ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001]
The present application relates to an electronic control device and particularly to an electronic control device which electrically controls the engine of an automobile, a motorcycle, an outboard, or the like.
2. Description of the Background Art
[0002]
A heretofore known electronic control device, particularly an engine control unit (ECU) used in an automobile or the like, is commonly such that a connector configured of a resin housing, metal terminals, and the like is installed on a printed circuit board having formed thereon a control circuit and that the printed circuit board is housed in a case made of resin or the like.
[0003]
On the other hand, as a connector less expensive than the heretofore mentioned kind of heretofore known connector, a card edge connector is known wherein card edge contacts are formed by printing a pattern on a printed circuit board and the function equivalent to metal terminals is imparted to the card edge contacts. An ECU, by the card edge contacts coming

into contact with the metal terminals of a vehicle-side connector, becomes able to control units, such as each kind of sensor, a battery, a sparking coil, and an in jector solenoid, via a cable connected to the vehicle-side connector.
[0004]
As a heretofore known example of the card edge connector, for example, Patent Literature 1 proposes a structure wherein a printed circuit board having formed thereon card edge contacts is housed in two resin cases. In the heretofore known example, a raised locking portion to be locked to a vehicle-side connector housing is provided on a rear case having a housing portion in which to house the printed circuit board. Furthermore, a hole communicating with the housing portion is provided in the locking portion, and a resin with which to fix the printed circuit board is injected through the hole.
[0005]
Also, Patent Literature 2 discloses an electronic unit wherein a plurality of guides which can select a position in which to house a card printed circuit board and hold the printed circuit board in the selected position are provided in a case in which to house the printed circuit board. In this heretofore known example, an opening portion is provided on the opposite side of the case from that on which to dispose card edge contacts, and after the printed circuit board is inserted from the opening portion, the opening portion is

closed with an upper lid, thus preventing the printed circuit board from coming out.
[0006]
[Patent Literature 1] JP-A-2013-182299
[Patent Literature 2] JP-A-7-263883
[0007]
In each heretofore mentioned kind of card edge connector, in order to bring the card edge contacts into reliable contact with the vehicle-side connector, the positional relationship between the connector housing and the card edge contacts or the printed circuit board is very important, and it is necessary that the connector housing, the card edge contacts, and the printed circuit board are positioned with a high degree of accuracy.
[0008]
In the case of a common connector configured of a resin housing and metal terminals, positioning holes into which to insert the respective terminals are provided in advance in the housing, thereby enabling the housing and each terminal to be assembled positioned with a high degree of accuracy. On the other hand, in the case of the card edge connector, the system for positioning the card edge contacts inside the connector housing with a high degree of accuracy is not established, and there is a problem in improving the accuracy of positioning the connector housing and the card edge contacts.

[0009]
Also, when the resin with which to fix the printed circuit board in the case adheres to a card edge contact portion or a connector fitting portion, poor contact or poor fit occurs, and the card edge contacts cannot be brought into reliable contact with the vehicle-side connector. In Patent Literature 1, a filler inlet.is provided adjacent to the fitting portion between the front and rear cases, and there is the possibility of adhesion of the resin to the case fitting portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010]
The present application, having been contrived to solve the heretofore mentioned kinds of problems, has for its object to provide an electronic control device which enables card edge contacts to be brought into reliable contact with a counterpart connector.
[0011]
An electronic control device disclosed in the present application includes a printed circuit board having a mounting surface on which a plurality of electronic parts are mounted; a card edge contact portion formed on one end side of the printed circuit board; a case which has in one end portion thereof a connector housing having disposed therein the card edge contact portion and which has, in the other end portion opposite

to the one end portion, an opening portion through which the printed circuit board can be inserted; a cover which covers the opening portion and which forms together with the case a housing portion in which the printed circuit board is housed; and confining members which confine the position of the printed circuit board in the housing portion. In the electronic control device, when a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the card edge contact portion in a plane parallel to the mounting surface of the printed circuit board is referred to as an X direction, a direction perpendicular to the X direction as a Z direction, and a direction normal to the mounting surface as a Y direction, the confining members include Y-direction confining members which confine the Y-direction position of the printed circuit board in the housing portion.
[0012]
According to the electronic control device disclosed in the present application, the confining members which confine the position of the printed circuit board in the housing portion include the Y-direction confining members which confine the Y-direction position normal to the mounting surface, and so Y-direction positioning of the card edge contact portion relative to the connector housing can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy, enabling the card edge contact portion to be brought into reliable contact with a counterpart

