Patent · US Expired

Circuit protection device

US7148785B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
27References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 30, 2004
Grant dateDec 12, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 30, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P70/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit protection device (31) suitable for surface mounting on a substrate (19). The device has a laminar PTC resistive element (3) which is composed of a conductive polymer composition and is positioned between first and second electrodes (5,7). Attached to the first electrode is a first electrical terminal (33) containing an electrically conductive material which has a first attachment portion (35) connected to a first flexible portion (39) by means of a first connection portion (47). At least part of the first flexible portion is free of attachment to the first electrode. The first attachment portion is coplanar with at least one of the first connection portion and the first flexible portion. The first attachment portion may contain a slot (49) and a solid hinge portion (51). When the device is mounted on a substrate by means of a mounting component (41) extending from the first terminal, the first flexible portion allows contraction and expansion of the conductive polymer despite the rigid attachment of the mounting component onto the substrate.

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