Patent US6693508B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6693508B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protection of electrical devices with voltage variable materials
Assignee: Littelfuse Inc
•
Filing: 2000-02-09
•
Granted: 2004-02-17
•
Expires: 2020-02-09
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement of voltage variable materials for the protection of electrical components from electrical overstress (EOS) transients. A device having a plurality of electrical leads, a ground plane and a layer of voltage variable material. The voltage variable material physically bonds the plurality of electrical leads to one another as well as provides an electrical connection between the plurality of electrical leads and the ground plane. A die having a circuit integrated therein is attached to the ground plane. Conductive members electrically connect the plurality of electrical leads to the integrated circuit. At normal operating voltages, the voltage variable material has a high resistance, thus channeling current from the electrical leads to the integrated circuit via the conductive members. In response to a high voltage EOS transient, the voltage variable material essentially instantaneously switches to a low resistance state, channeling the potentially harmful EOS transient to the ground plane and away from the integrated circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen J. Whitney
- 👤 Louis Rector
- 👤 Hugh M. Hyatt
- 👤 Anthony D. Minervini
- 👤 Honorio S. Luciano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:30
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0213; H05K1/0254; H05K1/0257; H01; H01C; H01C1/00; H01C1/14; H01C7/00; H01C7/10; H05K1/0259; H05K1/16; H05K1/167; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/07; H05K2201/073; H05K2201/0738; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10007; H05K2201/10189; H05K2201/10613; H05K2201/10621; H05K2201/10689
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An electrical apparatus for providing protection against EOS transients, the apparatus comprising: a layer of voltage variable material (“VVM”) having a top surface and a bottom surface; a ground plane disposed on the top surface of the VVM layer; a plurality of substantially planar electrical leads disposed on the bottom surface of the VVM layer; and an electrical device contacting directly and connected electrically to each substantially planar lead, the device not contacting the VVM layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An electrical apparatus for providing protection against EOS transients, the apparatus comprising: a layer of voltage variable material (“VVM”) having a top surface and a bottom surface; a ground plane disposed on the top surface of the VVM layer; a plurality of substantially planar electrical leads disposed on the bottom surface of the VVM layer; and an electrical device contacting directly and connected electrically to each substantially planar lead, the device not contacting the VVM layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ground plane is disposed directly on the top surface of the VVM layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ground plane completely covers the top surface of the VVM layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical leads are disposed directly on the bottom surface of the VVM layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the VVM layer completely covers the plurality of electrical leads.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical device is connected directly to the bottom surface of the leads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical device electrically connects to the bottom surface of the leads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical device is located directly below the VVM layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical device is located directly below the ground plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electrical apparatus comprising: a layer of voltage variable material (“VVM”) having a top surface and a bottom surface; a ground plane disposed on the top surface of the VVM layer; a plurality of electrical leads disposed on the bottom surface of the VVM layer; and an electrical device physically contacting the leads in such a manner that enough space remains on the leads to attach at least part of the remaining space to a substrate so as to support the VVM layer, the electrical device and the ground plane by the contact between the leads and the substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electrical apparatus comprising: a layer of voltage variable material (“VVM”) having a top surface and a bottom surface; a ground plane disposed on the top surface of the VVM layer; a plurality of electrical leads disposed on the bottom surface of the VVM layer; and an electrical device physically contacting the leads in such a manner that enough space remains on the leads to attach at least part of the remaining space to a substrate so as to support the VVM layer, the electrical device and the ground plane by the contact between the leads and the substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the electrical device is located directly below the VVM layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the electrical device is located directly below the ground plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the ground plane completely covers the VVM layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical circuit of claim 10 , wherein the electrical device electrically connects to the electrical leads.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electrical circuit for providing protection against an EOS transient, the circuit comprising: a layer of voltage variable material (“VVM”) having a top surface and a bottom surface; a ground plane disposed on the top surface of the VVM layer; an electrical device; a substrate; and a plurality of substantially planar electrical leads disposed on the bottom surface of the VVM layer, the device positioned below the bottom surface of the VVM layer and the electrical leads contacting the substrate so as to support the VVM layer, the electrical device and the ground plane by the contact between the leads and the substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electrical circuit for providing protection against an EOS transient, the circuit comprising: a layer of voltage variable material (“VVM”) having a top surface and a bottom surface; a ground plane disposed on the top surface of the VVM layer; an electrical device; a substrate; and a plurality of substantially planar electrical leads disposed on the bottom surface of the VVM layer, the device positioned below the bottom surface of the VVM layer and the electrical leads contacting the substrate so as to support the VVM layer, the electrical device and the ground plane by the contact between the leads and the substrate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical circuit of claim 15 wherein the electrical device comprises a die having a circuit integrated therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical circuit of claim 15 wherein the electrical device comprises a discrete electrical component.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical circuit of claim 15 , wherein the electrical leads electrically attach to the substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical circuit of claim 15 , wherein the electrical leads solder to the substrate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2273704A
Cited
US3685028A
Cited
US3685026A
Cited
US3743897A
Cited
US3742420A
Cited
US4252692A
Cited
US4359414A
Cited
US4045712A
Cited
US4331948A
Cited
US4559579A
Cited
CH663491A5
Cited
US4928199A
Cited
US4726991A
Cited
US5068634A
Cited
US4977357A
Cited
US5781395A
Cited
US4992333A
Cited
US5669381A
Cited
US5476714A
Cited
US5089929A
Cited
US5250848A
Cited
US5099380A
Cited
US5142263A
Cited
US5183698A
Cited
US5189387A
Cited
US5273815A
Cited
US5510947A
Cited
US5248517A
Cited
EP0625808A1
Cited
US5294374A
Cited
US5416662A
Cited
US5246388A
Cited
US5335137A
Cited
US5278535A
Cited
US5262754A
Cited
US5393597A
Cited
US5340641A
Cited
US5707886A
Cited
US5508224A
Cited
US5545910A
Cited
US6239687B1
Cited
US5807509A
Cited
US5646434A
Cited
US5756007A
Cited
WO1997021230A1
Cited
US5777368A
Cited
US5889308A
Cited
US5796570A
Cited
US6087923A
Cited
WO1999024992A1
Cited
US6108184A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-02-16 | 2007-08-18 | 2008-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-02-16 | 2011-08-18 | 2012-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-02-16 | 2015-08-18 | 2016-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |