US4668375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric connection terminal for a sensor element utilizing ceramics
Assignee: NGK Insulators Ltd
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Filing: 1985-10-25
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Granted: 1987-05-26
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Expires: 2005-10-25
Abstract
Abstract An electric connection terminal arranged at a rear end of a sensor element and capable of affording quick and easy connection of the sensor element with a contacting element connected to a lead wire extending into a connector socket or connector insulator accommodating the contacting element for transmitting a signal detected at the front end of the sensor element, is composed of at least two conductive layers, and at least the lowermost layer of the conductive layers is composed of a mixture of a conductive metal and ceramics and/or glass, so that the layers bond firmly with each other and the lowermost layer bonds most firmly to the sensor element, whereby peeling-off of the connection terminal from the sensor element due to friction thereof against the contacting element and repetition of heating and cooling of the sensor element is eliminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuhide Kato
- 👤 Takao Murase
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/406; G01N27/407; G01N27/4071
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An electric connection terminal for an oxygen sensor element which includes oxygen sensing ceramics, said electric connection terminal being arranged at one end of a sensor substrate consisting essentially of oxygen sensing ceramics and said one end of the sensor substrate being inserted into a separate connector socket for electrical connection with a contacting element within the connector socket, comprising: at least two layers laminated at said one end of the sensor substrate, a lowermost layer and at least one upper layer above said lowermost layer of said at least two layers comprising different mixtures of a conductive metal and at least one material selected from the group consisting of ceramics and glass, wherein each said at least one upper layer includes an amount of conductive metal which is greater than an amount of conductive metal in a layer immediately below said at least one upper layer, and each of said at least one upper layer and said lowermost layer have different electrical conductivities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
An electric connection terminal for an oxygen sensor element which includes oxygen sensing ceramics, said electric connection terminal being arranged at one end of a sensor substrate consisting essentially of oxygen sensing ceramics and said one end of the sensor substrate being inserted into a separate connector socket for electrical connection with a contacting element within the connector socket, comprising: at least two layers laminated at said one end of the sensor substrate, a lowermost layer and at least one upper layer above said lowermost layer of said at least two layers comprising different mixtures of a conductive metal and at least one material selected from the group consisting of ceramics and glass, wherein each said at least one upper layer includes an amount of conductive metal which is greater than an amount of conductive metal in a layer immediately below said at least one upper layer, and each of said at least one upper layer and said lowermost layer have different electrical conductivities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electric connection terminal for an oxygen sensor element as defined in claim 1, wherein the conductive metal comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of platinum group elements, gold, silver, copper, nickel, chromium, tungsten and molybdenum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electric connection terminal for an oxygen sensor element as defined in claim 1, wherein said lowermost layer has a ceramic content of not less than about 20 vol%, and said at least one upper layer has a ceramic content of not greater than about 20 vol%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electric connection terminal for an oxygen sensor element as defined in claim 1, wherein said lowermost layer is formed by applying a paste for forming the lowermost layer on an unfired sensor substrsate by printing, and firing the unfired sensor substrate with the applied paste at a sintering temperature of the sensor substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electric connection terminal for an oxygen sensor elment as defined in claim 4, wherein said lowermost layer and at least one layer of said at least one upper layer is formed by applying and laminating pastes for forming these layers on the unfired sensor substrate by printing, and firing the unfired sensor substrate with the applied pastes at a sintering temperature of the sensor substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electric connection terminal for an oxygen sensor element as defined in claim 1, wherein said lowermost layer has a ceramic content of not less than about 20 vol%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electric connection terminal for an oxygen sensor element as defined in claim 1, wherein said lowermost layer has a ceramic content of not less than about 35 vol%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electric connection terminal for an oxygen sensor element as defined in claim 1, wherein an uppermost layer of said at least one upper layer has a ceramic content of not more than about 20 vol%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electric connection terminal for an oxygen sensor element as defined in claim 1, wherein an uppermost layer of said at least one upper layer has a ceramic content of about 3-15 vol%.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-25 | 1990-11-24 | 1991-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-25 | 1994-11-24 | 1995-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-25 | 1998-11-24 | 1999-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |