Spherical electronic components

Claim 2

An electronic component comprising: a solid compressible elastic spherical core member of electrically nonconductive material; an ionic-type adherent material bonded to the surface of said core; a first electrically functional layer substantially concentric about said core; and a second electrically functional layer at least partially surrounding said first layer.

Claim 3

The component in accordance with claim 1 characterized further in that said first layer is a metallic electrically conductive material and said second layer is an electrically non-conductive insulating material.

Claim 4

The component in accordance with claim 2, wherein said second layer entirely and concentrically covers said first layer and is formed of an elastic material which yields varying thickness under pressure applied at points on the surface of the spherical component to provide a resistor, the resistance of which varies with the thickness of said second layer at spaced apart contact points made with said component.

Claim 5

The component in accordance with claim 2 characterized further in that at least one contact region of said first layer is exposed through said second layer and including a third layer of electrically conductive material covering at least portions of said second layer without extending into contact with portions of said first layer.

Claim 6

An electronic component as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first layer comprises a relatively positive element and said third layer comprises a relatively negative element thereby providing a thermocouple junction between said conductive layers and said insulating layer.

Claim 7

An electronic component as set forth in claim 4, wherein said insulating material comprises a ceramic material providing a thermistor junction between the conductive layers and the ceramic layer.

Claim 8

An electronic component as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second layer comprises a material having photoconductive characteristics.

Claim 9

An electronic component as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second layer comprises infrared sensitive material.

Claim 10

A pressure transducer comprising a pair of spaced apart electrical contact members; means for applying pressure to at least one of said electrical contact members; a pack of resistor element confined between said contact members, each of said elements formed of a spherical core of electrical non-conductive material, a first metallic electrically conductive layer completely surrounding said core and a second layer of electrically non-conductive insulating material substantially completely surrounding said first layer, said elements arranged in a tight pack so that each of said resistors contacts at least one other resistor and one of said contacting members or another resistor; and means defining a circuit between said electrical contact members including means for indicating the current characteristics of said circuit whereby the pressure on said one electrical contact members is determined by the resistance characteristics of said resistors. 10 An electronic circuit comprising, in combination, a support member having at least one substantially circular aperture therein; means defining electrical conductive leads on said support member to at least two locations around the periphery of said circular aperture and an electronic component located in said aperture, said component comprising a spherical core of electrically non-conductive material, a first operating layer of electrically functional material surrounding said core, and a second layer of electrically functional material surrounding at least a portion of said first layer but leaving a portion of said first layer exposed, said component located in said aperture such that one of said lines at the periphery of said aperture contacts said layer and the other of said lines contacts a portion of said component other than said first layer. 11 A transducer comprising; a chamber having electrical contact members on the inner surface of opposite sides of said chamber and means for applying pressure to elements confined in said chamber: and a plurality of electronic components packed in said chamber, each said component comprising a solid elastic spherical core of electrically non-conducting material having coated thereon a first metallic electrically conductive layer completely surrounding said core and a second layer of electrically nonconductive insulating material substantially completely surrounding said first layer.

Claim 11

A pressure transducer comprising a pair of spaced apart electrical contact members; means for applying pressure to at least one of said electrical contact members; a pack of resistor element confined between said contact members, each of said elements formed of a spherical core of electrical non-conductive material, a first metallic electrically conductive layer completely surrounding said core and a second layer of electrically non-conductive insulating material substantially completely surrounding said first layer, said elements arranged in a tight pack so that each of said resistors contacts at least one other resistor and one of said contacting members or another resistor; and means defining a circuit between said electrical contact members including means for indicating the current characteristics of said circuit whereby the pressure on said one electrical contact members is determined by the resistance characteristics of said resistors. 10 An electronic circuit comprising, in combination, a support member having at least one substantially circular aperture therein; means defining electrical conductive leads on said support member to at least two locations around the periphery of said circular aperture and an electronic component located in said aperture, said component comprising a spherical core of electrically non-conductive material, a first operating layer of electrically functional material surrounding said core, and a second layer of electrically functional material surrounding at least a portion of said first layer but leaving a portion of said first layer exposed, said component located in said aperture such that one of said lines at the periphery of said aperture contacts said layer and the other of said lines contacts a portion of said component other than said first layer. 11 A transducer comprising; a chamber having electrical contact members on the inner surface of opposite sides of said chamber and means for applying pressure to elements confined in said chamber: and a plurality of electronic components packed in said chamber, each said component comprising a solid elastic spherical core of electrically non-conducting material having coated thereon a first metallic electrically conductive layer completely surrounding said core and a second layer of electrically nonconductive insulating material substantially completely surrounding said first layer.