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AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsArthur J. Epstein, Joan R. Ewing, Joseph A. Swift
Estimating the term…
An electrical component is made from an electrically insulating polymer matrix filled with electrically insulating fibrous filler which is capable of heat conversion to electrically conducting fibrous filler and has at least one continuous electrically conductive path formed in the matrix by the in situ heat conversion of the electrically insulating fibrous filler. In a preferred embodiment, the fibrous filler is thermally stabilized polyacrylonitrile fibers and the conductive path is formed by in situ heat converted thermally stabilized polyacrylonitrile fibers which have been converted by directing a laser beam through a mask having a predetermined pattern to melt the polymer and to heat convert the thermally stabilized polyacrylonitrile fibers.
An electrical component comprising an electrically insulating polymer matrix filled with an electrically insulating fibrous filler capable of heat conversion to an electrically conducting fibrous filler, said electrically insulating polymer matrix including at least one continuous electrically conductive path formed by the in situ heat conversion of said electrically insulating fibrous filler.
A method of forming at least one electrically conductive path in a polymer matrix comprising providing an electrically insulating structural polymer matrix filled with electrically insulating fibrous filler capable of heat conversion to an electrically conducting fibrous filler, heating the portion of said polymer matrix corresponding to a desired conductive path to a temperature sufficient to convert said electrically insulating fibrous filler to an electrically conductive fibrous filler thereby providing said at least one electrically conductive path.
A machine including a plurality of electrical components each requiring the supply of electrical current for proper functioning, said machine including at least one support member comprising an electrically insulating structural polymer matrix filled with an electrically insulating fibrous filler capable of heat conversion to an electrically conducting fibrous filler said electrically insulating structural polymer matrix including at least one continuous electrically conductive path between electrical components formed by the in situ head conversion of said electrically insulating fibrous filler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.