US5066550A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric contact
Assignee: Yazaki Corp
•
Filing: 1990-07-25
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Granted: 1991-11-19
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Expires: 2010-07-25
Abstract
Abstract In an electric contact having a Cu-based layer, a Ni-based layer formed on the Cu-based layer, and a Pd-based layer formed on the Ni-based layer, the Ni-based layer having a thickness of at least 0.8 μm is so formed as to include a noncrystal nickel alloy layer having a thickness of at least 0.08 μm, in order to reduce the thickness of the Pd-based layer down to about 0.08 μm, that is, the cost of the contact without deteriorating the contact durability, as compared with a 0.6 to 2 μm thick prior-art Pd-based layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Kinya Horibe
- 👤 Tomio Hirano
- 👤 Minoru Ikeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H11/00; H01H11/04; H01H11/041; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/03; H01H2011/046; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/922; Y10S428/9265; Y10S428/929; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12875; Y10T428/12889; Y10T428/12903; Y10T428/1291; Y10T428/12944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An electric contact comprising: a) a metallic base layer; b) a Ni-based layer formed on said metallic base layer and having a thickness of from about 0.8 to about 2 μm, said Ni-based layer being formed with a noncrystal Ni-based layer having a thickness of at least 0.08 μm and with a crystal Ni-based layer having a thickness of less than about 1.92 μm; and c) a noble-metal-based layer formed on said noncrystal Ni-based layer having a thickness of at least about 0.08 μm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
An electric contact comprising: a) a metallic base layer; b) a Ni-based layer formed on said metallic base layer and having a thickness of from about 0.8 to about 2 μm, said Ni-based layer being formed with a noncrystal Ni-based layer having a thickness of at least 0.08 μm and with a crystal Ni-based layer having a thickness of less than about 1.92 μm; and c) a noble-metal-based layer formed on said noncrystal Ni-based layer having a thickness of at least about 0.08 μm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electric contact of claim 1, which further comprises a gold layer formed on said noble-metal-based layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electric contact of claim 2, wherein thickness of said gold layer is about 0.1 μm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electric contact of claim 1, wherein thickness of said noble-metal-based layer is from 0.08 to 0.5 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electric contact of claim 1, wherein said metallic base layer is a Cu-based layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electric contact of claim 1, wherein said noble-metal-based layer is a palladium-based layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electric contact of claim 6, wherein said palladium-based layer is a palladium layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electric contact of claim 6, wherein said palladium-based layer is a palladium-nickel alloy layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electric contact of claim 6, wherein said palladium-based layer is formed by electrolytic plating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electric contact of claim 6, wherein said palladium-based layer is formed by electrodeposition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electric contact of claim 1, wherein said noncrystal Ni-based layer is a layer selected from the group consisting of Ni-P, Ni-B, Ni-Fe-P, Ni-P-W, Ni-Co-P or Ni-W.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electric contact of claim 11, wherein said noncrystal Ni-based layer is formed by electrolytic plating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electric contact of claim 11, wherein said noncrystal Ni-based layer is formed by nonelectrolytic plating.
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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) | 1994-11-18 | 1995-05-20 | 1995-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-05-20 | 1999-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-18 | 2003-05-20 | 2003-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |