Two Layers Patents (Class 200/268)
  • Patent number: 11394146
    Abstract: A connection pin for an expansion socket can be treated to improve signal (e.g., reduce noise) for high speed applications. A connection pin can be treated to have a conductive plating covering a proximal region of the connection pin. Electrical signals between an expansion card in contact with the connection pin and the circuit board to which the connection pin is coupled can pass directly through the conductive plating of the proximal region. However, the distal region of the connection pin can be treated to be devoid of the conductive plating, such as by being covered with a high dielectric loss and/or high-resistance material or through removal of the conductive plating in that region. Thus, electrical signals passing through the connection pin will tend to pass through the conductive plating rather than along the distal region of the pin. Thus, signal reflections and other artifacts and noise can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventor: Cheng-Hsien Lee
  • Patent number: 11385106
    Abstract: An assembly for detecting a temperature of an electrically conductive element comprises a temperature probe and a heat conductor separate from the temperature probe and made of an electrically insulating and heat-conductive material. The heat conductor surrounds the temperature probe at least in sections and has a bearing surface bearing against the electrically conductive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Meissner, Frank Wittrock
  • Patent number: 11264738
    Abstract: A conductive pin configured for a quick connection system. The conductive pin has a non-conductive head and a conducting shaft with a conductive shaft bottom contact point. Beneath the head are a plurality of conducting contact arms in a X-configuration, each arm at a right angle to the next and separate to an adjacent conducting contact arm. The conducting shaft has a partial non-conductive sheath below the head. Rotating the conducting contact arms to contact points by rotating the conductive pin completes the circuit in the quick connection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Twisted Ideas, Inc.
    Inventor: Reed Kimmel
  • Patent number: 10505312
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for reducing electrical arcing in a connector. The connector includes a pin contact having a pin tip end and a pin base end, the pin contact at the pin base end being made of a first material having a first resistance and the plug contact at the tip end being made of a second material having a second resistance greater than the first resistance. The connector also includes a socket contact configured to receive the pin contact, and the socket contact configured to establish an electrical connection with the pin contact to transfer electrical power, the second material of the pin contact configured to prevent electrical arcing by suppressing electrical voltage when the pin contact is mated or unmated from the socket contact while electrical power is being transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Smiths Interconnect Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Johannes, John Anderson
  • Patent number: 10436373
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an assembly including a base structure, a pinhole patch and solder. The base structure includes a body that defines a pinhole. The pinhole patch extends at least partially into and at least partially fills the pinhole. An outer surface of the pinhole patch is disposed adjacent and is mechanically joined to a pinhole surface that defines the pinhole. The solder is disposed over at least a portion of the outer surface of the pinhole patch that bonds the pinhole patch at least to the pinhole surface that defines the pinhole. A subassembly is also disclosed. The subassembly includes a pinhole patch and flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Inventor: Frank Seth Gaunce
  • Patent number: 10218103
    Abstract: A contact stud is disclosed. The contact stud has a protector, a connection section, and a base section. The connection section is insertable into a terminal along an insertion direction. The connection section has a contact region protected by the protector from an insulative coating applied to a remainder of the connection section. The base section is mounted on a grounding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignees: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH, Tyco Electronics UK Ltd
    Inventors: Rudiger Ostermann, Hartmut Ripper, Mile Trajkov, John Marsh
  • Patent number: 10020098
    Abstract: In a production method for permanent magnet, a magnetic powder is loaded into a cavity formed in a groove shape whose longitudinal direction horizontally extends. A loading step of loading the magnetic powder includes a first loading step of loading, of the magnetic powder, a first magnetic powder containing no heavy rare earth element or containing a heavy rare earth element, and a second loading step of loading, of the magnetic powder, a second magnetic powder having a higher content rate of heavy rare earth element than that of the first magnetic powder, at a predetermined position in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimiyasu Furusawa, Yoshikazu Ugai, Hiroyuki Akita
  • Patent number: 10008341
