US5148141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuse with thin film fusible element supported on a substrate
Assignee: Ferraz Shawmut SAS
•
Filing: 1991-01-03
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Granted: 1992-09-15
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Expires: 2011-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A fusible element component for use in an electrical fuse, the component including a substrate made of insulative material and having a substrate surface, a fusible element made of a thin film of conductive material that is supported on the substrate, overlies a fusible element support area of the substrate surface, and provides a conductive path during normal current conditions, and a resistance element of resistance element material that is supported on the substrate, overlies a resistance element support area of the substrate surface that is a different area of the substrate surface than the fusible element support area, and is electrically in parallel to the fusible element to provide a shunt path during clearing of the fusible element during overcurrent conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Suuronen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H85/00; H01H85/02; H01H85/04; H01H85/041; H01H85/046; H01H85/38; H01H2085/385
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A fusible element component for use in an electrical fuse, said component comprising, a substrate made of insulative material and having a substrate surface, a fusible element made of a thin film of conductive material that is supported on said substrate, overlies a fusible element support area of said substrate surface, and provides a conductive path during normal current conditions, and a resistance element of resistance element material that is supported on said substrate, overlies a resistance element support area of said substrate surface that is a different area of said substrate surface than said fusible element support area, and is electrically in parallel to said fusible element to provide a shunt path during clearing of said fusible element during overcurrent conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A fusible element component for use in an electrical fuse, said component comprising, a substrate made of insulative material and having a substrate surface, a fusible element made of a thin film of conductive material that is supported on said substrate, overlies a fusible element support area of said substrate surface, and provides a conductive path during normal current conditions, and a resistance element of resistance element material that is supported on said substrate, overlies a resistance element support area of said substrate surface that is a different area of said substrate surface than said fusible element support area, and is electrically in parallel to said fusible element to provide a shunt path during clearing of said fusible element during overcurrent conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The component of claim 1 wherein said resistance element is supported directly on said substrate surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The component of claim 2 wherein said resistance element is a portion of a layer of resistance element material that is deposited on said substrate and overlies both said element support area and said resistance support area, and wherein said fusible element is deposited on said resistance element material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The component of claim 3 wherein said substrate is elongated and has two ends, and said resistance element and said fusible element extend from one end to the other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The component of claim 4 wherein there are portions of said resistance element on two sides of said fusible element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The component of claim 5 wherein said fusible element has notch portions of reduced area cross-section of conductive material along its length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The component of claim 1 wherein said substrate is made of alumina.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The component of claim 7 wherein said alumina is less than 97% pure alumina.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The component of claim 1 wherein said resistance element material is a metal that has been deposited sufficiently thin to provide resistance to current flow and reduction of the peak quenching voltage during clearing of the fusible element during an overcurrent condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The component of claim 9 wherein said metal comprises chromium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The component of claim 10 wherein said chromium is deposited in a layer about 400 Angstroms thick.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The component of claim 1 wherein said conductive material comprises copper.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The component of claim 1 wherein said conductive material comprises silver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The component of claim 3 wherein said resistance element material is a metal that has been deposited sufficiently thin to provide resistance to current flow and reduction of the peak quenching voltage during clearing of the fusible element during an overcurrent condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The component of claim 14 wherein said metal comprises chromium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The component of claim 15 wherein said chromium is deposited in a layer about 400 Angstroms thick.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The component of claim 16 wherein said conductive material comprises copper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The component of claim 17 wherein said copper is deposited in a layer less than 1,000 microinches thick.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The component of claim 1 wherein said conductive material is deposited by DC planar magnetron sputtering.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The component of claim 19 wherein said resistance material is deposited by DC planar magnetron sputtering.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
137 words
A fuse comprising a fuse casing, terminals attached to said fuse casing, a substrate made of insulative material and having a substrate surface, said substrate being located in said fuse casing, a fusible element made of a thin film of conductive material that is supported on said substrate, overlies a fusible element support of said substrate surface and is connected to provide a conductive path between said terminals during normal current conditions, and a resistance element of resistance element material that is supported on said substrate, overlies a resistance element support area of said substrate surface that is a different area of said substrate surface than said fusible element support area, and is electrically in parallel to said fusible element between said terminals to provide a shunt path during clearing of said fusible element during overcurrent conditions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
137 words
A fuse comprising a fuse casing, terminals attached to said fuse casing, a substrate made of insulative material and having a substrate surface, said substrate being located in said fuse casing, a fusible element made of a thin film of conductive material that is supported on said substrate, overlies a fusible element support of said substrate surface and is connected to provide a conductive path between said terminals during normal current conditions, and a resistance element of resistance element material that is supported on said substrate, overlies a resistance element support area of said substrate surface that is a different area of said substrate surface than said fusible element support area, and is electrically in parallel to said fusible element between said terminals to provide a shunt path during clearing of said fusible element during overcurrent conditions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fuse of claim 21 further comprising arc quenching fill material within said fuse casing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fuse of claim 21 wherein said resistance element is supported directly on said substrate surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
The fuse of claim 23 wherein said resistance element is a portion of a layer of resistance element material that is deposited on said substrate and overlies both said element support area and said resistance support area, and wherein said fusible element is deposited on said resistance element material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
The fuse of claim 24 wherein said resistance element material is a metal that has been deposited sufficiently thin to provide resistance to current flow and reduction of the peak quenching voltage during clearing of the fusible element during an overcurrent condition.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
10 words
The fuse of claim 25 wherein said metal comprises chromium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuse of claim 26 wherein said chromium is deposited in layer of about 400 Angstroms thick.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The fuse of claim 27 wherein said conductive material comprises copper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2263752A
Cited
US3619725A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-15 | 1996-03-16 | 1996-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-15 | 2000-03-16 | 2000-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-15 | 2004-03-16 | 2004-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |