Patent EP0366141A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0366141A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Integrated circuit for vehicle
Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp
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Filing: 1989-10-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-10-27
Abstract
Abstract An integrated circuit (10) for a vehicle, includes a pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b), and a connector (12) electrically connected to another connector (14). Each circuit board (16a; 16b) includes a metal circuit board main body (22a), an insulating layer (22b) formed on the entire surface of the circuit board main body (22a), a conductive layer (22c) formed on the insulating layer (22b) in a predetermined circuit pattern, and a plurality of circuit elements (22d) electrically connected to a predetermined portion of the conductive layer (22c). The connector (12) includes a connector housing (28) fixed to the circuit boards (16a; 16b) and having a recess (30) for receiving the other connector (14), a plurality of through holes (28b; 28c) being formed in the connector housing (28), and a plurality of connector pins (24a; 24b), one-end portions of which are connected to connecting terminals (22g; 22h) formed at an edge portion of the conductive layer (22c), middle portions of which extend through the through holes (28b; 28c) formed in the connector housing (28), and the other-end portions of which project into the recess (30).
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Michihira
- 👤 Tomoji Izumi
- 👤 Nagahisa Fujita
- 👤 Yuichi Itoh
- 👤 Masaaki Shimizu
- 👤 Seiji Hirano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:52
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/0026; H05K5/0043; H05K5/0069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
An integrated circuit for a vehicle, which comprises: a pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b), each of said circuit boards including: a metal circuit board main body (22a); an insulating layer (22b) formed on an entire surface of said circuit board main body (22a); a conductive layer (22c) formed on said insulating layer (22b) in a predetermined circuit pattern; and a plurality of circuit elements (22d) electrically connected to a predetermined portion of said conductive layer (22c); and externally connecting connector means (12) electrically connected to another connector (14), characterized in that: said externally connecting connector means (12) comprises: a connector housing (28 or 28′) fixed to said pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b) and having a recess (30) for receiving said another connector (14), a plurality of through holes (28b; 28c; 28f′; 28g′) being formed in said connector housing (28 or 28′); and a plurality of connector pins (24a; 24b), one-end portions of which are connected to connecting terminals (22g; 22h) formed at an edge portion of said conductive layer (22c), middle portions of which extend through the through holes (28b; 28c or 28f′; 28g′) formed in said connector housing (28 or 28′), and the other-end portions of which project into said recess (30).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
An integrated circuit for a vehicle, which comprises: a pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b), each of said circuit boards including: a metal circuit board main body (22a); an insulating layer (22b) formed on an entire surface of said circuit board main body (22a); a conductive layer (22c) formed on said insulating layer (22b) in a predetermined circuit pattern; and a plurality of circuit elements (22d) electrically connected to a predetermined portion of said conductive layer (22c); and externally connecting connector means (12) electrically connected to another connector (14), characterized in that: said externally connecting connector means (12) comprises: a connector housing (28 or 28′) fixed to said pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b) and having a recess (30) for receiving said another connector (14), a plurality of through holes (28b; 28c; 28f′; 28g′) being formed in said connector housing (28 or 28′); and a plurality of connector pins (24a; 24b), one-end portions of which are connected to connecting terminals (22g; 22h) formed at an edge portion of said conductive layer (22c), middle portions of which extend through the through holes (28b; 28c or 28f′; 28g′) formed in said connector housing (28 or 28′), and the other-end portions of which project into said recess (30).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said connector housing (28) is of an internal mounting type, which is fixed while being fitted between said pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that said connector housing (28) comprises said recess (30) which is open to a side surface at the same side as the side of said circuit board to which said connector housing (28) is fixed, and the through holes include a plurality of pairs of upper and lower through holes (28b; 28c) which are formed along a widthwise direction in a main body (28a) portion defining a bottom surface of said recess (30).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 3, characterized in that said connecting terminals (22g; 22h) are aligned in an array along the widthwise direction on one circuit board (16a), the connector pins (24a) inserted through the upper through holes (28b) are electrically connected to every other connecting terminals (22g), and the connector pins (24b) inserted through the lower through holes (28c) are electrically connected to the remaining connecting terminals (22h).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that each of said connector pins (24a; 24b) is fixed to the corresponding connecting terminal (22g; 22h) by soldering to be electrically connected thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that each of the connector pins (24b) inserted through the lower through holes (28c) comprises an arch portion (32) in a portion located between said connector housing (28) and said one circuit board (16a).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 3, characterized in that said connecting terminals (22g; 22h) are aligned in front and rear arrays along the widthwise direction on one circuit board (16a), the connector pins (24a) inserted through the upper through holes (28b) are electrically connected to the rear connecting terminals (22g), and the connector pins (24b) inserted through the lower through holes (28c) are electrically connected to the front connecting terminals (22h).