Description:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]

ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICE;

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3, MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8310, JAPAN

THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001]
The present disclosure relates to the field of an electronic control device.
Description of the Related Art
[0002]
To date, an electronic control device used in controlling a vehicle or the like has been configured of a connector unit that carries out an electrical connection with an exterior, an electronic circuit substrate on which an electronic part is mounted, and a frame made of resin or metal that houses and protects the connector unit and the electronic circuit substrate.
Among electronic control devices, a type of electronic control device mounted in, for example, an engine compartment needs to be of a waterproof structure as there is a possibility of being exposed to water. A structure wherein a gap in the frame is sealed with a silicone-based adhesive or a rubber packing is common as a waterproof structure of an electronic control device.
[0003]
A structure wherein the electronic control substrate is sandwiched using a frame that is divided up and down and configured of a first frame portion and a second frame portion has been proposed as an electronic control device in which a rubber packing is used (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1). In this electronic control device, a gap between the first frame portion and the second frame portion is sealed with a sealing member.
[0004]
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 6,666,443
[0005]
However, the electronic control device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is such that an airtightness confirmation test needs to be implemented in order to guarantee waterproofing after the electronic control device is assembled.
An electronic control device in which an adhesive or a liquid packing is used as a sealing agent is such that when it happens that a predetermined standard is not satisfied in an airtightness confirmation test conducted on the frame, such as when an amount of sealing agent applied is insufficient, there is a problem in that a measure such as increasing the amount applied from the exterior is needed, and operating efficiency decreases.
Also, an electronic control device in which a rubber packing is used as a sealing agent is such that due to mounting of the sealing agent being forgotten, or due to difficulty in visually confirming a mounted state after assembly, there is a problem in that an airtightness confirmation test cannot be omitted for reasons of quality control, and operating efficiency decreases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006]
The present disclosure has been made to resolve the above problem, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic control device such that a quality of a sealing member assembly state can easily be confirmed, and quality and operating efficiency are improved.
[0007]
An electronic control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first frame member that houses an electronic circuit substrate on which an electronic part is mounted and has a groove portion in an outer peripheral end portion, a sealing member that is disposed in the groove portion of the first frame member and has a protrusion in an outer peripheral side end portion, and a second frame member that is joined to the first frame member across the sealing member and has a locking portion that is attached to the first frame member, and is characterized in that the groove portion of the first frame member has a cutout portion in a side wall of the groove portion, and the protrusion of the sealing member is disposed in the cutout portion.
[0008]
According to the electronic control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic control device such that a quality of a sealing member assembly state can easily be confirmed, and quality and operating efficiency are improved, can be obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic control device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a main portion sectional view showing a state of the electronic control device according to the first embodiment before joining.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a main portion sectional view showing a state of the electronic control device according to the first embodiment after joining.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state of the electronic control device shown in Fig. 1 before joining.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a main portion perspective view showing a state of the electronic control device shown in Fig. 1 after joining.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic control device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a main portion sectional view showing a state of the electronic control device according to the second embodiment after joining
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a main portion perspective view showing a state of the electronic control device according to the second embodiment after joining.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010]
First Embodiment
Hereafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings. In the drawings, identical reference signs indicate identical or corresponding portions.
[0011]
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic control device according to the first embodiment. An electronic control device 50 according to the first embodiment relates to an electronic control device mounted in, for example, a vehicle, and includes an electronic circuit substrate 2 on which an electronic part 5 is mounted, and a frame 6 in which the electronic circuit substrate 2 is housed, as shown in Fig. 1.
The frame 6 of the electronic control device 50 according to the first embodiment has a case 4, which is a first frame member, and a cover 1, which is a second frame member. Also, a connector terminal 30 is formed to be integrated with the case 4, and is electrically connected to the electronic circuit substrate 2. The electronic circuit substrate 2 is covered from both planar sides of the electronic circuit substrate 2 by the cover 1 and the case 4.
[0012]
The cover 1 and the case 4 of the electronic control device 50 according to the first embodiment, each being of a quadrilateral form having four sides, have, for example, a rectangular form. The electronic control device 50 according to the first embodiment is such that the four sides of the case 4 and the four sides of the cover 1 are joined by joint faces thereof being sealed across a sealing member 20. The sealing member 20 is, for example, a rubber packing wherein silicone rubber or the like is molded, and is disposed in a groove portion 10 formed along the four sides of the case 4.
[0013]
Fig. 2 is a main portion sectional view showing a state of the electronic control device according to the first embodiment before joining, and Fig. 3 is a main portion sectional view showing a state of the electronic control device according to the first embodiment after joining.
The cover 1 includes a protruding portion 12 formed protruding in a direction of the groove portion 10 of the case 4 disposed opposing. The protruding portion 12 is formed over a whole region (a whole periphery) of the cover 1. When being joined to the case 4, the protruding portion 12 causes waterproofing to improve by crushing a necessary amount of the sealing member 20 disposed in the groove portion 10.
[0014]
As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the cover 1 has a claw 13, which is a locking portion, and the case 4 has a locked portion 3 that engages with the claw 13. The cover 1 is attached to the case 4 by the claw 13 of the cover 1 being caused to elastically deform, after which the claw 13 of the cover 1 is caused to engage with the locked portion 3 of the case 4. Also, the protruding portion 12, which is provided in a base portion of the claw 13, strengthens the joint between the cover 1 and the case 4 owing to a repulsive force when crushing the sealing member 20, thereby preventing relative displacement.
[0015]
When the cover 1 and the case 4 are joined, the sealing member 20 is crushed (compressed) by a bottom face of the groove portion 10 of the case 4 and the protruding portion 12 of the cover 1, whereby a position of the sealing member 20 is fixed.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state of the electronic control device shown in Fig. 1 before joining. As shown in Fig. 4, the electronic control device 50 according to the first embodiment is such that a cutout portion 16 is provided in one portion of a side wall of the groove portion 10. The cutout portion 16 is formed to communicate with the groove portion 10. Furthermore, a protrusion 18 formed in a direction of the cutout portion 16 (an outer side direction) is formed in one portion of the sealing member 20, whose external form is a quadrilateral form. The protrusion 18 of the sealing member 20 is disposed in the cutout portion 16.
