Sealing arrangement for an electronic circuit module

Details Sealing arrangement for an electronic circuit module Sealing arrangement for an electronic circuit module

2001-03-26

2002-11-26

Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)

Electricity: conductors and insulators

Boxes and housings

Hermetic sealed envelope type

C361S746000, C257S702000, C257S787000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06486398

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to sealing arrangements for electronic circuit modules, and particularly but not exclusively to sealing arrangements for electronic circuit modules for use in automotive applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the automotive industry, electronic circuits are used in many applications within vehicles. For example, electronic circuits are now used in the field of engine management control, where a microprocessor is programmed to receive inputs from sensors and then provides instructions to various transducers for optimising variable engine parameters.
In such an application, and referring to
FIG. 1
, there is shown a module
5
, which is often located in close proximity to the engine (not shown). Electronic circuitry
10
of the module
5
is typically housed in a casing
20
, to protect delicate components of the circuitry
10
from oil, grease, water and extremes of temperature.
A problem with this arrangement is that the casing should be watertight, but in order to prevent an air pressure differential from building up the casing should also be air-permeable.
It is known to provide a breather device, such as a dedicated vent
25
as shown in
FIG. 2. A
typical vent may comprise a hole
30
formed in the casing
20
with a carrier piece
40
disposed in the hole
30
and containing an air-permeable membrane
50
. An o-ring seal
70
is provided to seal the space between the carrier piece
40
and the casing
20
. An intricate covering piece
60
overlies the membrane (in order to protect against clogging of the membrane by oil and grease) but at the same time has a network of small channels
65
which facilitate movement of air through the covering piece
60
, so as to provide the vent.
However the manufacture of the above vent
25
, including the provision of a breather hole
30
in the casing
20
, the carrier piece
40
for the membrane which is disposed in the hole (with the seal
70
), the complex protective covering piece
60
(with the channels
65
) which must be secured to the encapsulating piece, adds further expense, time and complexity to the overall manufacture of the module
20
.
This invention seeks to provide a sealing arrangement for an electronic circuit module which mitigates the above mentioned disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sealing arrangement for an electronic circuit module as claimed in claim
1
.
In this way a seal is provided using an air-permeable, water-impermeable membrane in a simple and inexpensive arrangement, which protects the membrane from damage.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3987258 (1976-10-01), Tsutsui et al.
patent: 5187746 (1993-02-01), Narisawa
patent: 5222050 (1993-06-01), Marren et al.
patent: 6035569 (2000-03-01), Nagel et al.
patent: 0 113 073 (1984-07-01), None
patent: 0 377 067 (1990-11-01), None

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