Abstract: A single element electrical connector includes a single conductive contact element formed into a cage structure having a wire insert end and a wire contact end along a longitudinal centerline axis of the connector. The cage structure defines an upper pick-up surface having a surface area suitable for placement of a suction nozzle of a vacuum transfer device, as well as a pair of contact tines biased towards the centerline axis to define a contact pinch point for an exposed core of a wire inserted into the connector. A contact surface is defined by a member of the cage structure for electrical mating contact with a respective contact element on a component on which the connector is mounted.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly for use in high voltage and high temperature environments is provided. More particularly, the capacitor assembly includes a solid electrolytic capacitor element containing an anode body, a dielectric overlying the anode, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric. To help facilitate the use of the capacitor assembly in high voltage applications, it is generally desired that the solid electrolyte is formed from a dispersion of preformed conductive polymer particles. In this manner, the electrolyte may remain generally free of high energy radicals (e.g., Fe2+ or Fe3+ ions) that can lead to dielectric degradation, particularly at relatively high voltages (e.g., above about 60 volts). Furthermore, to help protect the stability of the solid electrolyte at high temperatures, the capacitor element is enclosed and hermetically sealed within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains an anodically oxidized porous anode body, a cathode containing a metal substrate coated with a conductive coating, and a working electrolyte that wets the dielectric on the anode. The conductive coating contains an alkyl-substituted poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) having a certain structure. Such polymers can result in a higher degree of capacitance than many conventional types of coating materials. Further, because the polymers are generally semi-crystalline or amorphous, they can dissipate and/or absorb the heat associated with the high voltage. The degree of surface contact between the conductive coating and the surface of the metal substrate may also be enhanced in the present invention by selectively controlling the manner in which the conductive coating is formed.

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: Described is a capacitor assembly that is thermally and mechanically stable under extreme conditions. Thermal stability is provided by enclosing and hermetically sealing the capacitor element within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas, thereby limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the solid electrolyte of the capacitor. To provide good mechanical stability, the assembly contains at least one external termination (e.g., anode and/or cathode termination) extending beyond an outer periphery of a surface of the housing. The degree to which the external termination extends beyond the outer periphery relative to the dimension of the housing is selectively controlled to increase the surface area available for soldering to a circuit board.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains a casing within which is positioned an anode formed from an anodically oxidized sintered porous body and a fluidic working electrolyte is provided. The casing contains a conductive coating disposed on a surface of a metal substrate. The casing contains a metal substrate coated with a conductive coating. The conductive coating contains a conductive polymer layer formed through anodic electrochemical polymerization (“electro-polymerization”) of a colloidal suspension on the surface of the metal substrate. The conductive coating also contains a precoat layer that is discontinuous in nature and contains a plurality of discrete projections of a conductive material that are deposited over the surface of the metal substrate in a spaced-apart fashion so that they form “island-like” structures.

Abstract: A single element electrical connector includes a single conductive contact element formed into a cage structure having a wire insert end and a wire contact end along a longitudinal centerline axis of the connector. One wall of the cage structure includes a tab that extends into a recess included in another wall of the cage structure. The cage structure defines an upper pick-up surface having a surface area suitable for placement of a suction nozzle of a vacuum transfer device, as well as a pair of contact tines biased towards the centerline axis to define a contact pinch point for an exposed core of a wire inserted into the connector. A contact surface is defined by a member of the cage structure for electrical mating contact with a respective contact element on a component on which the connector is mounted.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains a casing within which is positioned an anode formed from an anodically oxidized sintered porous body and a fluidic working electrolyte is provided. The casing contains a metal substrate over which is disposed a hydrogen protection layer that contains a plurality of sintered agglomerates formed from a valve metal composition. The present inventors have discovered that through careful selection of the relative particle size and distribution of the agglomerates, the resulting protection layer can effectively absorb and dissipate hydrogen radicals generated during use and/or production of the capacitor, which could otherwise lead to embrittlement and cracking of the metal substrate.

Abstract: A single element electrical connector includes a single conductive contact element formed into a cage structure having a wire insert end and a wire contact end along a longitudinal centerline axis of the connector. The cage structure defines an upper pick-up surface having a surface area suitable for placement of a suction nozzle of a vacuum transfer device, as well as a pair of contact tines biased towards the centerline axis to define a contact pinch point for an exposed core of a wire inserted into the connector. A contact surface is defined by a member of the cage structure for electrical mating contact with a respective contact element on a component on which the connector is mounted.

Abstract: An electromagnetic interference filter for various electronic devices such as implantable medical devices is provided. A plurality of signal electrodes can be configured in an array, where each signal electrode extends vertically from a top surface to a bottom surface of the filter such that the signal electrodes are flush with the top and bottom surface. Ground or common electrodes can have a parallel arrangement and be interposed between the signal electrodes. The ground electrodes can be grounded internally, externally, or both internally and externally. Dielectric material can be disposed between signal electrodes and ground electrodes to act as an insulator between adjacent electrodes.

