Abstract: A card edge contact pair for electrically coupling printed circuit board assemblies is provided. The card edge contact pair includes a first contact body and a second contact body. The first contact body includes a first solder joint end and a first deflection end. The second contact body includes a second solder joint end and a second deflection end. The card edge contact pair further includes an integral carrier component. The integral carrier component is detachably coupled to the first contact body and the second contact body.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrolytic capacitor is provided. The method includes obtaining an unverified mineral sample from a mine site, analyzing the unverified mineral sample via quantitative mineralogical analysis and comparing data collected during the quantitative mineralogical analysis for the unverified mineral sample to data in a database that corresponds to quantitative mineralogical analysis collected for verified mineral samples sourced from one or more mine sites from a conflict-free geographic region to determine if the unverified mineral sample is sourced from one or more mine sites from the conflict-free geographic region. If it is determined that the unverified mineral sample is sourced from one or more mine sites from the conflict-free geographic region, the method then involves converting the unverified mineral sample into an anode for the electrolytic capacitor. The electrolytic capacitor can be a solid electrolytic capacitor or a wet electrolytic capacitor.

Abstract: A varistor is provided having a rectangular configuration defining first and second opposing end surfaces offset in a lengthwise direction. The varistor may include a first terminal adjacent the first opposing end surface and a second terminal adjacent the second opposing end surface. The varistor may include an active electrode layer including a first electrode electrically connected with the first terminal and a second electrode electrically connected with the second terminal. The first electrode may be spaced apart from the second electrode in the lengthwise direction to form an active electrode end gap. The varistor may include a floating electrode layer including a floating electrode. The floating electrode layer may be spaced apart from the active electrode layer in a height-wise direction to form a floating electrode gap. A ratio of the active electrode end gap to the floating electrode gap may be greater than about 2.

Abstract: A method of forming an electronic part comprising a metal component is provided. The method includes obtaining an unverified mineral sample from a mine site, analyzing the unverified mineral sample via quantitative mineralogical analysis and comparing data collected during the quantitative mineralogical analysis for the sample to data in a database that corresponds to quantitative mineralogical analysis collected for verified mineral samples sourced from one or more mine sites from the conflict-free geographic region to determine if the unverified mineral sample is sourced from one or more mine sites from the conflict-free geographic region. If it is determined that the unverified mineral sample is sourced from one or more mine sites from the conflict-free geographic region, the method then involves converting the unverified sample into the metal component. The electronic part can be a capacitor, medical device, filter, inductor, active electrode, antenna, sensor, or battery.

Abstract: Relatively low noise capacitors are provided for surface mounted applications. Electro-mechanical vibrations generate audible noise, which are otherwise relatively reduced through modifications to MLCC device structures, and/or their mounting interfaces on substrates such as printed circuit boards (PCBs). Different embodiments variously make use of flexible termination compliance so that surface mounting has reduced amplitude vibrations transmitted to the PCB. In other instances, side terminal and transposer embodiments effectively reduce the size of the mounting pads relative to the case of the capacitor, or a molded enclosure provides standoff, termination compliance and clamping of vibrations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a filter device comprising at least a shell, a first discoidal capacitor, a second discoidal capacitor, and an inductor. The shell is elongated in a stack direction. The first discoidal capacitor and the second discoidal capacitor are disposed within the shell, where the first discoidal capacitor is stacked above the second discoidal capacitor along the stack direction. The inductor comprises a first patterned conductive line disposed within the shell. The first patterned conductive line is coupled between the first discoidal capacitor and the second discoidal capacitor. The first patterned conductive line is wound in a winding direction traversing the stack direction.

Abstract: A tunable multilayer capacitor is provided. The capacitor comprises first active electrodes that are in electrical contact with a first active termination and alternating second active electrodes that are in electrical contact with a second active termination. The capacitor also comprises first DC bias electrodes that are in electrical contact with a first DC bias termination and alternating second DC bias electrodes that are in electrical contact with a second DC bias termination. A plurality of dielectric layers are disposed between the alternating first and second active electrodes and between the alternating first and second bias electrodes. At least a portion of the dielectric layers contain a dielectric material that exhibits a variable dielectric constant upon the application of an applied voltage.

Abstract: Balancing circuits for an ultracapacitor module are provided. In some implementations, the balancing circuit can include a comparator. The comparator can have a sensing input. The comparator can be configured to compare an input voltage associated with the ultracapacitor received at the sensing input to a reference voltage and to provide an output via an output node of the comparator. The balancing circuit can include a switching circuit coupled to the ultracapacitor. The switching circuit can be controlled to discharge the ultracapacitor based at least in part on the output of the comparator circuit. The balancing circuit can further include a feedback element coupled between the switching circuit and the sensing input of the comparator.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly that is capable of exhibiting good electrical properties even under a variety of conditions is provided. More particularly, the capacitor assembly includes a capacitor element, which comprises a porous anode body that contains a valve metal compound, a dielectric that overlies the anode body and includes an oxide of the valve metal compound, and a solid electrolyte that overlies the dielectric. The solid electrolyte includes a conductive polymer and a hydroxy-functional polymer. Further, the capacitor element comprises an organofunctional silane compound that is bonded to the oxide of the dielectric and is capable of bonding to the hydroxy-functional polymer.

