Electronic device comprising a plate-shaped electronic element and a support and overcurrent protector for the same

A method of elastically supporting an electronic element and protecting said electronic element from excessive current flow therethrough, comprising the steps of:

• (a) mounting an electronic element having two opposing main surfaces between two spring members each made of an elastic plate metal material and each providing an electrical connection with a respective main surface of the electronic element;
• (b) providing respective connection termainls electrically connected to each of two said spring members;
• and
• (c) mounting the electronic element, the two spring members and the connection terminals in an outer packaging case;
• (d) wherein each spring member extends toward said electronic element from a supporting plate integrally formed with said spring member, each of said supporting plates being fixed directly to said case, and each spring member having predetermined dimensions at a location between said supporting plate and said electronic element, such that the spring member is automatically cut when a predetermined current flow therethrough is exceeded.

A support and overcurrent protector for a plate-shaped electronic element, comprising:

• at least one spring member for elastically supporting said electronic element in an electrically insulating case with said spring member in electrical contact with said electronic element at a contact point, said spring member being made of an elastic plate metal material, said spring member extending toward said electronic element from a support plate which is in direct contact with said case;
• and
• connection means for electrically connecting said spring member with an external circuit, said connection means being fixed in said case and being electrically connected with said spring member via said support plate;
• said spring member comprising a fuse portion at a location between said contact point and said support plate, said fuse portion having predetermined dimensions, so as to be cut when a current flowing in said spring member through said electronic element becomes larger than a predetermined threshold current.

A support and overcurrent protector for a plate-shaped electronic element, comprising:

• spring members for elastically supporting said electronic element therebetween in an electrically insulating case so as to be respectively in contact with said electronic element, each spring member being made of an elastic plate metal material;
• and
• connection terminals for electrically connecting said spring members with external circuits, respectively, said connection terminals being fixed in said case and being electrically connected with said spring members, respectively;
• each of said spring members comprising:
• supporting plates opposing said electrode films of said electronic element and fixed directly tos aid case, each of said supporting plates having a predetermined longitudinal length and a predetermined width;
• and
• spring pieces being respectively in contact with said electrode films of said electronic element at contact points thereof, each of said spring pieces being formed integrally with said supporting plate so as to be extended toward said electronic element, from an attachment point at one end of said supporting plate in the longitudinal direction thereof, toward said contact point, and folded by a predetermined angle at said contact point, and further extended toward said supporting plate from said contact point without contact with said supporting plate;
• each of said spring pieces having a predetermined thickness and a predetermined width between said attachment point and said contact point so as to be cut when a current flowing in said spring pieces through said electronic element becomes larger than a predetermined threshold current.