Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint with integrated angle sensor for a motor vehicle, especially for the chassis of the motor vehicle is created. The ball-and-socket joint has a ball-and-socket joint housing (6) provided with a joint opening (7), a ball pivot (1) having a joint ball (2) and a pin (3), which is mounted, with its joint ball (2), rotatably and pivotably in a hollow-ball-shaped bearing surface in the ball-and-socket joint housing (6), and projects, with its pin (3), through the joint opening (7) out of the ball-and-socket joint housing (6). A two-pole field transducer (5) is provided at the end of the joint ball (2) facing away from the pin (3). The poles of the field transducer (5) are arranged on the ball surface.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a surface mountable laminated thermistor device which utilizes current-used double sided metal foil clad substrate as a base material and a PTC conductive composite that complies with circuit connection design combinations among electrodes to obtain a surface mountable laminated thermistor device with a parallel manner, and vastly simplify the fabrication process of the surface mountable laminated thermistor device.

Abstract: A current control device is described wherein a pressure conduction composite is compressed and decompressed to alter its conductivity and thereby current conduction through the device. The pressure conduction composite is composed of a nonconductive matrix, a conductive filler, and an additive. The invention consists of electrodes and pressure plates contacting the composite. Electrically activated actuators apply a force onto pressures plates. Actuators are composed of a piezoelectric, piezoceramic, electrostrictive, magnetostrictive, and shape memory materials, capable of extending and/or contracting thereby altering pressure and consequently resistivity within the composite. In an alternate embodiment, two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.

Abstract: A dual magnet Hall effect switch for contactless switching is provided. The Hall effect switch includes a magnet carriage and a Hall effect sensor positioned inside a switch housing. The magnet carriage includes two magnets positioned with opposite polarities facing the Hall effect sensor and in contact. When the switch is actuated, the magnet carriage is displaced within the switch housing and relative to the Hall effect sensor. The two magnets positioned inside the magnet carriage are also displaced. The positional displacement of the magnets relative to the Hall effect sensor alters the magnetic field detected by the Hall effect sensor. When the magnetic field detected by the Hall effect sensor reaches a predetermined level, the switch is actuated. The Hall effect switch also includes a boot seal sealing the switch and an internal clicker ball to provide an audible or tactile indication of the switch's actuation.

Abstract: A chip resistor including an elongated chip substrate, a resistive layer formed on the substrate, a silver-containing upper electrode connected to the resistive layer, an undercoat enclosing the resistive layer and extending onto part of the upper electrode, an auxiliary electrode connected to the upper electrode and extending onto part of the undercoat, and overcoat enclosing the undercoat and extending onto part of the auxiliary electrode. In the longitudinal direction of the substrate The undercoat extends longitudinally of the substrate beyond the overcoat, so that the extremity of the undercoat is offset from the extremity of the overcoat by an appropriate distance.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element of the present invention includes a multilayer structure that includes a non-magnetic layer (3) and a pair of ferromagnetic layers (1, 2) stacked on both sides of the non-magnetic layer (3). A resistance value differs depending on a relative angle between the magnetization directions of the ferromagnetic layers (1, 2) at the interfaces with the non-magnetic layer (3). The composition of at least one of the ferromagnetic layers (1, 2) in a range of 2 nm from the interface with the non-magnetic layer (3) is expressed by (MxOy)1-zZz, where Z is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, and Au, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements other than Z and O and includes a ferromagnetic metal, and x, y, and z satisfy 0.33<y/x<1.33, 0<x, 0<y, and 0?z?0.4. This magnetoresistive element can have excellent heat resistance and magnetoresistance characteristics.

Abstract: The operating temperature of a gas sensor capable of sensing a gas or a gas composition at a high temperature, for example 1000° C. is maintained constant over the entire volume of a gas sensor layer or function layer (4) secured to a sensor carrier section of the gas sensor by supplying heat to the gas sensor layer (4) in such a way that varying heat dissipations in the sensor carrier section are compensated. For this purpose, an electrical heater for heating the gas sensor layer (4) has individual heater sections with different heating resistance values which depend on a spacing between any individual heater section and the tip of the sensor carrier section.

Abstract: The resistor of the present invention comprises a substrate, a pair of upper electrode layers disposed on one surface of the substrate, and a resistor layer connected to the pair of upper electrode layers, wherein the upper electrode layer includes a first thin film layer that strongly adheres to the substrate and the resistor layer, and a second thin film layer having volume resistivity lower than the volume resistivity of the first upper electrode thin film layer. Further, the resistor of the present invention comprises a pair of side electrodes, electrically connected to the upper electrode layers, at the end portion of the substrate, and the side electrode includes a first side thin film layer and a second side thin film layer, and the material that forms the second side thin film layer has a solid solubility with the first side thin film layer.

Abstract: A method of making resistors includes providing a sacrificial layer. Conductive material is then formed over a region of the sacrificial layer. Resistive material is then deposited over the first surface of the sacrificial layer such that the resistive material covers the sacrificial layer and the conductive material. A portion of the sacrificial layer is then removed to expose the conductive material. A method of making resistors includes the steps of providing a sacrificial layer, removing at least a portion of the sacrificial layer from regions of the sacrificial layer so as to create a plurality of cavities within the sacrificial layer, plating said cavities with a conductive material, disposing resistive material over the first surface of the sacrificial layer such that resistive material covers the sacrificial layer and said conductive material, and removing at least a portion of said sacrificial layer to expose the conductive material.