Abstract: A feedthrough device for protecting a system from an electrical transient may include a housing having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end in a longitudinal direction. A conductive line may extend through the housing from the first end to the second end of the housing. The conductive line may define an input end proximate the first end of the housing and an output end proximate the second end of the housing for connecting the feedthrough device with the system to be protected. A filter may be disposed within the housing and coupled with the conductive line at a first location. A gas discharge tube may be disposed within the housing and coupled with the conductive line at a second location on the conductive line that is proximate the filter and between the input end of the conductive line and the first location.

Abstract: A system includes a housing and a contact portion. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion interlocking with the second portion so as to enclose a first volume and form a first wire opening within a first end of the housing and a second wire opening within a second end of the housing. The contact portion is disposed within the first volume and includes a first wire receiving portion, a first flexing beam extending from a first surface of the first wire receiving portion towards a second surface of the first wire receiving portion, a second wire receiving portion, a second flexing beam extending from a first surface of the second wire receiving portion towards a second surface of the second wire receiving portion, and a common wire stop disposed between the first wire receiving portion and the second wire receiving portion.

Abstract: Balancing circuits for an ultracapacitor module are provided. In some implementations, the balancing circuit can include a regulator having an input. The regulator can be configured to compare an input voltage associated with the ultracapacitor received at the input to a reference voltage and to provide an output via an output node. The balancing circuit can further include a switching circuit coupled to the regulator. The switching circuit can be configured to discharge the ultracapacitor based at least in part on the output of the regulator. The switching circuit can include at least one semiconductor switching element operated in a hard switching manner during operation of the switching element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an EMI feedthrough filter terminal assembly. The EMI feedthrough filter terminal assembly comprises: a feedthrough filter capacitor having a plurality of first electrode layers and a plurality of second electrode layers and a first passageway therethrough having a first termination surface conductively coupling the plurality of first electrode layers; at least one conductive terminal pin extending through the passageway in conductive relation with the plurality of first electrode layers; a feedthrough ferrule; an insulator fixed to the feedthrough ferrule for conductively isolating the conductive terminal pin from the feedthrough ferrule; a hermetically sealing material between the insulator and the feedthrough ferrule; and a resin coating over the hermetically sealing material.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and associated methodology providing for fixed components that exhibit tailorable variations in frequency response depending on the applied frequencies over the component's useful frequency range. The presently disclosed subject matter provides improved operational characteristics of generally known transmission line capacitor devices by providing a parallel resistive component constructed as a portion of the dielectric separating electrodes corresponding to a capacitor.

Abstract: An electrical spring contact is provided. The electrical spring contact includes a connection portion configured to couple the electrical spring contact to a printed circuit board, a bulge portion, a bend portion having a substantially U-shaped configuration, and an inclined portion extending from the bend portion at an angle relative to a plane that is substantially parallel to the connection portion. The connection portion, the bulge portion, the bend portion, and the inclined portion are formed from a single conductive contact material.

Abstract: A capacitor that is capable of exhibiting good properties under humid conditions is provided. The ability to perform under such conditions is due in part to selective control over the particular nature of the solid electrolyte and cathode coating that overlies the solid electrolyte. For example, the solid electrolyte contains pre-polymerized conductive polymer particles, which can help act as a blocking layer for any silver ions migrating through the capacitor. Likewise, the cathode coating also contains conductive metal particles (e.g., silver particles) that are dispersed within a resinous matrix. The resinous matrix includes a polymer that absorbs only a small amount of water, if any, when placed in a humid atmosphere.

Abstract: A tunable multilayer capacitor is provided. The capacitor comprises a first active electrode in electrical contact with a first active termination and a second active electrode in electrical contact with a second active termination. The capacitor comprises a first DC bias electrode in electrical contact with a first DC bias termination and a second DC bias electrode in electrical contact with a second DC bias termination. A plurality of dielectric layers disposed between the first and second active electrodes and between the first and second bias electrodes. At least a portion of the dielectric layers contain a tunable dielectric material that exhibits a variable dielectric constant upon the application of an applied DC voltage across the first and second DC bias electrodes. A thickness of at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers is greater than about 15 micrometers.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a first wire to a second wire. More specifically, an apparatus that includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, an insulated housing, and a male contact prong (i.e., a shunt) is disclosed. In an embodiment, the first and second electrical contacts conductively connect with a first and second wire, respectively, via an insulation displacement connector. Furthermore, the male contact prong conductively connects (i.e., shunts) the first and second electrical contacts together. A wire-to-wire contact with shunt allows for two wires to be quickly and efficiently connected and disconnected.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a multilayer electronic device. The method includes placing a screen printing mask on a layer of support material and printing a conductive pattern on a layer of support material using the screen printing mask. The conductive pattern includes a plurality of electrode shapes including respective central enlarged portions. The method includes cutting the layer of support material and conductive pattern along a plurality of cutting lines intersecting the central enlarged portions such that at least one of the plurality of electrode shapes is divided into a pair of electrodes along a cutting width. The cutting width is indicative of a cutting accuracy associated with at least one of the cutting lines.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor that is in contact with a hot atmosphere having a temperature of about 80° C. or more is provided. The ultracapacitor contains a first electrode, second electrode, separator, nonaqueous electrolyte, and housing is provided. The first electrode comprises a first current collector electrically coupled to a first carbonaceous coating and the second electrode comprises a second current collector electrically coupled to a second carbonaceous coating. The capacitor exhibits a capacitance value within the hot atmosphere of about 6 Farads per cubic centimeter or more as determined at a frequency of 120 Hz and without an applied voltage.