Electrical Contact Feature Patents (Class 428/929)
  • Patent number: 8980770
    Abstract: A composite material, the composite material comprising at least one prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one fibrous reinforcement; and conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: John L. Cawse, Martin Simmons, George Green
  • Patent number: 8980771
    Abstract: A composite material, the composite material comprising at least one prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one fibrous reinforcement; and conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: John L. Cawse, Martin Simmons, George Green
  • Patent number: 8940404
    Abstract: Tin-plated copper-alloy material for terminal having: a substrate made of Cu or Cu alloy; an Sn-based surface layer formed on a surface of the substrate; and a Cu—Ni—Sn alloy layer including Ni formed between the Sn-based surface layer and the substrate, in which the Cu—Ni—Sn alloy layer is made of: fine Cu—Ni—Sn alloy particles; and coarse Cu—Ni—Sn alloy particles, an average thickness of the Sn-based surface layer is not less than 0.2 ?m and not more than 0.6 ?m, an area ratio of the Cu—Ni—Sn alloy layer exposed at a surface of the Sn-based surface layer is not less than 10% and not more than 40%, and a coefficient of kinetic friction of the tin-plated copper-alloy material for terminal is not more than 0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Taninouchi, Naoki Kato, Kenji Kubota
  • Patent number: 8936857
    Abstract: Coated articles and methods for applying coatings are described. The article may include a base material and a coating comprising silver formed thereon. In some embodiments, the coating comprises a silver-based alloy, such as a silver-tungsten alloy. The coating may, in some instances, include at least two layers. For example, the coating may include a first layer comprising a silver-based alloy and a second layer comprising a precious metal. The coating can exhibit desirable properties and characteristics such as durability (e.g., wear), hardness, corrosion resistance, and high conductivity, which may be beneficial, for example, in electrical and/or electronic applications. In some cases, the coating may be applied using an electrodeposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Xtalic Corporation
    Inventors: Nazila Dadvand, Christopher A. Schuh, Alan C. Lund, Jonathan C. Trenkle, John Cahalen
  • Patent number: 8920934
    Abstract: Hybrid solder for solder balls and filled paste are described. A solder ball may be formed of a droplet of higher temperature solder and a coating of lower temperature solder. This may be used with a solder paste that has an adhesive and a filler of low temperature solder particles, the filler comprising less than 80 weight percent of the paste. The solder balls and paste may be used in soldering packages for microelectronic devices. A package may be formed by applying a solder paste to a bond pad of a substrate, attaching a hybrid solder ball to each pad using the paste, and attaching the package substrate to a microelectronic substrate by reflowing the hybrid solder balls to form a hybrid solder interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Hongjin Jiang, Arun Kumar C. Nallani, Rajen S. Sidhu, Martha A. Dudek, Weihua Tang
  • Patent number: 8915761
    Abstract: A connector terminal which can achieve high mechanical connection strength and stabilized low electrical connection resistance when it is crimped to an aluminum electric wire, and in addition, can suppress electrical contact resistance low when it is fitted to a mating connector terminal is provided. In a connector terminal (1A) having an electrical contact section (10) which is brought into contact and conducted with a mating connector terminal by fitting to the mating connector terminal, and a conductor crimping section (12) which is crimped to the conductor of an electric wire, a metal material which constitutes the terminal uses aluminum or an aluminum alloy as a base material (100), a Zn layer (101) having a thickness in the range from 0.1 ?m to 2.0 ?m by electroless plating and a Cu layer (102) having a thickness in the range from 0.5 ?m to 1.0 ?m by electrolytic plating are formed in sequence on the surface of the base material (100), and an Sn layer (105) having a thickness in the range from 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Kakuta
  • Patent number: 8865319
