Patent · US Expired

Plastic housing with condensation protection for electric and electronic assemblies

US6445568B1 · kind B1 · utility

22Cited by
9References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 27, 2000
Grant dateSep 3, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 27, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05K5/0047
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A housing for an assembly of electronic components mounted on a circuit board is predominantly made of plastic, and includes a plastic housing cover and a housing floor. Metal surfaces are provided in the housing to preferentially condense moisture from the air in the housing upon cooling, to avoid condensation on the circuit board or the electronic components. The metal surfaces may be a metal casing around an electronic component, a metallized layer deposited on an inner surface of the housing, a metal insert in the housing, a metal housing floor, or an additional metal floor plate adjacent to a plastic housing floor. A hydrophobic film enforces condensate droplet formation, and channels and drain holes drain the condensate droplets out of the housing. An encapsulating film is unnecessary on the electronic components, because condensation on these components is avoided.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.