Patent ID: 8014158
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
1. An electronic control apparatus comprising: a substantially rectangular circuit board having first and second sides opposite to each other; a connector mounted on the first side of the circuit board, the connector including a connector housing and a plurality of connector terminals supported by the connector housing, the connector housing having a connector sealing part on its outer surface and including a mating portion adapted to be mated with an external connector, at least one of the plurality of connector terminals having a first end electrically connected to the circuit board and a second end adapted to be electrically connected to the external connector; a casing body having an inner space for accommodating the circuit board and a connector opening for receiving the connector housing in such a manner that the mating portion of the connector housing is located outside the casing body, the casing body including a top casing that is located to face the first side of the circuit board and has a top sealing part on its edge portion, the casing body further including a bottom casing that is located to face the second side of the circuit board and has a bottom sealing part on its edge portion, the top and bottom casings being assembled into the casing body in such a manner that the top sealing part faces the bottom sealing part and a top portion of the connector sealing part, and that the bottom sealing part faces the top sealing part and a bottom portion of the connector sealing part; and a sealant including a first portion interposed between the top sealing part and the bottom sealing part to provide a casing seal, a second portion interposed between the top sealing part and the top portion of the connector sealing part to provide a connector top seal, and a third portion interposed between the bottom portion of the connector sealing part and the bottom sealing part to provide a connector bottom seal, wherein the casing seal, the connector top seal, and the connector bottom seal are joined together to cause the inner space of the casing body to be water-sealed, wherein the bottom sealing part has a substantially rectangular ring shape with four rounded corners, wherein the bottom portion of the connector sealing part faces two adjacent corners of the bottom sealing part and one side of the bottom sealing part, the one side directly connecting the two adjacent corners, wherein the bottom sealing part has a first recess and a second recess, and a third recess, the third recess connecting the first recess and the second recess to form the rectangular ring shape, wherein the top sealing part has a first projection inserted in the first recess to provide the casing seal, wherein the bottom portion of the connector sealing part has a second projection inserted in the second recess to provide the connector bottom seal, wherein the third recess is wider than the first recess and the second recess, wherein the casing seal, the connector top seal, and the connector bottom seal are joined together in the third recess, and wherein at least one of the first projection and the second projection is inserted in the sealant in the third recess.