Amplifier Case Connector with Liquid Ingress Seal

1 . A case for a vehicle amplifier, the case comprising:

a housing for seating the amplifier;

a cover for securing the amplifier in the housing; and

a connector panel spanning between the housing and the cover, the connector panel having a frame at least partially surrounding a set of connectors configured to couple with a vehicle audio system,

wherein a portion of the frame is recessed relative to the set of connectors.

2 . The case of claim 1 , wherein a first section of the frame is approximately aligned with the set of connectors and a second section of the frame is recessed relative to the set of connectors.

3 . The case of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a first wall, a second wall opposing the first wall, and sidewalls spanning between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall is forward of the second wall, the sidewalls are angled relative to the first wall and the second wall, and the second wall is shorter than the first wall,

wherein the housing includes an interface coupled with the second wall and the sidewalls of the connector panel.

4 . The case of claim 3 , wherein the sidewalls taper between the first wall and the second wall.

5 . The case of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lock tab extending from an upper surface of at least one of the set of connectors.

6 . The case of claim 5 , wherein the at least one lock tab is positioned to engage a retention feature in the vehicle audio system, and

wherein the recessed portion of the frame enables access to the at least one lock tab.

7 . The case of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier includes a printed circuit board (PCB), and wherein the frame of the connector panel is separated from the PCB by a gap.

8 . The case of claim 1 , further comprising a sealant coupling the housing to the frame,

wherein the frame includes a set of tabs located on an outer surface thereof, the set of tabs defining channels for the sealant,

wherein the sealant contacts a portion of at least three walls of the frame, and wherein the frame is angled to enable sealing with application of the sealant in a single orientation.

9 . The case of claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a set of fins for enhancing heat transfer from the amplifier.

10 . The case of claim 1 , wherein the case provides a liquid ingress seal around the amplifier at a designated submerged depth,

wherein the designated submerged depth is approximately 0.5 meters to approximately 1.5 meters.

11 . The case of claim 1 , wherein the set of connectors includes a plurality of connectors each including a set of pins, wherein the case effectively seals the set of pins in each connector.

12 . The case of claim 11 , wherein:

(i) at least one of the connectors includes an 8-pin connector or a 16-pin connector,

(ii) the amplifier includes one of: an 8-channel amplifier, a 16-channel amplifier, a 25 Volt (V) amplifier, a 40 V amplifier, or a 48 V amplifier

(iii) the plurality of connectors includes at least two distinct type of connector with distinct functions, or

(iv) at least one of the connectors includes a power pin or a speaker pin.

13 . A vehicle comprising the case of claim 1 .

14 . A method of assembling the case of claim 1 , further including:

applying a sealant along an interface of the housing;

seating the frame of the connector panel in the housing at the interface; and

coupling the cover to the connector panel.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein after the sealant has set the case is ingress resistant under submission of up to approximately one meter of water.

16 . A case for a vehicle amplifier, the case comprising:

a housing for seating the amplifier, wherein the amplifier includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with an audio circuit;

a cover for securing the amplifier in the housing; and

a connector panel spanning between the housing and the cover, the connector panel having a frame at least partially surrounding a set of connectors configured to couple with a vehicle audio system,

wherein the frame is separated from the PCB by a gap, and wherein a portion of the frame is recessed relative to the set of connectors.

17 . The case of claim 16 , further comprising a sealant coupling the housing to the frame.

18 . The case of claim 16 , wherein the case provides a liquid ingress seal around the amplifier at a designated submerged depth, wherein the designated submerged depth is approximately 0.5 meters to approximately 1.5 meters.

19 . A method of assembling a vehicle audio system, the method comprising:

connecting a vehicle amplifier case, housing a vehicle amplifier, to a vehicle audio interface, the vehicle amplifier case including

a housing seating the amplifier;

a cover securing the amplifier in the housing; and

a connector panel spanning between the housing and the cover, the connector panel having a frame at least partially surrounding a set of connectors,

wherein a portion of the frame is recessed relative to the set of connectors,

wherein connecting the vehicle amplifier case to the vehicle audio interface includes coupling the set of connectors with corresponding connectors in the vehicle audio interface.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the recessed portion of the frame enables the coupling of the set of connectors with the corresponding connectors in the vehicle audio interface, and wherein the vehicle amplifier case is ingress resistant under submission of up to approximately one meter of water.