    Abstract: A reflow Sn plated material, comprising: a substrate consisting of Cu or a Cu base alloy, and a reflow Sn layer formed on the surface of the substrate, wherein an orientation index of a (101) plane on the surface of the reflow Sn layer is from 2.0 or more to 5.0 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Naofumi Maeda
  • Patent number: 8728629
    Abstract: A connector terminal, fabricated from a metallic material for connector which material has a tin or tin alloy layer, formed on a copper or copper alloy base material, wherein the thickness of the tin or tin alloy layer at a contact site on the surface of the terminal is smaller than the thickness of the tin or tin alloy layer in the areas other than the contact site, and a copper-tin alloy layer is formed as an under layer of the tin or tin alloy layer at the contact site; and a connector terminal, fabricated from a metallic material for connector which material has a copper or copper alloy base material, wherein a copper-tin alloy layer is formed in a spot shape at a contact site on the surface of the terminal, and a tin or tin alloy layer is formed in the remaining areas on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kitagawa, Kengo Mitose, Yoshiaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8709612
    Abstract: A laminated ceramic capacitor includes a rectangular solid-shaped electronic component element. External electrodes of terminal electrodes are disposed at one end surface and the other end surface of the electronic component element. First plated films including a Ni plating are disposed on the surfaces of external electrodes. On the surfaces of the first plated films, second plated films containing Sn are disposed as Sn-plated films defining outermost layers of the external electrodes. The second plated films have a polycrystalline structure, and flake-shaped Sn—Ni alloy grains are located at a Sn crystal grain boundary and within a Sn crystal grain, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Motoki, Makoto Ogawa, Atsuko Saito, Toshinobu Fujiwara, Kenji Masuko
  • 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: 8652649
    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: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Xtalic Corporation
    Inventors: John Cahalen, Alan C. Lund, Christopher A. Schuh
  • Patent number: 8637164
    Abstract: A silver-coated composite material for movable contact parts, which has: an underlying layer composed of any one of nickel, cobalt, a nickel alloy, and a cobalt alloy at least provided on a part of the surface of a stainless steel substrate; an intermediate layer composed of copper or a copper alloy provided thereon; and a silver or silver alloy layer provided thereon as an outermost layer, wherein a thickness of the intermediate layer is 0.05 to 0.3 ?m, and wherein an average grain size of the silver or silver alloy provided as the outermost layer is 0.5 to 5.0 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kobayashi, Satoru Zama, Satoshi Suzuki, Masato Ohno
  • Patent number: 8637165
    Abstract: A corrosion-resistant electrical connector is disclosed. A multi-layer nickel underplating is applied to the substrate material of the connector contacts. The three layers of nickel include a leveling nickel layer, a sulfumate nickel layer, and a high-phosphorous nickel layer. A layer of gold is applied to the nickel underplating in an embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Siahaan, John B. Ardisana, II, Mathias Schmidt, Jason Sloey, Albert J. Golko, Eric Jol
  • Patent number: 8574722
    Abstract: An electrical conductor has a metal substrate. A seal plating layer is provided on and exterior of the metal substrate. A nickel plating layer is provided on and exterior of the seal plating layer. A gold plating layer is provided on and exterior of the nickel plating layer. The seal plating layer is a non-nickel based metal. Optionally, the seal plating layer may be tin based. Optionally, the seal plating layer may create intermetallic interface layers with the nickel plating layer and the metal substrate. Optionally, the electrical conductor may constitute a contact configured for mating with at least one of a printed circuit board or another mating contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: George Jyh-Shann Chou, Robert Daniel Hilty
  • Patent number: 8524376
