Electrically activated surface mount thermal fuse

A thermal fuse comprising:

• a conduction element with first and second ends;
• a sensor in mechanical communication with the conduction element;
• a heat producing device in electrical communication with the sensor adapted to generate heat during a fault condition, the generated heat causing the sensor to lose resilience;
• an elastic element adapted to apply force on the conduction element in an activated state of the thermal fuse;
• and
• a restraining element adapted to secure the elastic element and thereby prevent the elastic element from applying force on the conduction element in an installation state of the thermal fuse, wherein application of an activating current through the restraining element causes the restraining element to break and thereby release the elastic element and place the thermal fuse in the activated state.

A thermal fuse comprising:

• a housing with a plurality of pads that enable mounting the thermal fuse via a surface mount technique;
• first, second, and third pads disposed at least partially outside of the housing;
• a conduction element with first and second ends, disposed within the housing and in electrical communication with the first and second pads;
• an elastic element disposed within the housing and adapted to apply force on the conduction element in an activated state of the thermal fuse;
• and
• a restraining element with a first end in electrical communication with the first pad and a second end in electrical communication with a third pad, wherein the restraining element is adapted to secure the elastic element and thereby prevent the elastic element from applying force on the conduction element in an installation state of the thermal fuse, and wherein application of an activating current through the first pad to the third pad causes the restraining element to break and thereby release the elastic element and place the thermal fuse in the activated state.