Current protector

• US 5,929,741 A
• Filed: 11/22/1995
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company Limited (Resonac Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company Limited (Resonac Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Wataru, Nishimura, Atsushi, Kobori, Hisaji, Teppozuka, Mituo, Takada, Kousuke, Tsuyama, Kouichi, Taniguchi, Yutaka, Iwasaki, Yorio
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US08/562,185
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 337/290, 337/292, 337/295, 337/297, 337/159, 337/161, 337/227, 361/104
• US Class Current: 337/290
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 69/022 of printed circuit fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0411 Miniature fuses

Abstract

A current protector comprising an organic resin-made insulating substrate, a pair of terminals formed at both ends of the insulating substrate, and an electrical conductor electrically connecting the terminals and having a thickness of 3-8 μm and formed in or on the insulating substrate, is excellent in suppressing ignition and smoking at the time of blowing, and can be improved in clearing characteristics by various modifications.

Claims

1. A current protector comprising an organic resin-made insulating substrate, a pair of conductive terminals formed on both ends of the insulating substrate, and an electrical conductor for electrically connecting the terminals, said electrical conductor including one or more fusible links, formed in or on the insulating substrate and made of a metal layer having a thickness of 3 to 8 μ

m, wherein the current protector is in the form of a chip and the electrical conductor is formed in the insulating substrate and sandwiched by a pair of light-shielding metal foils.

2. A process for producing the current protector of claim 1, which comprises the steps of:

a. forming an article having electrical conductors which are formed by etching one of metal foils clad on both sides of an insulating substrate,

b. laminating the article having electrical conductors, a fluorine resin-made prepreg or a fluorine resin-made film, and a metal foil, followed by adhesion so as to have the metal foils at the outmost surfaces,

c. removing the metal foils of the resulting laminate except for special portions by etching to form light-shielding metal foil portions,

d. laminating the etched article, a fluorine resin-made prepreg or a fluorine resin-made film, and a metal foil, followed by adhesion so as to have the metal foils at the outmost surfaces,

e. drilling holes for connecting terminals,

f. conducting plating so as to have conductors in the holes for connecting terminals,

g. forming conductive terminals by etching, and

h. cutting the center of the holes for connecting terminals so as to give a number of current protector chips, each chip having conductive terminals at both ends interconnected by the electrical conductor.

3. A process for producing the current protector of claim 1, which comprises the steps of:

a. forming an article having electrical conductors on one side by etching of one of metal foils clad on an insulating substrate, followed by formation of a light-shielding metal foil on another side of the article,

b. forming a light-shielding metal foil by etching one of metal foils clad on another insulating substrate to give an insulating substrate having a light-shielding metal foil on one side,

c. laminating a metal foil, the article having the light-shielding metal foil on one side and the electric conductors on another side, and a fluorine resin-made prepreg or a fluorine resin-made film, and the insulating substrate having the light-shielding metal foil on one side, followed by adhesion so as to have the metal foils at the outmost surfaces,

d. drilling holes for connecting terminals in the resulting laminate,

e. conducting plating so as to have conductors in the holes for connecting terminals,

f. forming conductive terminals by etching, and

g. cutting the center of the holes for connecting terminals so as to give a number of current protector chips, each chip having conductive terminals at both ends interconnected by the electrical conductor.