    Abstract: In an Sn-plated strip in which a copper alloy containing 15 to 40 mass % of Zn in terms of an average concentration is used as an alloy strip and the layers of an Sn phase, an Sn—Cu alloy phase and an Ni phase constitute a plating film from the surface to the alloy strip, the Zn concentration of the surface of the Sn phase is adjusted to a range of 0.1 to 5.0 mass %. The alloy may further contain 0.005 to 3.0 mass % in total of an arbitrary constituent selected from Sn, Ag, Pb, Fe, Ni, Mn, Si, Al and Ti. Moreover, the alloy may be a copper base alloy containing 15 to 40 mass % of Zn, 8 to 20 mass % of Ni, 0 to 0.5 mass % of Mn and a balance of Cu and unavoidable impurities, and may further contain 0.005 to 10 mass % in total of the above arbitrary constituent. There is provided a Cu/Ni double layer base reflowed Sn-plated Cu—Zn alloy strip in which generation of whiskers is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Hatano
  • Patent number: 8486540
    Abstract: A lead frame sheet made of an electrically conductive material has lead frames integrally formed on it. Spacing members also are formed from the sheet. A first one of the spacing members is proximal to a first longitudinal edge of the sheet and a second one of the spacing members is proximal to a second longitudinal edge of the sheet. The spacing members extend from an underside surface of the sheet and, in use, space the underside surface from a planar support such as a surface of a heating block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: FREESCALE Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ting Li, Qingchun He, Yongqiang Liu
  • Patent number: 8445116
    Abstract: Coated articles and methods for applying coatings are described. The article may include a base material and a coating comprising silver formed thereon. In some embodiments, the coating comprises a silver-based alloy, such as a silver-tungsten alloy. The coating may, in some instances, include at least two layers. For example, the coating may include a first layer comprising a silver-based alloy and a second layer comprising a precious metal. The coating can exhibit desirable properties and characteristics such as durability (e.g., wear), hardness, corrosion resistance, and high conductivity, which may be beneficial, for example, in electrical and/or electronic applications. In some cases, the coating may be applied using an electrodeposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Xtalic Corporation
    Inventors: Nazila Dadvand, Christopher A. Schuh, Alan C. Lund, Jonathan C. Trenkle, John Cahalen
  • Patent number: 8263503
    Abstract: A composite material, the composite material comprising at least one prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one fibrous reinforcement; and conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites, Ltd.
    Inventors: John L. Cawse, Martin Simmons, George Green
  • Patent number: 8182932
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a reflow Sn-plated copper alloy strip having improved fatigue characteristics by preventing the degradation of fatigue characteristics caused by reflow Sn plating. The invention provides a copper alloy strip having an Sn or Sn alloy plating film formed thereon by electroplating and reflowing treatment, wherein average hydrogen concentration in the strip being about 2 mass ppm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: JP Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Hatano
  • Patent number: 8142906
    Abstract: In Sn-plated copper or a Sn-plated copper alloy according to the present invention, a surface plating layer including a Ni layer, a Cu—Sn alloy layer, and a Sn layer which are deposited in this order is formed on a surface of a base material made of copper or a copper alloy. An average thickness of the Ni layer is 0.1 to 1.0 ?m, an average thickness of the Cu—Sn alloy layer is 0.55 to 1.0 ?m, and an average thickness of the Sn layer is 0.2 to 1.0 ?m. The Cu—Sn alloy layer includes Cu—Sn alloy layers having two compositions, a portion thereof in contact with the Ni layer is formed of an ?-phase having an average thickness of 0.5 to 0.95 ?m, and a portion thereof in contact with the Sn layer is formed of a ?-phase having an average thickness of 0.05 to 0.2 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Taira, Yasushi Masago
  • Patent number: 8105964
    Abstract: A composite material, the composite material comprising at least one prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one fibrous reinforcement; and conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites, Ltd.
