BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an electromagnetic relay and more particularly to
the electromagnetic relay that can be suitably used as vehicle-mounted electrical
components.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] A conventional electromagnetic relay having a switching function by opening and closing
of electrical contacts and being used widely and commonly as a vehicle-mounted component
includes electrical contacts and a molded resin material in which a molded resin base
and an electromagnetic driving portion formed on the molded resin base are covered
with a molded resin cover and is sealed with a thermosetting sealing resin. In the
case where the electromagnetic relay is fully hermetically sealed from the outside,
an escape path for air formed inside the relay is shut and, therefore, hermeticity
occurs readily due to a thermal stress caused by reflow heating especially at an interface
between a metal and a resin each having a different thermal expansion coefficient
or in a bonding portion between a molded resin and a sealing resin. In the electromagnetic
relay in which hermeticity has occurred, water, solvent, or a like invade from the
outside, which causes an operational failure and a contacting failure of contact portions.
[0003] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional electromagnetic relay.
Figures 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views explaining a structure of a conventional
molded resin cover of Figs. 6A and 6B, and Fig. 7A is a vertical sectional view of
a conventional unsealed- type of a through hole and Fig. 7B is a vertical sectional
view of a conventional sealed-type through-hole. In the conventional electromagnetic
relay, as shown in Figs. 6A and 6B, an electromagnetic relay main body 3 assembled
on a molded resin base 4 is covered with a molded resin cover 1 and is sealed with
a sealing resin 5 and through-holes 2 are formed on a top surface of the molded resin
cover 1. Conventionally, two types of the through- holes 2, one is an unsealed type
of the through-hole in which an unsealed-type portion 2a shown in Fig. 7A is not shut
while a sealed-type portion 2b shown in Fig. 7B is shut by fusing a top portion of
the through-hole 2 and using a thermal caulking process at its top portion so that
the electromagnetic relay is hermetically sealed.
[0004] If it is assumed that there is heat-stress caused by reflow heating on the electromagnetic
relay, the above unsealed-type through-holes 2 (2a) are mainly used. However, in the
case of the through-holes 2 formed on the top of the molded resin cover 1, since conditions
for shapes and diameters are to be satisfied by considering moldability and workability
of thermal caulking and since its aperture portion is wide, there is a risk that all
kinds of substances on an outside of the electromagnetic relay invade easily into
the electromagnetic relay. In particular, when the electromagnetic relay is used as
a vehicle-mounted component by performing the reflow heating, in some cases, a coating
agent is applied to all surfaces of the electromagnetic relay after being mounted
on a printed circuit board and, in this case, the application of the coating agent
to the through-holes 2 should be avoided. If the through-holes 2 are shut by the coating
agent, the coating agent invades inside of the electromagnetic relay in some cases,
causes an operational failure and/or contacting failure at contact portions. Moreover,
a whole cleaning method in which the electromagnetic relay together with the printed
circuit board are soaked should be also avoided. Thus, the unsealed through-holes
2 (2a) which do not provide a sealed state have a remarkably high risk and a limitation
is imposed on the execution of unsealing method.
[0005] Conventional technology discloses a method of increasing hermeticity in the electromagnetic
relay in which the conventional sealing resin 5 is replaced with a new sealing resin
5 having high heat-resistance and a bonding characteristic being higher than those
of the conventional molded resin cover 1 and molded resin base 4 as shown in Figs.
6A and 6B.
[0007] The above-disclosed technology to increase heat-resistance and/or bonding characteristic
of the sealing resin 5 are not sufficient to provide methods of improving bonding
strength that can satisfy all conditions for diverse reflow heating. There is a limit
point at which pressure inside the electromagnetic relay becomes high due to a high
temperature and hermeticity failure occurs due to excessive thermal expansion. Therefore,
cases are assumed where any one of the diverse conditions for the reflow heating exceeds
the limit point at which hermeticity failure occurs. Moreover, the sealing resin 5
is vulnerable to changes by a coating condition, thermosetting condition, circumferential
conditions such as an ambient temperature, humidity or a like and, therefore, its
bonding characteristic is easy to change and it is impossible to keep its bonding
strength constant in the manufacturing processes. As a result, the limit point causing
the hermeticity failure changes.
