High temperature electrical connection and method of producing same

In an oxygen sensor device of the type having a solid electrolyte sensing portion coated with electrodes and a fused conductive glass frit paste lead stripe joining at least one of said electrodes to a remote, terminal connection surface of a generally tubular ceramic housing, the improvement comprising an opening in said housing adjacent said remote terminal connection surface, said opening having at least portions of its internal wall surface in tight shrink-fit engagement with a portion of a primary lead connection wire having a diameter of at least 0.015", said lead connection wire being of a material capable of withstanding the firing and operational temperatures of said ceramic housing and of sufficient thickness to resist breakage from flexure during handling, a secondary lead attachment wire joined at one of its ends to said primary lead connection wire at a location where said primary wire connot flex, the other end of said secondary wire being joined by a layer of fused, conductive glass frit paste to said lead stripe, said secondary wire having a thickness of less than about 0.010" which is sufficient to permit it to remain firmly bonded to said lead stripe, despite continual thermal cycling over the life of the device.