    Inventors: John L. Cawse, Martin Simmons, George Green
  • Patent number: 8101285
    Abstract: A metallic material for a connecting part, having a rectangular wire material of copper or a copper alloy as a base material, and formed at an outermost surface thereof, a copper-tin alloy layer substantially composed of copper and tin, wherein the copper-tin alloy layer of the outermost surface further contains at least one selected from the group consisting of zinc, indium, antimony, gallium, lead, bismuth, cadmium, magnesium, silver, gold, and aluminum, in a total amount of 0.01% or more and 1% or less in terms of mass ratio with respect to the content of the tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Mitose, Shuichi Kitagawa, Yoshiaki Ogiwara
  • Patent number: 8016624
    Abstract: A contact pin includes a base material composed of a material having a conductive property and an outermost surface layer made of a material into which Sn is dissolved and diffused by applying heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Oda, Kentaro Hayakawa, Takashi Morinari
  • Patent number: 8013428
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an interconnection between a region of copper material and a conducting region is disclosed. The method includes a step of forming a region of tin material and a step of forming a region of nickel material. The method also includes a step of melting the tin material to induce formation of a nickel/tin/copper intermetallic composition at an interface between the region of copper material and the conducting region. The region of tin material and the region of nickel material define the interface between the region of copper material and the conducting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Kultaransingh N. Hooghan, John W. Osenbach, Brian Dale Potteiger, Poopa Ruengsinsub, Richard L. Shook, Prakash Suratkar, Brian T. Vaccaro
  • Patent number: 7972710
    Abstract: An electrical connector including a base pad formed of aluminum and having a bottom surface. An electrical contact can be connected to the base pad. A layer of copper can be on the bottom surface of the base pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Antaya Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Pereira
  • Patent number: 7923651
    Abstract: An electrical contact comprising a silver-coated stainless steel strip, which has an underlying layer comprising any one of nickel, cobalt, nickel alloys, and cobalt alloys, on at least a part of the surface of a stainless steel substrate, and has a silver or silver alloy layer formed as an upper layer, in which a copper or copper alloy layer with a thickness of 0.05 to 2.0 ?m is provided between the silver or silver alloy layer and the underlying layer; and a producing method of the above-described electrical contact, in which the silver-coated stainless steel strip is subjected to a heat-treating in a non-oxidative atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Suzuki, Kuniteru Mihara, Naofumi Tokuhara
  • Patent number: 7880576
    Abstract: An electromagnetic noise absorber to be attached around an electric cable to attenuate noise transmitted through the electric cable. The electromagnetic noise absorber comprises a strip-like base material and a plurality of ferrite pieces fixed to the strip-like base material. The plurality of ferrite pieces are formed by fixing a sheeted ferrite sintered body to the strip-like base material, and subsequently splitting the sheeted ferrite sintered body along split lines oblique with respect to a longitudinal direction of the strip-like base material. The electromagnetic noise absorber is wound around a circumference of the electric cable such that the split lines are parallel to an axial direction of the electric cable, thereby being attached in a spiral manner around the circumference of the electric cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kitagawa Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7876017
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a commutator or brush material for a small electric DC motor which enables a lengthened operating life of a spindle motor for a DVD controlled using a pulse current. A commutator material for a small electric DC motor in accordance with the present invention is characterized by being composed of 6.0 to 10.0 wt % of Cu, 1.0 to 5.0 wt % of ZnO, and a balance of Ag and in that Cu metal particles and ZnO particles are dispersed in an AgCu matrix. A brush material for a small electric DC motor in accordance with the present invention is characterized by being composed of 0.1 to 5.0 wt % of MgO and a balance of Ag and in that MgO particles are dispersed in an Ag matrix, or is characterized by being composed of 5.0 to 15.0 wt % of Ni and a balance of Pt and in that Ni is dissolved in a Pt matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd., Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Keiji Nakamura, Makoto Takabatake, Masahiro Takahashi, Shuichi Kubota, Takao Asada, Toshiya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7871710
