Abstract: A multi-terminal surface-mounted electronic device with contact surfaces placed entirely or partly around several sides, as well as to a method for manufacturing it. The parts according to the invention allow assembly on a circuit board such as p.c.b. and foil in forward, backward and sideward direction. Previous multi-terminal surface-mounted electronic devices could as a rule be mounted in one direction only. For all other directions such as backwards and sidewards costly special constructions or fundamental changes to the circuit board (printed-circuit board, foil) were necessary. In accordance with the invention, an electronic component is located in a housing and both the electronic component and the housing are joined to a base strip. The base strip provides the terminals whose contact surfaces are so formed that they can embrace the entire housing either completely or partially.

Abstract: A photo interrupter which features at least one transmission element and at least one receiver element separated by an optical transmission path. To ensure a flexible structure with variable characteristics, the photo interrupter features a modular structure comprised of two joinable housing parts. In order to reduce production costs and simplify the production process, the housing parts of the photo interrupter respectively feature one carrier unit each which is designed as a panel of a mounting strip, as well as at least one semiconductor device located on the carrier unit, and a housing body forming the two side surfaces of the photo interrupter, which housing body--in a first partial area of the carrier unit containing the semiconductor device(s)--encloses the carrier unit; at least one semiconductor device of the one housing part will be a transmission element, and at least one semiconductor device of the other housing part will be a receiver element.