Circuit device

Details Circuit device Circuit device

1998-06-11

2001-08-07

Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2841)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S736000, C361S737000, C361S753000, C439S076100, C439S495000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06272021

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a circuit device, and specifically relates to a circuit device equipped with a circuit board which is mounted in automobiles and which is used for the electrical control of various other devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Examples of circuit devices are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-57830 and Japanese Patent Application No. 8-116178. In the disclosed circuit devices, a plurality of electrical terminals are insert-molded and held inside a dielectric housing. The pads of a circuit board, which are accommodated inside the housing are electrically connected to the terminals. Furthermore, contact sections of the terminals are arranged outside of the housing; together with a portion of the housing, the contact sections engage with a mating connector.
Since the circuit devices described above contain large numbers of parts, the manufacture and assembly of the circuit devices require considerable effort, so that the circuit devices are relatively expensive. A circuit device with a simpler construction which has a smaller number of parts is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-185920. In this construction disclosed in this patent application, a circuit board on which electronic parts are mounted is accommodated inside a case, and connector parts which accommodate female terminals that terminate wires are connected to contact pads on the circuit board. In this case, the connector parts are held by being engaged with the case.
However, circuit devices of this type are mounted in automobiles and are used in environments in which violent temperature changes occur. In such cases, the circuit boards contained in such circuit devices undergo deformation as a result of such temperature changes. In the case of a circuit device such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-185920 described above, there is a danger that faulty contacts between the circuit board and the terminals will be generated by the deformation of the circuit board.
Furthermore, in circuit devices of the type disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-185920, the circuit board is not stably held inside the case prior to the mounting of the connector parts; as a result, the assembly working characteristics are poor.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a circuit device which insures highly reliable electrical connections even when used in environments involving large temperature variations, and which can be easily assembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a circuit device which comprises a circuit board on which electronic parts are mounted and is accommodated inside a case, contact pads are located on an edge of the circuit board, a supporting housing is provided which supports the edge along the direction of length and which is positioned with respect to the case, and a connector, which engages with a mating connector, is formed by the supporting housing and the edge.
Preferably, the supporting housing has a slot in the direction of length, and the slot accommodates the edge of the circuit board.
The supporting housing includes a reinforcing section, which is located along the length of the slot on both sides of the slot.
The edge of the circuit board includes protruding sections which protrude from a main body of the circuit board, and the contact pads are disposed on the protruding sections. It is advisable that the slot be constructed so as to snugly accommodate the protruding sections.
The supporting housing is formed as a separate part from the case. In this case, it is advisable that another member disposed on the supporting housing or the circuit board have a connector which engages with the case.
The supporting housing is formed as an integral unit with the case.
The supporting housing includes a fastening means for fastening the supporting housing to the circuit board. The fastening means may be a screw-fastening structure.


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Patent Abstract of Japan—JP-A-757830 (Nippon Denso), Application Date & No., Aug. 18, 1993, 5-203988, Laid-Open Date & No. Mar. 3, 1995, 7-57830.
Patent Abstract of Japan—JP-A-8 116178 (Nippon Denso), Application Date & No., Oct. 18, 1994, 6-252450, Laid-Open Date & No., May 7, 1996, 8-116178.
Patent Abstract of Japan—JP-8-185920 (Nippon Denso), Application Date & No., Jan. 5, 1995, 7-153, Laid-Open Date & No., Jul. 16, 1996, 8-185920.

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