Patents Assigned to Littelfuse, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20230006435
    Abstract: Devices herein may include conductor lines connected between a power supply and load, each of the conductor lines coupled to an AC contactor and a contactor control circuit, wherein the contactor control circuit is operable to open and close one or more contactors of the AC contactor. The devices may further include a current transformer coupled to the conductor lines, the current transformer operable to output a secondary current corresponding to a primary current magnitude of an electrical current not flowing to the load, wherein the AC contactor is connected between the power supply and the load. Devices may further include a zero cross detection circuit operable to generate an interrupt at each of a plurality of zero crossings for a microprocessor, and determine whether to open the one or more contactors of the AC contactor in a predetermined optimum interval calculated with respect to the zero crossing points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Ali Melli, Loc Gia Luu
  • Patent number: 11545479
    Abstract: A semiconductor device module. The semiconductor device module may include a first substrate; and a semiconductor die assembly, disposed on the first substrate. The semiconductor die assembly may include a first semiconductor die, bonded to the first substrate; a second semiconductor die, disposed over the first semiconductor die; and an electrical connector, disposed between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die, wherein the semiconductor die assembly comprises an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) die and a freewheeling diode die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventor: Elmar Wisotzki
  • Patent number: 11539200
    Abstract: A fault protection arrangement may include a neutral grounding resistor, the neutral grounding resistor comprising a ground end and a non-ground end. The fault protection arrangement may include a neutral grounding resistance monitor assembly, coupled to the neutral grounding resistor, where the neutral grounding resistance monitor assembly includes a sense circuit, coupled to the ground end of the neutral grounding resistor; and an injection signal generator, arranged to generate a frequency of 240 Hz or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristophor Jensen, Kip M. Larson, Cornelis Verhey
  • Publication number: 20220406551
    Abstract: A single bolt fuse assembly and method to connect a single bolt fuse to a circuit or device are disclosed. The single bolt fuse assembly enables the single bolt fuse to be used on any electrical device having a hole suitable for receiving a threaded shaft and connectable to a circuit or device that electrically connects to a female battery or power cable. The apparatus includes a separate high-conductive metal terminal that mates with the stud that mechanically attaches the fuse between the electrical devices. The stud is insulated to avoid becoming part of the electrical circuit and to ensure proper operation of the fuse. By mechanically attaching the stud to the metal terminal, the stud is unlikely to get separated from the fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: TIZIANO BIANCHIN, MASSIMILIANO TINTO, ANDREW J. JOZWIAK, GEOFFREY SCHWARTZ
  • Patent number: 11532452
    Abstract: Provided are trimmed parallel element protection devices. Some protection devices may include a substrate and first and second terminals at opposite ends of the substrate. The protection devices may further include a first fusible and a second fusible element extending between the first and second terminals, wherein at least one of the first and second fusible elements includes a trimmed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: P-A-Homer II Dela Torre, Roel Santos Retardo, Kent Harvey Mercado Berenguel
  • Publication number: 20220392720
    Abstract: A reed switch including a cylindrical enclosure with two ends, a first blade and a second blade is disclosed. The first blade has a first lead, a first web, and a first contact, and the first web is bent at a first angle as compared to the first lead. The second blade has a second lead, a second web, and a second contact, and the second web is bent at a second angle as compared to the second lead. The first contact is disposed adjacent to the second contact with a gap between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: RICHARD MALABANAN TACLA, JORDANUFF CABILAN, EDWIN CANIDO ABERIN
  • Patent number: 11521818
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure of a fuse may include a fuse body having a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions may be configured to mate together thereby forming an internal cavity. A first inner termination and a second inner termination may be at least partially attachable to the first and second portions of the fuse body at respective first and second ends. A fusible element may be disposed in the cavity of the fuse body and extendable from the first inner termination at the first end of the fuse body to the second inner termination at the second end of the fuse body. The fusible element may be attachable to the first inner termination at a first connection and the second inner termination at a second connection. The first and second connections may be inspectable when the fuse is in an assembled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Maria Lily E. Rosios, Albert V. Enriquez, Victor Oliver L. Tabell, Gordon T. Dietsch, Keon Mayson A. Brosas
