IP Library Granted Patent US 11,171,472
Granted Patent B2
US 11,171,472 · App. 16/772,259 · Granted Nov 9, 2021

Electronic controller

Inventors: Toru Kobayashi (Hitachinaka, JP); Masato Saito (Hitachinaka, JP); Michihito Watarai (Hitachinaka, JP)
Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
H02G3/088H02G3/16H05K5/0039H05K5/0213
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,171,472
App. No.
16/772,259
Granted
Nov 9, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

To make it possible to enhance waterproofness of a vent hole when an electronic controller is mounted on an automobile. The electronic controller includes a waterproof case that accommodates a printed circuit board with electronic parts mounted thereon, and a connector that electrically connects the printed circuit board and an external apparatus to each other, the electronic controller being mounted on the automobile in a posture having the connector directed downward. The waterproof case has an inclined surface that is smaller as the distance from a bottom surface is more on the connector side, and the inclined surface is formed with a vent hole that is closed with the breathing filter.

Claims (34)

1. An electronic controller comprising:

a housing that accommodates a substrate with an electronic part mounted thereon; and

a connector that electrically connects the substrate and an external apparatus to each other, the electronic controller mounted on an automobile in a posture having the connector directed downward, wherein

the housing has a top surface and an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the top surface, the inclined surface being closer to a mounting surface for mounting the electronic controller to the automobile at the connector side than the distance the inclined surface is from the mounting surface at the opposite side of the electronic controller from the connector side, and

the inclined surface is formed with a vent hole that is closed with a breathing filter.

2. The electronic controller according to claim 1 , wherein

the housing has a top surface on an opposite side of the mounting surface with respect to the substrate, and

the breathing filter is disposed on an inner side of the housing as compared to the top surface.

3. The electronic controller according to claim 2 , wherein

the housing has a connector accommodating surface which projects to a side for spacing away from the mounting surface and in which at least part of the connector is accommodated.

4. The electronic controller according to claim 3 , wherein

the housing is further formed with a drain groove that is extended to an outer end edge of the housing and that drains water in the vent hole, and

an inner surface of the drain groove is formed in an inverse tapered shape broadening toward the outer end edge.

5. The electronic controller according to claim 4 , wherein

the drain grooves are formed on both sides of the vent hole of the housing.

6. The electronic controller according to claim 5 , wherein

the housing is further formed with a protective section that covers the vent hole from outside the housing,

the protective section is formed with a drain hole communicating with the drain groove, and

an inner peripheral surface of the drain hole is formed in an inverse tapered shape broadening toward the outer end edge of the housing.

7. The electronic controller according to claim 6 , wherein

the protective section has a connection surface for connection to the connector accommodating surface.

8. The electronic controller according to claim 1 , wherein

the breathing filter includes

a filter main body, and

a hook that mounts the filter main body to the vent hole.

9. The electronic controller according to claim 8 , wherein

the hook is flexible and is locked to the vent hole by being inserted into the vent hole from outside the housing, and

the vent hole is closed with the filter main body from outside the housing when the hook is locked to the vent hole.

10. The electronic controller according to claim 1 , wherein

an inclination angle of the inclined surface relative to the mounting surface is approximately 45 degrees.

11. The electronic controller according to claim 3 , wherein

the housing is further formed with a protective section that covers the vent hole from outside from outside the housing, and

the protective section has an extension surface extended from the top surface toward the connector accommodating surface.

12. The electronic controller according to claim 7 , wherein the vent hole is closed with the breathing filter from inside the housing.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 22, 2021
From: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058598/0321 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2020
From: KOBAYASHI, TORU; SAITO, MASATO; WATARAI, MICHIHITO
To: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 053918/0156 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2017-248224 · Dec 25, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210104879A1 · Apr 8, 2021