[0008] Each of the technology to apply porous filters (the Patent Reference 1) and the technology
to apply polymerized monomers to form air holes has problems (Patent Reference 2)
in that it is difficult to establish the method of the applications. Moreover, the
heat stress in the reflow heating causes it difficult to keep the air holes constantly
porous. Additionally, new problems of an increase of component counts, increased costs
caused by the increase of component counts, and increased number of man-hours arise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electromagnetic
relay which is capable of preventing an operational failure and a contacting failure
at contact portions by maintaining air permeability and resistance to water (water
invasion preventing property) even after being heated at a high temperature and by
avoiding invasion of a coating agent. That is, the object of the present invention
is to provide the electromagnetic relay which enables application of the coating agent
even after being mounted on printed circuit boards having undergone reflow heating
and water cleaning without causing an increase in component counts while maintaining
air permeability and preventing the invasion of water.
[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electromagnetic
relay including:
a main body including an electrical contact portion, an electromagnetic driving portion,
and a molded resin base for mounting the electrical contact portion and the electromagnetic
driving portion; wherein the main body is covered with a molded resin cover and is
sealed with a sealing resin and wherein one or more through-holes are formed by applying
laser beam to desired positions of the molded resin cover from an inner surface side
thereof so that the through-holes each are within a size range in which no invasion
of water from the outer side into the inner side thereof occurs and in which air permeability
of the molded resin cover can be maintained through the through-holes.
[0011] In a forgoing first aspect, a preferable mode is one wherein the through-holes each
are set within spot diameter of 0.1µm to 10µm on an outer surface side of the molded
resin cover as the size range.
[0012] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electromagnetic
relay including:
a main body including an electrical contact portion, an electromagnetic driving portion,
and a molded resin base for mounting the electrical contact portion and the electromagnetic
driving portion; wherein the main body is covered with a molded resin cover and is
sealed with a sealing resin and wherein one or more through-holes are formed by applying
laser beam to desired positions of the molded resin base from an inner surface side
thereof, the desired positions which are not covered with the sealing resin on an
outer surface side thereof so that the through-holes each are within a size range
in which no invasion of water from the outer side into the inner side thereof occurs
and in which air permeability of the molded resin base can be maintained through the
through-holes.
[0013] In a foregoing second aspect, a preferable mode is one the through-holes each are
set within spot diameter of 0.1µm to 10µm on an outer surface side of the molded resin
base as the size range.
[0014] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electromagnetic
relay including:
a main body including an electrical contact portion, an electromagnetic driving portion,
and a molded resin base for mounting the electrical contact portion and the electromagnetic
driving portion; wherein the main body is covered with a molded resin cover and is
sealed with a sealing resin and wherein the molded resin cover comprises a liquid
crystal polymer having skin layers with identical orientation formed on both sides
of a core layer in an intermediate position between the skin layers and wherein laser
beams are applied to desired positions of the molded resin cover from both inner and
outer sides thereof so that the laser beam passes through only the skin layers with
the core layer being left unprocessed by the laser beams to form one or more through-holes
on each of the skin layers which each are within a size range in which no invasion
of water from the outer side into the inner side thereof occurs and in which air permeability
of the molded resin cover can be maintained through the through-holes.
[0015] In a foregoing third aspect, a preferable mode is one the through-holes each are
set within spot diameter of 0.1µm to 10µm on an outer surface side of the molded resin
cover as the size range.