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having a monolithic structure and method of making is disclosed. The monolithic structure includes an arm portion having copper and a contact portion having a composite material. The composite material has a metallic matrix and a second phase disposed in the metallic matrix. The method of making the monolithic structure includes introducing a first powder into a first region of a mold, introducing a second powder into a second region of the mold, and consolidating the first powder and the second powder together. The first region of the mold corresponds to a contact portion, and the second region corresponds to an arm portion of the monolithic structure of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohandas Nayak, Nagaveni Karkada, Shalini Thimmegowda, Mallikarjuna Heggadadevanapura Thammaiah, Janakiraman Narayanan, Linda Yvonne Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9966686
    Abstract: A connector is disclosed. The connector has an insulation body, a conductive terminal disposed on the insulation body, and a scratching terminal disposed on the insulation body. The scratching terminal is electrically isolated from the conductive terminal. An electrical contact of a mating conductive terminal of a mating connector comes into electrical contact with the scratching terminal before electrically contacting the conductive terminal during mating with the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Liang Huang
  • Patent number: 9948201
    Abstract: A module of conversion circuit includes a High side IGBT, a Low side IGBT connected in series to the High side IGBT, a first terminal connected to the High side IGBT, a second terminal connected to the Low side IGBT, a capacitor connected to the first terminal and the second terminal, and a third terminal connected to a connection point between the High side IGBT and the Low side IGBT. A fourth terminal is engaged with the first terminal. A fifth terminal is engaged with the second terminal. A sixth terminal is engaged with the third terminal. The first and second terminals have at portions thereof between front edges and rear edges high-resistance parts having higher resistance than other portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Shirakawa, Hiroshi Kamizuma, Daisuke Matsumoto, Akira Mima, Yukio Hattori
  • Patent number: 9765438
    Abstract: Coated articles and methods for applying coatings are described. In some cases, the coating can exhibit desirable properties and characteristics such as durability, corrosion resistance, and high conductivity. The articles may be coated, for example, using an electrodeposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Xtalic Corporation
    Inventors: John Cahalen, Alan C. Lund, Christopher A. Schuh
  • Patent number: 9685728
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes: an insulative housing having a rear base portion and a front tongue portion, said tongue portion being formed with a platform connected with the base portion; a number of terminals arranged at the tongue portion, each terminal comprising a conductive portion formed with a contacting portion for contacting with a mating connector, and a soldering portion extending outwardly of the insulative housing; at least one waterproof film extending rearwardly up to the platform; and a shielding shell enclosing the insulative housing; wherein the conductive portions of the terminals are exposed on the tongue portion to form at least one conductive region on the tongue portion covered by the at least one waterproof film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Tao Yao, Jing-Jie Guo
  • Patent number: 9660362
    Abstract: A device connects an electrical conductor to an area for electrical connection of an electrical switching device, the switching device having an electrical switching module connected to the area for electrical connection. The connecting device has at least one primary unit for electrically connecting a primary conductor to the area for connection, and an insulating shell receiving each primary connecting unit. The connecting device additionally has at least one secondary unit for connecting a secondary electrical conductor, and, for each secondary unit, an electrically conductive link piece connected between the secondary unit and a respective primary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Christophe Grumel
  • Patent number: 9638655
    Abstract: The invention concerns a test element analytical system for the analytical examination of a sample, especially a body fluid, comprising at least one test element with one or more measuring zones and contact areas located on the test element, in particular electrodes or conductor paths, the sample to be examined being brought into the measuring zone to carry out an analysis in order to determine a characteristic measured quantity for the analysis, and an evaluation instrument with a test element holder for positioning the test element in a measuring position and a measuring device for measuring the characteristic change, the test element holder containing contact elements with contact areas which enable an electrical contact between the contact areas of the test element and the contact areas of the test element holder, characterized in that one of these contact areas is provided with an electrically conductive hard material surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred Augstein, Joerg Dreibholz, Stefan Riebel
  • Patent number: 9522409