[0016]
The electronic control device 50 according to the first embodiment is such that owing to the cutout portion 16 being provided in one portion of a side wall of the groove portion 10, the position of the sealing member 20, which is necessary for waterproofing, is fixed, and a state of the disposition of the sealing member 20 can easily be confirmed from an exterior of the frame 6, without losing a waterproofing function. Also, owing to the protrusion 18, which is formed in the direction of the cutout portion 16 (the outer side direction), being provided in one portion of the sealing member 20, a mistake in an assembly direction of the sealing member 20 with respect to the groove portion 10 when disposing the sealing member 20 in the groove portion 10 can be prevented, and workability improves.
[0017]
Fig. 5 is a main portion perspective view showing a state of the electronic control device shown in Fig. 1 after joining. Owing to the cutout portion 16 being provided in a position opposing the base portion of the claw 13, as shown in Fig. 5, a side wall of the groove portion 10 or the sealing member 20 in a vicinity of the cutout portion 16 being directly subjected to a collision or the like from the exterior can be prevented, and also, the state of the disposition of the sealing member 20 can also be confirmed owing to the relative positions of the protrusion 18 provided in the sealing member 20 and the claw 13.
According to the electronic control device 50 according to the first embodiment, the state of the disposition of the sealing member 20 can be confirmed from a direction of side faces of the case 4, which is the first frame member, and the cover 1, which is the second frame member. Specifically, a state of assembly (a mounting state or a coating state) of the sealing member 20 can be confirmed by confirming the position of the protrusion 18 of the sealing member 20 disposed in the cutout portion 16.
[0018]
The electronic control device 50 according to the first embodiment includes the case 4, which is the first frame member that houses the electronic circuit substrate 2 on which the electronic part 5 is mounted and has the groove portion 10 in an outer peripheral end portion, the sealing member 20, which is disposed in the groove portion 10 of the case 4, which is the first frame member, and has the protrusion 18 in an outer peripheral side end portion, and the cover 1, which is joined to the case 4, which is the first frame member, across the sealing member 20, has a locking portion to be attached to the case 4, which is the first frame member, and is the second frame member, the groove portion 10 of the case 4, which is the first frame member, has the cutout portion 16 in a side wall of the groove portion 10, and the protrusion 18 of the sealing member 20 is disposed in the cutout portion 16.
[0019]
This means that, according to the electronic control device 50 according to the first embodiment, the state of assembly (the mounting state or the coating state) of the sealing member 20 can be confirmed visually or with an image inspecting device in a state wherein the frame members are joined, because of which there is no need to carry out an airtightness confirmation test. Also, when assembling, an erroneous assembly can be prevented using the state of disposition or the like of the sealing member 20, because of which an improvement in quality and operating efficiency, and a reduction in manufacturing cost, can be achieved.
Also, according to the electronic control device 50 according to the first embodiment, the protruding portion 12 formed protruding in the direction of the groove portion 10 is provided in the base portion of the claw 13, which is a locking portion, and the joint between the cover 1 and the case 4 is strengthened by the sealing member 20 being compressed by the protruding portion 12 and the bottom face of the groove portion 10, thereby preventing relative displacement.
[0020]
Second Embodiment
Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic control device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Also, Fig. 7 is a main portion sectional view showing a state of the electronic control device according to the second embodiment after joining, and Fig. 8 is a main portion perspective view showing a state of the electronic control device according to the second embodiment after joining.
As shown in Fig. 6, the electronic control device 50 according to the second embodiment is such that a multiple of cutout portions 16 are provided in side walls of the groove portion 10 of the case 4. Also, a multiple of protrusions 18 are formed in the sealing member 20. Also, as shown in Fig. 8, the electronic control device 50 according to the second embodiment is such that the multiple of cutout portions 16 and the multiple of protrusions 18 are provided in positions separated across an interval from the claw 13 of the cover 1, that is, in positions wherein a compressive force acting on the sealing member 20 decreases relatively. Also, the electronic control device 50 according to the second embodiment is such that the cover 1 has another cutout portion 17 in a position corresponding to the cutout portion 16 of the case 4 and the protrusion 18 of the sealing member 20.
[0021]
As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the electronic control device 50 according to the second embodiment is of a structure such that the state of disposition of the sealing member 20 can also be confirmed from a planar direction of the cover 1 (the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7). The electronic control device 50 according to the second embodiment is such that the state of disposition of the sealing member 20 can be confirmed from the planar direction of the cover 1, which is the second frame member. Specifically, the state of assembly (the mounting state or the coating state) of the sealing member 20 can be confirmed by confirming the position of the protrusion 18 of the sealing member 20 disposed in the cutout portion 16 from the other cutout portion 17 of the cover 1.
This means that, according to the electronic control device 50 according to the second embodiment, visual confirmation from the exterior of the frame 6 becomes still easier, automation using an image inspection, or the like, that does not involve a person also becomes easier on a manufacturing line, and an improvement in workability and quality can be achieved. Also, a recording and digitalization of all items can be achieved by using an image inspection or the like of the electronic control device 50.
[0022]
Although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects, and functions described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more other embodiments of the disclosure.
It is therefore understood that numerous modifications which have not been exemplified can be devised without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, at least one of the constituent components may be modified, added, or eliminated. At least one of the constituent components mentioned in at least one of the preferred embodiments may be selected and combined with the constituent components mentioned in another preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0023]
1 cover, 2 electronic circuit substrate, 3 locked portion, 4 case, 5 electronic part, 6 frame, 10 groove portion, 12 protruding portion, 13 claw, 16 cutout portion, 17 other cutout portion, 18 protrusion, 20 sealing member, 30 connector terminal, 50 electronic control device
, Claims:WE CLAIM:
[Claim 1] An electronic control device (50), comprising:
a first frame member (4) that houses an electronic circuit substrate (2) on which an electronic part (5) is mounted and has a groove portion (10) in an outer peripheral end portion;
a sealing member (20) that is disposed in the groove portion (10) of the first frame member (4) and has a protrusion (18) in an outer peripheral side end portion; and
a second frame member (1) that is joined to the first frame member (4) across the sealing member (20) and has a locking portion (13) that is attached to the first frame member (4), characterized in that
the groove portion (10) of the first frame member (4) has a cutout portion (16) in a side wall of the groove portion (10), and the protrusion (18) of the sealing member (20) is disposed in the cutout portion (16).