[0016] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electromagnetic
relay including:
a main body including an electrical contact portion, an electromagnetic driving portion,
and a molded resin base for mounting the electrical contact portion and the electromagnetic
driving portion; wherein the main body is covered with a molded resin cover and is
sealed with a sealing resin and wherein the molded resin cover comprises a liquid
crystal polymer having skin layers with identical orientation formed on both sides
of a core layer in an intermediate position between the skin layers and wherein laser
beams are applied to desired positions of the molded resin base from both inner and
outer sides thereof, the desired positions which are not covered with the sealing
resin on an outer surface side thereof, so that the laser beams pass through only
the skin layers with the core layer being left unprocessed by the laser beams to form
one or more through-holes on each of the skin layers which each are within a size
range in which no invasion of water from the outer side into the inner side thereof
occurs and in which air permeability of the molded resin base can be maintained through
the through-holes.
[0017] In a foregoing fourth aspect, a preferable mode is one the through-holes each are
set within spot diameter of 0,1µm to 10µm on an outer surface side of the molded resin
base as the size range.
[0018] With the above configuration, it is made possible to provide the electromagnetic
relay having both air permeability and resistance to water, which enables the coating
process with the coating agent even after being mounted on the printed circuit board
having undergone reflow heating and also which enables a water-cleaning process, thereby
eliminating an operational failure and contacting failure at contact portions. That
is, the electromagnetic relay of the present invention has a method of forming stable
air ventilating openings (air holes) on the molded resin even after being heated at
high temperature, which ensures only high air permeability and resistance to water
(water invasion preventing property) of the electromagnetic relay. The size of each
of the air ventilating openings is fine and its shape and dimension can be fully controlled
and, as a result, it is possible to achieve high resistance to water while controlling
air permeability. Additionally, it is made possible to avoid invasion of the coating
agent, thereby preventing the operational failure and contacting failure at contact
portions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The above and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will
be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figs. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an electromagnetic relay according to a first
embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a molded
resin cover with an aperture portion faced upward and Fig. 1B is an expanded diagram
showing portions where laser beam irradiation was performed;
Fig. 2 is a graph illustrating a relation between a diameter ⌀A of a laser-beam irradiated
portion and a diameter ⌀B of a laser beam passing-through portion;
Figs. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an electromagnetic relay according to a
second embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a
molded resin base on which a main body of the electromagnetic relay is mounted and
Fig. 3B is an expanded perspective view of a portion in which laser beam was applied;
Fig. 4 is an expanded sectional view of a molded resin cover applied to an electromagnetic
relay according to a third embodiment;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a relation between the diameter ø A of a
laser-beam irradiated portion and the diameter ⌀B of a laser beam passing-through
portion according to the first embodiment;
Figs. 6A and 6B are perspective views showing a conventional electromagnetic relay,
and Fig. 6A is an exploded perspective view of the conventional electromagnetic relay
and Fig. 6B is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the conventional electromagnetic
relay; and
Figs. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views explaining a conventional structure of a
molded resin cover of Figs. 6A and 6B, and Fig. 7A is a vertical sectional view of
a conventional unsealed- type of a through hole and Fig. 7B is a vertical sectional
view of a conventional sealed-type through-hole.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Best modes of carrying out the present invention will be described in further detail
using various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. According to
embodiments of the present invention, when air ventilating openings are formed by
laser beam irradiation, a diameter of each air ventilating opening falls within a
range of 0.1µm to 10µm. The diameter of each air ventilating opening is a size of
an exit portion through which laser beam passes on a surface of a molded resin making
up the electromagnetic relay. The size of the laser-beam irradiating portion is changed
to calibrate a diameter of the exit portion that allows laser beam to pass through.
The size of each hole of 0.1µm to 10µm is a size range in which no invasion of water
into an inside of the electromagnetic relay occurs and in which air permeability can
be maintained when water is in contact with the surface of the molded resin and when
a water contact angle to the molded resin to be used for the electromagnetic relays
is taken into consideration in general. Moreover, resistance to water can be adjusted
within the above size range.
[0021] Any one of excimer laser, CO
2 laser, or YAG laser may be applied to the above processing. In some cases, a through-hole
cannot be formed by one-time laser beam irradiation depending on a thickness of the
molded resin. In this case, the through-hole can be formed by applying laser beam
a plurality of times to the same spot.
