Protective enclosure for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12213261-B2
Application number	US-202318342111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2023
Priority date	Jun 27, 2023
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

A protective enclosure for an electronic control unit (ECU) to minimize risk of environmental intrusion includes a base portion, a first housing, a second housing, a first gasket, a vibration attenuating insert, a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, a third electrical connector, and a tether. The first housing is sealably assembled onto the base portion, and the first housing and the base portion define a first chamber to house the telematics module. The second housing and the base portion define a second chamber. The tether attaches the base portion and the second housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosure for a telematics module, the enclosure comprising:
a base portion, a first housing, a second housing, a first gasket, a vibration attenuating insert, a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, and a third electrical connector;
wherein the first housing is sealably assembled onto the base portion with the first gasket interposed therebetween, and wherein the first housing and the base portion define a first chamber that is arranged to house the telematics module and the vibration attenuating insert;
wherein the second housing and the base portion define a second chamber;
wherein the first housing includes a first end;
wherein the first chamber adjoins the second chamber at the first end of the first housing;
wherein the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector, and the third electrical connector are arranged in the first end of the first housing;
wherein a first end of the first electrical connector, a first end of the second electrical connector, and a first end of the third electrical connector are disposed in the first chamber;
wherein a second end of the first electrical connector, a second end of the second electrical connector, and a second end of the third electrical connector are disposed in the second chamber;
wherein the second housing and the base portion cooperate to define a first aperture, a second aperture, and a third aperture that are arranged on a second end of the second housing;
wherein the second housing and the base portion form a first sealable strain relief portion associated with the first aperture;
wherein the second housing and the base portion form a second sealable strain relief portion associated with the second aperture; and
wherein the second housing and the base portion form a third sealable strain relief portion associated with the third aperture.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector comprises a multi-pin connector.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the second electrical connector comprises a radiofrequency (RF) connector.

4. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the third electrical connector comprises a radiofrequency (RF) connector.

5. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first gasket is fabricated from a silicone material.

6. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a second gasket; wherein the second housing is assembled onto the base portion with the second gasket interposed therebetween.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a tether; wherein the tether is attached to the base portion and the second housing, and wherein the tether is disposed internally to the second chamber.

8. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a drain, wherein the drain is disposed on the base portion within the second chamber.

9. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture accommodates a wiring harness cable, wherein the second aperture accommodates a first coaxial cable, and wherein the third aperture accommodates a second coaxial cable.

10. An enclosure for a telematics module, the enclosure comprising:
a base portion, a first housing, a second housing, a first gasket, a vibration attenuating insert, a first electrical connector, and a second electrical connector;
wherein the first housing is sealably assembled onto the base portion with the first gasket interposed therebetween, and wherein the first housing and the base portion define a first chamber that is arranged to house the telematics module and the vibration attenuating insert;
wherein the second housing and the base portion define a second chamber;
wherein the first housing includes a first end;
wherein the first chamber adjoins the second chamber at the first end of the first housing; and
wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are sealably arranged in the first end of the first housing, including a first end of the first electrical connector and a first end of the second electrical connector being disposed in the first chamber, and a second end of the first electrical connector and a second end of the second electrical connector being disposed in the second chamber.

11. The enclosure of claim 10 , further comprising:
wherein the second housing and the base portion cooperate to define a first aperture and a second aperture that are arranged on a second end of the second housing;
wherein the second housing and the base portion form a first sealable strain relief portion associated with the first aperture; and
wherein the second housing and the base portion form a second sealable strain relief portion associated with the second aperture.

12. The enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the first aperture accommodates a wiring harness cable, wherein the second aperture accommodates a first coaxial cable.

13. The enclosure of claim 10 , wherein the first electrical connector comprises a multi-pin connector.

14. The enclosure of claim 10 , wherein the second electrical connector comprises a radiofrequency (RF) connector.

15. The enclosure of claim 10 , wherein the first gasket is fabricated from a silicone material.

16. The enclosure of claim 10 , further comprising a second gasket; wherein the second housing is assembled onto the base portion with the second gasket interposed therebetween.

17. The enclosure of claim 10 , further comprising a tether; wherein the tether is attached to the base portion and the second housing, and wherein the tether is disposed internal to the second chamber.

18. The enclosure of claim 11 , further comprising a drain, wherein the drain is disposed on the base portion within the second chamber.

19. An enclosure for a solid-state electronics module, the enclosure comprising:
a base portion, a first housing, a second housing, a first gasket, a vibration attenuating insert, a first electrical connector, and a second electrical connector;
wherein the first housing is sealably assembled onto the base portion with the first gasket interposed therebetween, and wherein the first housing and the base portion define a first chamber that is arranged to house the electronics module and the vibration attenuating insert;
wherein the second housing and the base portion define a second chamber;
wherein the first housing includes a first end;
wherein the first chamber adjoins the second chamber at the first end of the first housing; and
wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are sealably arranged in the first end of the first housing, including a first end of the first electrical connector and a first end of the second electrical connector being disposed in the first chamber, and a second end of the first electrical connector and a second end of the second electrical connector being disposed in the second chamber.

20. The enclosure of claim 19 , further comprising:
wherein the second housing and the base portion cooperate to define a first aperture and a second aperture that are arranged on a second end of the second housing;
wherein the second housing and the base portion form a first sealable strain relief portion associated with the first aperture; and
wherein the second housing and the base portion form a second sealable strain relief portion associated with the second aperture.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Oesterling Christopher L
• Laurus Bernard V
• Eng Donald
• Chau Jarvis
• Celotto Michael A

Classifications

• H05K5/0052

  characterized by joining features of the housing parts · CPC title

• H05K5/03

  Covers · CPC title

• H05K5/061

  sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing · CPC title

• H05K5/0069

  having connector relating features for connecting the connector pins with the PCB or for mounting the connector body with the housing · CPC title

• H05K5/003

  having an integrally preformed housing · CPC title