[Claim 2] The electronic control device (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that an external form of the sealing member (20) is a quadrilateral form, and
the protrusion (18) is formed in a direction of the cutout portion (16).

[Claim 3] The electronic control device (50) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a protruding portion (12) formed protruding in a direction of the groove portion (10) is provided in a base portion of the locking portion (13), and
the sealing member (20) is compressed by the protruding portion (12) and a bottom face of the groove portion (10).

[Claim 4] The electronic control device (50) according to claim 3, characterized in that the cutout portion (16) of the groove portion (10) is provided in a position opposing the base portion of the locking portion (13).

[Claim 5] The electronic control device (50) according to any one of claim 1 to claim 4, characterized in that a state of disposition of the sealing member (20) can be confirmed from a direction of side faces of the first frame member (4) and the second frame member (1).

[Claim 6] The electronic control device (50) according to any one of claim 1 to claim 5, characterized in that a multiple of the protrusion (18) are formed in the sealing member (20).

[Claim 7] The electronic control device (50) according to any one of claim 1 to claim 6, characterized in that the second frame member (1) has another cutout portion (17) in a position corresponding to the cutout portion (16) of the first frame member (4) and the protrusion (18) of the sealing member (20).

[Claim 8] The electronic control device (50) according to any one of claim 1 to claim 7, characterized in that a state of disposition of the sealing member (20) can be confirmed from a planar direction of the second frame member (1).

[Claim 9] The electronic control device (50) according to any one of claim 1 to claim 8, characterized in that the sealing member (20) is a rubber packing.

Dated this 26th day of September, 2022
For MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
By their Agent

(ANSHUL SUNILKUMAR SAURASTRI) (IN/PA 3086)
KRISHNA & SAURASTRI ASSOCIATES LLP