Abstract: A chip resistor having a highly accurately adjusted low resistance value is obtained. The chip resistor having a vertically three-layered structure is obtained by forming a first electrode 1A by printing paste for an electrode on an insulating substrate 5 and drying it, a resistor layer 3 by printing paste for a resistor on the first electrode 1A and drying it, a second electrode 1B by printing paste for an electrode on the resistor layer 3 and the insulating substrate 5 and baking it. Trimming is applied to the thus fabricated chip resistor so as to adjust a resistance value to a given value.

Abstract: A chip resistor includes an insulating substrate 2 in the form of a chip having an upper surface and an opposite pair of side surfaces, a resistor film 4 formed on the upper surface of the insulating substrate 2, a pair of upper electrodes 5 formed on the upper surface of the insulating substrate 2 to flank the resistor film 4 in electrical connection thereto, a cover coat 6 covering the resistor film 4, an auxiliary upper electrode 7 formed on each of the upper electrodes 5 and including a first portion 7a adjoining the relevant side surface of the insulating substrate 2 and a second portion 7b overlapping the cover coat 6, and a side electrode 8 formed on each of the side surfaces of the insulating substrate 2 and electrically connected to at least the upper electrode 5 and the auxiliary upper electrode 7.

Abstract: The present invention relates to switch or volume control assemblies, in particular to switch or volume control assemblies to be mounted in e.g. hearing aids, said assembly comprising a movable member, such as a wheel-like member positioned between at least two detachable parts defining the exterior of a housing, the movable member having a part extending out of the housing, the movable member engaging a contact member so as to move the contact member with the movable member.

Abstract: A high voltage resistor comprising an array of a plurality of parallel electrically connected resistor elements each containing a resistive solution, attached at each end thereof to an end plate, and about the circumference of each of the end plates, a corona reduction ring. Each of the resistor elements comprises an insulating tube having an electrode inserted into each end thereof and held in position by one or more hose clamps about the outer periphery of the insulating tube. According to a preferred embodiment, the electrode is fabricated from stainless steel and has a mushroom shape at one end, that inserted into the tube, and a flat end for engagement with the end plates that provides connection of the resistor array and with a load.

Abstract: In an organic PTC thermistor comprising a thermistor body comprising a high-molecular weight organic compound-containing matrix and metal particles, conductive non-metallic fines, typically carbon black, are attached to surfaces of the metal particles. The device has a low room-temperature resistance and a high change rate of resistance, and prevents degradation of its performance during storage under hot humid conditions.

Abstract: An electrical circuit protection device with three supporting substrates, two PTC elements, and first and second end terminations. The first and third substrates have an electrode formed on a first surface thereof. The second substrate has electrodes formed on both surfaces thereof. The first PTC element is laminated between the first and second substrates, electrically connecting the first electrodes formed on the first and second substrates. The second PTC element is laminated between the second and third substrates, electrically connecting the second electrode formed on the second substrate and the first electrode formed on the third substrate. The end terminations wraps around opposite ends of the device. The first end termination is in electrical contact with the first electrodes formed on the second and third substrates and the second end termination is in electrical contact with the first electrode formed on the first substrate and the second electrode formed on the second substrate.

Abstract: A potentiometer, used in particular as a position sensor or position transducer is disclosed, which has at least one wiper path and one wiper that has at least one contact element (19), resting with a contact face (20) on the wiper path and electrically contacting the wiper path; the wiper and the wiper path are movable toward one another. To reduce costs by reducing the amount of noble metal used for the contacting in the potentiometer, the contact element (19) has an electrically conductive core (21) and a noble metal jacket (22), surrounding the core (21), whose annular end face at least partly forms the contact face (20) (FIG. 4).

Abstract: A strip conductor comprises a first layer with at least one curved section. At least one region of the curved section provided with an additional layer having a smaller resistivity than the first layer. The at least one region is constructed such that resistance on tracks of different radii of curvature is approximately equalized.

Abstract: A resistor card for a fuel level sensor has improved resistance to corrosion and wear. The resistor card has a substrate with a resistive layer and a conductive layer. A nickel layer covers the conductive layer. A nickel-gold alloy layer covers the nickel layer. The nickel-gold alloy layer protects the conductive layer from sulfur corrosion and improves wear resistance.

Abstract: A method for maximizing the interfacial properties of magnetoresistive sensors, such as spin valve and GMR sensors used in storage devices, comprises selecting the materials for ferromagnetic layers and for electrically conductive spacers that are interposed between the ferromagnetic layers. The electronegativities of the selected materials are substantially matched so that an absolute value of the differences in electronegativities is minimized. The conductive spacer material provides a relatively low resistivity and a large mean free path. The sensors experience greater chemical and thermal stability, are corrosion resistant, and realize an increased signal output.

Abstract: A temperature sensor is provided with a temperature-sensitive element on a surface of a monocrystalline substrate, wherein the temperature-sensitive element is made of a platinum thin-film resistor and is produced as an epitaxial layer. The monocrystalline substrate can be an electrically insulating material, preferably &agr;-Al2O3 or MgO. Alternatively, the substrate may be an electrically conducting material, such as silicon, with an electrically insulating epitaxial layer arranged between the substrate and the platinum thin-film resistor. The platinum thin-film resistor epitaxial layer is preferably deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), or molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).