Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-28
2001-06-12
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
C439S949000, C361S760000, C361S774000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244877
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Description of Related Art
FIG. 4
shows a known electric connection box
41
to be mounted in an automobile and the like. This electric connection box
41
is equipped therein with a printed circuit board
42
having a function of ECU unit. On the top face of the printed circuit board
42
there are provided various electronic components which are not illustrated. The terminals of these electronic components are soldered to the metal plated through-hole or pad of the printed circuit board
42
. On the top face side of the printed circuit board
42
, a plurality of connector housings
43
formed of resin material are provided.
A terminal mounting part
44
is provided at the bottom of each connector housing
43
, and a plurality of through-holes are provided in each terminal mounting part. A plurality of linear connection terminals
45
are press fit in the through-holes. The inner end of each connection terminal
45
projects into the connector housing
43
. On the other hand, the outer end of each connection terminal
45
projects from the terminal mounting part
44
, and is soldered to the metal plated through-hole of the printed circuit board
42
.
There is also known an electric connection box
51
as shown in FIG.
5
. In this electric connection box
51
, each connection terminal
45
is bent at an angle of 90 degrees at an external part of the connector housing
43
. As a result, the connector housing
43
is provided in horizontal a disposition on the printed circuit board
42
. In this case, the connector housing
43
is attached to the printed circuit board
42
by screws.
Conventionally, however, because the connection terminals
45
are directly press fit to the connector housing
43
, there has been a tendency to show displacement to the pitch between the connection terminals
45
due to thermal contraction of the connector housing
43
at the time of the molding. As a consequence of such displacement of pitch, stress is apt to be exerted to the soldered portion. Thus, it has not been possible to maintain high reliability of the connection on the related portion. Furthermore, in the event of displacement in pitch, it has been necessary to practice alignment work to adjust the position of each connection terminal
45
, thus leading to a reduction in assembly efficiency.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric connection box to be mounted, for example, on an automotive vehicle, and to a connection block to be used as a structure for connection in such electric connection box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been provided in view of the problems described above. An object is to provide an electric connection box having excellent connection reliability and ease of assembly.
In order to solve the above problems, an electric connection box includes a connector housing and a printed circuit board, and further includes a connection block holding a plurality of connection terminals partially embedded in an insulator. The printed circuit board and connector housing are provided with the connection blocks, which are formed as separate members, by placing an insulator on the printed circuit board, soldering a second end of each connection terminal projecting from the insulator to a conductor on a side of the printed circuit board, and allowing a first end of each connection terminal to project into the connector housing by loosely inserting it in a through-hole of the connector housing.
In another aspect of the present invention, an arm on which the second end depends is formed by bending, and a distance between the bent arm and the printed circuit board is set to be greater than the height of any electronic components to be mounted between the insulator and the second end.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the insulator is formed as a resin block, and the connection block is molded to hold the connection terminals by partially molding the connection terminals in the resin block.
In another aspect of the present invention, an electric connection box is provided that includes a case having at least one connector housing, a printed circuit board mountable within the case, and at least one separate connection block configured to be mounted on one face of the printed circuit board and to engage and support a lower surface of the connector housing. The connection block includes an insulator having at least one connection terminal partially embedded therein so that a first end of the at least one connection terminal extends from a first surface of the insulator and a second end of the at least one connection terminal extends from a second surface of the insulator, and wherein the first end of the at least one connection terminal extends through the lower surface of the connector housing and projects into an interior thereof, and the second end of the at least one connection terminal is connectable to the printed circuit board.
In other aspects of the present invention, the first surface of the insulator may be an upper surface and the second surface of the insulator may be a side surface, and a lower surface of the insulator may be directly mountable on the printed circuit board. Furthermore, a first portion of the second end of the at least one connection terminal may extend from the insulator generally at a right angle to the first end of the at least one connector portion, and a second portion of the second end may be formed to extend generally parallel to the first end at a position spaced from the insulator. Thus, the first end of the at least one connection terminal and the second portion of the second end are configured to permit flexing of the first end and the second portion and lateral movement of the insulator during installation of the at least one connection terminal into the lower surface of the connector housing to accommodate misalignment of parts.
In another aspect of the present invention, the first portion of the second end may be spaced a distance from the printed circuit board that is greater than a height of a component mounted on the printed circuit board between the insulator and the second portion of the second end. Also, the insulator of the connection block may be formed as a resin block, and the at least one connection terminal may be partially embedded in the resin block. Moreover, at least one through hole may be formed in the lower surface of the connector housing to receive the at least one connection terminal, the at least one through hole having a periphery greater than a periphery of the connection terminal such that the connection terminal is loosely received in the through hole.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a method of making an electric connection box is provided that includes providing an electric connection box including a case having at least one connector housing and a printed circuit board mountable within the case, providing at least one separate connection block configured to be mounted on one face of the printed circuit board and to engage and support a lower surface of the connector housing, the connection block including an insulator having at least one connection terminal partially embedded therein so that a first end of the at least one connection terminal extends from a first surface of the insulator and a second end of the at least one connection terminal extends from a second surface of the insulator, inserting the first end of the at least one connection terminal through the lower surface of the connector housing and into an interior thereof; and connecting the second end of the at least one connection terminal to the printed circuit board.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the first surface of the insulator may be an upper surface and the second surface of the insulator may be a side surface, and the method may further include mounting
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Nasri Javaid
Sircus Brian
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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