Electric cable

• US 6,423,902 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Auto-Kabel Management GmbH
• Original Assignee: Auto Kabel Managementgesellschaft
• Inventors: Babiel, Gerhard, Lietz, Franz-Josef, Nölle, Günther
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/623,804
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 174/74.R, 174/76, 174/77.R, 174/84.R, 174/88, 174/75.F
• US Class Current: 174/84.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/70 Insulation of connections end caps H01R4/22

Abstract

An electrical cable for supplying power from a power source to a consumer unit has at least one interruption region in which a component for interrupting the current flow is arranged. The component is a controllable semiconductor element in particular a semiconductor chip, whose contact surfaces effective for the current flow, are in direct contact through pressure action, with the faces of the connection sections of the cable in the interruption region, such that as little dissipation heat as possible arises.

Claims

1. An electrical cable for supplying power from a power source to a consumer unit, comprising:

at least one interruption region delimited from connection sections (7) of the at least one cable (1), the interruption region comprising a component for interrupting the current flow,

wherein the component is a controllable semiconductor element (3), the semiconductor element comprising contact surfaces (8, 9) which allow current flow, the contact surfaces being in direct contact through pressure action with faces of the connection sections (7).

2. The electrical cable according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor element is a semiconductor chip.

3. The electrical cable according to claim 1, wherein a housing (10) is provided to enclose the at least one interruption region, the housing comprising pressure means for exerting pressure on the connection sections (7) of the cable (1) against the contact surfaces (8, 9) of the semiconductor element (3).

4. The electrical cable according to claim 3, wherein the pressure means are pressure springs.

5. The electrical cable according to claim 3, wherein the housing is constructed of metal.

6. The electrical cable according to claim 3, wherein the housing is configured as a pressure-generating means.

7. The electrical cable according to claim 6, wherein the pressure-generating means is a pressure spring.

8. The electrical cable according to claim 3, wherein the housing is coated so as to be at least partly electrically insulating.

9. The electrical cable according to claim 3, wherein an insulating washer is arranged between the housing and the connection sections.

10. The electrical cable according to claim 1, wherein the faces of the connection sections of the cable are coated so as to be at least partly electrically insulating.

11. The electrical cable according to claim 1, further comprising at least one plastic encapsulation surrounding the at least one interruption region, wherein within the at least one plastic encapsulation there exists pressure.

12. The electrical cable according to claim 11, wherein the pressure within the at least one plastic encapsulation is thermally generated or reinforced pressure.

13. The electrical cable according to claim 11, wherein the at least one plastic encapsulation is formed by spraying around the connection sections.

14. The electrical cable according to claim 11, wherein the at least one plastic encapsulation is formed by pouring-in the connection sections.

15. The electrical cable according to claim 1, wherein the electrical cable is formed by screwing down the connection sections after pressure is applied.

16. The electrical cable according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor element comprises a control electrode having an effective contact surface in contact with an electrical drive unit by a contact means arranged in the at least one interruption region.

17. The electrical cable according to claim 16, wherein the contact means is a spring contact pin (38) arranged concentric to the connection sections.

18. The electrical cable according to claim 16, wherein the contact means is a passive radio receiver.

19. The electrical cable according to claim 18, wherein the radio receiver comprises an aerial and a coil.

20. The electrical cable according to claim 19, wherein the radio receiver comprises a MOS structure.

21. The electrical cable according to claim 16, wherein the contact means is an optoelectric receiver.

22. The electrical cable according to claim 16, wherein the control electrode is arranged centered in relation to the contact surfaces of the semiconductor element effective for the current.

23. The electrical cable according to claim 22, wherein the control electrode is circular.

24. The electrical cable according to claim 22, wherein the control electrode comprises a polygon-shaped margin.

25. The electrical cable according to claim 16, wherein the contact means is a sound pickup.

26. The electrical cable according to claim 25, wherein the sound pickup comprises an aerial structure etched onto piezoelectric material.

27. The electrical cable according to claim 25, wherein the sound pickup comprises an interdigital filter.

28. The electrical cable according to claim 25, wherein the sound pickup operates in ultrasonic or range.

29. The electrical cable according to claim 25, wherein the sound pickup operates in hypersonic range.