Insert device for electrical relays, solenoids, motors, controllers, and the like

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said device being removably insertable within an exterior surface area of a casing of said relay, said substrate having a perimeter being substantially located within a perimeter of said relay casing.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein said contact means electrically contacts a coil of said relay through at least one of said pins.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein said conductive means are formed on at least one major surface of said substrate, as an electrical conductor pattern.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein said contact means is on at least one major surface of said substrate and includes a plurality of electrically conductive bendable fingers.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein said substrate is formed from a material selected from a group of dielectric substrates and semiconductor materials.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein said electrical component means includes at least one integrated circuit.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1 wherein said preselected function provides suppression of selected voltages carried by at least one of said pins.

Claim 10

The device of claim 1 wherein said relay is a simple relay.

Claim 11

The device of claim 9 wherein said preselected function provides a timing function for said simple relay.

Claim 16

A voltage suppression device for protecting a relay having a plurality of pins which mate with sockets in a female relay connector, said device comprising: a structure being sufficiently thin so as to fit between said relay and said female relay connector while permitting mating engagement therebetween, said structure having holes therein aligned with said pins of said relay, said structure being insertable over said pins such that said pins extend through the holes; first contact means for contacting at least one of said pins when said pins extend through the holes in said structure; ground plane means for coupling selected voltage signals on at least one of said pins to a ground pin of said relay; electrical component means, is coupled to said ground plane means, for coupling said selected voltage signals to said ground plane means; and electrically conductive means for coupling said first contact means to said electrical component means, whereby said device suppresses selected voltages carried by said pins when inserted onto said relay and said relay is mated with said female relay connector.

Claim 17

A voltage suppression device for protecting a relay having a plurality of pins which mate with sockets in a female relay connector, said device comprising: a structure being sufficiently thin so as to fit between said relay and said female relay connector while permitting mating engagement therebetween, said structure having holes therein aligned with said pins of said relay, said structure being insertable over said pins such that said pins extend through the holes; first contact means for contacting at least one of said pins when said pins extend through the holes in said structure; ground plane means for coupling selected voltage signals on at least one of said pins to a ground pin of said relay; electrical component means, is coupled to said ground plane means, for coupling said selected voltage signals to said ground plane means; and electrically conductive means for coupling said first contact means to said electrical component means, whereby said device suppresses selected voltages carried by said pins when inserted onto said relay and said relay is mated with said female relay connector.

Claim 18

The device of claim 13 wherein said device is removably insertable within an exterior surface area of a casing of said relay, said structure having a perimeter being substantially located within a perimeter of said relay casing.

Claim 19

The device of claim 13 wherein said structure further comprises a plurality of component holes extending through said structure for receiving said electrical component means.

Claim 20

The device of claim 13 wherein said structure includes a body having opposing first and second faces.

Claim 21

The device of claim 16 wherein said first contact means is on said first face and includes a plurality of first bendable fingers.

Claim 22

The device of claim 16 wherein said ground plane means is a conductive plate, affixed substantially coextensive to said second face, and includes a plurality of second bendable fingers contacting said ground pin.

Claim 23

The device of claim 16 wherein said electrical component means comprises at least one capacitor.

Claim 24

The device of claim 16 wherein said body is formed with an insulating material.

Claim 25

A voltage suppression device, being removably insertable within an exterior surface area of a casing of a relay having a plurality of pins which mate with sockets in a female relay connector, for protecting said relay, said device comprising: a structure having a perimeter being substantially located within a perimeter of said relay casing, said structure being sufficiently thin so as to fit between said relay and said female relay connector while permitting mating engagement therebetween, said structure having holes therein aligned with said pins of said relay, said structure being insertable over said pins such that said pins extend through the holes, said structure including a body, being formed from an insulating material, having opposing first and second faces; a plurality of first bendable fingers, affixed to said first face, contacting at least one of said pins when said pins extend through the holes in said structure; a conductive plate, affixed substantially coextensive to said second face, having a plurality of second bendable fingers contacting a ground pin of said relay; and electrical component means on said body and contacting said conductive plate, for coupling selected voltage signals on at least one of said pins to said conductive plate, said electrical component means having at least one component selected from a group of capacitors, diodes, metal oxide varistors, or combinations thereof, said structure further including a plurality of component holes extending through said structure for receiving said electrical component means, whereby said device suppresses selected voltages carried by at least one of said pins when inserted onto said relay and said relay is mated with said female relay connector.