    Abstract: Disclosed is a conductive material for a connecting part, including: a base material made up of a Cu strip; a Cu—Sn alloy covering layer having an average thickness of 0.2 to 3.0 ?m; and an Sn covering layer, the Cu—Sn alloy covering layer being provided between the base material and the Sn covering layer, wherein in a cross section perpendicular to the surface of the conductive material, the diameter [D1] of the minimum inscribed circle of the Sn covering layer is 0.2 ?m or less, the diameter [D2] of the maximum inscribed circle of the Sn covering layer is 1.2 to 20 ?m, the difference in elevation [y] between the outermost point of the material and the outermost point of the Cu—Sn alloy covering layer is 0.2 ?m or less, and a bright or semi-bright tin electroplating layer having an average thickness of 0.01 ?m or more in an approximately uniform thickness is formed on the outermost layer as part of the Sn covering layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Masago, Ryoichi Ozaki, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Yukio Sugishita
  • Patent number: 7834731
    Abstract: A ferrite sheet includes a ferrite sintered body capable of being in direct and sufficiently close contact with a signal cable and has good noise removal properties. The ferrite sheet includes a flexible sheet having a foldable portion, a plurality of ferrite sintered bodies located in a region other than the foldable portion on the flexible sheet, an elastic body arranged around the ferrite sintered bodies on the flexible sheet, and an adhesive layer arranged on the elastic body such that the elastic body is bonded to itself when the flexible sheet is bent along the foldable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kino, Hideyuki Mihara, Toshiyuki Odagaki, Masamichi Andoh
  • Patent number: 7824776
    Abstract: A plated material 5, containing: on a conductive substrate 1, an underlayer 2 composed of nickel and the like; an intermediate layer 3 composed of Cu or a Cu alloy being provided thereon; and an outermost layer 4 composed of a Cu—Sn intermetallic compound being provided thereon; and an electric or electronic part using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Yoshida, Kyota Susai
  • Patent number: 7820303
    Abstract: There is provided a conductive material comprising a base material made up of a Cu strip, a Cu—Sn alloy covering layer formed over a surface of the base material, containing Cu in a range of 20 to 70 at.%, and having an average thickness in a range of 0.1 to 3.0 ?m and an Sn covering layer formed over the Cu—Sn alloy covering layer having an average thickness in a range of 0.2 to 5.0 ?m, disposed in that order, such that portions of the Cu—Sn alloy covering layer are exposed the surface of the Sn covering layer, and a ratio of an exposed area of the Cu—Sn alloy covering layer to the surface of the Sn covering layer is in a range of 3 to 75%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Motohiko Suzuki, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Yukio Sugishita, Riichi Tsuno
  • Patent number: 7745013
    Abstract: A foamed solder or a nano-porous solder is formed on a substrate of an integrated circuit package. The foamed solder exhibits a low modulus that resists cracking during shock and dynamic loading. The foamed solder is used as a solder bump for communication between an integrated circuit device and external structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Heeman Choe, Daewoong Suh
  • Patent number: 7666523
    Abstract: An electrode surface coating and method for manufacturing the electrode surface coating comprising a conductive substrate; and one or more surface coatings comprising one or more of the following metals titanium, niobium, tantalum, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, or gold, or an alloy of two or more metals, or a combination of two or more alloys or metal layers thereof having an increase in the surface area of 5 times to 500 times of the corresponding surface area resulting from the basic geometric shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Dao Min Zhou
  • Patent number: 7651785
    Abstract: There is provided a tin-plated product which has a small deterioration of contact resistance with age, an excellent wear resistance and a low coefficient of friction. A coating of a composite material, which contains 0.1 to 1.0 wt % of carbon particles dispersed in a tin layer and which has a thickness of 0.5 to 10.0 ?m, preferably 1.0 to 5.0 ?m, is formed as the outermost layer of a substrate. Thus, the coefficient of dynamic friction between the tin-plated products of the same kind is 0.20 or less, and the coefficient of dynamic friction between the tin-plated product and a reflow tin-plated product is 0.20 or less, while the contact resistance is 1 m? or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Dowa Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Takei, Hiroshi Miyazawa, Kentaro Asai
  • Patent number: 7638721
    Abstract: A contact surface. for electrical contacts may include an Ag layer deposited on a copper-based substrate using galvanic methods. The Ag layer includes finely dispersed graphite particles in a quantity of, e.g., 1 to 3 weight % of the Ag layer, the graphite particles having a length in the range of, e.g., 0.5 to 20 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Rehbein, Volker Haas
  • Patent number: 7615255
    Abstract: Methods and articles are disclosed. The methods are directed to depositing nickel duplex layers on substrates to inhibit tin and tin alloy surface oxidation and improve solderability of the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: Danny Lau, Raymund W. M. Kwok
  • Patent number: 7491102
