Protective case for a computer and method for manufacturing such a case
View Patent ↗The present invention proposes a protective case for a motor vehicle computer, the case including a ventilation filter ( 50 ) and at least one wall ( 41 ) including a mounting portion ( 410 ) for mounting the ventilation filter, in which portion an opening ( 42 ) and at least one air flow channel ( 43 ) extending from the opening are formed, the ventilation filter including a membrane ( 51 ) covering the opening and a protective member ( 52 ) for protecting the membrane, mounted on the mounting portion and defining at least one aperture opening onto the flow channel ( 43 ), the flow channel being configured so as to prevent the membrane from being reached by a flow of water traveling along a straight path from the aperture, in order to prevent damage to the membrane by the flow of water.
1. A protective case ( 20 ) for a motor vehicle computer ( 1 ), said case ( 20 ) defining an internal space in which a printed circuit ( 10 ) of said computer ( 1 ) is to be mounted, the case ( 20 ) comprising:
a ventilation filter ( 50 ); and
a wall ( 41 ) comprising a recession in a thickness direction of the wall ( 41 ) that forms a mounting portion ( 410 ) for mounting said ventilation filter ( 50 ) therein, said mounting portion ( 410 ) having formed therein an opening ( 42 ) extending through an entire thickness of the mounting portion ( 410 ) of the wall ( 41 ), and at least one air flow channel ( 43 ) formed as a depression in a surface of the mounting portion ( 410 ) and extending away from said opening ( 42 ),
the ventilation filter ( 50 ) comprising a membrane ( 51 ) covering the opening ( 42 ), and a protective member ( 52 ) for protecting the membrane ( 51 ),
the protective member ( 52 ) mounted over the mounting portion ( 410 ) so as to cover both the protective membrane ( 51 ) and the at least one air flow channel ( 43 ), the protective member ( 52 ) having at least one aperture extending entirely through a thickness thereof, each said at least one aperture being in fluid communication with a corresponding one of said at least one flow channel ( 43 ),
said at least one flow channel ( 43 ) being configured so as to prevent the membrane ( 51 ) from being reached by a flow of water traveling along a straight path from said at least one aperture, in order to prevent the membrane from being damaged by said flow of water, and
the mounting portion ( 410 ) further comprising at least one rib ( 44 ) extending projectingly into said at least one flow channel ( 43 ).
2. The case ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the rib ( 44 ) extends transversely to the flow channel ( 43 ).
3. The case ( 20 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the flow channel ( 43 ) is at least partially curved.
4. The case ( 20 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the flow channel ( 43 ) comprises at least one bend.
5. A computer ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, said computer ( 1 ) comprising a protective case ( 20 ) according to claim 2 and a printed circuit ( 10 ) mounted in the internal space of said case ( 20 ).
6. The case ( 20 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the flow channel ( 43 ) comprises at least one bend.
7. A computer ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, said computer ( 1 ) comprising a protective case ( 20 ) according to claim 3 and a printed circuit ( 10 ) mounted in the internal space of said case ( 20 ).
8. A computer ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, said computer ( 1 ) comprising a protective case ( 20 ) according to claim 4 and a printed circuit ( 10 ) mounted in the internal space of said case ( 20 ).
9. A computer ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, said computer ( 1 ) comprising a protective case ( 20 ) according to claim 6 and a printed circuit ( 10 ) mounted in the internal space of said case ( 20 ).
10. The case ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the flow channel ( 43 ) is at least partially curved.
11. The case ( 20 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the flow channel ( 43 ) comprises at least one bend.
12. A computer ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, said computer ( 1 ) comprising a protective case ( 20 ) according to claim 10 and a printed circuit ( 10 ) mounted in the internal space of said case ( 20 ).
13. A computer ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, said computer ( 1 ) comprising a protective case ( 20 ) according to claim 11 and a printed circuit ( 10 ) mounted in the internal space of said case ( 20 ).
14. The case ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the flow channel ( 43 ) comprises at least one bend.
15. A computer ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, said computer ( 1 ) comprising a protective case ( 20 ) according to claim 14 and a printed circuit ( 10 ) mounted in the internal space of said case ( 20 ).
16. A computer ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, said computer ( 1 ) comprising a protective case ( 20 ) according to claim 1 and a printed circuit ( 10 ) mounted in the internal space of said case ( 20 ).
17. A motor vehicle comprising at least one computer ( 1 ) according to claim 16 .