Patent · US Expired

Circuit protection devices

US6300859A · kind A · utility

37Cited by
50References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 24, 1999
Grant dateOct 9, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 24, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01C1/1406
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A generally rectangular, planar electrical overcurrent sensing device having a top major surface and a bottom major surface includes a patterned metal foil conductor defined along the top major surface. The metal foil conductor has a first electrode region at one end region, a second electrode region at an opposite end region, and a current-concentrating region extending between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion. The device further includes a planar sheet of a composition which exhibits PTC behavior and which comprises an organic polymer having a particulate conductive filler dispersed therewithin. The planar sheet has a first major surface in thermal contact with the bridging portion and has an opposite second major surface. A third patterned metal foil electrode secured to the second major surface of the planar PTC sheet is sized and aligned with the current-concentrating region such that heat generated in the current-concentrating region from electrical overcurrent flowing through the metal foil conductor is transferred to the planar sheet exhibiting PTC behavior and reduces a control current flowing to said third patterned metal foil electrode. An ins…

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