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 7, characterized in that each of the connector pins (24b) inserted through the lower through holes (28c) comprises an arch portion (32) in a portion located between said connector housing (28) and said one circuit board (16a).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 7, characterized in that each of said connector pins (24a; 24b) is fixed to the corresponding connecting terminal (22g; 22h) by soldering to be electrically connected thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 7, characterized in that a one-end portion of each of said connector pins (24a; 24b) is electrically connected to a corresponding connecting terminal (22g; 22h) through a bonding wire (34), and a middle portion thereof is fixed in the corresponding through hole (28b; 28c).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 3, characterized in that each group of said connecting terminals (21g; 22h) are aligned in an array along the widthwise direction on each of said pair of circuit boards (16b; 16a), the connector pins (24a) inserted through the upper through holes (28b) are electrically connected to the connecting terminals (22g) aligned on the upper circuit board (16b), and the connector pins (24b) inserted through the lower through holes (28c) are electrically connected to the connecting terminals (22h) aligned on the lower circuit board (16a).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 11, characterized in that the upper through holes (28b) are formed at a substantially central portion of said connector housing (28), and each of the connector pins (24b) inserted through the lower through holes (28c) comprises an arch portion (32) in a portion located between said connector housing (28) and the lower circuit board (16a).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said connector housing (28′) is of an external mounting type housing which is fixed to outer surfaces of said pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 13, characterized in that said connector housing (28′) integrally comprises a main body portion (28a′) for closing an opening end portion of said circuit boards (16a; 16b), a pair of mounting portions (28d′; 28e′) extending from said main body portion (28a′) toward the corresponding circuit boards (16a; 16b) and mounted on the outer surfaces of the corresponding circuit boards (16a; 16b), and a pair of connecting portions (28b′; 28c′), extending from said main body portion (28a′) in directions opposite to the extending directions of said mounting portions (28d′; 28e′), for defining said recess (30) therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 13, characterized in that each of said pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b) integrally comprises a bent portion (22i; 22j) bent outwardly on a mounting side of said connector housing (28′), and said connector housing (28′) integrally comprises a main body portion (28a) for closing an opening end portion of said circuit boards (16a; 16b), a pair of mounting portions (28d′; 28e′) extending from said main body portion (28a′) toward the corresponding bent portions (22i; 22j) and mounted on end faces of the corresponding circuit boards (16a; 16b), and a pair of connecting portions (28b′; 28c′), extending from said main body portion (28a′) in directions opposite to the extending directions of said mounting portions (28d′; 28e′), for defining said recess (30) therebetween.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 15, characterized in that the through holes include a plurality of pairs of upper and lower through holes (28f′; 28g′) which are formed along a widthwise direction in said main body portion (28a′) defining a bottom surface of said recess (30).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
90 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 16, characterized in that each group of said connecting terminals (22g; 22h) are aligned in an array along the widthwise direction on each of said pair of circuit boards (16b; 16a), the connector pins (24a) inserted through the upper through holes (28f′) are electrically connected to the connecting terminals (22g) aligned on the upper circuit board (16b), and the connector pins (24b) inserted through the lower through holes (22g′) are electrically connected to the connecting terminals (22h) aligned on the lower circuit board (16a).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 17, characterized in that each of said connector pins (24a; 24b) has a stepped portion in a middle portion thereof, and is soldered to the corresponding connecting terminal (22g; 22h) while one-end portion thereof is folded back at 180°.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
109 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said connector housing (28) includes: a pair of connector housing halves (28a; 28b) respectively fixed to said pair of circuit boards (16b; 16a) before said pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b) are assembled to oppose each other, and having a plurality of connector pins (24a; 24b) connected to the corresponding conductive layers (22c); and superposition means (82, 86; 84, 88) which are respectively formed on said connector housing halves (28a; 28b) and are superposed on each other so as to constitute one connector housing (28) when said pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b) are assembled to oppose each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 19, characterized in that said superposition means includes: at least one projection (82) formed on a contact surface of one connector housing half (28a) with respect to the other connector housing half (28b); and at least one recess (84), formed on a contact surface of the other connector housing half (28b) with respect to one connector housing half (28a), for complementarily receiving said each projection (82).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 19, characterized in that said superposition means includes: a recess (80), formed on a surface of one connector housing half (28a) facing the other connector housing (28b), for receiving said other connector housing half (28b) as a whole; engaging portions (86) formed on two side surfaces of said recess (80); and engaged portions (88) formed on two side surfaces of said other connector housing half (28b) and complementarily engaged with said engaging portions (86).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 21, characterized in that said engaging portions (86) comprise engaging grooves extending in an engaging direction, and said engaged portions (88) comprise ridges complementarily fitted in said engaging grooves (86).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