Claim 26

A voltage suppression device, being removably insertable within an exterior surface area of a casing of a relay having a plurality of pins which mate with sockets in a female relay connector, for protecting said relay, said device comprising: a structure having a perimeter being substantially located within a perimeter of said relay casing, said structure being sufficiently thin so as to fit between said relay and said female relay connector while permitting mating engagement therebetween, said structure having holes therein aligned with said pins of said relay, said structure being insertable over said pins such that said pins extend through the holes, said structure including a body, being formed from an insulating material, having opposing first and second faces; a plurality of first bendable fingers, affixed to said first face, contacting at least one of said pins when said pins extend through the holes in said structure; a conductive plate, affixed substantially coextensive to said second face, having a plurality of second bendable fingers contacting a ground pin of said relay; and electrical component means on said body and contacting said conductive plate, for coupling selected voltage signals on at least one of said pins to said conductive plate, said electrical component means having at least one component selected from a group of capacitors, diodes, metal oxide varistors, or combinations thereof, said structure further including a plurality of component holes extending through said structure for receiving said electrical component means, whereby said device suppresses selected voltages carried by at least one of said pins when inserted onto said relay and said relay is mated with said female relay connector.

Claim 27

An addressable interface insert device for use with an electronically activated mechanism having a plurality of pins which mate with sockets in a female connector and which is activated in response to an address signal, said device comprising: a substrate having holes therein aligned with said pins of said mechanism said substrate being insertable over said pins such that said pins extend through the holes, said substrate being sufficiently thin so as to fit between said mechanism and said female connector while permitting mating engagement therebetween; contact means for contacting at least one of said pins when said pins extend through the holes in said substrate; electrical component means on said substrate for providing address decoding of the address signal carried by at least one of said pins in order to selectively activate said mechanism in response to a predetermined address; and electrically conductive means for coupling said contact means to said electrical component means, whereby said device decodes the address signal carried by at least one of said pins when inserted onto said pins and said pins are mated with said female connector.

Claim 28

An addressable interface insert device for use with an electronically activated mechanism having a plurality of pins which mate with sockets in a female connector and which is activated in response to an address signal, said device comprising: a substrate having holes therein aligned with said pins of said mechanism said substrate being insertable over said pins such that said pins extend through the holes, said substrate being sufficiently thin so as to fit between said mechanism and said female connector while permitting mating engagement therebetween; contact means for contacting at least one of said pins when said pins extend through the holes in said substrate; electrical component means on said substrate for providing address decoding of the address signal carried by at least one of said pins in order to selectively activate said mechanism in response to a predetermined address; and electrically conductive means for coupling said contact means to said electrical component means, whereby said device decodes the address signal carried by at least one of said pins when inserted onto said pins and said pins are mated with said female connector.

Claim 29

The device of claim 22 wherein said mechanism is a solenoid.

Claim 30

The device of claim 22 wherein said device is removably insertable within an exterior surface area of a casing of said mechanism, said substrate having a perimeter being substantially located within a perimeter of said mechanism casing.

Claim 31

The device of claim 22 wherein said conductive means are formed on at least one major surface of said substrate as an electrical conductor pattern.

Claim 32

The device of claim 22 wherein said contact means is a conductive material disposed in side walls defining the holes of said substrate.

Claim 33

The device of claim 22 wherein said substrate is formed from a material selected from a group of dielectric substrates and semiconductor materials.

Claim 34

The device of claim 22 wherein said electrical component means includes at least one integrated circuit.

Claim 35

The device of claim 22 wherein said mechanism is a motor.