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printed circuit wiring board includes: a substrate having a conductor pattern thereon; a flexible flat cable including a connection section; and a connector including a contact section, a fitting port section and a housing. The contact section includes a first area and a second area provided on the first area. The first area contains copper. The second area has a surface containing tin and copper. The fitting port section is fitted to the connection section to connect with the contact section. The flexible flat cable includes a pair of insulating sheets and a plurality of conductors arranged therebetween. The conductors contain tin and copper and have the connection section on end portions. The connection section includes a first region and a second region provided on the first region. The first region contains copper. The second region has a surface containing tin and copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tokihiko Mori, Masaya Hirashima
  • Patent number: 7488408
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a tin-plated film and a method for producing the same, capable of preventing whiskers from being generated and simultaneously preventing the surface of a substrate to be plated, which is not covered with a tin-plated film, from discoloring due to oxidation, by which prevention of whisker generation, suppression of whisker growth, and prevention of discoloring of a substrate to be plated are compatible with simplified operations ensuring excellent productivity. The method is provided with the steps of removing a part of a tin-plated film formed on copper or copper alloy; processing to prevent discoloring of the copper or copper alloy from which the tin-plated film is removed; and applying heat energy to the tin-plated film of the copper or copper alloy which is processed to prevent discoloring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hisahiro Tanaka, Shigeki Ogata
  • Publication number: 20080194411
    Abstract: A cryogenically-cooled HTS wire includes a stabilizer having a total thickness in a range of 200-600 micrometers and a resistivity in a range of 0.8-15.0 microOhm cm at approximately 90 K. A first HTS layer is thermally-coupled to at least a portion of the stabilizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas C. Folts, James MaGuire, Jie Yuan, Alexis P. Malozemoff
  • Patent number: 7238432
    Abstract: There is provided a metal member capable of realizing a corrosion resistance and wear resistance, which are equivalent to or better than those when expensive PdNi is used even if PdNi is not used, and of being produced at relatively low costs. A first layer essentially consisting of nickel and unavoidable impurities is formed on the surface of a base metal member. On the first layer, a second layer essentially consisting of nickel, phosphorus and unavoidable impurities is formed. On the second layer, a third layer essentially consisting of a noble metal or an alloy thereof is formed. The second layer contains 10 to 15 wt % of phosphorus. The thickness of the first layer is 3 ?m or more, and the thickness of the second layer is 0.1 ?m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Dowa Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Haketa
  • Patent number: 7235309
    Abstract: A resin sealed IC has a plurality of external terminals. A metal thin film made of a Sn—Bi alloy is formed in direct contact with the surface of a base member of each external terminal. A Bi content in the Sn—Bi alloy layer is within a range of 0.5 to 6.0 wt %. Further, the Sn—Bi alloy layer has a single-layer plating structure, and the film thickness is within a range of 10 to 25 MIC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Kenta Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7163753
    Abstract: An arc-resistant terminal, couple, and connecter are provided. In an embodiment, a metal-based electrical contact portion thereof includes at least one of Cu, Ni or Sn, and not more than 0.06 mass % P, wherein the arc-resistant terminal capable of suppressing arc discharge wherein a voltage between the arc-resistant terminal and a second terminal immediately after separation thereof is DC36V to 60V and a current between terminals during contact is 6A to 30A. In another embodiment, the an electrical contact portion comprising at least 80 mass % of metal having a boiling point of not less than 1000 degrees centigrade. According to the present invention, since the electrical contact portion or the final contact portion of the terminal includes a specific metal-based material, even when the voltage applied between the terminals is increased and an arc discharge is liable to be generated, the arc discharge can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Ota, Hiroki Hirai, Yoshitugu Tsuji, Masahiro Shibata, Atsushi Kimura, Toshiaki Sakai, Satoshi Takano, Masahiko Kanda, Narito Yagi
  • Patent number: 7147933
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved coatings for electrical or electronic connectors such as contacts or terminals used in automotive applications. Coatings in accordance with the present invention preferably comprise binary tin-silver coatings consisting of more than 1.0 wt % to about 20 wt %, preferably from 2.0 wt % to 15 wt %, and most preferably from 3.0 wt % to 10 wt %, silver and the balance essentially tin. The coating is preferably applied by immersing the substrate material in a molten tin-silver bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: SnAg, LLC
    Inventor: Richard W. Strobel
  • Patent number: 7063896
