Patents by Inventor Craig A. Leabch

Craig A. Leabch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6518521
    Abstract: A switchable shunt has an insulating layer separating conductive lead and spring metal layers. The shunt includes a base region formed on the spring metal layer, one or more arms formed in the conductive lead layer and at least one of the insulating and spring metal layers, one or more pad regions electrically coupled to an arm and formed in at least the conductive lead layer, and one or more gaps. Each arm extends through a gap and is resiliently biased toward a shunted state with the pad region in electrical contact with the base region. The shunt is movable to an electrically open state where the pad and base regions are electrically isolated. A method of making the shunt includes etching the shunt from laminated material and pushing the arm and pad through the gap. The shunt may be operated by applying a force to the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Stevenson J. Marek, Craig A. Leabch, Larry C. Webb, Jr., Mark A. Miller, Anthony J. Liberko, Raymond R. Wolter, Steven R. Lagergren