    Abstract: An aperture plate is formed from a palladium nickel alloy comprising about 89% palladium and about 11% nickel. There is a generally fine substantially equiaxed grain microstructure throughout the thickness of the aperture plate. The average grain width (W) is in the range of from 0.2 ?m to 5.0 ?m, in some cases from 0.2 ?m to 2.0 ?m. Because the grain structure is equiaxed (L/W=1) the grain length (L) is the same as the grain width. The improved aperture plate extends the life of nebulizers, eliminates the risk of premature and unpredictable failure of a nebulizer in service, eliminates the risk of product returns from hospitals and patients, and eliminates the possible risk of fragments of the aperture plate breaking free from the nebulizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Stamford Devices Limited
    Inventors: Brendan Hogan, Daniela Butan, Seamus Clifford, Michael Pomeroy, Mark Southern, David Sheil
  • Publication number: 20150101920
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a conductive film of a touch panel. The conductive film has a film and a plurality of a plurality of hydrophobic units. The film is used for sensing touch signals, and the hydrophobic units are disposed in the film with intervals. Conductive material of the conductive film of the touch panel is distributed outside the region of the hydrophobic units, and as the hydrophobic units have good light transmittance, the touch panel of the present disclosure has a characteristic of high light transmittance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Yuh-Wen Lee, Xianbin Xu, Keming Ruan, Fengming Lin
  • Patent number: 8697247
    Abstract: The invention discloses a semi-finished product for making plug-in contacts in plug-in connectors for electric DC power systems in motor vehicles which are operated at a nominal voltage at which electric arcing may occur, having an electrically conductive main body made of a non-precious metallic material that carries, at least in part, a contact-making coating of a material more precious than the material of the main body. It is provided according to the invention that the coating has thickness of at least 0.3 ?m and consists of silver or of a silver-based alloy with an addition that will not form an alloy with silver or with the silver-based alloy, or will at best form a precipitation alloy, and which has a higher melting point than silver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Doduco GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Kaspar, Joachim Ganz, Isabell Buresch
  • Patent number: 8664553
    Abstract: A switch device includes first and second contacting portions including first and second fixed contacting portions and first and second movable contacting portions, respectively, the first fixed contacting portion and the second fixed contacting portion being configured to be electrically connected to one of a power source and an electronic device while the first movable contacting portion and the second movable contacting portion are configured to be electrically connected to the other of the power source and the electronic device; a first electric arc runner provided near at least one of the first fixed contacting portion and the first movable contacting portion; and a second electric arc runner provided near at least one of the second fixed contacting portion and the second movable contacting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Yuba, Daiei Iwamoto, SeungSeok Beak, Koichi Kiryu, Akio Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8242394
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes a movable contact assembly having a movable contact, a stationary contact assembly, and an operating mechanism. The stationary contact assembly includes a conductor, a first stationary contact disposed on the conductor, and a second stationary contact disposed on the same such conductor proximate the first stationary contact. The first stationary contact has a first contact surface disposed a first distance from the conductor. The second stationary contact has a second contact surface disposed a second distance from the conductor. The second distance is smaller than the first distance. The operating mechanism is structured to move the movable contact assembly and cause the movable contact to engage or disengage from at least the first contact surface of the first stationary contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Mueller, James W. Krieger, Paul A. Merck, Amelia M. Stay, Cathleen M. Clausen, Joshua D. Myers
  • Publication number: 20110083947
    Abstract: In an electrical switch, in particular an electrical microswitch, has at least one electrical contact designed as a hollow-shape section of a component of an electrically conducting material. In this electrical switch, the occurrence of vibrations with the introduction onto an opposing contact is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Rolf Bertram, Martin Koepsell, Bruno Stenzel
  • Patent number: 7589290
    Abstract: An electrical contact, especially an electrical contact of a plug connector, includes a metallic substrate on which a contact layer is applied in the form of a gradient layer. The gradient layer is formed by at least two elements of which one is silver and forms a matrix for the second element or forms an alloy therewith, or of which one is tin and the other is phosphorus or of which one is indium and the other is tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Rehbein, Volker Haas
  • Publication number: 20080308395
    Abstract: A switch has a case, a fixed contact, and a movable contact. The fixed contact is planted on an inner wall of the case and has a first metal layer on its surface. The movable contact is housed in the case in a movable manner, is in elastic contact with the fixed contact, and has a second metal layer on its surface. The first metal layer and the second metal layer have luster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: Motoyoshi MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 7339127
