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US 7,079,005 B2Granted
Mechanically buffered contact wiper
OwnerGary D. Cochraninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric device contains a medium interposed between first and second electric elements to provide electric continuity between the first element and a defined reference point of the second element throughout a defined range of sliding travel of one of the elements along the medium in a direction that is transverse to a favored direction of conduction through an electrically anisotropic conductive region of the medium that is composed of electric conductors that conduct in a favored direction and are electrically separated by solid dielectric.
Claims16
An electric device comprising:
- a medium that comprises generally parallel opposite surfaces, at least one of which is substantially flat, and low resistance electric conductors electrically separated by solid dielectric and aligned to conduct anisotropically in a favored direction between the opposite surfaces, the medium being interposed between first and second electric elements to provide a region of anisotropic, low resistance electrical connection between the first element and a defined reference point of the second element throughout a defined range of sliding travel of one of the elements alon a flat one of the surfaces of the medium in a direction that is transverse to the favored anisotropic direction,
- wherein the second element comprises a surface on which is printed, deposited, or otherwise bonded a lengthwise extending conductive track, and the one element is arranged for sliding travel along a path on a flat one of the surfaces of the medium whose length parallels the length of the conductive track,
- wherein the conductive track comprises one or more discontinuities at locations alan its length, and the medium extends along the lengthwise extent of the track to both cover the track and bridge the discontinuities, and
- wherein the medium comprises a random or patterned array of the electric conductors disposed, aligned, and electrically insulated from each other within the solid dielectric such that each electric conductor extends from the one surface of the medium along which the one element slides to the opposite surface of the medium that is contacting the second element, with the solid dielectric providing low conductivity laterally between conductors.
1 more element
An electric device comprising:
- a medium that comprises generally parallel opposite surfaces, at least one of which is substantially flat, and low resistance electric conductors electrically separated by solid dielectric and aligned to conduct anisotropically in a favored direction between the opposite surfaces, the medium being interposed between first and second electric elements to provide a region of anisotropic, low resistance electrical connection between the first element and a defined reference point of the second element throughout a defined range of sliding travel of one of the elements along a flat one of the surfaces of the medium in a direction that is transverse to the favored anisotropic direction, wherein the medium comprises Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) tape having vias filled level to the one surface of the medium with electrically conductive material to support sliding travel of the one element and being co-fired to another ceramic material whose surface contains the second element.
An electric device comprising:
- a medium that comprises generally parallel opposite surfaces, at least one of which is substantially flat, and low resistance electric conductors electrically separated by solid dielectric and aligned to conduct anisotropically in a favored direction between the opposite surfaces, the medium being interposed between first and second electric elements to provide a region of anisotropic, low resistance electrical connection between the first element and a defined reference point of the second element throughout a defined range of sliding travel of one of the elements along a flat one of the surfaces of the medium in a direction that is transverse to the favored anisotropic direction, wherein the first element comprises a wiper and the medium comprises electrically anisotropic, highly conductive nanotubes substantially aligned macroscopically along the direction between the first element and the second element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.