Patents Assigned to Littelfuse, Inc.
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Publication number: 20180315576Abstract: A fuse device including a fuse component, a first electrode, disposed on a first side of the fuse component, a second electrode, disposed on a second side of the fuse component, and a phase change component, disposed in thermal contact with the fuse component. The fuse component may comprise a fuse temperature, wherein the phase change component exhibits a phase change temperature, the phase change temperature marking a phase transition of the phase change component, and wherein the phase change temperature is less than the fuse temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2017Publication date: November 1, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Chun-Kwan Tsang, Jianhua Chen
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Patent number: 10109994Abstract: Provided herein are improved current monitoring systems for monitoring currents having large ranges. A current monitor can include two or more current sensors. At least two of the current sensors can have different current measurement ranges and different current measurement sensitivities. Each current sensor can be associated with one or more current monitoring thresholds. A time delay or time threshold can correspond to each current monitoring threshold. Each current sensor can monitor a same current having a large range of possible current values. When a predetermined current threshold is exceeded for an amount of time exceeding a corresponding time threshold, a signal can be generated by the current sensor. The generated signal can indicate that the measured current exceeds the predetermined current threshold for the corresponding predetermined period of time.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventor: James Riley
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Publication number: 20180294126Abstract: A surface mount fuse including a fuse body having a base including a floor and a plurality of adjoining sidewalls defining an interior cavity, wherein top edges of the sidewalls define a recessed shoulder bordering the interior cavity, and a cover including a main body disposed on the recessed shoulder and enclosing the interior cavity, first and second terminals extending through opposing sidewalls of the base, the first and second terminals extending around the opposing sidewalls and the cover and disposed in abutment therewith to secure the cover to the base, and a fusible element extending through the interior cavity and connected to the first and second terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Conrado de Leon, Albert Enriquez
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Patent number: 10097016Abstract: A system for measuring a current from a battery with a Hall Effect sensor, the current powering a primary load and a secondary load. The system to calculate a status of the battery based on the measured current, then compare the status of the battery to a predetermined value. The system to activate a relay when the status of the battery is below a predetermined value, activation of the relay to prevent the current from powering the secondary load.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Menzer, Armando Zacarias
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Publication number: 20180287363Abstract: A wire overmold device including a carrier body having a distal end and a proximal end, a wire cap configured to engage the distal end of the carrier body, at least one of a jacketed cable and one or more wires at least partially enclosed between the wire cap and the carrier body, and an overmold formed over the proximal end of the carrier body and at least portions of the wire cap and the distal end of the carrier body, wherein the wire cap and the distal end of the carrier body protrude from the overmold.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventor: Jay KRUGER
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Patent number: 10079131Abstract: A circuit protection assembly (CPA) is disposed between a source of power and a circuit to be protected. The CPA comprises a mounting block having a bore extending therethrough and a recess cavity on a first surface of the mounting block. A post having a first end is disposed within the recess cavity and a body portion extends through the bore. The body portion configured to receive a terminal and the second end configured to receive a securing mechanism. A fuse having a centrally disposed aperture is configured to receive the body portion of the post and to receive the terminal for connection to a circuit to be protected. An insulator disposed on the terminal and disposed beneath the securing mechanism. The insulator configured to isolate the post from the terminal and the fuse while allowing the securing mechanism to apply an amount of torque.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2017Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey Schwartz, Dana Scribner, Joe Thomas
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Patent number: 10074642Abstract: A circuit protection component including a crowbar device for protecting electronic devices from transients is generally disclosed. The circuit protection component may include a steering diode bridge and a crowbar device electrically connected to the steering diode bridge. The crowbar device may have a base and an emitter formed on a first layer, the first layer defining a breakdown voltage, which when exceeded allows current to pass under the emitter and out the device through a hole formed in the emitter.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Ader Shen, Ethan Kuo, Ting-Fung Chang
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Patent number: 10074501Abstract: An arc-mitigating fuse including a tubular fuse body, a first endcap covering a first end of the fuse body and a second endcap covering a second end of the fuse body, a fusible element disposed within the fuse body and extending between the first endcap and the second endcap to provide an electrically conductive pathway therebetween, and an arc-mitigating element disposed within the fuse body and held in a compressed state between the first endcap and the second endcap, the arc-mitigating element adapted to extend to an uncompressed state upon separation of the fusible element.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventor: Brian Johnson
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Patent number: 10074944Abstract: A circuit includes a connector having first and second mateable portions. Each portion includes at least two terminals configured to mechanically engage at least two terminals of the other portion. The two terminals within the first and second portions are arranged so that as the first and second portions are mated, a first terminal of the first portion and a first terminal of the second portions come into contact before respective second terminals of the first and second portions. The circuit also includes a polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) device with a first terminal in electrical communication with the first terminal of the first portion and a second terminal in electrical communication with the second terminal of the first portion. A power terminal is in electrical communication with the second terminal of the first portion and is configured to be connected to a power source.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Kedar V. Bhatawadekar, Mario G. Sepulveda, Jason Larson
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Publication number: 20180218870Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for securing an electrical protection device (e.g., a fuse). In one approach, an apparatus includes a conductor and a terminal coupling the conductor to the fuse, wherein the terminal includes an end cap having a cavity for receiving and securing the conductor, and a set of contact elements extending from a base member. The base member may be coupled to the end cap, and a body of the fuse may be coupled to the base member. In some approaches, a fuse blade of the fuse is disposed between the set of contact elements. In some approaches, the apparatus further includes a cover adjacent the terminal, wherein the cover is configured to engage the contact elements to increase a contact force and electrical connection between the set of contact elements and the fuse blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2017Publication date: August 2, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Matthew McWhinney, Geoffrey Schwartz