134 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that said connector housing (28) is fixed in advance on one circuit board (16a) before said pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b) are assembled to oppose each other, said connector pins (24a; 24b) include first connector pins (24b) mounted in advance in said connector housing (26) to be inserted thereto before the assembly, and second connector pins (24a) electrically and mechanically connected in advance to connecting terminals formed at an edge portion of said conductive layer of the other circuit board (16b), and said externally connecting connector means (12) further includes a mounting portion (90a) which is formed on said connector housing (28) and to which said second connector pins (24a) are mounted when said pair of circuit boards are assembled to oppose each other.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 23, characterized in that said mounting portion comprises through holes (90a) through which said second connector pins (24a) are inserted so that the other-end portions thereof project into said recess (30).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
172 words
An integrated circuit for a vehicle, which comprises: a pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b), each of said circuit boards (16a; 16b) including: a metal circuit board main body (22a); an insulating layer (22b) formed on an entire surface of said circuit board main body (22a); a conductive layer (22c) formed on said insulating layer (22b) in a predetermined circuit pattern; and a plurality of circuit elements (22d) electrically connected to a predetermined portion of said conductive layer (22c); and externally connecting connector means (12) electrically connected to another connector (14), characterized in that: a plurality of integrated circuits (44; 46) are formed to have independent control functions, and characterized by further comprising: a connecting box (40) to which said plurality of integrated circuits (44; 46) are simultaneously mounted through the corresponding externally connecting connector means (48a; 50a) to be electrically connected thereto; and multiplex transmission means (56; 70), arranged in said connecting box (40), for connecting said plurality of integrated circuits (44; 46) and portions to be controlled through multiplex transmission.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
172 words
An integrated circuit for a vehicle, which comprises: a pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b), each of said circuit boards (16a; 16b) including: a metal circuit board main body (22a); an insulating layer (22b) formed on an entire surface of said circuit board main body (22a); a conductive layer (22c) formed on said insulating layer (22b) in a predetermined circuit pattern; and a plurality of circuit elements (22d) electrically connected to a predetermined portion of said conductive layer (22c); and externally connecting connector means (12) electrically connected to another connector (14), characterized in that: a plurality of integrated circuits (44; 46) are formed to have independent control functions, and characterized by further comprising: a connecting box (40) to which said plurality of integrated circuits (44; 46) are simultaneously mounted through the corresponding externally connecting connector means (48a; 50a) to be electrically connected thereto; and multiplex transmission means (56; 70), arranged in said connecting box (40), for connecting said plurality of integrated circuits (44; 46) and portions to be controlled through multiplex transmission.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 25, characterized in that each of said integrated circuits (44; 46) comprises a multiplex interface circuit (44b; 46b) constituted by a predetermined group out of said circuit elements (22d).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The integrated circuit according to claim 26, characterized in that said externally connecting connector means (48a; 50a) comprises four connector pins corresponding to four multiplex terminals for a power supply, two bus lines, and ground.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
127 words
An integrated circuit for a vehicle, which comprises: a pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b), each of said circuit boards (16a; 16b) including: a metal circuit board main body (22a); an insulating layer (22b) formed on an entire surface of said circuit board main body (22a); a conductive layer (22c) formed on said insulating layer (22b) in a predetermined circuit pattern; and a plurality of circuit elements (22d) electrically connected to a predetermined portion of said conductive layer (22c); and externally connecting connector means (12) electrically connected to another connector (14), characterized in that: one functional component for a vehicle is constituted by an independent integrated circuit, and said circuit board main body (22a) of said circuit board (16a; 16b) is defined as a functional component case.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
127 words
An integrated circuit for a vehicle, which comprises: a pair of circuit boards (16a; 16b), each of said circuit boards (16a; 16b) including: a metal circuit board main body (22a); an insulating layer (22b) formed on an entire surface of said circuit board main body (22a); a conductive layer (22c) formed on said insulating layer (22b) in a predetermined circuit pattern; and a plurality of circuit elements (22d) electrically connected to a predetermined portion of said conductive layer (22c); and externally connecting connector means (12) electrically connected to another connector (14), characterized in that: one functional component for a vehicle is constituted by an independent integrated circuit, and said circuit board main body (22a) of said circuit board (16a; 16b) is defined as a functional component case.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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