Abstract: A single element electrical connector includes a single conductive contact element formed into a cage structure having a wire insert end and a wire contact end along a longitudinal centerline axis of the connector. The cage structure defines an upper pick-up surface having a surface area suitable for placement of a suction nozzle of a vacuum transfer device, as well as a pair of contact tines biased towards the centerline axis to define a contact pinch point for an exposed core of a wire inserted into the connector. A contact surface is defined by a member of the cage structure for electrical mating contact with a respective contact element on a component on which the connector is mounted.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that includes a porous anode body containing a dielectric layer, an electrolyte, and a cathode containing a metal substrate on which is disposed a conductive coating is provided. Prior to application of the conductive coating, the metal substrate is blasted with abrasive particles to enhance the ability of the substrate to adhere to the coating. The micro-roughened metal substrate can be treated after blasting so that substantially all of the abrasive particles are removed. This is accomplished by contacting the metal substrate with an extraction solution to remove the particles, and also by selectively controlling the nature of the abrasive particles so that they are dispersible (e.g., soluble) in the solution.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor is provided. The capacitor contains an anode comprising an anodically oxidized pellet formed from a pressed and sintered powder, a cathode that contains a metal substrate coated with a conductive polymer, and a working electrolyte in communication with the anode and the cathode. The working electrolyte is in the form of a gel and comprises an ammonium salt of an organic acid, inorganic oxide particles, an acid, and a solvent system that comprises water. The working electrolyte has a pH value of from about 5.0 to about 8.0.

Abstract: An electromagnetic interference filter for various electronic devices such as implantable medical devices is provided. A plurality of signal electrodes can be configured in an array, where each signal electrode extends vertically from a top surface to a bottom surface of the filter such that the signal electrodes are flush with the top and bottom surface. Ground or common electrodes can have a parallel arrangement and be interposed between the signal electrodes. The ground electrodes can be grounded internally, externally, or both internally and externally. Dielectric material can be disposed between signal electrodes and ground electrodes to act as an insulator between adjacent electrodes.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains an anodically oxidized porous anode body, a cathode containing a metal substrate coated with a conductive coating, and a working electrolyte that wets the dielectric on the anode. The conductive coating is formed through anodic electrochemical polymerization (“electro-polymerization”) of a microemulsion on the surface of the metal substrate. The microemulsion is a thermodynamically stable, isotropic liquid mixture that contains a precursor monomer, sulfonic acid, nonionic surfactant, and solvent.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that includes an anode body, dielectric overlying the anode body, and solid electrolyte that overlies the dielectric is provided. The solid electrolyte includes a nanocomposite that contains a plurality of nanofibrils dispersed within a conductive polymer matrix. The nanofibrils have a relatively small size and high aspect ratio, which the present inventors have discovered can dramatically improve the thermal-mechanical stability and robustness of the resulting capacitor.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains an anodically oxidized porous anode body, a cathode containing a metal substrate coated with a conductive coating, and a working electrolyte that wets the dielectric on the anode. The conductive coating is formed through anodic electrochemical polymerization (“electro-polymerization”) of a precursor colloidal suspension on the surface of the substrate. The colloidal suspension includes a precursor monomer, ionic surfactant, and sulfonic acid, which when employed in combination can synergistically improve the degree of surface coverage and overall conductivity of the coating.

Abstract: A capacitor for use in ultrahigh voltage environments is provided. During formation of the capacitor, the forming voltage employed during anodization is generally about 300 volts or more and at temperatures ranging from about 10° C. to about 70° C. Such conditions can substantially improve the quality and thickness of the dielectric without adversely impacting the uniformity and consistency of its surface coverage. In addition, the solid electrolyte is also formed from a dispersion of preformed conductive polymer particles. In this manner, the electrolyte may remain generally free of high energy radicals (e.g., Fe2+ or Fe3+ ions) that can lead to dielectric degradation, particularly at the ultrahigh voltages noted above.

Abstract: A method for producing modular electrical connectors having varying contact element configurations includes providing a common header component having a plurality of receptacle spaces defined therein. A plurality of different contact sub-assemblies are provided having varying contact element configurations, with each of sub-assembly having a common size configured for receipt in the receptacle spaces. A pattern of the contact sub-assemblies is defined for a particular desired connector configuration from any combination of the contact sub-assemblies, and the contact sub-assemblies are fitted and adhered into the receptacle spaces in the header component according to the pattern. A kit may be provided with the modular components for making the connectors.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that is capable of exhibiting good electrical properties even under the extreme conditions of high temperature and humidity levels is provided. More particularly, the capacitor contains a capacitor element that includes a sintered porous anode body, a dielectric that overlies the anode body, and a solid electrolyte that overlies the dielectric. The solid electrolyte contains a conductive polymer and an organometallic coupling agent. The capacitor also contains a moisture barrier layer that overlies the solid electrolyte and is formed from a hydrophobic elastomer that has a low surface energy such that it is not readily wettable by an aqueous medium.