  • Publication number: 20220385015
    Abstract: A novel electrical box to house one or more ISO micro relays, is adapted to support IP67 and IP69K Ingress Protection ratings. The housing of the electrical box is molded with blade sockets that correspond to blade positions of the ISO micro relay. The housing is also molded with terminal seats and cylindrical openings which vary, depending on the blade socket, enabling terminals of different sizes, orientations, and positions relative to the respective blades, to be easily inserted into the back of the housing. The resulting position of the terminals ensures that electrical connections to the ISO micro relay are made and ingress protection of components inside the electrical box is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Skrzypczak, Dave G. Kotowski
  • Publication number: 20220375660
    Abstract: A novel heater is disclosed for a temperature sensitive actuator. The heater is a polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) device consisting of conductive filler and semi-crystalline polymer. The PPTC heater is strategically designed to have a predetermined self-regulation temperature suited to whatever application utilizes the heater. Physical characteristics of the PPTC heater, such as gap width and thickness, enable the current flow through the heater to be strategically controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianhua Chen, Rimantas Radzys
  • Patent number: 11508542
    Abstract: A high breaking capacity chip fuse including a bottom insulative layer, a first intermediate insulative layer, a second intermediate insulative layer, and a top insulative layer disposed in a stacked arrangement in the aforementioned order, a fusible element disposed between the first and second intermediate insulative layers and extending between electrically conductive first and second terminals at opposing longitudinal ends of the bottom insulative layer, the first intermediate insulative layer, the second intermediate insulative layer, and the top insulative layer, wherein the first and second intermediate insulative layers are formed of porous ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Irma Valeriano Santos, G. Todd Dietsch
  • Publication number: 20220368127
    Abstract: A miniature circuit breaker for providing short circuit and overload protection is disclosed herein. The miniature circuit breaker features a field effect transistor (FET), which may be a depletion mode metal oxide semiconductor FET (D MOSFET), a junction field-effect transistor (JFET), or a silicon carbide JFET, the FET being connected to a bi-metallic switch, where the bi-metallic switch acts as a temperature sensing circuit breaker. In combination, the D MOSFET and bi-metallic switch are able to limit current to downstream circuit components, thus protecting the components from damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuan Fang Chin, Teddy To
  • Patent number: 11498518
    Abstract: A radar-based occupancy detection system that includes a seatbelt buckle disposed adjacent a seat of a vehicle and a radar module disposed within the seatbelt buckle, the radar module including an antenna, a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, a RF receiver, and a processor, the antenna configured to broadcast a RF signal generated by the RF transmitter toward the seat, the processor configured to derive signal information from output received from the receiver and to characterize occupancy of the seat based on the signal information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Juergen Scheele, Efrem Fesshaie, Rimantas Misevi{hacek over (c)}ius
  • Patent number: 11501942
    Abstract: A circuit protection device including a PTC device having a PTC element, first and second electrodes disposed on opposing first and second surfaces of the PTC element, respectively, first and second chip fuses disposed on the first and second electrodes, respectively, the second chip fuse electrically connected in series with the PTC device, and the first chip fuse electrically in connected parallel with the PTC device and the second chip fuse, the first chip fuse having a lower electrical resistance than the PTC element when the PTC element is in a non-tripped state, wherein a fusible element of the first chip fuse has a first melting temperature and is configured to carry a current higher than the PTC element can carry without tripping, and wherein a fusible element of the second chip fuse has a second melting temperature that is greater than the first melting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuriy Borisovich Matus, Martin G. Pineda
  • Publication number: 20220359144
    Abstract: A novel fuse assembly design utilizes a fuse body, single-piece terminal assembly and a two-piece endbells. The terminal assembly is disposed within the fuse body and includes first and second opposing surfaces with a fuse element extending between a first terminal and a second terminal. The endbell, to be connected to the fuse body, includes first and second endbell portions. Formed within the first endbell portion is a first receptacle and extending from the first endbell portion is a first protrusion. Formed within the second endbell portion is a second receptacle and extending from the second endbell portion is a second protrusion. When the two endbell portions are fastened to one another with the terminal assembly sandwiched between them, the first protrusion engages the second receptacle and the second protrusion engages the first receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Burns, Jon Richard, Ganesh Nagaraj Chennakesavelu, Derek Lasini, Scott Faust