Claim 36

The device of claim 22 wherein said mechanism is a relay.

Claim 37

The device of claim 22 wherein said mechanism is an electronic controller.

Claim 38

The device of claim 22 wherein said mechanism is part of a bus network including other electronically activated mechanisms coupled by a single control wire and being activated in response to a particular address signal carried by said wire from a central computer.

Claim 39

The device of claim 32 wherein said mechanisms, bus network, and central computer are part of an electrical system of a vehicle.

Claim 40

An addressable interface insert device, being removably insertable within an exterior surface area of a casing of a mechanism having a plurality of pins which mate with sockets in a female connector, said mechanism being part of a bus network including other electronically activated mechanisms coupled by a common control wire each being activated in response to a particular address signal carried by said wire from a central computer, said device comprising: a substrate having holes therein aligned with said pins of said mechanism, said substrate being insertable over said pins such that said pins extend through the holes, said substrate having a perimeter being substantially located within a perimeter of said casing, said substrate being sufficiently thin so as to fit between said mechanism and said female connector while permitting mating engagement therebetween, said substrate being formed from a material selected from a group of dielectric substrates and semiconductor materials; a contact means for contacting at least one of said pins when said pins extend through the holes in said substrate; electrical component means on said substrate for providing address decoding of the address signal carried by at least one of said pins in order to selectively activate said mechanism in response to a predetermined address being sent on the wire from the computer; and an electrical conductor pattern formed on at least one major surface of said substrate, for coupling said contact means to said electrical component means, whereby said interface device decodes the address signal carried by at least one of said pins when inserted onto said pins and said pins are mated with said female connector.

Claim 41

An addressable interface insert device, being removably insertable within an exterior surface area of a casing of a mechanism having a plurality of pins which mate with sockets in a female connector, said mechanism being part of a bus network including other electronically activated mechanisms coupled by a common control wire each being activated in response to a particular address signal carried by said wire from a central computer, said device comprising: a substrate having holes therein aligned with said pins of said mechanism, said substrate being insertable over said pins such that said pins extend through the holes, said substrate having a perimeter being substantially located within a perimeter of said casing, said substrate being sufficiently thin so as to fit between said mechanism and said female connector while permitting mating engagement therebetween, said substrate being formed from a material selected from a group of dielectric substrates and semiconductor materials; a contact means for contacting at least one of said pins when said pins extend through the holes in said substrate; electrical component means on said substrate for providing address decoding of the address signal carried by at least one of said pins in order to selectively activate said mechanism in response to a predetermined address being sent on the wire from the computer; and an electrical conductor pattern formed on at least one major surface of said substrate, for coupling said contact means to said electrical component means, whereby said interface device decodes the address signal carried by at least one of said pins when inserted onto said pins and said pins are mated with said female connector.

Claim 44

The method of claim 35 wherein said preselected function provides a timing function for said relay.

Claim 45

The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of connecting a ground plate to said substrate in a manner substantially coextensive with said substrate for contacting a ground pin of said relay and said electrical component means.

Claim 46

The method of claim 37 wherein said preselected function provides suppression of selected voltages carried by at least one of said pins.

Claim 49

An electrical system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a plurality of electronically activated mechanisms which actuate various components of said vehicle; controller means for sending address signals along a control wire bus network to said plurality of mechanisms; and a plurality of addressable interface insert devices, each of said devices making sliding removable electrical connection between one of said mechanisms and said control wire for decoding said address signals in order to selectively activate its associated mechanism in response to a predetermined address being sent over the bus.

Claim 50

An electrical system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a plurality of electronically activated mechanisms which actuate various components of said vehicle; controller means for sending address signals along a control wire bus network to said plurality of mechanisms; and a plurality of addressable interface insert devices, each of said devices making sliding removable electrical connection between one of said mechanisms and said control wire for decoding said address signals in order to selectively activate its associated mechanism in response to a predetermined address being sent over the bus.

Claim 51

The system of claim 40 wherein the bus consists of a single wire.