Bus bar structure

• US 6,793,543 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Onizuka, Takahiro, Saka, Yoshifumi, Togawa, Atsuhiro, Fujii, Atsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F.
• Application Number:
  US09/860,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20010021611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 439/876, 439/885, 439/76.2, 439/212, 439/949, 439/794, 439/790, 439/907, 361/630, 361/642, 361/826, 361/833, 361/644, 361/648, 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 439/876
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/0221 Laser welding H01R43/0228 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2458 Electrical interconnections between terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2491 Terminal blocks structurally associated with plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/202 using self-supporting metal foil pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/222 Completing of printed circuits by adding non-printed jumper connections printed jumper connections H05K3/4685
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/328 by welding
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/361 Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4015 using auxiliary conductive elements, e.g. pieces of metal foil, metallic spheres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/907 Contact having three contact surfaces, including diverse surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/949 Junction box with busbar for plug-socket type interconnection with receptacle

Abstract

A bus bar structure includes: a bus bar stored in an electric junction box; and a tab terminal electrically connected to a pattern portion of the bus bar. The tab terminal is separately formed with the bus bar. The pattern portion is welded with the tab terminal by using a laser beam.

Claims

1. A bus bar structure, comprising:

a continuous bus bar comprising a first pattern portion and a second pattern portion, the second pattern portion being spaced from the first pattern portion by a predetermined distance; and

a tab terminal, the tab terminal comprising;

a bent leg portion in a first plane, the bent leg portion attached to the first pattern portion; and

a standing portion in a second plane intersecting the first plane, the standing portion connected to the bent leg portion at a line of intersection of the first plane and the second plane, the standing portion having a length longer than the predetermined distance and being oriented facing the second pattern portion such that, should the standing portion be bent about the line of intersection toward the second pattern portion, the standing portion will contact the second pattern portion.

2. The bus bar structure of claim 1, further comprising a junction terminal that is integral with the standing portion of the tab terminal.

3. The bus bar structure of claim 1, further comprising a second tab terminal integrally formed with the continuous bus bar.

4. The bus bar structure of claim 3, wherein the second tab terminal comprises a second standing portion shorter than the predetermined distance.