    Abstract: A contact piece is formed by a tungsten overlay soldered onto a support, wherein at least portions of the solder layer and optionally of the support are covered by a layer of a less noble metal than tungsten. The corrosion resistance of the tungsten overlay is considerably improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignees: Louis Renner GmbH, Fer Fahrzeugelektrik GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Renner, Udo Siefken, Martin Müller
  • Patent number: 7160632
    Abstract: The invention provides a material for sliding contacts that is suitable for a small-sized DC motor used in recent downsized CD players and is excellent in durability. A material for sliding contacts used in a commutator of a small-sized DC motor that consists essentially of 0.01 to 3.0% Ni by weight, 0.01 to 6.0% ZnO by weight and/or 0.01 to 3.0% MgO by weight, furthermore, in some cases, 0.01 to 5.0% Cu by weight, and the balance Ag, in which Ni metal particles, ZnO particles or MgO particles are dispersed in the matrix of Ag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignees: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd., Tanaka Kikinzoku kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Keiji Nakamura, Yasuhiro Hashimoto, Masahiro Takahashi, Shuichi Kubota, Takao Asada, Toshiya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6974923
    Abstract: A high quality electrical contact that is made of a Cd free Ag alloy and can be applied to a breaker is provided. The electrical contact is made of an Ag alloy containing Sn and In each 1 to 9% by weight, and has a first layer as the surface layer and a second layer as an internal portion. The hardness of the first layer and the hardness of the second layer are equal to or more than 190 and equal to or less than 130, respectively, based on micro Vickers standard defined by JIS. The thickness of the first layer is within the range from 10 to 360 ?m. In particular, the electrical contact has a high quality temperature characteristic as well as a high quality welding resistance characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Uenishi, Norihito Goma
  • Patent number: 6861961
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a foldable alpha numeric keyboard device (2301) configured to input data items into a computer or similar processing device (2307). The keyboard device comprises a first electrically conductive fabric sheet, a second electrically conductive fabric sheet and an interface circuit configured to supply voltages to and receive outputs from said keyboard. In addition; the keyboard is configured to produce an output in response to a mechanical interaction and the interface circuit is arranged to respond to the mechanical interaction and to provide a data item to a computer or similar processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Electrotextiles Company Limited
    Inventors: David Lee Sandbach, Christopher Chapman
  • Patent number: 6777631
    Abstract: A panel-type peripheral device including first and second conductive panel members, each panel member being provided with an insulating substrate and a conductive film applied on the insulating substrate, is produced. First, a panel assembly, including the first and second conductive panel members fixed to each other with the respective conductive films thereof oppositely facing to each other through a gap defined therebetween, is securely held between first and second support members of a panel support unit. The panel assembly held by the panel support unit is placed, together with a receptacle accommodating a liquid material, in a common environment. Next, the pressure of the common environment is reduced while a passage formed in the panel assembly to communicate with the gap is exposed to the environment, so as to evacuate the gap in the panel assembly. Then, the passage of the panel assembly is immersed in the liquid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
    Inventors: Tooru Muraoka, Sayoko Fushimi
  • Patent number: 6770828
    Abstract: A switch assembly for use in an electrical apparatus includes a first contact having a first substrate and a first contact pad. The first contact pad is of copper or of a copper alloy. A second contact has a second substrate and a second contact pad. The second contact pad is of silver or of a silver alloy. The first contact is movably mounting relative to the second contact so that in a make position the first and second contact pads are in electrical contact with one another and in a break position the first and second contact pads are spaced from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Smith
  • Patent number: 6686547
    Abstract: A relay is provided for a transfer mechanism which transfers power between a utility source and a stand-by electrical generator. The relay incorporates contacts formed from two distinct materials. A backing portion of each contact is formed from copper and a contacting portion is deposited on the backing portion. The contacting portion is formed from tungsten. The arrangement of the contact minimizes the potential for failure of the transfer mechanism when the transfer mechanism is exposed to significant current and/or heating during operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Kern, Gerald C. Ruehlow, Francis X. Wedel, Jeffrey J. Jonas
