Electronic control unit and electric power steering apparatus having the same

US9326368B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-9326368-B2
Application numberUS-201414582898-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateDec 24, 2014
Priority dateDec 26, 2013
Publication dateApr 26, 2016
Grant dateApr 26, 2016

How to read this patent

A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.

  1. Title

    What the patent document calls the invention.

  2. Abstract

    A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.

  3. Assignees and inventors

    Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.

  4. Key dates

    Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.

  5. First independent claim

    The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.

  6. CPC / IPC classifications

    Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.

  7. Citations and related patents

    Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.

Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

An electronic control unit includes a board, a heat-generating device, a connector, and a heatsink. The board has an insulating layer and a wiring pattern partially exposed outside the insulating layer. The heat-generating device is mounted on the board and electrically connected to the wiring pattern. The connector is located adjacent to the heat-generating device and has a connection terminal connected to the wiring pattern. The heatsink is located opposite to the board across the heat-generating device and in contact with the heat-generating device to dissipate heat of the heat-generating device. The wiring pattern has a land pattern including a mount portion and a connection portion. The heat-generating device is mounted on the mount portion. The connection terminal of the connector is connected to the connection portion.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

What is claimed is: 1. An electronic control unit comprising: a board having a first insulating layer and a first layer wiring pattern partially exposed outside the first insulating layer; a heat-generating device mounted on the board and electrically connected to the first layer wiring pattern; a connector located adjacent to the heat-generating device and having a connection terminal connected to the first layer wiring pattern, and a heatsink located opposite to the board across the heat-generating device and in contact with the heat-generating device to dissipate heat of the heat-generating device, wherein the first layer wiring pattern has a first land pattern including a mount portion and a connection portion, the heat-generating device is mounted on the mount portion of the first land pattern, and the connection terminal of the connector is connected to the connection portion of the first land pattern. 2. The electronic control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the board is a multilayer board having a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of wiring patterns, the plurality of insulating layers alternates with the plurality of wiring patterns, the first insulating layer is one of the plurality of insulating layers, and the first layer wiring pattern is one of the plurality of wiring patterns. 3. The electronic control unit according to claim 2 , wherein the board has a via which electrically connects the first land pattern to at least one of the plurality of wiring patterns except the first layer wiring pattern. 4. The electronic control unit according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of wiring patterns includes a second layer wiring pattern, the plurality of insulating layers includes a second insulating layer, the second layer wiring pattern is stacked on the first layer wiring pattern across the second insulating layer, the second layer wiring pattern has a first ground pattern connected to a ground terminal of the connector, and the first ground pattern overlaps the first land pattern and is equal to or greater in size than the first land pattern. 5. The electronic control unit according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of wiring patterns includes a third layer wiring pattern, the plurality of insulating layers includes a third insulating layer, the third layer wiring pattern is stacked on the second layer wiring pattern across the third insulating layer, the third layer wiring pattern has a second land pattern connected to the connection terminal of the connector, and the second land pattern overlaps the first land pattern and is equal to or greater in size than the first land pattern. 6. The electronic control unit according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of wiring patterns includes a fourth layer wiring pattern, the plurality of insulating layers includes a fourth insulating layer, the fourth layer wiring pattern is stacked on the third layer wiring pattern across the fourth insulating layer, the fourth layer wiring pattern has a second ground pattern connected to the ground terminal of the connector, and the second ground pattern overlaps the second land pattern and is equal to or greater in size than the second land pattern. 7. The electronic control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-generating device has a slag exposed on an opposite side from the board. 8. The electronic control unit according to claim 1 , further comprising: a heat-dissipating member, wherein the heat-dissipating member is in contact with the heatsink through the heat-dissipating member. 9. The electronic control unit according to claim 8 , wherein the heat-dissipating member is made of an electrically insulating material, the heat-dissipating device has a terminal electrically connected to the board, and the terminal is exposed on the same side as the heatsink. 10. The electronic control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the heatsink has a pillar portion located adjacent to the heat-dissipating device, and the pillar portion defines a room where the heat-dissipating device is placed. 11. The electronic control unit according to claim 10 , wherein the pillar portion is in contact with the board. 12. An electric power steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising: an electronic control unit as defined in claim 1 , and a rotating electrical machine configured to produce assisting-torque to help a driver to steer the vehicle, wherein the heat-generating device of the electronic control unit is a driving device, and the rotating electrical machine is controlled by switching ON and OFF the driving device.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • H05K1/0209Primary

    External configuration of printed circuit board adapted for heat dissipation, e.g. lay-out of conductors, coatings · CPC title

  • Heatsink mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board [PCB] · CPC title

  • specially adapted for power drive units or power converters · CPC title

  • Non-printed connector · CPC title

  • on both sides of the substrate or combined with lead-in-hole components · CPC title

Patent family

Related publications grouped by family.

External sources

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.

What does patent US9326368B2 cover?
An electronic control unit includes a board, a heat-generating device, a connector, and a heatsink. The board has an insulating layer and a wiring pattern partially exposed outside the insulating layer. The heat-generating device is mounted on the board and electrically connected to the wiring pattern. The connector is located adjacent to the heat-generating device and has a connection terminal…
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Denso Corp
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification H05K1/0209. Mapped technology areas include Electricity.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Apr 26 2016 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 3 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).