System and method for interconnecting a plurality of printed circuits

• US 20080278276A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Banzo, Juan I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,701,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/186
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0412 specially adapted for being mounted on a printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/206 being tappable, e.g. terminals on the fuse or base being arranged so as to permit an additional connector to be engaged therewith
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/266 with replacement of a fuse which is part of a printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0417 with parallel side contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09954 More mounting possibilities, e.g. on same place of PCB, or by using different sets of edge pads
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10181 Fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/1059 Connections made by press-fit insertion
• 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 3/225 Correcting or repairing of printed circuits H05K1/0292, H05K3/222, H05K3/288, H05K3/4685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/308 Adaptations of leads connectors to printed circuits H01R12/00

Abstract

A primary electrical fuse is attached to a printed circuit board. The primary electrical fuse comprises a first and second terminal, a fusible element disposed between the first and second terminals electrically linking the first terminal and the second terminal, and receiving tip sections located on the first and second terminals that receive a replacement electrical fuse to electrically connect the first and second terminals with a replacement fusible element.

Claims

1. A primary fuse that is adapted to attach to a printed circuit board comprising:

a first terminal and a second terminal;

a fusible element disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal electrically linking the first terminal and the second terminal; and

receiving tip sections located on the first terminal and the second terminal capable of receiving a replacement fuse that is adapted to electrically connect the first terminal to the second terminal with a replacement fusible element;

wherein at least one of the first terminal and second terminal has a mounting tip section defined by shoulder sections and is adapted to mount to a printed circuit board.

2. The primary fuse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving tip sections are adapted to receive a replacement fuse having fork-shaped connectors.

3. The primary fuse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting tip section is wedge-shaped and has a width at least at one point that is substantially identical to an opening in the printed circuit board.

4. A primary fuse in combination with a printed circuit board comprising:

a first terminal and a second terminal;

a fusible element disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal electrically linking the first terminal and the second terminal; and

receiving tip sections located on the first terminal and the second terminal capable of receiving a replacement fuse that is adapted to electrically connect the first terminal to the second terminal with a replacement fusible element,

wherein at least one of the first terminal and second terminal has a mounting tip section defined by shoulder sections, extending through an opening in the printed circuit board and permanently attaching to the printed circuit board via an electrically-conductive connection.

5. The primary fuse as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mounting tip section is wedge-shaped and capable of frictionally fitting into the opening of the printed circuit board while electrically connecting to the electrically-conductive connection.

6. The primary fuse as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the first terminal and second terminal that extends through an opening in the printed circuit board attaches to a side of the printed circuit board opposite the primary fuse at a location immediately adjacent to the opening.

7. An electric fuse assembly that is adapted to attach to a printed circuit board comprising:

a primary fuse having a first terminal and a second terminal;

a fusible element disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal electrically linking the first terminal and the second terminal;

a replacement fuse having a third terminal and a fourth terminal;

a replacement fusible element disposed between the third terminal and the fourth terminal electrically linking the third terminal and the fourth terminal; and

receiving tip sections located on the primary fuse capable of receiving the replacement fuse that is adapted to electrically connect the first terminal to the second terminal with the replacement fusible element.

8. An electric fuse assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of the first terminal and second terminal has a mounting tip section, defined by shoulder sections, extending through an opening in a printed circuit board and attaching to the printed circuit board via a electrically-conductive connection including at least one fork-shaped member adapted to physically and electrically connect to at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal of the primary fuse.

9. An electric fuse assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the replacement fuse has at least one socket constructed to receive and electrically connect the replacement fuse to the primary fuse.

10. A replacement fuse adapted for use with a primary fuse comprising:

a first terminal and a second terminal;

a fusible element disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal electrically linking the first terminal and the second terminal;

wherein the fusible element is offset from and substantially parallel to a fusible element of the primary fuse; and

at least one socket constructed to receive and electrically connect the replacement electrical fuse to the primary fuse.

11. The replacement fuse as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of the first terminal or the second terminal comprise a plurality of metal tines adapted to physically and electrically attach to the primary fuse.

12. The electrical fuse as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are electrically connected to at least one socket constructed to receive and electrically connect the replacement fuse to the primary fuse.

13. The replacement fuse as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a housing substantially covering the first terminal, the second terminal and the fusible element disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal.

14. A method for providing a fuse assembly for use with a printed circuit board comprising:

providing a primary fuse having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein each terminal has shoulders that define mounting tip sections;

coupling the first terminal and the second terminal with a primary fusible element capable of regulating electrical current; and

permanently connecting the primary fuse to the printed circuit board at the first terminal and the second terminal so that electrical current flows through the primary fuse.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

supplying a replacement fuse having a third terminal and a fourth terminal;

coupling the third terminal and the fourth terminal with a replacement fusible element capable of regulating electrical current; and

associating the replacement fuse with the primary fuse wherein the replacement fusible element conducts electrical current in the event the primary fusible link becomes incapable of conducting electrical current.