connector.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an electronic control device according to Embodiment 1.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view with a portion broken away of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1.
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view describing a procedure of assembling the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1.
Fig. 4 is a diagram describing a positional relationship between a printed circuit board and a case in the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1.
Fig. 5 is a diagram describing Y-direction confining members of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1.
Fig. 6 is a diagram describing Y-direction confining members of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the Y-direction confining member of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1.
Fig. 8 is a diagram describing an operation of the Y-direction confining members in the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1.
Fig. 9 is a diagram describing an X-direction confining member of an electronic control device according to Embodiment 2.
Fig. 10 is a diagram describing an X-direction confining member of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 2.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a pressing member of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 2.
Fig. 12 is a diagram describing an operation of the X-direction confining members in the electronic control device according to Embodiment 2.
Fig. 13 is a diagram describing a positional relationship between the X-direction confining members and the Y-direction confining members in the electronic control device according to Embodiment 2 .
Fig. 14 is a diagram describing Z-direction confining members of an electronic control device according to Embodiment 3.
Fig. 15 is a diagram describing pressing members of the

electronic control device according to Embodiment 3.
Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the pressing member of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 3.
Fig. 17 is a diagram describing an operation of the Z-direction confining members in the electronic control device according to Embodiment 3.
Fig. 18 is a perspective view describing a method of manufacturing an electronic control device according to Embodiment 4.
Fig. 19 is a perspective view with a portion broken away of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 4.
Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing the electronic control device according to Embodiment 4.
Fig . 21 is a diagram describing a fitting portion between a case and a cover of an electronic control device according to Embodiment 5.
Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view describing the fitting portion between the case and cover of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 [0014]
Hereafter, a description will be given, based on the drawings, of an electronic control device according to

Embodiment 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1, Fig. 2 is a perspective view with a portion broken away of the electronic control device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view describing a procedure of assembling the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1. In the individual drawings, identical signs are given to identical and equivalent portions.
[0015]
In the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1, a case 1 and a cover 2, which are made of resin, form a housing portion 5 in which to house a printed circuit board 4, and a resin 3 which is a filler is disposed so as to fill the space of the housing portion 5. As shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of electronic parts 6 are mounted on a mounting surface 4a of the printed circuit board 4. The electronic parts 6, which are, for example, an electrolytic capacitor and a switching element, configure an electrical circuit for realizing the function of the electronic control device.
[0016]
Also, a card edge contact portion 41 is formed on one end side of the printed circuit board 4 . The card edge contact portion 41 has a plurality of electrical contacts formed by conductive patterning, and the individual electrical contacts have the same function as metal terminals of a heretofore known

connector. That is, the card edge contact portion 41 is brought into contact with metal terminals of an unshown vehicle-side connector, thereby enabling the electronic control device to control units, such as each kind of sensor, a battery, a sparking coil, and an injector solenoid, via a cable connected to the vehicle-side connector.
[0017]
The case 1 has, in one end portion thereof, a connector housing 11 in which to dispose the card edge contact portion 41 and has, in the other end portion opposite to the one end portion, an opening portion 12 through which the printed circuit board 4 is insertable. The connector housing 11 is provided protruding from the one end portion of the case 1. The cover 2 is fitted to the case 1 so as to cover the opening portion 12. Also, the case 1 is provided with a raised portion 13 corresponding to the sizes and positions of the electronic parts 6, and the volume of the housing portion 5 is held down owing to the raised portion 13, thus suppressing the consumption of the resin 3. Furthermore, the case 1 has a resin injection hole 19 provided in a portion of the one end portion other than the connector housing 11.
[0018]
A brief description will be given, using Fig. 3, of a procedure of assembling the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1. The printed circuit board 4, on

the mounting surface 4a of which the electronic parts 6 are mounted, is inserted into the housing portion 5 from the opening portion 12 of the case 1, in the arrow direction, with the one end side having formed thereon the card edge contact portion 41 facing forward. By so doing, the card edge contact portion 41 is disposed in the connector housing 11. Subsequently, the opening portion 12 is closed with the cover 2, and furthermore, the resin 3 injected through the resin injection hole 19 fills the space of the housing portion 5, thereby fixing the printed circuit board 4. The resin 3 is not always disposed and is sometimes not disposed.
[0019]
The electronic control device is characterized in that-confining members which confine the position of the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion are provided on at least one of the case 1 or the cover 2. In the following description, a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the card edge contact portion 41 in a plane parallel to the mounting surface 4a of the printed circuit board 4 is referred to as an X direction, a direction perpendicular to the X direction as a Z direction, and a direction normal to the mounting surface 4a as a Y direction (refer to Fig. 5) .
[0020]
A description will be given, using Fig. 4, of a positional relationship between the printed circuit board 4 and the case

