LOW-CURRENT FUSE STAMPING METHOD

• US 20170154748A1
• Filed: 02/09/2017
• Published: 06/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Inventors: Stumpo, Gregory G., Beckert, James J., Shierry, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US15/428,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20170154748A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 69/02 Manufacture of fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0417 with parallel side contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/055 Fusible members
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/06 characterised by the fusible material H01H85/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/08 characterised by the shape or form of the fusible member
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/143 Electrical contacts; Fastening fusible members to such contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/50 the fuse having contacts at opposite ends for co-operation with the base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/302 Clad or other composite foil or thin metal making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49107 Fuse making

Abstract

A convenient, cost-effective method for manufacturing low-current fuse elements. The method may include the steps of stamping a substrate out of a sheet of material and stamping at least one hole in the substrate. The method may further include the steps of bonding a layer of fuse material to a surface of the substrate with a portion of the fuse material covering the hole, stamping a fuse element out of the portion of fuse material covering the hole, and separating an individual fuse from the fuse material and the substrate. A low-current fuse can thereby be obtained using an easily performed stamping process.

Claims

1. A fuse comprising:

a first fuse terminal formed from a first terminal layer covering a first edge of an electrically insulating substrate;

a second fuse terminal formed from a second terminal layer covering a second edge of the electrically insulating substrate; and

a conductive foil overlying and bonded to the first terminal and the second terminal and defining a fuse element therebetween.

2. The fuse according to claim 1, wherein the conductive foil is formed from at least one of copper and zinc.

3. The fuse according to claim 1, wherein the conductive foil has a thickness between 0.4 mm and 0.5 mm.

4. The fuse according to claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating substrate is formed of FR4.

5. The fuse according to claim 1, wherein the fuse element overlies a hole in the electrically insulating substrate.

6. The fuse according to claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating substrate, the first and second fuse terminals, and the conductive foil are disposed in a stacked, flatly abutting arrangement.

7. The fuse according to claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating substrate has a thickness of about 0.75 mm.

8. The fuse according to claim 1, wherein the fuse element is S-shaped.

9. The fuse according to claim 1, wherein the fuse element is Z-shaped.