WO1999002374A1

WO1999002374A1 - Two function electrical connection housing for vehicle applications

Info

Publication number: WO1999002374A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/013725
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Szudarek
Original assignee: Ut Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-07-10
Filing date: 1998-07-01
Publication date: 1999-01-21

Abstract

An inventive electronic module housing provides two functions. The housing includes a pair of housing members, and a control circuit board mounted between the housing members. A parallel connection function is provided in one of the housing members. Preferably, an input terminal is connected through a circuit trace to a plurality of output terminals. In this way, the single housing provides two functions. This invention is thus an improvement over the prior art in that it allows the use of an electronic module to provide the parallel connections, without requiring a separate and additional junction box to achieve this function. In doing so, a purpose-built junction box is not required. The ability to modify existing module housings offers greater freedom of design on a cost-effective basis.

Description

TWO FUNCTION ELECTRICAL CONNECTION HOUSING FOR VEHICLE APPLICATIONS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to providing two electrical connection functions in a single junction box.

Modern vehicles continue being equipped with additional electrical components. As an example, controls and switches are provided to allow an operator to select many additional functions in modern vehicles. More complicated controls are also being incorporated into the vehicles. Wire harnesses to connect the controls to the systems that are controlled extend throughout most modern vehicles.

Many systems require parallel connections between the control and the items being controlled. As one simple example, when a switch to turn on the headlights of a vehicle is actuated, at least four lights, two headlights and two tail lights, are all typically actuated.

The prior art has used two methods to connect a single control wire in parallel to the four wires necessary to actuate the four lights. In a first prior art system, wire splices are utilized. The single control wire is spliced to the four output wires. While splices can be successfully utilized, they complicate harness manufacturing and diagnostics. Further, splices are not easily adaptable to very small gauge wires.

A second method of achieving the connection is a junction box. Junction boxes are known wherein a single control wire is brought into an input of the junction box, and the single wire is then connected to the parallel outlet wires. However, junction boxes have not been readily adopted by the industry for simple parallel connections because they increase the cost of the electrical systems. They are most often used as a centralized fuse and relay center, along with junction circuitry for parallel circuits. The most sophisticated centralized junction boxes also contain electronic circuitry. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses an electric module box which performs two electrical connection functions. More particularly, a plastic box houses a circuit board. Two housing portions are placed together to enclose the circuit board. One of the two housing portions is provided with a connector which receives a wire harness or other electrical connection for inputs and outputs to the electronic circuit boards. The other half of the housing is normally a cover. In this invention, the cover portion can also include circuit traces to connect a single input to parallel outputs. The cover thus eliminates the need for a separate splice, and further eliminates the need for a separate junction box to achieve the parallel connection. Instead, the housing for the circuit board also provides the parallel connection function by integration of the additional circuitry into the cover which can be used optionally, and re- tooled for various circuit combinations.

With the present invention, the circuit board in the box may process a signal and send the signal through a line leading to the input of the parallel connection in the cover, which is then transmitted into several parallel outlet lines. The present invention does not require splices, nor does it require the provision of a separate junction box to achieve the function of the prior art splices.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical circuit traces to achieve the parallel connections are molded into the cover portion, with an integral connector, which is molded from a conductive plastic. In one preferred embodiment, one part of the housing mounts the circuit board, and the second portion encloses the molded circuitry. The second portion preferably includes the parallel connection feature.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, of which the following is a brief description. BRmF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 schematically shows a vehicle with a portion of its electrical circuitry.

Figure 2 shows a box according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a top view of the box of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4-4 as shown in Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 shows a vehicle 20 having a control switch 22. The present invention describes a circuit for actuating the headlights of a vehicle, however, it should be understood that the invention has application far beyond this one function. The actuation of the headlights is a good example to explain the benefits of this invention, and the disclosure is directed to headlights for that reason only. The present invention can be utilized for any other electrical application.

As shown in Figure 1 , the switch 22 has an output line 23 leading to an electronic module 24 with a cover that is used as a junction box. Output lines 25 lead from module 24 to the headlights 26. Further, outlet lines 27 lead to the tail lights 28. When the headlight switch 22 is actuated, the headlights 26 and the tail lights 28 must be actuated.

The electronic module box processes the input signal to create the appropriate output signals, and further achieves the second function of taking a single input line and translating the signal into parallel output signals for lights 26 and 28.

As shown in Figure 2, the electronic module 24 receives a connection

30 from a wire harness that includes the line 23. A second connection 31 leads to a wire harness 34. In one application, one of the wires that forms a portion of the harness 23 may become an input into the connection 31 and the harness 34. The box 24 includes a top housing portion 36 and a bottom housing portion 38. A connection portion 40 receives the connector 30. A series of connection lines 42 connect terminals from the connector 40 to a circuit board 44. Circuit board 44 may be a known multiplex board for processing the controls and achieving the appropriate output signals. It should be understood that module 24 and its control board also achieve functions in addition to control of headlights.

