# US 10,768,054 B2 · Temperature sensing electrical device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,054 B2 - Document ID: US10768054B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/825,456 - Filed: 2017-11-29 - Published: 2019-05-30 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-29 - Assignees: Te Connectivity Corporation - Applicants: Te Connectivity Corporation - Inventors: Zachary Wood Lyon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768054B2 ## CPC - G01K 7/16: using resistive elements - B60L 53/14: Conductive energy transfer - B60L 53/16: Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - G01K 1/143: for measuring surface temperatures - H01R 4/2454: forming a U-shape with slotted branches - H01R 13/111: {co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section} - H01R 13/6683: {with built-in sensor} - B60L 53/18: Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - B60L 2240/36: Temperature of vehicle components or parts - H01C 7/022: {mainly consisting of non-metallic substances (H01C7/021 takes precedence)} - H01C 7/04: having negative temperature coefficient - H01R 13/504: different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic welding, or swaged together - H01R 13/64: Means for preventing incorrect coupling - H01R 2201/26: for vehicles - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H01C: RESISTORS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A sensor assembly includes an upper shell and a lower shell and is configured to mate together. The upper and lower shells form a cavity therebetween that extends along a length of the shells. The cavity is configured to receive a wire having an insulated jacket and a conductor. A contact member is positioned within the cavity and configured to pierce the insulated jacket and engage the conductor to establish a direct thermally conductive path to a discrete location of a main circuit. A sensor operatively connects with the contact member and is configured for detecting a temperature of the discrete location through the direct thermally conductive path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor assembly, comprising: an upper shell; a lower shell configured to mate together with the upper shell, the upper and lower shells forming a cavity therebetween that extends along a length of the shells, the cavity configured to receive a wire having an insulated jacket and a conductor; a contact member positioned within the cavity, the contact member including a base and one or more terminals extending from the base, each of the one or more terminals configured to pierce the insulated jacket and engage the conductor to establish a direct thermally conductive path to a discrete location of a main circuit; and a sensor operatively connected with the base of the contact member, the sensor being configured for detecting a temperature of the discrete location through the direct thermally conductive path conductive path wherein the contact member includes a sensor holding portion defined by angled tabs extending from the base opposite the one or more terminals and configured for receiving and securing the sensor via a mechanical interference fit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein each terminal has an opposed set of blades configured to pierce the insulated jacket and engage the conductor of the wire. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the discrete location is a connection point between a connector and a mating connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the discrete location is remote from the sensor assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the wire includes a mating end that terminates at the discrete location, and wherein the discrete location is immediately adjacent to the mating end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a negative temperature coefficient thermistor or a positive temperature coefficient thermistor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured for detection of resistive heating at the discrete location along the main circuit through the direct thermally conductive path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sealing material within the housing configured to provide protection from environmental conditions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the contact member includes multiple terminals and the base extends between and connects the multiple terminals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the sensor mechanically contacts the contact member within the cavity and a second portion of the sensor extends from the first portion outside of the cavity through an opening defined by at least one of the upper shell or the lower shell. ### Claim 11 A sensor assembly, comprising: a housing including a front end and a rear end having an opening into a cavity, the housing formed from upper and lower shells mating together along an interface that extends along a portion of the shells, the upper and lower shells forming the cavity therebetween that extends along a length of the shells, the cavity being configured to receive a wire having an insulated jacket and a conductor, the wire being configured for electrical connection to a main circuit; a contact member mounted within the cavity of the housing, the contact member including a base and multiple terminals extending from the base such that the base extends between the terminals, each of the terminals configured to pierce the insulated jacket and engage the conductor to establish a direct thermally conductive path to a discrete location along the main circuit; and a sensor thermally connected with the base of the contact member, the sensor being configured for detecting a temperature of the discrete location through the direct thermally conductive path. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the contact member includes a sensor holding portion defined by angled tabs extending from the base opposite the terminals and configured for receiving and securing the sensor via a mechanical interference fit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein each terminal has an opposed set of blades configured to pierce the insulated jacket and engage the conductor of the wire. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a negative temperature coefficient thermistor or a positive temperature coefficient thermistor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the sensor is configured for detection of resistive heating at the discrete location along the main circuit through the direct thermally conductive path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The sensor assembly of claim 11, further comprising a sealing material within the housing configured to provide protection from environmental conditions. ### Claim 17 An electrical device, comprising: a power supply; a load a circuit electrically connected between the power supply and the load, the circuit having a wire with an insulated jacket and a conductor; a housing including a front end and a rear end having an opening into a cavity, the housing formed from upper and lower shells mating together along an interface that extends along a portion of the shells, the upper and lower shells forming the cavity therebetween that extends along a length of the shells; a contact member mounted within the cavity of the housing, the contact member including a base and multiple terminals and the base extends between and connects the multiple terminals, each of the multiple terminals configured to pierce the insulated jacket and engage the conductor to establish a direct thermally conductive path to a discrete location along the circuit; and a sensor thermally connected with the base of the contact member, the sensor being configured for detecting a temperature of the discrete location through the direct thermally conductive path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electrical device of claim 17, the sensor comprising a negative temperature coefficient thermistor or a positive temperature coefficient thermistor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The electrical device of claim 17, wherein the sensor is configured for detection of resistive heating at the discrete location along the main circuit through the direct thermally conductive path.