Connector with integrated resettable thermal fuse
AssigneeBourns, Inc.
InventorsBrian Ahearne, Stelar Chu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A connector for providing electronic communication with an electronic device is disclosed. The connector can comprise a substrate comprising layers of non-conductive material and conductive material. The connector can include an interface member mounted to the substrate and electrically connected with the conductor. A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) fuse can be embedded in the substrate and electrically connected with the conductor and the interface member. At least a portion of the PTC fuse can be disposed directly below the interface member.
Claims27
A connector for providing electronic communication with an electronic device, the connector comprising:
- a substrate comprising patterned layers of non-conductive material and conductive material;
- an interface member mounted on the substrate and electrically connected with the conductive material;
- and
- a resettable thermal fuse embedded in the substrate and electrically connected with the conductive material and the interface member,
- wherein the substrate has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the interface member mounted on the upper surface of the substrate,
- wherein at least a portion of the resettable thermal fuse is disposed directly below the interface member such that there is a thermally conductive pathway from the interface member to the resettable thermal fuse, the resettable thermal fuse configured to prevent excessive current through a conductive line of the interface member,
- wherein the connector includes one or more terminals configured to provide at least one of power and data communication between the electronic device and another electronic device, and
- wherein the interface member is configured to be removeably connected with the electronic device so as to provide mechanical connection and electrical communication between the electronic device and the another electronic device.
A method for manufacturing a connector, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate comprising patterned layers of non-conductive material and conductive material and a resettable thermal fuse embedded in the substrate and electrically connected with the conductive material, the substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface;
- mounting an interface member on the upper surface of the substrate;
- and
- electrically connecting the interface member with the conductive material and the resettable thermal fuse,
- wherein at least a portion of the resettable thermal fuse is disposed directly below the interface member such that there is a thermally conductive pathway from the interface member to the resettable thermal fuse, the resettable thermal fuse configured to prevent excessive current through a conductive line of the interface member,
- wherein the connector includes one or more terminals configured to provide at least one of power and data communication between the electronic device and another electronic device, and
- wherein the interface member is configured to be removeably connected with the electronic device so as to provide mechanical connection and electrical communication between the electronic device and the another electronic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.