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Publication number: 20180212372Abstract: A universal serial bus (USB) cable including a power conductor configured to transmit power between a first device and a second device, a configuration channel (CC) conductor configured to allow the first device and the second device to determine whether a connection has been established via the USB cable, and a first positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element coupled to the CC conductor and configured to mitigate current flowing through the CC conductor if a temperature of the first PTC element rises above a predefine trip temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Boris Golubovic, Kunghao Yu
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Publication number: 20180212418Abstract: A cable including a power conductor configured to transmit electrical power between a first device and a second device, a first data conductor configured to transmit data between the first device and the second device, and a first protection circuit coupled to the first data conductor and associated with a first temperature sensing element, the first protection circuit configured to mitigate current flowing through the first data conductor if a temperature detected by the first temperature sensing element rises above a predefined first trip temperature, wherein the opening of the first data line indicates a fault condition to a device to which the cable is connected, whereby electrical power flowing through the power conductor is resultantly mitigated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Boris Golubovic, Kunghao Yu
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Publication number: 20180204700Abstract: A fuse including a tubular fuse body defining an interior cavity, and a fusible element describing a conical helix that tapers from a first end to a second end, the first end having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the second end, wherein the first end of the fusible element abuts an end face of the fuse body with a portion of the fusible element extending into the interior cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Keon Mayson Brosas, Conrado de Leon, Albert Enriquez
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Publication number: 20180204789Abstract: A device may include a lead frame, where the lead frame includes a central portion, and a side pad, the side pad being laterally disposed with respect to the central portion. The device may further include a thyristor device, the thyristor device comprising a semiconductor die and further comprising a gate, wherein the thyristor device is disposed on a first side of the lead frame on the central portion. The device may also include a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device electrically coupled to the gate of the thyristor device, wherein the PTC device is disposed on the side pad on the first side of the lead frame; and a thermal coupler having a first end connected to the thyristor device and a second end attached to the PTC device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventor: Koichiro Yoshimoto
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Publication number: 20180205188Abstract: A fuse module including an battery clamp, a fuse assembly including a mounting block, a bus bar on a first side of the mounting block in contact with the battery clamp, fuse terminals on a second side of the mounting block connected to the bus bar by fusible elements, and a terminal post extending through one of the fuse terminals for facilitating electrical connection to a first electrical component, the fuse module further including a mounting cradle holding the fuse assembly and the battery clamp, the mounting cradle including a mounting post extending through the battery clamp, the bus bar, the mounting block, and one of the fuse terminals for facilitating connection to a second electrical component and for securing the fuse module components together, wherein the mounting post is surrounded by a tubular sleeve extending between the bus bar and the fuse terminal through which the mounting post extends.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Julio Urrea, Gary Bold, Hector Perez
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Publication number: 20180166239Abstract: A wireless relay may include a housing; an output, disposed within the housing; and a wireless interface, disposed within the housing, wherein the wireless interface is to receive wireless communication signals including settings to configure one or more functionalities associated with the wireless relay.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2017Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventor: Kip M. Larson
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Publication number: 20180156637Abstract: A position sensing system is disclosed. The position sensing system may include a hollow sensor body. A magnet may be disposed in the hollow sensor body. The magnet may be movable within the hollow sensor body.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventor: Efrem Fesshaie
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Patent number: 9989576Abstract: A ground check monitoring device coupled to a trailing cable includes a voltage source and a switch. The trailing cable includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a ground conductor. A resistive termination device is coupled between the first conductor and the ground conductor. A controller of the ground check monitoring device can toggle the switch between a first node of the first conductor and a second node of the second conductor. By measuring voltages at the first and second nodes, the ground check monitoring device can determine if the resistive termination device is shorted. Further, the controller can calculate resistance values of the first and second conductors and calculate a resistance value of the ground conductor. The calculated resistance values can be compared to expected values and the controller can signal a ground fault condition as appropriate based on the comparisons.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Michael Vangool, Nehad El-Sherif El-Kharbawe, George J. Fenty
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Publication number: 20180145130Abstract: An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) device. The IGBT may include a substrate layer, the substrate layer comprising a p-type dopant, a first epitaxial layer, disposed on the substrate layer, the first epitaxial layer comprising an N-type dopant having a first concentration. The IGBT may also include a second epitaxial layer, disposed on the first epitaxial layer, the second epitaxial layer comprising an N-type dopant having a second concentration, the second concentration being greater than the first concentration. The IGBT may further include a third epitaxial layer, disposed on the second epitaxial layer, the third epitaxial layer comprising an N-type dopant having a third concentration, the third concentration being less than the first concentration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Filip Kudrna, Roman Malousek, Justin Michael Yerger
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Publication number: 20180144900Abstract: Fuses having a melamine-coated-steatite foam filler are described. In particular, melamine-coated-steatite foam filler for use in a fuse comprising steatite coated in a melamine compound (e.g., plasticized melamine resin) and then heated to form crystalline foam filler are described. The foam filler may comprise steatite of substantially 3 times the melamine compound by weight and may be heated and then cooled to form the foam filler.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Roel Retardo, Albert Enriquez