  • Patent number: 6590177
    Abstract: A pressure sensitive sensor is composed of a pair of upper and lower electrodes sheets 1 and 2 disposed oppositely, a spacer 3 interposed between both of the sheets 1 and 2, and adhesives 4 and 5 between these electrode sheets 1 and 2 and spacer 3. In the spacer 3, a hole 31 is formed in a position of a contact portion 6. A diameter of this hole 31, convex portions 13 and a pressure sensitive electrode 22 are set in such a positional relationship that a peripheral portion of the hole 31 is overlapped between the convex portions 13 and the pressure sensitive electrode 22. Then, the adhesives 4 and 5 open more largely than the diameter of the hole 31 of the spacer 3 so as to be removed from the peripheral portion of the hole 31 on both surfaces of the spacer 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignees: Fujikura Ltd., Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Takahashi, Takayuki Imai, Toshio Ochiai, Toshifumi Nakajima, Koji Ito, Kazuya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6281780
    Abstract: An electric apparatus (10) according to the present invention comprises electrically separated first and second terminals (14, 13), a first contact (16) that is connected electrically to the first terminal (14) within a casing (11), a second contact (15) that is connected electrically to the second terminal (13) within the casing and an operating member (20) for moving the first and second contacts relative to one another. In the present invention, at least the first contact (16) comprises a first conductive layer (41) with a given thickness including a face that is engageable with the second contact, a second conductive layer (42) that is connected to the first terminal (14), and insulating fiber (43) that is interposed between the first and second layers so that the above-mentioned second contact is engaged in the closing contacts movement by the insulating fiber when it is exposed by wear of the first layer (41) due to opening and closing movements of above mentioned contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Akitsugu Sugiyama, Kouzoh Nagano, Harumi Kitada
  • Patent number: 6248964
    Abstract: A switching element, specifically an encoder element, is fabricated by forming a conductive track on an insulative substrate, and then screen printing an insulative layer on the track in a predetermined pattern that forms a contact array that comprises a plurality of conductive contacts separated by nonconductive areas. The substrate may be a polymeric resin, and the track comprises (a) a copper base layer formed on a surface of the substrate in the configuration of the track, (b) a first metal-plated layer, preferably of nickel, on the base layer, and (c) a second metal-plated layer, preferably of gold, on the first metal-plated layer. The insulative layer is formed of a thick film dielectric material comprising a difunctional monomer (e.g., diallyl isophthalate), a glycol ether ester (e.g., ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate), an inorganic filler (e.g., BaSO4), and an acetate surface modifier (e.g., an ethyl acrylate/ethylhexylacrylate copolymer).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Bourns, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Bailey, Richard E. Riley, Geary Green, Stephen J. Waszak
  • Patent number: 6156982
    Abstract: A low ampere mechanical switch has a contact design creating a line of contact between the moveable and stationary contacts. The stationary contacts are stainless steel and the moveable contact is Inconel.TM.. Both contacts have a thin plating of gold alloy to provide for good mechanical strength at high temperature with a natural lubricating ability. The contact physical design provides good wiping action and mechanical contact while preventing troughing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Wayne Dawson
  • Patent number: 6133537
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric contact structure comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface, wherein at least one of the first and second contact surfaces comprises an AuAgPd alloy including 7-16% by weight of Ag and 1-10% by weight of Pd, whereby a high anti-adhesion property and a highly stable contact resistance can be obtained particularly when the electric contacts are in non-operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Tokiichi Onodera, Matsujirou Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6054664
    Abstract: A membrane switch that suppresses the growth, or migration, of metallic ion crystals caused by condensation. First and second metallic conductive layers are provided on an inside of the first and second resin film, respectively. First and second non-metallic conductive layers cover the first and second metallic conductive layers, respectively. A spacer separates the first and second metallic conductive layers and includes an inner wall that, together with the first and second metallic conductive layers, defines a spacer cavity. At least one of the first and second metallic conductive layers is located a prescribed distance from the spacer inner wall, as the spacer inner wall provides a pathway for the metallic ion crystal migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Ariga, Takaaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6034335
    Abstract: Analog resistance touch switches and matrix type touch switches have contacts coated with a very thin film, which in use does not form an appreciable amount of an insulating oxide, to inhibit changes in contact resistance and extend operating life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Dynapro Thin Films Products
