Abstract: A chip resistor includes a metal resistor element having a flat lower surface. The lower surface is formed with two electrodes spaced from each other, and an insulating resin film is formed between these electrodes. Each of the electrodes partially overlaps the insulating film so that a portion of the insulating film is inserted between each of the electrodes and the lower surface of the resistor element.

Abstract: Rib and spar webs are joined in a composite wingbox to eliminate fasteners by welding the webs along bondlines defined by overlapping sections of the webs. Heat to produce the weld is generally achieved resistively by connecting a multistrip susceptor positioned along the bond line to a current source, since the geometry makes it difficult to heat these web joints inductively. The wingbox is completed without fasteners by welding skins to the rib-spar wingbox.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a structure of a surface mounted resettable over-current protection device and a method for manufacturing the same. First, a raw material substrate having two ends is provided. On each of the two ends of the raw material substrate, a patterned conducting metal foil is formed. Then, the raw material substrate is cut to form a grid-shaped substrate having a plurality of strip-shaped structural parts. An insulating layer is formed to enclose the whole grid-shaped substrate, allowing parts of the patterned metal foil layers on the ends of the strip-shaped structural parts to be exposed. Next, the strip-shaped structural parts of the grid-shaped substrate are cut into a plurality of chips, each chip having two cut sections. Finally, two terminal electrodes are formed on the both cut sections of each chip.

Abstract: There is provided a method and circuit for trimming a functional resistor on a thermally isolated micro-platform such that a second functional resistor on the same micro-platform remains substantially untrimmed; a method and circuit for providing and trimming a circuit such that at least two circuit elements of the circuit are subjected to a same operating environment and the operating environment is compensated for by distributing heat generated during operation of the circuit among the two circuit elements; a method and circuit for trimming a functional resistor on a thermally-isolated micro-platform such that a constant temperature distribution is obtained across the functional resistor; and a method and circuit for calculating a temperature coefficient of resistance of a functional resistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a polysilicon resistor that can suppress variations in resistance value in environments with an ambient temperature higher than room temperature. The resistance value Rcon of a polysilicon contact is reduced to 2% or less of the sum of the resistance value Rcon of the polysilicon contact and the resistance value Rpoly of a polysilicon resistor. Hence, a semiconductor device that is not significantly affected by a variation in the resistance of the polysilicon contact is realized. This device suppresses variations in resistance value in environments with an ambient temperature higher than room temperature.

Abstract: A PTC circuit protection device to protect electronic devices against excessive temperatures and electrical currents. The device comprises a polymeric resistor element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The polymeric resistor element changes resistance in response to temperature changes. The resistor element has an upper surface and a lower surface. The first electrode is in electrical contact with both the upper surface and the lower surface. The second electrode is in electrical contact with both the upper surface and the lower surface. The circuit protection device has a first effective area of resistance and a second effective area of resistance that is electrically in parallel with the first effective area.

Abstract: A flexible electric circuit, for example an electric heater, comprises a metallised fabric (14) the metal of which is photochemically etched to form the circuit (16), the fabric preferably being porous.

Abstract: The present invention provides a strain gauge comprising a resistive layer. The resistive layer comprises metallic or semiconducting nanoparticles or aggregates thereof in which the nanoparticles or aggregates thereof are separated by insulating and/or semiconducting material.

Abstract: An actuator and integral position sensor has increased reliability with a fail-safe mode. The actuator and sensor assembly includes a rotary actuator that has a driving shaft. A sensor rotor has the driving shaft mounted in a bore. A contactor is mounted to an outer edge of the rotor. The contactor is engaged with a resistor film as the rotor rotates. A driven shaft is mounted to the rotor in another bore. The rotor couples the driving shaft and the driven shaft together.

Abstract: A continuous- or intermittent-melt induction furnace useful for heating and/or melting semi-conductor or other materials includes an induction coil, a susceptor switchable between open and closed electric circuit modes, and a crucible. The susceptor is inductively or resistively heated in the closed circuit mode and transfers heat to material in the melting cavity to make it susceptible to inductive heating. The susceptor is then switched to the open circuit mode and the susceptible material is directly inductively heated to melt remaining solid material. A cone-shaped flow guide in the melting cavity improves molten material flow to improve the ability to draw small-particle material into the melt and increase crucible life due to improved heat uniformity. A trap passage communicating with the melting cavity and an exit opening in the crucible allows the flow of material through the exit opening to be controlled by pressure differentials on either side of the trap passage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising first and second sensors formed by chemically sensitive resitors, wherein the first sensor comprises a region of aligned conductive material; or where each of the sensors comprises alternating regions of nonconductive regions and aligned conductive regions with each resistor providing an electrical path through both the nonconductive region and the aligned conductive region, while each sensor manifests a different electrical resistance during contact with sample fluids having different analyte concentrations via the monitoring arrangement of having the sensors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus. The aligned conductive particle material is aligned by exposure to either of an electric, magnetic, optical, photo-electric, electromagnetic or mechanical field, which serves to improve signal to noise ratio of vapor sensors allowing Lower Detection Limits for vapors being sensed.

