resin in the cylindrical portion 47. There is no fear. Accordingly, voids are not generated in the cured potting resin 38 shown in FIG. 2A, and the waterproof property is not lowered.

  Further, in the step of potting resin, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the air existing in the inspection probe insertion hole 62 of the contact holding portion 61 is passed through the slits 63 and 64 to the through holes 59 and 60, for example. Since it can be moved and escaped upward from the through holes 59 and 60, there is no possibility that air remains in the inspection probe insertion hole 62. Accordingly, voids are not generated in the cured potting resin 38 shown in FIG. 2A, and the waterproof property is not lowered.

  Further, when the connector 32 is attached to the connection box 31, the side edges 43 and 44 of the attached plate 45 of the connector 32 are fitted into the corresponding attachment grooves 39 and 40 of the corresponding side walls 49 and 50 of the connection box 31. Therefore, it is easy to attach the connector 32 to the connection box 31. Further, since a part of the storage chamber 35 is partitioned by the side walls 49 and 50 and the mounted plate 45, the sealing performance by the potting resin 38 can be enhanced.

Further, since the second portion 422 and the terminal 37 of each contact 42 extend in parallel with the extending direction of the mounting grooves 39, 40, the side edges 43, 44 of the mounted plate 45 are connected to the corresponding mounting grooves 3, 3, respectively. Each contact 42 can be securely connected to the corresponding terminal 37 when fitted to 40.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and is not shown. For example, the inspection probe insertion hole 62 and the through hole may be in direct communication. In addition, various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electric power steering device (vehicle steering device), 5 ... Steering assist mechanism, 12 ... ECU, 18 ... Electric motor, 25 ... Substrate, 30 ... ECU case, 31 ... Connection box, 32 ... Connector, 35 ... Storage chamber 36 ... Box housing, 37 ... Terminal, 38 ... Potting resin, 39 ... First mounting groove (connector mounting portion), 40 ... Second mounting groove (connector mounting portion), 41 ... Connector housing, 42 ... Contact, 421 ... 1st part, 422 ... 2nd part, 43 ... 1st side edge, 44 ... 2nd side edge, 45 ... Mounted plate (attached part), 46 ... Covered electric wire, 46a ... Conductor edge part, 47 ... Cylindrical shape 48, a bottom plate, 49, a first side wall, 50, a second side wall, 53, a first end portion (of the tubular portion), 54, a second end portion (of the tubular portion), 55, an extension portion, 56 ... first opening, 57 ... second opening, 58 ... inside Walls, 59 and 60 ... through hole, 61 ... contact holding portion, 62 ... inspection probe insertion holes, 63, 64 ... slit

Claims (5)

An ECU case containing a substrate;
A connection box attached to the ECU case;
A connector coupled to the connection box,
The connection box includes a box housing that divides a storage chamber having a reference surface that is horizontal during resin potting, a plurality of terminals that are stored in the storage chamber and connected to the substrate, and potting that is filled in the storage chamber. Resin, and a connector mounting portion provided in the box housing,
The connector includes a connector housing, and a plurality of contacts held by the connector housing,
The connector housing has a mounted portion attached to the connector mounting portion, and a tubular portion extending from the attached portion and through which a plurality of covered electric wires are inserted,
Each of the contacts has a first portion connected to the conductor end of the corresponding covered wire, and a second portion connected to the corresponding terminal,
The cylindrical portion has a first end having a first opening into which the covered electric wire is introduced, a second end having a second opening from which the covered electric wire is led out and is adjacent to the attached portion, Have
When the reference plane is leveled, the second end is disposed higher than the first end of the tubular portion, and the inner upper wall of the second end is formed by the second opening. An electronic control unit that is inclined so as to be displaced upward as it goes to. The connector housing according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing has an extending portion that extends from the attached portion into the accommodating chamber,
The extending portion includes a through hole, a contact holding portion that holds each contact, and an inspection probe insertion hole that is provided in the contact holding portion and faces the lower surface of each contact,
Each inspection probe insertion hole is an electronic control unit communicating with the through hole.   3. The electronic control unit according to claim 2, wherein the extending portion includes a slit that communicates each of the inspection probe insertion holes with a corresponding through hole. The box housing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the box housing includes a first side wall and a second side wall facing each other,
The connector mounting portion includes a first mounting groove and a second mounting groove that are provided on the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, and face each other.
The mounted portion includes a mounted plate having a first side edge and a second side edge that fit into the first mounting groove and the second mounting groove, respectively.
An electronic control unit in which a part of the storage chamber is partitioned by the first side wall, the second side wall, and the mounted plate.   5. The electronic control unit according to claim 4, wherein the second portion of each contact and each of the terminals extend in parallel with a direction in which the first mounting groove and the second mounting groove extend.

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