Positive temperature coefficient thermistor
AssigneeMurata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
InventorsHiroki Tanaka, Yoshinori Kitamura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inexpensive positive temperature coefficient thermistor has metal terminals which have been miniaturized without deteriorating the characteristics or sacrificing the reliability of the device. The metal terminals include supporting members and springs constructed such that a total width of the supporting members is smaller than a total width of the springs. In addition, connecting portions at the upper ends of the metal terminals engage with a case main body or a covering member to be retained at predetermined positions.
Claims21
A positive temperature coefficient thermistor comprising:
- a positive temperature coefficient thermistor element;
- a case including a main body having an open top portion and housing the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element therein, and a cover member attached to the open top portion of the main body;
- and
- at least one pair of metal terminals including springs downwardly extending from connecting portions at the upper ends of the springs and arranged to be kept in contact with the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element by spring thrusting forces so as to achieve electrical continuity to the positive temperature coefficient element and supporting the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element interposed between the springs to retain the positive temperature coefficient element inside the case, supporting members having upper ends that are integrated with the connecting portions to support the springs, and connecting terminals passing through slits formed in the bottom of the case so as to extend outside the case;
- wherein a total width of the supporting members is smaller than a total width of the springs and the connecting portions at the upper ends of the springs engage with one of the main body and the cover member so that the connecting portions are retained at predetermined positions.
An electronic apparatus comprising:
- at least one positive temperature coefficient thermistor including:
- a positive temperature coefficient thermistor element;
- a case including a main body having an open top portion and housing the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element therein, and a cover member attached to the open top portion of the main body;
- and
- at least one pair of metal terminals including springs downwardly extending from connecting portions at the upper ends of the springs and arranged to be kept in contact with the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element by spring thrusting forces so as to achieve electrical continuity to the positive temperature coefficient element and supporting the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element interposed between the springs to retain the positive temperature coefficient element inside the case, supporting members having upper ends that are integrated with the connecting portions to support the springs, and connecting terminals passing through slits formed in the bottom of the case so as to extend outside the case;
- wherein a total width of the supporting members is smaller than a total width of the springs and the connecting portions at the upper ends of the springs engage with one of the main body and the cover member so that the connecting portions are retained at predetermined positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.