1. In order to bring the card edge contact portion 41 into appropriate contact with the metal terminals attached to the vehicle-side connector, the accuracy of position between the connector housing 11 and the card edge contact portion 41 or the printed circuit board 4 has to be sufficiently high. Consequently, it is necessary to increase the accuracy of positioning the printed circuit board 4 when disposing the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5 in the heretofore described assembly process.
[0021]
In Embodiment 1, a description will be given, using Figs . 5 to 0, of Y direction confining members which confine the Y direction position of Iho prinlcd circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5. Y-direction positioning i3 most important to the card edge contact portion 41. The reason is that as the patterns of the card edge contact portion 41 are wide apart, X- and Z-direction position deviations within the range of the width can be absorbed, and in contrast, that as a Y-direction position deviation directly affects the pressure of contact with the metal terminals of the vehicle-side connector, particularly high-accuracy positioning is required in the Y direction.
[0022]
In the example shown in Fig. 5, as the Y-direction confining members, Y-direction reference planes 14 are

provided on the case 1. The Y-direction position of the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5 can be determined by pressing the printed circuit board 4 against the Y-direction reference planes 14. In addition, as the position of the connector housing 11 relative to the Y-direction reference planes 14 is defined, Y-direction positioning of the card edge contact portion 41 relative to the connector housing 11 can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy.
[0023]
AI30, in the example shown in Fig. 6, the Y-directi on confining members have, as well as the Y-direction reference planes 14 provided on the case 1, Y-direction pressing members 15 which are provided on the case 1 and press the printed circuit board 4 in the direction of the Y-direction reference planes 14 . Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion shown by A in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 7, the Y-direction pressing member 15 has a base portion 15a which hardly deforms and a crush rib 15b whose leading end portion plastic deforms.
[0024]
The crush ribs 15b installed on their respective base portions 15a, by being crushed by the printed circuit board 4, press the printed circuit board 4 in the direction of the Y-direction reference planes 14. In this way, by providing the Y-direction pressing members 15, the printed circuit board 4 can be brought into reliable contact with the Y-direction

reference planes 14. [0025]
A description will be given, using Fig. 8, of an operation of the Y-direction confining members in the electronic control device according to Embodiment 1. Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the state in which the printed circuit board is mounted in the case, but one portion of the case is not shown. When the printed circuit board 5 is mounted in the case 1, as shown in Fig. 8, one portion of each of the crush ribs 15a plastic deforms. Because of this, a force occurs in the arrow direction, causing the printed circuit board 4 to be pressed against the Y-direction reference planes 14.
[0026]
According to Embodiment 1, a configuration is adopted such that the Y-direction position of the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5 is defined by the Y-direction confining members, and so positioning of the card edge contact portion 41 relative to the connector housing 11 can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy. Because of this, it is possible to bring the card edge contact portion 41 into reliable contact with the vehicle-side connector. Embodiment 2
[0027]
In Embodiment 2, a description will be given, using Figs . 9 to 13, of X-direction confining members which confine the

X-direction position of the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5 of an electronic control device according to Embodiment 2. The other configurations of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 2 are the same as in the heretofore mentioned Embodiment 1 and so are omitted from description.
[0028]
In the example shown in Fig. 9, as one of the X-direction confining members, an X-direction reference plane 16 is provided on the case 1. The X-direction position of the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5 can be determined by pressing the printed circuit board 4 against the X-direction reference plane 16. In addition, as the position of the connector housing 11 relative to the X-direction reference plane 16 is defined, X-direction posilioiiiny of Lhe card edge contact portion 41 relative to the connector housing 11 can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy.
[0029]
Furthermore, it is desirable, as the other X-direction confining member, to have an X-direction pressing member which presses the printed circuit board 4 in the direction of the X-direction reference plane 16. Fig. 10 is a diagram describing a spring structure which is the X-direction pressing member according to Embodiment 2, and Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion shown by B in Fig.