Abstract: A robust sensor that incorporates the necessary physical structure and thermal characteristics is capable of measuring fluid flow and properties under harsh environmental conditions. The sensor die is made of a material with thermal conductivity tailored to provide the thermal transmission characteristics necessary to avoid saturation of the sensor, thus enabling the measurement of high mass flux airflow and liquid properties under high pressure and often harsh environments not previously available for silicon based sensors. The robust sensor further has internal vias for back-side electrical connection, thus avoiding electrical and mechanical interference with the measurements. All of these features come together to provide a microsensor which is capable of reliable, i.e. stable, wide dynamic range and rapid-response operation under harsh environments.

Abstract: An induction furnace includes an induction coil, an electrically non-conductive crucible having an inner diameter disposed within the induction coil, and an electrically conductive member disposed below the crucible and having an outer diameter which is further from the induction coil than is the inner diameter of the crucible. Due to the non-conductive nature of material disposed within the crucible at lower temperatures, the induction coil initially inductively heats the conductive member, which transfers heat to the material to melt a portion of the material. Once the material is susceptible to inductive heating (usually upon melting) the susceptible material is inductively heated by the induction coil. During the process, inductive heating of the material greatly increases as inductive heating of the conductive member greatly decreases due to low resistivity of the molten material and due to the molten material being closer to the coil than is the conductive member.

Abstract: A surface-mount positive temperature coefficient thermistor includes a disk-shaped positive temperature coefficient thermistor element having electrodes provided on opposing main surfaces thereof, an insulating case having an inner space with the thermistor element inserted therein, and a pair of metal terminals arranged to make electrical contact with the respective main surface electrodes of the thermistor element, and to sandwich therebetween the thermistor element. The insulating case includes a pair of main surfaces that are substantially parallel to the main surfaces of the thermistor element, a pair of opening side surfaces each having an opening, and a pair of end surfaces each having a terminal insertion hole provided therein. One end of each of the pair of metal terminals is inserted from the respective terminal insertion holes into the inner space, and the metal terminals press-hold the thermistor element so as to sandwich the thermistor element therebetween.

Abstract: A sensor system has an AlN substrate, a W layer on the substrate, a signal source adapted to apply an electrical actuating signal to the W layer, and a sensor adapted to sense the response of the W layer. The W layer can comprise a thin film, with various types of optional protective layers over the film. Applications include sensing temperature, fluid flow rates, fluid levels, pressure and chemical environments. For a planar heater, the W layer comprises a plurality of conductive strands distributed on the substrate, with the strands generally parallel and serpentine shaped for a rectangular substrate, and extending along respective lines of longitude that merge at opposite poles of the substrate for a circular substrate.

Abstract: An over-current protector comprised of multiple over-current protection devices each at various switching temperature and provided with positive temperature coefficient; all devices being stacked and segregated with an reinforced insulation layer and connected in parallel through a conducting mechanism each respectively provided at where in relation to both ends of the device; both conducting mechanisms constituting the terminal electrodes of the over-current protector as a whole for reducing initial resistance, increasing peak resistance, and in turn upgrading voltage withstanding performance.

Abstract: A pin for use in connecting graphite electrodes into a joint, where the pin has at least one male tang having a tang factor, defined as the ratio of male tang length to diameter of the electrode into which hit is to be threaded, of at least about 0.60.

Abstract: A chip resistor includes: an insulating chip substrate 11 having an upper surface formed with a resistive film 12 and a pair of left and right upper electrodes 13 at two ends thereof; a cover coat 14 covering the resistive film; auxiliary upper electrodes 15 formed on upper surfaces of the upper electrodes 13 to overlap the cover coat 14; a left and a right side electrodes 16 formed on a left and a right end surfaces 11a of the insulating substrate 11; and metal plate layers formed on surfaces of the auxiliary upper electrodes and side electrodes. The cover coat 14 is formed with an uppermost over coat 19 covering a region where the auxiliary upper electrodes 15 overlap the cover coat 14, whereby the upper electrodes 13 and the auxiliary upper electrodes 15 are protected from migration caused by sulfur gases.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided through which a radio-frequency dielectric heater has a cylindrical form factor, a variable thermal energy deposition through variations in geometry and composition of a dielectric, and/or has a thermally isolated power input.

Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a baking oven having a catalyst, a heating source, an oven chamber temperature sensor, and a catalyst temperature sensor, includes generating an electrical control signal based on a control state, the control state being a function of signals from the electrical sensors and being reached when the catalyst temperature is higher than the oven chamber temperature and the temperature difference between the catalyst temperature and the oven chamber temperature is greater than or equal to a threshold value. The heating source is controlled using the electrical control signal so that the oven chamber temperature is maintained substantially constant.