When switch 22 is actuated, a signal is directed to the multiplex control board 44 indicating that the request has been made to actuate the headlights. The multiplex board 44 then achieves the appropriate output signal for actuating the control function. The wire harness 23 then receives the appropriate output signal. As shown somewhat schematically in this figure, a wire 45 may connect the wire harness 23 to the wire harness 34. Wire 45 can serve as an input into the connection 31 , and provide an input signal to actuate the headlights 26 and tail lights 38. The particular circuitry involved forms no part of this invention, and is being described only as an example.

On an inner surface 47 of the top housing portion 36, a circuit trace including a plurality of connection fingers 46 is shown. There are four fingers 46 shown, and they all are connected to a second finger 48 by a bar 50. The bar 50 and fingers 46 and 48 may all be molded within the plastic top 36 by known techniques. One method for forming electric circuit traces into a plastic member is disclosed in United States Patent 5,407,622, although any other known method may be utilized. Moreover, it is not necessary that the circuit traces be molded into the housing portion. Instead, the traces may be attached by other methods.

As shown in Figure 3, in connection portion 31 there are a plurality of terminals 52 and 54. One input terminal 52 and four output terminals 54 are illustrated.

As shown in Figure 4, the terminal 52 is associated with the finger 48 and the terminals 54 are associated with the terminals 46. Terminal 52 extends through the thickness of the top 36 and is directly connected to finger 48. Terminals 54 extend through the top and are connected to fingers 46.

Harness 34 is attached onto the terminals 52 and 54. The terminal 52 is illustrated as an input, and receives the signal from the control, which is then connected in parallel to the terminals 54 through the fingers 46 and bar

50.

Thus, the system operates in the following manner in the disclosed embodiment. An input signal comes through a connection input line connected to terminal 52. The input signal travels into circuit finger trace 48, through bar 50, and into each of the fingers 46. Thus, the single input into finger 48 is now split between four fingers. The signals on fingers 46 are transmitted into terminals 54, and then back through the wire harness 34 to appropriate systems. One application would be the actuation of the headlights 26 and tail lights 28. Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, it should be understood that other applications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims

1. An electronic module and housing comprising: a least a first and second housing member, said first and second housing members being connected together to define an internal space; a control circuit board mounted within said internal space; and a parallel electrical connection being formed in one of said first and second housing members, said parallel connection member including a first terminal being electrically communicated to a plurality of second terminals.

2. A device as recited in Claim 1, wherein the other of said first and second housing members mounts said circuit board.

3. A device as recited in Claim 1, wherein said one housing member which receives said parallel electrical connection includes terminals extending through said housing member to an outer surface, and said parallel electrical connection provided by circuit traces on an inner surface of said housing member.

4. A device as recited in Claim 3, wherein said circuit board is mounted in the other of said housing members.

5. A device as recited in Claim 1, wherein a first wire harness connection communicating wires to and from said circuit board, and a second wire harness connection connecting wires to said parallel connection.

6. A device as recited in Claim 1 , wherein said first terminal being an electrical input terminal and said second terminals being electrical output terminals.

7. A device as recited in Claim 6, wherein said outlet terminals lead to actuate headlights and tail lights of a vehicle.

8. A device as recited in Claim 1 , wherein said parallel electrical connection controls the actuation of headlights and tail lights for a vehicle.

9. A vehicle electrical system comprising: a control switch for requesting a control feature; said control feature being processed by a circuit board mounted in a housing; said housing including first and second housing members, one of said first and second housing members including a parallel electrical connection; and said parallel electrical connection including a first terminal being electrically communicated to a plurality of second terminals, said second terminals communicating with components on said vehicle.

10. A vehicle electrical system as recited in Claim 9, wherein said components include headlights and tail lights of a vehicle.

11. A vehicle electrical system as recited in Claim 9, wherein the other of said first and second housing members mounts said circuit board.

12. A vehicle electrical system as recited in Claim 9, wherein said one housing member which receives said parallel electrical connection includes terminals extending through said housing member to an outer surface, and said parallel connection provided by circuit traces on an inner surface of said housing member.

13. A vehicle electrical system as recited in Claim 12, wherein said circuit board is mounted in the other of said housing members.

14. A vehicle electrical system as recited in Claim 9, wherein a first wire harness connection communicating wires to and from said circuit board, and a second wire harness connection connecting wires to said parallel connection.

15. A vehicle electrical system as recited in Claim 9, wherein said first terminal being an electrical input terminal and said second terminals being electrical output terminals.