Internally grounded feedthrough filter capacitor with improved ground plane design for human implant and other applications

A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly utilized in connection with a conductive substrate, comprising:

• at least one conductive terminal pin;
• means for mounting the terminal pin for passage through an opening formed in the conductive substrate with the terminal pin and the substrate in non-conductive relation;
• a feedthrough filter capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates, a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in conductive relation with the first set of electrode plates, and a second passageway;
• a conductive ground plane including a plate conductively coupled to the conductive substrate at an outer periphery of the plate and substantially spanning and supporting an adjacent face of the feedthrough filter capacitor, and a grounded terminal pin conductively coupled to the plate and extending into the second passageway in conductive relation with the second set of electrode plates, wherein the plate is attached to the terminal pin mounting means in discontinuous arcs;
• and
• a washer for electrically insulating the feedthrough filter capacitor from the conductive ground plane except for the conductive relation between the grounded terminal pin and the second set of electrode plates.

A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly, comprising:

• at least one conductive terminal pin;
• a feedthrough filter capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates and a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in conductive relation with the first set of electrode plates;
• a conductive ferrule through which the terminal pin passes in non-conductive relation;
• an insulator disposed within the ferrule for mounting the conductive terminal pin for passage through the conductive ferrule;
• a conductive ground plane comprising a conductive coating on the insulator which substantially spans and supports an adjacent face of the feedthrough filter capacitor, the ground plane having a grounded terminal pin which extends into a second passageway through the feedthrough filter capacitor in conductive relation with the second set of electrode plates, the conductive coating being conductively coupled to the ferrule at an outer periphery of the conductive coating;
• and
• a washer for electrically insulating the feedthrough filter capacitor from the conductive ferrule except for the conductive relation between the grounded terminal pin and the second set of electrode plates.

A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly, comprising:

• at least one conductive terminal pin;
• a feedthrough filter capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates and a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in conductive relation with the first set of electrode plates;
• a conductive ferrule through which the terminal pin passes in non-conductive relation, the ferrule including a conductive ground plane substantially spanning and supporting an adjacent face of the feedthrough filter capacitor, the ground plane having an integral grounded terminal pin which extends into a second passageway through the feedthrough filter capacitor in conductive relation with the second set of electrode plates;
• and
• a washer for electrically insulating the feedthrough filter capacitor from the conductive ferrule except for the conductive relation between the grounded terminal pin and the second set of electrode plates;
• wherein the ferrule is incorporated into a conductive housing for an electronic device;
• and
• wherein the grounded terminal pin comprises a hollow gas-fill tubelet.

A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly utilized in connection with a conductive substrate, comprising:

• at least one conductive terminal pin;
• means for mounting the terminal pin for passage through an opening formed in the conductive substrate with the terminal pin and the substrate in non-conductive relation;
• a feedthrough filter capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates, a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in conductive relation with the first set of electrode plates, and a second passageway;
• an insulator disposed within the terminal pin mounting means for mounting the conductive terminal pin for passage therethrough;
• a conductive ground plane conductively coupled to the conductive substrate and comprising a conductive coating on the insulator which substantially spans and supports an adjacent face of the feedthrough filter capacitor, the ground plane having a grounded terminal pin extending into the second passageway in conductive relation with the second set of electrode plates, the conductive coating being conductively coupled to the terminal pin mounting means at an outer periphery of the conductive coating;
• and
• a washer for electrically insulating the feedthrough filter capacitor from the conductive ground plane except for the conductive relation between the grounded terminal pin and the second set of electrode plates.

A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly, comprising:

• at least one conductive terminal pin;
• a feedthrough filter capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates and a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in conductive relation with the first set of electrode plates;
• a conductive ferrule through which the terminal pin passes in non-conductive relation;
• a conductive ground plane including a plate that is a distinct component from the ferrule, substantially spanning and supporting an adjacent face of the feedthrough filter capacitor, the ground plane having a grounded terminal pin which extends into a second passageway through the feedthrough filter capacitor in conductive relation with the second set of electrode plates, the plate being conductively coupled to the ferrule at an outer periphery of the plate;
• and
• a washer for electrically insulating the feedthrough filter capacitor from the conductive ferrule except for the conductive relation between the grounded terminal pin and the second set of electrode plates.

A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly utilized in connection with a conductive substrate, comprising:

• at least one conductive terminal pin;
• means for mounting the terminal pin for passage through an opening formed in the conductive substrate with the terminal pin and the substrate in non-conductive relation;
• a feedthrough filter capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates, a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in conductive relation with the first set of electrode plates, and a second passageway;
• a conductive ground plane that is a distinct component from the conductive substrate, the ground plane including a plate conductively coupled to the conductive substrate at an outer periphery of the plate and substantially spanning and supporting an adjacent face of the feedthrough filter capacitor, and a grounded terminal pin conductively coupled to the plate and extending into the second passageway in conductive relation with the second set of electrode plates;
• and
• a washer for electrically insulating the feedthrough filter capacitor from the conductive ground plane except for the conductive relation between the grounded terminal pin and the second set of electrode plates.