10. A spring structure 17 which is a plate spring-like structure is provided on a surface of the case 1 opposite to the X-direction reference plane 16 and is configured of an arm portion 17a and a printed circuit board contact portion 17b.
[0030]
A description will be given, using Fig. 12, of an operation of the X-direction confining members in the electronic control device according to Embodiment 2 . When the printed circuit board 4 is mounted in the case 1, the arm portion 1 7a of the spri ng structure 17 bends, and the force in the arrow direction is applied by the printed circuit board contact portion 17b, causing the printed circuit board 4 to be pressed against the X-direction reference plane 16.
[0031]
When disposing the Y-direction reference planes 14 and Y-direction pressing members 15 according to the heretofore mentioned Embodiment 1 and the X-direction reference plane 16 and spring structure 17 according to Embodiment 2, it is necessary to pay attention to their positional relationship. At the time of inserting the printed circuit board 4 into the case 1, when the printed circuit board 4 comes into abutment with the Y-direction reference planes 14 and Y-direction pressing members 15 before the spring structure 17 of the case 1 presses the printed circuit board 4 against the X-direction reference plane 16, it happens that the spring structure 17

cannot sufficiently press the printed circuit board 4 against the X-direction reference plane 16.
[0032]
In order to prevent this, the X-direction reference plane 16 and the spring structure 17 are provided in positions closer to the opening portion 12 through which to insert the printed circuit board 4 than the Y-direction reference planes 14 and Y-direction pressing members 15, as shown in Fig. 13. By so doing, the printed circuit board 4, when being inserted into the case 1, is sufficiently pressed against the X-direction reference plane 16 by the spring structure 17, and thereafter comes into abutment with the Y direction reference planes 14 and Y-direction pressing members 15.
[0033]
According to Embodiment 2, a configuration is adopted such that the Y- and X-direction positions of the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5 are confined by the Y-direction confining members and X-direction confining members, and so positioning of the card edge contact portion 41 relative to the connector housing 11 can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy. Because of this, it is possible to bring the card edge contact portion 41 into more reliable contact with the vehicle-side connector. Embodiment 3
[0034]

In Embodiment 3, a description will be given, using Figs. 14 to 17, of Z-direction confining members which confine the Z-direction position of the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5 of an electronic control device according to Embodiment 3. The other configurations of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 3 are the same as in the heretofore mentioned Embodiment 1 and so are omitted from description.
[0035]
In the example shown in Fig. 14, as the Z-direction confining members, Z-direction reference planes 18 are provided on the case 1. The Z-direction position of the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5 can be determined by pressing the printed circuit board 4 against the Z-direction reference planes 18. In addition, as the position of the connector housing 11 relative to the Z-direction reference planes 18 is defined, Z-direction positioning of the card edge contact portion 41 relative to the connector housing 11 can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy.
[0036]
Furthermore, it is desirable, as the Z-direction confining members, to have Z-direction pressing members which press the printed circuit board 4 in the direction of the Z-direction reference planes 18. Fig. 15 is a diagram describing the Z-direction pressing members according to

Embodiment 3, and Fig. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of the Z-direction pressing member shown in Fig. 15 . Z-direction pressing members 21 provided on the cover 2 each have a base portion 21a which hardly deforms and a crush rib 21b whose leading end portion plastic deforms.
[0037]
The crush ribs 21b installed on their respective base portions 21a, by being crushed by the printed circuit board 4, press the printed circuit board 4 in the direction of the Z-direction reference planes 18 . By providing the Z-direction pressing members 21 on the cover 2, the printed circuit board 4 can be brought into reliable contact with the Z-direction reference planes 18.
[0038]
A description will be given, using Fig. 17, of an operation of the Z-direction confining members in the electronic control device according to Embodiment 3. As shown in Fig. 17, after the printed circuit board 4 is mounted in the case 1, the cover 2 is fitted to the case 1, and thereby the crush ribs 21b provided on the cover 2, partially plastic deforming, come into abutment with the printed circuit board 4, so the force in the arrow direction acts, causing the printed circuit board 4 to be pressed against the Z-direction reference planes 18.
[0039]

According to Embodiment 3, a configuration is adopted such that the Y-, X-, and Z-direction positions of the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5 are confined by the Y-, X-, and Z-direction confining members, and so positioning of the card edge contact portion 41 relative to the connector housing 11 can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy. Because of this, it is possible to bring the card edge contact portion 41 into more reliable contact with the vehicle-side connector. .Embodiment 4
[0040]
In the heretofore mentioned Embodiments 1 to 3, a description is given of the system wherein as the card edge contact portion 41 is brought into reliable contact with the vehicle-side connector, positioning of the printed circuit board 4 in the housing portion 5 of the electronic control device can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy. On the other hand, a factor which prevents the card edge contact portion 41 from coming into reliable contact with the vehicle-side connector includes adhesion of the resin 3 to the inner portion of the connector housing 11 or to the fitting portion thereof with the vehicle-side connector. In the following description, a molten resin when injected and a resin cured after being injected are described as the "resin 3" without distinction.

[0041]
In the process of injecting the resin 3, the resin 3 is injected from the connector housing 11 side, and so it happens that the resin 3 adheres to the inner portion of the connector housing 11 or to the fitting portion thereof with the vehicle-side connector, causing poor contact or poor fit. Therefore, in Embodiment 4, a description will be given of an electronic control device which is configured so as to prevent the resin 3 from adhering to the inner portion of the connector housing 11 or to the fitting portion thereof with the vehicle-side connector.
[0042]
Fig. 18 is a perspective view describing a method of manufacturing the electronic control device according to Embodiment 4, and Fig. 19 is a perspective view with a portion broken away of the case and connector of the electronic control device after the resin is injected. The connector housing 11 is provided protruding from the one end portion of the case 1, and the.resin injection hole 19 is provided in a portion of the one end portion excluding the connector housing 11. In this way, the resin injection hole 19 is provided in a portion avoiding the portion in which the card edge contact portion 41 is disposed and the fitting portion with the vehicle-side connector, and the resin 3 is injected using a resin injection nozzle 7, thereby enabling the resin 3 to be prevented from

adhering to the connector housing 11 and card edge contact portion 41.
[0043]
As the resin 3 is aimed at, for example, protecting, fixing, and waterproofing the printed circuit board 4 and electronic parts 6, it is necessary for the resin 3 to be covering a region of the printed circuit board 4 in which the electronic parts 6 are mounted. On the other hand, adhesion of the resin 3 to the card edge contact portion 41 has to be avoided. For this reason, the Z-direction filled position (height) of the resin 3 substantially coincides with the position of the resin injection hole 19, as shown in Fig. 19. Consequently, the resin injection hole 19 is set so as to be positioned at the boundary between a portion of the printed circuit board 4 covered with the resin 3 and a portion thereof not covered with the resin 3. The shape of the resin injection hole 19, not being limited to a rectangle, may be of another type. Also, the number of the resin injection holes 19 may also be plural.
[0044]
Also, the molten resin may be injected through the resin injection hole 19, shown in Fig. 18, up to the top of a portion requiring the resin 3, but in order to more reliably inject the molten resin into the portion requiring the resin 3, the amount of resin to be injected needs to be determined so that

the Z-direction filled position of the resin 3 is at substantially exactly the same position (height) of the resin insertion hole 19. When the amount of resin injected is lower than the position of the resin injection hole 19, it means short-filling of the resin 3, which is not desirable from the perspective of the performance and reliability of the electronic control device. On the contrary, when the amount of resin injected is higher than the position of the resin injection hole 19, it is not desirable because the resin 3 spills over from the resin injection hole 19, requiring wiping and later additional processing.
[0045]
Therefore, as shown in Fig. 20, a bank portion 19a surrounding the resin injection hole 19 is provided on the case 1, wherein the resin 3 is injected within the range of the height of the bank portion 19a, and thereby it is possible to prevent both short-filling and overspill of the resin 3. The bank portion 19a protrudes from the one end portion of the case 1 in the same direction as that of the connector housing 11, that is, in the direction of injection of the resin 3. As the amount of resin injected changes within the range of the height of the bank portion 19a, it is desirable that a buffering area having a height equivalent to that of the bank portion 19a is provided between the portion of the printed circuit board 4 requiring the resin 3 and the portion thereof not requiring