    Abstract: A method is proposed for preparing a structured metallic surface of a body or for the structuring close to the surface or the generation of metallic structures, first of all on a first metal layer or on a first intermetallic layer a second metal layer or a second intermetallic layer, the second layers differing from the first layers, being generated; and thereafter at least the second metal layer or the second intermetallic layer being heated up region by region in such a way that, in that location, there is formed an intermetallic compound using the material of the first intermetallic layer or the first metal layer and the material of the second metal layer or the second intermetallic layer, into which surface regions are embedded, which are at least essentially made of the material of the second metal layer or the second intermetallic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Mücklich, Harald Schorr, Peter Rehbein
  • Patent number: 7029760
    Abstract: A plated material reduces insertion and withdrawal forces when used in a connector. A terminal member for a connector and a connector therewith are also provided. The plated material comprises a substrate 3 made of Cu or a Cu alloy and a metal plating layer 6 formed on the surface of the substrate 3. A soft region 6A spreading in a network-shape and a hard region 6B surrounded by the network of the soft region 6A coexists in the metal plating layer 6. The soft region 6A has a Vickers hardness of 20 to 250, while the hard region 6B has a Vickers hardness of 60 to 700, which is at least 30 higher than that of the soft region 6A. An average size of the network of the soft region 6A is from 5 to 500 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Shindoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihito Mori, Takeshi Suzuki, Tadao Sakakibara, Shuzo Umezu, Masahiko Ishida
  • Patent number: 6939621
    Abstract: A plated copper alloy material for connecting terminals is provided which comprises a parent material of copper or copper alloy, a nickel layer and a copper-tin alloy layer. The nickel layer has a thickness of 0.1-1.0 ?m. The copper-tin alloy layer has a thickness of 0.1-1.0 ?m and contains 35-75 at % of copper. The material may additionally have a tin layer no thicker than 0.5 ?m for an engaging type terminal containing 0.001-0.1 mass % of carbon, or thicker than 0.5 ?m for a non-engaging type connector. The material meets requirements for capability of insertion with a small force, good electric reliability (due to low contact resistance) in a high-temperature atmosphere, workability for sharp bending without cracking, good solder wettability and good corrosion resistance to sulfur dioxide gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Hara, Yasuhiro Shintani, Masayasu Nishimura, Ryoichi Ozaki, Masahiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6924044
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved coatings for electrical or electronic connectors such as contacts or terminals used in automotive applications. Coatings in accordance with the present invention preferably comprise binary tin-silver coatings consisting of more than 1.0 wt % to about 20 wt %, preferably from 2.0 wt % to 15 wt %, and most preferably from 3.0 wt % to 10 wt %, silver and the balance essentially tin. The coating is preferably applied by immersing the substrate material in a molten tin-silver bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: SnAg, LLC
    Inventor: Richard W. Strobel
  • Patent number: 6923692
    Abstract: Electrical connectors incorporate a composite coating of molybdenum disulfide and a metal, preferably tin, for one or both of the contact surfaces of the electrical connector. The coating provides for a low coefficient of friction, low contact resistance, and good electrical conductivity, as well as good mechanical properties. The coating also reduces the insertion force of the electrical connectors, thereby increasing the number of possible terminal pairs and/or reducing terminal bending and breakage for a manually mated connector. The coating can be deposited on copper, tin-plated copper, tin alloy-plated copper or other metallic substrates, using any of several physical vapor deposition methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel A. Niebauer
  • Patent number: 6908691
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide a metal strip for epitaxial coating with a biaxially textured layer, this metal strip, however, being able to be produced in an uncomplicated manner and having a high tensile strength, low magnetic losses and/or a high electrical conductivity. According to the invention, the metal strip is comprised of Nj, Cu, Ag or alloys thereof all serving as basic material, whereby the one-layer metal strip and, in the instance of a multilayer metal strip, at least one of its layers contains 10 nm to 5 ?m large, strength-increasing dispersoids comprised of carbides, borides, oxides and/or nitrides with a volume proportion ranging from 0.1 to 5%. In the instance of a multilayer metal strip, the layers form a composite, and at least one of the layers does not contain any dispersoids and has a biaxial texture. For the production, a starting material is used, which is comprised of Ni, Cu, Ag or of alloys thereof all serving as basic material and which contains 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Institut fuer Festkoerper-und Werkstoffforschung Dresden e.V.
    Inventors: Bernd De Boer, Bernhard Holzapfel, Gunter Risse