    Inventors: Brian E. Aufderheide, Michael J. Robrecht
  • Patent number: 5973283
    Abstract: A membrane switch having a pair of flexible printed boards and a pair of contacts respectively disposed on said printed boards. The contacts are formed of powdered alloy of silver and palladium bounded by resinous material, and a conductive layer of silver powder is disposed between the flexible printed board and the contact. Preferably, the powdered alloy contains 50-97 weight percent silver and palladium in the remainder of weight percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Ariga, Masayasu Teraoka, Yoshimitsu Motoki, Tetsushi Yokoe, Ichirou Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 5860513
    Abstract: A material for forming contact members of a control switch, which has a structure including a primary layer made of Ni, Co, a Ni alloy or a Co alloy formed on a conductive base, and a surface layer made of Pd or a Pd alloy having a thickness of 0.001 to 0.4 .mu.m which is formed on the primary layer. Such material exhibits good resistance to corrosion and adhesive wear. A control switch which is made using such material has a high operational reliability and a long service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5799771
    Abstract: A contact includes a silver contact base, an intermediate silver layer and a solder in the form of a platelet being provisionally fastened or tacked to the intermediate silver layer prior to an actual soldering operation. The silver contact base is soldered onto a contact carrier by the intermediate silver layer and the solder platelet. A method for making a contact includes pressing an intermediate silver layer onto a silver contact base, then provisionally fastening or tacking a solder in the form of a platelet to the intermediate silver layer and subsequently placing a contact carrier on the solder platelet and soldering the contact carrier to the solder platelet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Schneider, Dietmar Clauss
  • Patent number: 5598629
    Abstract: A contact includes a silver contact base, an intermediate silver layer and a solder in the form of a platelet being provisionally fastened or tacked to the intermediate silver layer prior to an actual soldering operation. The silver contact base is soldered onto a contact carrier by the intermediate silver layer and the solder platelet. A method for making a contact includes pressing an intermediate silver layer onto a silver contact base, then provisionally fastening or tacking a solder in the form of a platelet to the intermediate silver layer and subsequently placing a contact carrier on the solder platelet and soldering the contact carrier to the solder platelet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Schneider, Dietmar Clauss
  • Patent number: 5597064
    Abstract: The present invention provides inexpensive electric contact materials having higher hardness and higher melting point and being more excellent in the points of wear resistance and environmental resistance over the electric contact materials of Ag type, Au type, platinum group type, etc. having been used so far, production methods thereof and electric contacts used said contact materials.In the electric contact materials of the invention, basically, a covering layer having at least one selected from transition metals of groups IVa (Ti, Zr, Hf, etc.), Va (V, Nb, Ta, etc.) and VIa (Cr, Mo, W, etc.) as a major ingredient is formed on the substrate as an electric contact in a thickness of 0.03 to 100 .mu.m, and, if need be, a fixed intermediate layer is formed between said covering layer of electric contact and substrate or a fixed surface layer is formed on the outside of covering layer of electric contact, thus aiming at further improvement in the characteristics of contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Ozaki, Keiji Mashimo
  • Patent number: 5520323
    Abstract: Contacts such as contact points, contact strips, or contact sections are usually provided with hard solder on a copper-silver basis in the form of a flat solder layer. The contact is then connected over this solder layer with a contact carrier. The solder layer is melted, whereupon the free surface of the solder layer (13, 130) is covered during melting with a material (1, 5, 15) that has no solubility with silver or copper. The material can, during melting of the solder, form a covering (1, 15) beneath the contact (10, 12, 100) provided on its solder side with the solder layer (13, 130) or can also form a covering over the contact (10, 12, 100) provided on its solder side with the solder layer (13, 130). As materials for covering the solder layer (13, 130), high-melting metals, preferably tantalum, or a ceramic are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Hauner, Manfred Schneider
  • Patent number: 5442929
    Abstract: The useful life of electrical contacts is extended by a cryogenic treatment. An electrical contact is exposed to a low temperature, such as below 172 K for a selected period of time. The low temperature may be obtained via a controlled rate of cooling. After the contact has been exposed to the low temperature, the contact may be returned to ambient temperature at a controlled rate. The cryogenic treatment results in extended useful life of contacts made of materials such as copper and of composite contacts incorporating silver, refractory metals, and metal oxides such as cadmium oxide and tin oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Repco Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Gillin
