Patents Represented by Attorney James P. McAndrews
  • Patent number: 4757165
    Abstract: A dual condition responsive switch is shown including first and second discs each having convex-concave surface configurations on opposite sides thereof adapted to invert its configuration upon being subjected to selected conditions. A motion transfer member extends from the second disc to an electric switch. At a first range of conditions the first disc prevents actuation of the switch, at a second range of conditions the curvature of the first disc has inverted allowing actuation of the switch while at a third range of conditions the curvature of the second disc has inverted resulting in deactuation of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Leo Marcoux, Benjamin A. Barber, Lawrence E. Cooper, Carlton E. Sanford
  • Patent number: 4754251
    Abstract: A housing has a switch chamber in which an electric switch is placed and a recess in which is received a snap acting, thermally responsive disc which actuates and deactuates the switch upon snapping from one configuration to another. A thermal biasing assembly used to modify the operating temperature of the disc has a pair of cylindrical film type resistors electrically connected in parallel circuit relation and physically connected to a pair of rivets. Resistors of a rating chosen for a particular application are dropped into the recess with the leads of the resistors received in bores provided in the housing. A rivet is then inserted into each bore making good electrical connection with the leads without welding by deforming them a selected amount. The rivets are attached to suitable terminals and the disc is then placed over the thermal biasing assembly to provide a multiple temperature operating thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Youn H. Ting, Ronald W. Brown
  • Patent number: 4740966
    Abstract: A plurality of differential analog input channels are multiplexed into a programmable gain amplifier providing four input ranges. The circuit is self-calibrating under microprocessor control with periodic measurements taken of internal channels for analog ground voltage, analog reference voltage and the voltage reference temperature in addition to the analog input signals. The output of the isolation amplifier is fed into a sample and hold circuit and, under the control of an analog input register into an analog to digital converter. An earth barrier separates a primary side which includes the input channels, optically isolated bidirectional MOSFET relays coupled to the input channels, a programmable, selectable gain multiplexer and the input to an isolation amplifier from a secondary side by means of opto isolators bridging the earth barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: James R. Goad
  • Patent number: 4729739
    Abstract: A connector for mounting and electrically connecting a chip carrier unit in an electrical circuit has a plurality of electrical contacts secured in openings in the bottom of an electrically insulating body to permit cantilever spring deflection of the contacts in accommodating a chip carrier unit within the connector between the contacts. The contacts comprise wire members of round cross section each having an opposite end bent to be slidable along a narrow line of engagement with an inclined ramp surface on an adjacent side wall of the connector body. Each contact has a bowed portion intermediate the contact ends which is bowed away from the adjacent ramp surface to slidably engage terminals on the chip carrier unit as the unit is inserted into the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James A. Coffee, Thomas S. Spinelli, Harold M. Yevak, Jr., Debra J. Provazza, Peter A. Foley
  • Patent number: 4728303
    Abstract: A temperature sensitive probe plug in which connector wires are crimped to the terminals of the plug. The power lead wires can be attached to the connector wires by crimping connectors, the base of the plug beneath the crimping connectors being shaped as anvil portions so that it is merely necessary to insert the wires into the crimping connectors and the application of a crimping tool will crimp the connectors about the wires by the reaction of the tool against the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas J. Slack
  • Patent number: 4726452
    Abstract: A shock absorbing mechanism has a fluid filled pressure chamber with a piston mounted therein along with a restrictive orifice leading to an outer chamber. When shock is transmitted by the piston, fluid is forced through the opening against compressed gas contained in the outer chamber. The opening is formed in a movably mounted valve element normally biased against a valve seat but which is forced away from the valve seat by the fluid which had previously passed through the orifice after the force caused by the shock is abated. The size of the orifice in the valve element is controlled by a thermostatic coil mounted on the valve element. The coil is connected to a pin which pivots as the coil expands or contracts due to changes in temperature causing a flag mounted on the pin to slide over the surface of the valve element in which the orifice is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Ty, Gerald L. McDermott, Alfred J. White
  • Patent number: 4724605
    Abstract: Disclosed is an area actuated switch which can be used, by way of example, in a keyboard for a calculator, learning aid or the like. An area actuated switch array is formed using two insulating sheets made of polyester or polycarbonate; the insulating sheets overlie one another such that one side of each sheet faces one another. Groups of spaced conductors formed on each of the facing sides also overlie one another, and selected conductors traverse the periphery of the keyboard. A plurality of raised, insulating spacer areas or points are positioned on the facing sides and are in registration and contact with each other. An insulating substrate is formed over the conductors traversing the periphery and this insulating substrate has substantially the same thickness as the spacer points such that the spacer points and the insulating substrate prevent the spaced conductors from making electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles M. Fiorella
