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US 6,617,955 B2Granted
Positive temperature coefficient thermistor
AssigneeMurata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
InventorsHiroki Tanaka, Yoshinori Kitamura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inexpensive positive temperature coefficient thermistor has metal terminals which have been miniaturized without deteriorating the characteristics or sacrificing the reliability of the device. The metal terminals include supporting members and springs constructed such that a total width of the supporting members is smaller than a total width of the springs. In addition, connecting portions at the upper ends of the metal terminals engage with a case main body or a covering member to be retained at predetermined positions.
Claims19
A positive temperature coefficient thermistor comprising:
- a positive temperature coefficient thermistor element;
- a case including a main body having an open top portion and housing the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element therein, and a cover member attached to the open top portion of the main body;
- and
- at least one pair of metal terminals, each of said metal terminals including at least two springs downwardly extending from connecting portions at the upper ends of the at least two springs and arranged to be kept in contact with the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element by spring thrusting forces so as to achieve electrical continuity to the positive temperature coefficient element and supporting the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element interposed between the at least two springs to retain the positive temperature coefficient element inside the case, at least one supporting member having an upper end that is integrated with the connecting portions to support the at least two springs, and at least one connecting terminal passing through slits formed in the bottom of the case so as to extend outside the case;
- wherein said at least one supporting member extends between said at least two springs such that the connecting portion of one of said at least two springs is directly connected to one side of the at least one supporting member and another of said at least two springs is directly connected to another side of the at least one supporting member;
- wherein a total width of the at least one supporting member is less than a total width of the at least two springs and the connecting portions at the upper ends of the at least two springs engage with one of the main body and the cover member so that the connecting portions are retained at predetermined positions;
- and
- wherein the total width of the at least one supporting member is defined as a dimension of the at least one supporting member which extends from one of the at least two springs to another of the at least two springs.
5 more elements
An electronic apparatus comprising:
- at least one positive temperature coefficient thermistor including:
- a positive temperature coefficient thermistor element;
- a case including a main body having an open top portion and housing the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element therein, and a cover member attached to the open top portion of the main body;
- and
- at least one pair of metal terminals, each of said metal terminals including at least two springs downwardly extending from connecting portions at the upper ends of the at least two springs an arranged to be kept in contact with the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element by spring thrusting forces so as to achieve electrical continuity to the positive temperature coefficient element and supporting the positive temperature coefficient thermistor element interposed between the at least two springs to retain the positive temperature coefficient element inside the case, at least one supporting member having an upper end that is integrated with the connecting portions to support the at less two springs, and at least one connecting terminal passing through slits formed the bottom of the case so as to extend outside the case;
- wherein said at least one supporting member extends between said at least two springs such that the connecting portion of one of said at least two springs is directly connected to one side of the supporting member and the connecting portion of another of said at least two springs is directly connected to another side of the supporting member;
- wherein a total width of the at least one supporting member is less than a total width of the at least two springs and the connecting portions at the upper ends of the at least two springs engage with one of the main body and the cover member so that the connecting portions are retained at predetermined positions;
- and
- wherein the total width of the at least one supporting member is defined as a dimension of the at least one supporting member which extends from one of the at least two springs to another of the at least two springs.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.