the resin 3.
[0046]
According to Embodiment 4, poor contact or poor fit can be suppressed by preventing adhesion of the resin 3 to the inner portion of the connector housing 11 or to the fitting portion thereof with the vehicle-side connector, and so it is possible to bring the card edge contact portion 41 into more reliable contact with the vehicle-side connector. Embodiment 5
[0047]
Fig. 21 is a diagram describing a structure of the case and cover of an electronic control device according to Embodiment 5, and Fig. 22 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion shown by C in Fig. 21. The electronic control device according to Embodiment 5 has provided therein a crush rib 10 which fills a clearance in the fitting portion wherein the case 1 and the cover 2 are fixed fitted to each other. The other configurations of the electronic control device according to Embodiment 5 are the same as in the heretofore mentioned Embodiment 1 and so are omitted from description.
[0048]
When there is a clearance in the fitting portion between the case 1 and the cover 2, it is not desirable because there are possibilities of exposure to water, overspill of the resin when injected, and the like. Because of this, in Embodiment

5, a configuration is adopted such that the crush rib 10 is provided on the case 1 or the cover 2, preventing a clearance from being produced in the fitting portion between the case 1 and the cover 2. In the example shown in Fig. 22, the crush rib 10 is provided in continuity on the cover 2 side opening portion of the case 1. When the case 1 and the cover 2 are fitted to each other, the leading end of the crush rib 10 plastic deforms, and the clearance in the fitting portion between the case 1 and the cover 2 ceases to exist.
[0049]
In Fig. 22, the crush rib 10 is provided on the case 1 side but may be provided on the cover 2 side. Furthermore, the portion of installation of the crush rib 10, not being limited to that in the example shown in Fig. 22, only needs to be a portion in which the leading end portion of the crush rib 10 plastic deforms with the case 1 and the cover 2 fitted to each other. According to Embodiment 5, it is possible to prevent intrusion of water, and overspill of the resin when injected, into and from the clearance in the fitting portion between the case 1 and the cover 2.
[0050]
Although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects, and functionality 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 of the 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.

WE CLAIM:
1. An electronic control device, comprising:
a printed circuit board having a mounting surface on which a plurality of electronic parts are mounted;
a card edge contact portion formed on one end side of the printed circuit board;
a case which has in one end portion thereof a connector housing having disposed therein the card edge contact portion and which has, in the other end portion opposite to the one end portion, an opening portion through which the printed circuit board can be inserted;
a cover which covers the opening portion and which forms together with the case a housing portion in which the printed circuit board is housed; and
confining members which confine the position of the printed circuit board in the housing portion, wherein
when a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the card edge contact portion in a plane parallel to the mounting surface of the printed circuit board is referred to as an X direction, a direction perpendicular to the X direction as a Z direction, and a direction normal to the mounting surface as a Y direction, the confining members include Y-direction confining members which confine the Y-direction position of the printed circuit board in the housing portion.
2. The electronic control device according to claim 1,

wherein
the confining members include X-direction confining members which confine the X-direction position of the printed circuit board in the housing portion.
3. The electronic control device according to claim 1
or 2, wherein
the confining members include Z-direction confining members which confine the Z-direction position of the printed circuit board in the housing portion.
4. The electronic control device according to any one
of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the confining members have reference planes which define the position of the printed circuit board in the housing portion, and the reference planes are provided on the case.
5. The electronic control device according to claim 4,
wherein
the confining members have pressing members which press the printed circuit board in the direction of the reference planes, and the pressing members are provided on the case or the cover.
6. The electronic control device according to claim 5,
wherein
the pressing members each have a base portion and a crush rib installed on the base portion.
7. The electronic control device according to claim 5,

wherein
the pressing member is a plate spring-like structure.
8. The electronic control device according to claim 2,
wherein
the X-direction confining members are provided in positions closer to the opening portion than the Y-direction confining members.
9. The electronic control device according to any one
of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a resin which is disposed
so as to fill the space of the housing portion and which fixes
the printed circuit board, wherein
the connector housing is provided protruding from the one end portion of the case, and a resin injection hole is provided in a portion of the one end portion excluding the connector housing.
10. The electronic control device according to claim 9,
wherein
the resin injection hole is positioned at the boundary between a portion of the printed circuit board covered with the resin and a portion thereof not covered with the resin.
11. The electronic control device according to claim 9
or 10, wherein
the case has a bank portion surrounding the resin injection hole, and the bank portion protrudes from the one end portion of the case in the same direction as that of the

connector housing.
12. The electronic control device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein
the case and the cover are fixed fitted to each other, and a crush rib which fills a clearance in a fitting portion between the case and the cover is provided on the case or the cover.