  • Patent number: 4718166
    Abstract: A high reliability low cost connector has flat retainers blanked from an electrically conductive sheel metal and inserted into opening in an electrically insulating body. Each retainer has a post at one end extending from an opening at one side of the body and has a pair of integral wings spaced from each other in a plane at its opposite end disposed in the opening at the opposite side of the body. Spring clips are blanked and formed from an electrically conductive sheet metal spring material and are inserted into the body openings so loop portions of the clips fit between the pairs of retainer wings in each opening and are biased into resilient electrical engagement with the retainer wings. Each clip preferably has two pairs of juxtaposed spring leaves integral with the loop spaced at 90.degree. relative to each other around a common axis to grip a terminal inserted between the spring leaves. The loops are also formed with interruptions in each loop in a common location between two adjacent spring leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Pietro DeFilippis, Amedeo Salvatore, Marios Biscione
  • Patent number: 4717813
    Abstract: A resistor particularly useful as a multiphase, self-regulating fluid heater has passages extending through a body of ceramic resistance material of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTC) for heating fluid adapted to pass therethrough. Several embodiments are provided with electrically conductive coatings formed on inner walls of the passages with the passage walls defining thin webs of the resistance material having uniform thickness from end to end. The passages are arranged in a plurality of sets with the conductive coating on the walls of the passages of each set interconnected and adapted for electrical connection with a respective electrical phase. The passages of the sets are alternated relative to one another throughout the body with a passage of one set immediately adjacent only to passages of other sets. The passages are configured in different embodiments including hexagonal, triangular and rectangular as seen in plan view showing one end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter G. Berg, Leo Marcoux, Bernard M. Kulwicki
  • Patent number: 4715823
    Abstract: A Plug-in socket assembly for use with a semiconductor integrated circuit package has a plurality of contact elements mounted on a support member. The contact elements are each formed with a spring portion, an elongated arm portion merging out of the spring portion to an inner lug portion engageable with a contact pin of the integrated circuit package and an outer lug portion in engagement with a housing member movable downwardly toward and upwardly away from the support member. The housing member is formed with an open space to receive the integrated circuit package therein and a carrier unit adapted to support the integrated circuit package is mounted on the support member and is movable relative to both the support and the housing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Toyokazu Ezura, Fujio Katsumata, Kiyokazu Ikeya
  • Patent number: 4713717
    Abstract: A motor protector having a thermostat metal element thermally coupled to an electrical motor in a refrigerator compressor motor system has a heater responsive to motor current thermally coupled to the thermostat metal element and has an improved component arrangement to provide locked rotor and ultimate trip protection for the motor without requiring calibration of the operating temperature for the protector after assembly or after incorporation in the motor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments
    Inventors: Radi Pejouhy, Joseph G. Nield, Jr., John R. D'Entremont, Beggs, Louis C., Fabrizio Rotulo
  • Patent number: 4706812
    Abstract: A package for shipping and dispensing articles such as integrated circuit mounting sockets or the like comprises an extruded, open-ended plastic tube having a reentrant rib formed along one tube side so that the interior tube chamber accommodates the bifurcated lateral outlines of such i.c. sockets in side-by-side serial relation to each other inside the tube with the socket bodies resting on the rib and with the socket terminals suspended and protected on either side of the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas S. Spinelli, Edward J. Deras
  • Patent number: 4706152
    Abstract: A motor protector having a thermostat metal element thermally coupled to an electrical motor in a refrigerator compressor motor system has a heater responsive to motor current thermally coupled to the thermostat metal element and has an improved component arrangement to provide locked rotor and ultimate trip protection for the motor without requiring calibration of the operating temperature for the protector after assembly or after incorporation in the motor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Pietro DeFilippis, Ciro Calenda, Giuseppe Notaro
  • Patent number: 4703298