First Embodiment
[0022] Figures 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an electromagnetic relay according to a first
embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a molded
resin cover 1 with its aperture portion faced upward and Fig. 1B is an expanded diagram
showing portions 6 (6a, 6b) where laser-beam irradiation was performed. In the first
embodiment, laser beam is applied surely from an inside of the molded resin cover
1, that is, from a face being opposite to a main body of the electromagnetic relay.
Such a technology of applying laser beam is provided by, for example, Shinozaki Manufacturing
Co., Ltd (Japan). In an example of forming a shape like this, a relation of a diameter
⌀A of the laser-beam irradiated portion 6a and a diameter ⌀ B of the laser-beam irradiated
portion 6b is shown by an equation ØA-2sinθ•t=ØB. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view
showing a relation between the diameter ⌀A of the laser beam irradiated portion (laser
beam coming-in side) and the diameter ⌀B of the laser beam passing-through portion
(laser beam going-out side) . In the above equation, "t" denotes a thickness of molded
resin and "θ" denotes an angle related to focusing of the laser beam. In the case
of CO
2 laser, θ=7° to 10°. Figure 2 is a graph showing a relation between the diameter ⌀A
of the laser-beam irradiated portion 6a and the diameter ⌀B of the laser beam passing-through
portion 6b. The thickness "t" is set to be 100µm. Based on the relation described
above, the size ⌀B of the laser beam passing-through portion 6b is calibrated so as
to be equal to an air ventilating opening size of 1µm to 10µm.
[0023] When a plurality of laser-beam irradiated portions each having a structure shown
in Fig. 1B is to be formed, the laser-beam irradiated portions 6a are provided with
pitches among central points of the irradiated portions each being longer than the
diameter ⌀A.
[0024] By carrying out the first embodiment as above, ventilation is obtained through minute
air ventilating openings formed on a surface of the molded resin cover 1. The molded
resin cover 1 of the embodiment employs uses, as its material, resins which have been
generally used by known electromagnetic relays. These resins obtained after being
molded have a large water contact angle and, therefore, have high resistance to water.
Moreover, the employed molded resin cover 1 has high heat resistance and, as a result,
even if a reflow heating process is performed under temperature conditions to be applied
to lead-less soldering melting or a like, no change in shapes of the processed air
ventilating openings occurs due to heat.
[0025] Furthermore, regarding a coating agent applicable to the embodiment, it is preferable
to select a coating agent having surface wettability to the molded resin cover 1 being
equal or less than that of water, that is, having a contact angle of the coating agent
to the molded resin cover 1 exceeding a contact angle of water to the molded resin
cover 1.
Second Embodiment
[0026] Figs. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an electromagnetic relay according to a
second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a
molded resin base 4 on which a main body of the electromagnetic relay is mounted and
of portions 7 in which laser beam was applied and Fig. 3B is an expanded perspective
view of portions 7 in which laser beam was applied. In the first embodiment, laser
beam is applied surely from an inside of a molded resin cover 1. Instead the configuration
of the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, one or more through-holes are formed
by applying laser beam to desired positions of the molded resin base 4 from an inner
surface side thereof, the desired positions which are not covered with a sealing resin
5 on an outer surface side thereof.
[0027] When a plurality of laser-beam irradiated portions 7 (7a, 7b) each having a structure
shown in Fig. 3B is to be formed, the laser-beam irradiated portions 7a are provided
with pitches among central points of the laser-beam irradiated portions each being
longer than the diameter ⌀A.
[0028] By carrying out the second embodiment as shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, ventilation is
obtained through minute air ventilating openings formed on a surface of the molded
resin cover 4. The molded resin cover 1 of the embodiment employs, as its material,
resins which have been generally used by known electromagnetic relays. These resins
obtained after being molded have a large water contact angle, thus providing high
resistance to water. Moreover, the employed molded resin base 4 has high heat resistance
and, as a result, even if a reflow heating process is performed under temperature
conditions to be applied to lead-less soldering melting or a like, no change in shapes
of the processed air ventilating openings occurs due to heat.