  • Patent number: 5409762
    Abstract: The present invention provides inexpensive electric contact materials having higher hardness and higher melting point and being more excellent in the points of wear resistance and environmental resistance over the electric contact materials of Ag type, Au type, platinum group type, etc. having been used so far, production methods thereof and electric contacts used said contact materials.In the electric contact materials of the invention, basically, a covering layer having at least one selected from transition metals of groups IVa (Ti, Zr, Hf, etc.), Va (V, Nb, Ta, etc.) and VIa (Cr, Mo, W, etc.) as a major ingredient is formed on the substrate as an electric contact in a thickness of 0.03 to 100 .mu.m, and, if need be, a fixed intermediate layer is formed between said covering layer of electric contact and substrate or a fixed surface layer is formed on the outside of covering layer of electric contact, thus aiming at further improvement in the characteristics of contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Ozaki, Keiji Mashimo
  • Patent number: 5330088
    Abstract: A layer selected from a group comprising: molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, osmium, rhenium, ruthenium and an alloy of two or more thereof on the under surface of an electrical contact acts as a barrier to copper diffusion from the braze material into the contact structure. A thin nickel layer on the barrier facilitates the brazing of the barrier coated contact surface to the copper electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Graham A. Whitlow, Carl B. Freidhoff, Philip E. Carpentier, Paul O. Wayland
  • Patent number: 5272295
    Abstract: An electric contact is provided on at least one of a pair of conductors and includes a surface which is coated with a ceramic layer comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides and borides of high melting point metals, this electric contact having a low contact resistance and good reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Sawada, Atsushi Nakamura, Isao Okugawa
  • Patent number: 5258591
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for providing an electrostatically actuated mechanical switch utilizing a cantilever beam element fabricated by solid-state microfabrication techniques. The apparatus reduces the required pull down voltage and lowers the switch inductance by separating the pull down electrode and contact pad. The pull down electrode is placed further away from the fulcrum of the cantilever beam then the contact pad to optimize the mechanical advantages which allow for a reduced pull down voltage. The contact pad is placed closer to the cantilever fulcrum to reduce the associated switch inductance. The gap between the contact pad and the cantilever beam is less then the gap between the pull down electrode and the cantilever beam to insure that the cantilever makes first contact with the contact pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel C. Buck
  • Patent number: 5179460
    Abstract: An input structure for a display device having opposed substrates an electrodes disposed on the inner surfaces of the substrates and a seal about the periphery thereof with a relay electrode crossing the seal to connect the electrodes on the opposed substrate to external circuitry. The electrical connection between the electrodes on the first substrate to the relay electrode is provided by a conductive adhesive electrode and a conductive synthetic resin thin film layer contacting the conductive adhesive electrode, the thin film layer formed of conductive material which is shorter than the conductive material of the conductive adhesive electrode to absorb shock and avoid separation of the electrodes from the opposed substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Hinata, Yohichi Ono, Satoshi Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 5140114
    Abstract: An electric contact with a base metal used as a switch wherein the non-welded peripheral portion of the contact is prevented from bow-like bending and from peeling off. The electric contact with a base metal having a contact promoting shape is formed by die forging of a contact material joined to the base metal by resistance welding. The composite contact material is prepared by coating the core material of Ag-oxide contact material with non-oxide contact material. The side of the material in contact with the base metal is of non-oxide contact material. The contact material may be pressed to fill a groove preformed in the base metal, welded to protrusions preformed in the base metal, welded to the bottom of a cut preformed in the base metal, or welded to bottoms of recesses preformed in the base metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignees: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., Tokuriki Honten Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Sunaga, Kiyoshi Sekiguchi, Hisaji Shinohara, Akihiro Takahashi, Hiroshi Hikita, Takashi Nara, Sadao Sato
  • Patent number: RE34484
    Abstract: Gold-plated electronic components are disclosed, as well as a process for producing the same, wherein an alloy of nickel and cobalt or an alloy containing these elements as essential ingredients is used as an undercoat for the gold-plated layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruyoshi Nagashima, Akio Takami, Akiyo Kasugai