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US 10,088,076 B2Granted
Singulation of valves
AssigneeKCI Licensing, Inc.
InventorsJonathan Paul Jaeb, Stuart Hatfield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the singulation of valve plates and/or assembled valves from a lead-frame are described. The method and apparatus utilizes an electric current to fuse tabs which join the valve plate and/or the assembled valve to the lead-frame. The valve comprises a first and second valve plate with offsetting apertures and a flap disposed and movable between the first and second plates.
Claims16
A valve formed by a process comprising the steps of:
- forming a first lead-frame having an opening with at least two tabs extending inwardly within the opening to a neck portion for supporting a first valve plate within the opening;
- chemically etching a groove into the neck portion of the at least two tabs;
- and
- applying an electrical current to the first lead-frame and the first valve plate to fuse the neck portion of the at least two tabs, the fusing facilitated by the groove and causing singulation of the first valve plate;
- wherein the first valve plate is formed from metal.
2 more elements
A valve formed by a process comprising the steps of:
- forming a first lead-frame having an opening with at least two tabs extending inwardly within the opening to a neck portion for supporting a first valve plate within the opening;
- chemically etching a groove into the neck portion of the at least two tabs;
- and
- applying an electrical current to the first lead-frame and the first valve plate to fuse the neck portion of the at least two tabs, the fusing facilitated by the groove and causing singulation of the first valve plate;
- wherein a flap and the first valve plate are separated by a distance between about 5 microns and about 150 microns.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.