[0029] Furthermore, regarding a coating agent applicable to the second embodiment shown
in Figs. 3A and 3B, it is preferable to select a coating agent having surface wettability
to the molded resin cover 1 being equal or less than that of water, that is, having
a contact angle of the coating agent to the molded resin base 4 exceeding a contact
angle of water to the molded resin base 4.
Third Embodiment
[0030] Figure 4 is an expanded sectional view of a molded resin cover 1 made of a liquid
crystal polymer 8 of the third embodiment which is applied to an electromagnetic relay
shown in Figs. 6A and 6B. It is a characteristic of the liquid crystal polymer 8 that
it becomes liquid crystal phase when being in a melted state. As shown in Fig. 4,
the molded resin cover 1 is of a three-layered structure including a first skin layer
9 with identical orientation of the liquid crystal formed on a surface side, a second
skin layer 9 with identical orientation of the liquid crystal formed on a rear side,
and a core layer 10 with random orientation of the liquid crystal formed between the
first and second skin layers 9. When air ventilating openings are formed by laser
beam irradiation, laser beam is not allowed fully to pass through the liquid crystal
polymer 8 and allowed to pass through only the first and second skin layers 9. The
first and second skin layers 9 have identical orientation of the liquid crystal and
ventilation is interrupted completely. The core layer 10 has air permeability due
to its random orientation of the liquid crystal and also has a function as a filter.
[0031] When laser beam is applied to the skin layers 9, by taking the relation between a
diameter ⌀A of a laser-beam irradiated portion 6a and a diameter ⌀B of a laser-beam
irradiated portion 6b shown in the first embodiment into consideration, the diameters
of laser-beam irradiated portions 11a and 12a are calibrated so that the hole size
of each of laser beam passing-through portions 11b and 12b is 0.1µm to 10µm to form
laser-beam applied portions 11 and 12. Moreover, the laser beam passing-through portions
11b and 12b formed respectively on a surface and a rear of the molded resin cover
1 are not allowed to face each other and their positions are shifted so that the distances
for ventilation in the core layer 10 serving as a filter can be secured at its maximum.
[0032] Thus, in the third embodiment in Fig. 4, ventilation is obtained by the minute air
ventilating openings formed on the surface and rear of the molded resin cover 1 made
of the liquid crystal polymer 8 and by the filtering function of the core layer 10
serving the intermediate layer. Large water contact angle of the liquid crystal polymer
8 maintains high resistance to water. Moreover, the liquid crystal polymer 8 has high
heat-resistance enough to undergo lead-less soldering melting or a like, and no change
in shapes of the processed air ventilating openings occurs due to heat.
[0033] Also, in the third embodiment shown in Fig. 4, since the core layer 10 existing in
the intermediate position of each of the air ventilating openings functions as the
filter, any coating agent can be used without limitation.
Fourth Embodiment
[0034] The fourth embodiment is described by using Fig. 4 applied in the third embodiment.
That is, in the fourth embodiment, a liquid crystal polymer 8 is used as a material
for a molded resin base 4 shown in Figs. 6A and 6B. Shapes of air ventilating openings
passing through only skin layers by laser beam irradiation are the same as obtained
in the third embodiment. Moreover, the molded resin base 4 is coated with a sealing
resin 5 from its bottom (outer surface) and laser beams are applied to portions not
covered with the sealing resin 5. An electromagnetic relay of the fourth embodiment
is assembled using the molded resin base 4 obtained as above and, as a result, the
same effect as achieved in the third embodiment is realized. The use of the electromagnetic
relay enables improved reliability of automatic parts or electrical components in
particular. Besides, in other industrial fields, the present invention can be applied
to an electromagnetic relay for application to measuring instruments and apparatus,
which improves the reliability of contacting functions of contacts.
[0035] It is apparent that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments
but may be changed and modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention.
