Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains a cathode, fluidic working electrolyte, and anode that includes a sintered porous pellet is provided. A dielectric layer is also formed on a surface of the pellet and within its pores through anodic oxidation. The present inventors have discovered that through selective control over the anodic oxidation process, a substantially amorphous, low crystalline dielectric layer can be formed which, among other things, exhibits a leakage current that is smaller than previously thought possible for the high voltage capacitors employed in implantable medical devices.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a varistor comprising a dielectric material comprising a sintered ceramic composed of zinc oxide grains and a grain boundary layer between the zinc oxide grains. The grain boundary layer contains a positive temperature coefficient thermistor material in an amount of less than 10 mol % based on the grain boundary layer.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly that comprises a solid electrolytic capacitor element is provided. The capacitor assembly also comprises a casing material that encapsulates the capacitor element, an anode termination that is in electrical connection with the anode body and contains a portion that is positioned external to the casing material, and a cathode termination that is in electrical connection with the solid electrolyte and contains a portion that is positioned external to the casing material. A first hydrophobic coating is disposed in contact with the casing material and the external portion of the anode termination and a second hydrophobic coating is disposed in contact with the casing material and the external portion of the cathode termination.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly that is capable of exhibiting good electrical properties even under a variety of conditions 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 pre-coat layer that overlies the dielectric and is formed from an organometallic compound. A solid electrolyte overlies the pre-coat layer that contains an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the inner layer is formed from an in situ-polymerized conductive polymer and the outer layer is formed from pre-polymerized conductive polymer particles.

Abstract: A capacitor bank for use in a medical device is provided. Through selective control over the individual capacitors employed in the bank, a low ESR can be achieved without adversely impacting other properties of the resulting medical device. More particularly, at least one capacitor in the bank may contain a solid electrolytic capacitor element that includes an anode and a solid electrolyte overlying the anode. The anode includes an anodically oxidized, sintered porous pellet and the solid electrolyte includes a plurality of conductive polymer particles.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for connecting and disconnecting various electrical components. More specifically, an apparatus that includes an electrical contact and an insulated housing. In an embodiment, the electrical contact includes a first insulation displacement contact, a second insulation displacement contact, and a motion-force portion. The motion-force portion is configured to allow the electrical contact to be actuated around a central axis and relative to the insulated housing. The first and second insulation displacement contacts allow for the electrical contact to create an electrical and mechanical connection between respective wires when the electrical contact is rotated. A rotary insulation displacement contact (IDC) junction connector allows for two wires to be reliably and safely connected in environments where space is limited.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly that is capable of exhibiting good electrical properties even under a variety of conditions 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 an adhesion layer that is positioned between an inner conductive polymer layer and an outer conductive polymer layer. The adhesion layer is formed from an organometallic compound and the outer layer is formed from pre-polymerized conductive polymer particles.

Abstract: This disclosure provides for an apparatus for connecting a first printed circuit board to a second printed circuit board. More specifically, an apparatus that includes a first receptacle assembly, a second receptacle assembly, and a contact bridge is disclosed. In an embodiment, the contact bridge conductively connects with the first receptacle assembly and the second receptacle assembly. In an embodiment, the contact bridge is disposed between sets of contact beams of the first and second receptacle assemblies.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that comprises an anode that comprises a porous anode body and a dielectric layer is provided. The anode body is formed from a pressed and sintered valve metal powder having a specific charge of about 200,000 ?F*V/g or more and a phosphorous content of about 150 parts per million or less. A solid electrolyte overlies the anode.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor that contain 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 first current collector and the second current collector each contain a substrate that includes a conductive metal, wherein a plurality of fiber-like whiskers project outwardly from the substrate of the first current collector, the substrate of the second current collector, or both.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for constructing thermoelectric devices (TEDs). N-type elements are paired with P-type elements in an array of pairs between substrates. The paired elements are electrically connected in series by various techniques including brazing for hot side and/or also cold side connections, and soldering for cold side connections while being thermally connected in parallel. In selected embodiments, electrical and mechanical connections of the elements may be made solely by mechanical pressure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for introducing DC bias in a radio frequency (RF) signal communicated over a transmission line are provided. In one example implementation, the RF system can include a transmission line having a first port and a second port. The transmission line can be configured to communicate an RF signal between a first port and a second port. One or more DC bias resistors can be coupled to the transmission line at a location between the first port and the second port. Each DC bias resistor can provide a path for injecting DC current to the transmission line to provide DC bias for the RF signal. Each DC bias resistor can be coupled to the transmission line via a point connection.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a surface mount coupling capacitor and a circuit board containing a surface mount coupling capacitor. The coupling capacitor includes a main body containing at least two sets of alternating dielectric layers and internal electrode layers. The coupling capacitor includes external terminals electrically connected to the internal electrode layers wherein the external terminals are formed on a top surface of the coupling capacitor and a bottom surface of the coupling capacitor opposing the top surface of the coupling capacitor.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly that is stable under extreme conditions is provided. A capacitor assembly that is capable of achieving a high capacitance and yet remain thermally and mechanically stable under extreme conditions. Even at high capacitance values, good mechanical stability can be achieved by connecting multiple individual capacitor elements to the housing of the assembly. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the use of multiple elements increases the surface area over which the elements are connected to the housing. Among other things, this allows the elements to dissipate vibrational forces incurred during use over a larger area, which reduces the likelihood of delamination. The capacitor elements are also enclosed and hermetically sealed within a single 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 elements.