  • Patent number: 11488749
    Abstract: A novel heater is disclosed for a temperature sensitive actuator. The heater is a polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) device consisting of conductive filler and semi-crystalline polymer. The PPTC heater is strategically designed to have a predetermined self-regulation temperature suited to whatever application utilizes the heater. Physical characteristics of the PPTC heater, such as gap width and thickness, enable the current flow through the heater to be strategically controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianhua Chen, Rimantas Radzys
  • Patent number: 11488903
    Abstract: A semiconductor device substrate assembly may include a first substrate, comprising: a first insulator plate; and a first patterned metal layer, disposed on the first insulator plate, wherein the first insulator plate comprises a first material and a first thickness. The assembly may include a second substrate, comprising: a second insulator plate; and a second patterned metal layer, disposed on the second insulator plate, wherein the second insulator plate comprises the first material and the first thickness. The assembly may also include a third substrate, disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, comprising: a third insulator plate; and a third patterned metal layer, disposed on the third insulator plate, wherein the third insulator plate comprises a second material and a second thickness, wherein at least one of the second material and the second thickness differs from the first material and the first thickness, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Steinhoff
  • Publication number: 20220344078
    Abstract: A metal oxide varistor (MOV) device including a MOV chip, electrically conductive first and second electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the MOV chip, and electrically conductive first and second leads connected to the first and second electrodes, respectively, wherein the first and second electrodes are formed of a material having a melting point greater than 1100 degrees Celsius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin G. Pineda, Sergio Fuentes Godinez, Mihn V. Ngo, Yuriy Borisovich Matus
  • Publication number: 20220328272
    Abstract: A fuse housing for safe outgassing of a fuse is disclosed. The fuse housing features labyrinth walls disposed at opposing sides of the fuse housing. The labyrinth walls feature serpentine paths for the flow of outgassing material. At an end of the serpentine paths which is farthest away from a fuse element are vent channels. The vent channels are narrower in depth than that of the serpentine paths of the labyrinth walls, facilitating a suctioning effect during outgassing. Conductive material deposits along the serpentine paths so that the fuse maintains a high OSR rating. By directing and controlling the outflow of gases, the fuse housing is able to reduce the temperature of the gases produced. The fuse housing is also able to reduce the physical and observable effects of outgassing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: ENGELBERT HETZMANNSEDER, ROBERT GAWRYLO
  • Patent number: 11469070
    Abstract: A single bolt fuse assembly and method to connect a single bolt fuse to a circuit or device are disclosed. The single bolt fuse assembly enables the single bolt fuse to be used on any electrical device having a hole suitable for receiving a threaded shaft and connectable to a circuit or device that electrically connects to a female battery or power cable. The apparatus includes a separate high-conductive metal terminal that mates with the stud that mechanically attaches the fuse between the electrical devices. The stud is insulated to avoid becoming part of the electrical circuit and to ensure proper operation of the fuse. By mechanically attaching the stud to the metal terminal, the stud is unlikely to get separated from the fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiziano Bianchin, Massimiliano Tinto, Andrew J. Jozwiak, Geoffrey Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20220310348
    Abstract: An electrical device assembly and method to attach an isolated single stud fuse assembly to an electrical device are disclosed. The electrical device assembly consists of multiple studs, one or more of which is replaced with the isolated single stud fuse. A conductive copper landing zone receives an electrically isolated steel stud. When the landing pad assembly is orbital riveted into a plastic housing of the electrical device, the stud is locked into the housing permanently. Electrical devices such as disconnect switches and power distribution modules, both of which include multiple studs, are good candidates for being adapted with the single stud fuse assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Schwartz, TIZIANO BIANCHIN, MASSIMILIANO TINTO