    Abstract: A thermostat comprises a bimetal switch element reacting upon changes in temperatures which on one of its ends is fastened to a frame and on its other end is provided with an electric contact adapted to engage a fixed contact provided on the frame. The frame comprises two mutually parallel sheet-like metallic contact carriers forming a base unit, through which two parallel pins are extending for connection of both contact carriers and on which pins the contact carrierrs, with a tight fit, are slidable to and fro relative to one another while being held in permanent mutually parallel relation during the sliding. The parallel pins in the thermostat are formed of a ceramic material of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity which serve to electrically space the two metallic contact carriers while also serving as a self-regulating external heating means for the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Philips M. Gerson
  • Patent number: 4701824
    Abstract: A motor protector having a thermostat metal element thermally coupled to an electrical motor in a refrigerator compressor motor system has a heater responsive to motor current thermally coupled to the thermostat metal element and has an improved component arrangement to provide locked rotor and ultimate trip protection for the motor without requiring calibration of the operating temperature for the protector after assembly or after incorporation in the motor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Louis C. Beggs, John R. D'Entremont
  • Patent number: 4700032
    Abstract: A keyboard is assembled by providing first and second electrically conductive strips of layers and first and second electrically insulative strips of layers, forming the layers into a desired configuration and laminating them together with the respective insulative layers intemediate and on top of the conductive layers. Switching areas are delineated on at least one of the conductive layers and are joined to each other and are provided with output leads by conductive paths configured from the conductive layer. The interposed insulative layer is formed with a plurality of apertures located so that an aperture can be aligned with each switching area. After the layers are laminated together they are blanked out from the strips and holes are punched out through the four layers to sever selected conductive paths and form a preselected circuit pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Larry K. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4698024
    Abstract: A rack for use in mounting a plurality of input/output modules in a programmable controller or process control computer system or the like has a plurality of first connectors mounted on a circuit board for making detachable electrical connection to the respective modules and has second connector means for connecting the circuit board to the controller system. A rack member molded of a stiffly resilient insulating material has a bottom with apertures therein mounted over the circuit board to permit access to the first connectors and has a pair of juxtaposed integral side walls upstanding from the bottom of the rack to engage respective opposite latteral edges of the modules to guide the modules into respective first connectors in compact side-by-side relation to each other within the rack member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instrument Incorporated
    Inventor: James W. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 4696579
    Abstract: A thermostat equipped with a bimetallic element sensitive to a given temperature comprises a monolithic base open at one end in which two terminals connectable to an electric circuit are inserted and precisely located, each having one end bent at a right angle and each carrying a stationary contact, an element carrying movable contacts for connecting the stationary contacts with one another, a spring housed in a seat on said base biasing the movable contact element to engage the stationary contacts, a sliding element for moving and guiding said movable contact-carrying element, a bimetallic element suitably spaced from the said sliding element for initiating movement of the sliding element in response to temperature change, and a lid which fastens the said bimetallic element to the said base with said spacing from the sliding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Pietro De Filippis, Ciro Calenda, Giuseppe Notaro, Henry Boulanger
  • Patent number: 4689599
    Abstract: A thermostat has a cup-shaped insulating base open at one end, a pair of terminals ultrasonically secured in the bottom of the base precisely locating respective stationary contacts within the base and having portions thereof extending outside the base, a flat metal element carrying movable contacts for engaging the stationary contacts, a flat metal motion transfer element secured to the movable contact element and having an extending portion precisely located adjacent the open end of the cup-shaped base, a spring mounted in the base biasing the movable contact element to engage and interconnect the stationary contacts, a dished thermostat metal element disposed in the open end of the base and movable with snap action in response to selected temperature change to engage and move the extending portion of the motion transfer element to move the movable contact element against the spring bias to disengage the stationary contacts, a thin electrically insulating film disposed over the thermostat metal element, and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ciro Calenda, Giuseppe Notaro, Henry Boulanger
  • Patent number: 4685031
    Abstract: An edgeboard connector having a large number of contacts accommodated in a housing cavity is adapted to mount one or more printed circuit boards having lesser numbers of contacts pads and to assure that the contact pads on the boards are electrically engaged with predetermined ones of the connector contacts by attaching one or more detachable members to the housing within the cavity to engage lateral edges of the printed circuit boards as they are inserted into the connector cavity to position the boards in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert M. Fife, Dennis Ross, Richard F. Shaw