1. An electromagnetic relay comprising: a main body (3) comprising an electrical contact
portion, an electromagnetic driving portion, and a molded resin base (4) for mounting
said electrical contact portion and said electromagnetic driving portion,
the electromagnetic relay characterized in that said main body (3) is covered with a molded resin cover (1) and is sealed with a
sealing resin (5), and
that one or more through-holes (6) are formed by applying laser beam to desired positions
of said molded resin cover (1) from an inner surface side thereof so that said through-holes
(6) each are within a size range in which no invasion of water from the outer side
into the inner side thereof occurs and in which air permeability of said molded resin
cover (1) can be maintained through said through-holes (6).
2. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1, characterized in that said through-holes (6) each are set within spot diameter of 0.1µm to 10µm on an outer
surface side of said molded resin cover (1) as the size range.
3. An electromagnetic relay comprising: a main body (3) comprising an electrical contact
portion, an electromagnetic driving portion, and a molded resin base (4) for mounting
said electrical contact portion and said electromagnetic driving portion,
the electromagnetic relay characterized in that said main body (3) is covered with a molded resin cover (1) and is sealed with a
sealing resin (5), and
that one or more through-holes (6) are formed by applying laser beam to desired positions
of said molded resin base (4) from an inner surface side thereof, the desired positions
which are not covered with said sealing resin (5) on an outer surface side thereof
so that said through-holes (6) each are within a size range in which no invasion of
water from the outer side into the inner side thereof occurs and in which air permeability
of said molded resin base (4) can be maintained through said through-holes (6).
4. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 3, characterized in that said through-holes (6) each are set within spot diameter of 0.1µm to 10µm on an outer
surface side of said molded resin base (4) as the size range.
5. An electromagnetic relay comprising: a main body (3) comprising an electrical contact
portion, an electromagnetic driving portion, and a molded resin base (4) for mounting
said electrical contact portion and said electromagnetic driving portion,
the electromagnetic relay characterized in that said main body (3) is covered with a molded resin cover (1) and is sealed with a
sealing resin (5), and
that said molded resin cover (1) comprises a liquid crystal polymer (8) having skin
layers (9) with identical orientation formed on both sides of a core layer (10) in
an intermediate position between said skin layers (9), and
that laser beams are applied to desired positions of said molded resin cover (1) from
both inner and outer sides thereof so that the laser beam passes through only said
skin layers (9) with said core layer (10) being left unprocessed by the laser beams
to form one or more through-holes (6) on each of said skin layers (9) which each are
within a size range in which no invasion of water from the outer side into the inner
side thereof occurs and in which air permeability of said molded resin cover (1) can
be maintained through said through-holes (6).
6. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 5, characterized in that said through-holes (6) each are set within spot diameter of 0.1µm to 10µm on an outer
surface side of said molded resin cover (1) as the size range.
7. An electromagnetic relay comprising a main body (3) comprising an electrical contact
portion, an electromagnetic driving portion, and a molded resin base (4) for mounting
said electrical contact portion and said electromagnetic driving portion,
the electromagnetic relay characterized in that;
said main body (3) is covered with a molded resin cover (1) and is sealed with a sealing
resin (5),
that said molded resin cover (1) comprises a liquid crystal polymer (8) having skin
layers (9) with identical orientation formed on both sides of a core layer (9) in
an intermediate position between said skin layers (9), and
that laser beams are applied to desired positions of said molded resin base (4) from
both inner and outer sides thereof, the desired positions which are not covered with
said sealing resin (5) on an outer surface side thereof, so that the laser beams pass
through only said skin layers (9) with said core layer (10) being left unprocessed
by the laser beams to form one or more through-holes (6) on each of said skin layers
(9) which each are within a size range in which no invasion of water from the outer
side into the inner side thereof occurs and in which air permeability of said molded
resin base (4) can be maintained through said through-holes (6).
8. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 7, the electromagnetic relay characterized in that said through-holes (6) each are set within spot diameter of 0.1µm to 10µm on an outer
surface side of said molded resin base (4) as the size range.