Abstract: A thermal connector comprising an electrically insulating beam having a first end face at a first end and a second end face at a second end is provided. The second end face may be opposite the first end face in an X direction. The beam may have a width in a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction. The beam may also have a top face and a bottom face offset from the top face in a Z direction. The thermal connector may include a first terminal attached to the bottom face and adjacent the first end and a second terminal attached to the top face and adjacent the first end. The connector may have an overall thickness in the Z direction, which includes the first and second terminals and is greater than 1.27 mm and less than 3.81 mm.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor that 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 nonaqueous electrolyte is in ionic contact with the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the nonaqueous electrolyte contains an ionic liquid that is dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent at a concentration of about 1.0 mole per liter or more. The nonaqueous solvent has a boiling temperature of about 150° C. or more.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly that is capable of performing well under the conditions of high humidity and temperature (e.g., 85% relative humidity/85° C.) is provided. The capacitor assembly comprises a solid electrolytic capacitor element, an anode termination that is in electrical connection with the anode body, cathode termination that is in electrical connection with the solid electrolyte, and casing material that encapsulates the capacitor element and leaves exposed at least a portion of the anode termination and the cathode termination. The casing material is formed from an epoxy composition that contains one or more inorganic oxide fillers and a resinous material that includes one or more epoxy resins crosslinked with a co-reactant, wherein inorganic oxide fillers about 75 wt. % or more of the epoxy composition, and vitreous silica constitutes about 30 wt. % or more of the total weight of inorganic oxide fillers in the epoxy composition.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly that is capable of performing well under the conditions of high humidity (e.g., 60% relative humidity) is provided. The capacitor assembly comprises a solid electrolytic capacitor element that contains a sintered porous anode body, a dielectric that overlies the anode body, and a solid electrolyte that overlies the dielectric. An anode termination is in electrical connection with the anode body and a cathode termination is in electrical connection with the solid electrolyte. A first coating is disposed on at least a portion of the anode termination that contains an organometallic compound and a second coating is disposed on at least a portion of the cathode termination that contains an organometallic compound. Further, a casing material encapsulates the capacitor element and leaves exposed a mounting surface of the anode termination and the cathode termination.

Abstract: A multi-layer electronic device is disclosed that comprises a ceramic layer, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer contains a first tab portion extending to the first lateral edge of the ceramic layer, the first electrode layer further defining a first cut-out region. The second electrode layer contains a second tab portion extending to the first lateral edge of the ceramic layer, the second electrode layer further defining a second cut-out region. The first tab portion of the first electrode layer is offset from the second tab portion of the second electrode layer in the longitudinal direction so that a first gap region is formed within which the first tab portion does not overlap the second tab portion. Further, the first cut-out region at least partially overlaps the second cut-out region.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and a method for providing an integrated multiterminal multilayer ceramic device that has three or more capacitive elements. Two of such capacitive elements may be in series, with a third in parallel. The integrated device may be packaged as an overmolded three leaded component, or can be mounted as SMD (surface mount device). The integrated device may also be combined with a separate varistor in a stacked arrangement of leaded components.