Bourns Incorporated

Gordon Lee Bourns

Kiyoshi Tada

John Kelly

Daniel E Grindell

Stelar Chu

Peter Shak

Erik Meijer

David Huang

Zuoyi Wang

Brian Ahearne

Cathal Sheehan

Jan Heath

Earl Robert Gellings

Lars Erik Gunnar Meijer

Kelly C Casey

Johan Schleimann-Jensen

Craig Robert Shipley

Gas discharge tube having glass seal. In some embodiments, a gas discharge tube can include an insulator layer having first and second sides and defining an opening, and first and second electrodes that cover the opening on the first and second sides of the insulator layer, respectively. The gas discharge tube can further include a first glass layer implemented between the first electrode and the first side of the insulator layer, and a second glass layer implemented between the second electrode and the second side of the insulator layer, such that the first and second glass layers provide a seal for a chamber defined by the opening and the first and second electrodes.

Gas discharge tube having glass seal

A temperature-sensitive battery connector is disclosed. The connector can include a connector body and at least one conductor mounted to the connector body and configured to convey a current signal used to measure voltage from a battery pack or battery cell to a battery management system (BMS). The connector can include a thermal switching device mounted to the connector body and thermally coupled to a terminal of a battery pack or a battery cell. The thermal switching device can be configured to provide an overtemperature signal to the BMS by changing or interrupting a current conducted by at least one conductor when a temperature of the battery pack or battery cell exceeds a threshold temperature.

Connector with integrated thermal cutoff device for battery pack

Methods for fabricating gas discharge tubes. In some embodiments, a method for fabricating a gas discharge tube (GDT) device can include providing or forming an insulator substrate having first and second sides and defining an opening. The method can further include providing or forming a first electrode and a second electrode. The method can further include forming a first glass seal between the first electrode and the first side of the insulator substrate, and a second glass seal between the second electrode and the second side of the insulator substrate, such that the first and second glass seals provide a hermetic seal for a chamber defined by the opening and the first and second electrodes.

Methods for fabricating gas discharge tubes

Glass sealed gas discharge tubes. In some embodiments, a gas discharge tube (GDT) can include an insulator substrate having first and second sides and defining an opening. The GDT can further include a first electrode implemented to cover the opening on the first side of the insulator substrate, and a second electrode implemented to cover the opening on the second side of the insulator substrate. The GDT can further include a first glass seal implemented between the first electrode and the first side of the insulator substrate, and a second glass seal implemented between the second electrode and the second side of the insulator substrate, such that the first and second glass seals provide a hermetic seal for a chamber defined by the opening and the first and second electrodes.

Glass sealed gas discharge tubes

Electromechanical circuit breakers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the breakers can be integrated into battery management systems to simplify battery management circuitry and/or to provide redundancy to the battery management systems. In some embodiments, the breakers can be provided to reduce damage to the battery management systems during hot-swapping of a battery cell. The breakers can be automatically resettable or not automatically resettable in various embodiments.

Circuit breakers

A battery housing can include a housing body defining a cavity sized and shaped to receive a cell for a battery, and a breaker coupled with the housing body. The battery housing can comprise a first electrical conductor at a first end portion of the housing body and electrically connected to the switch, the first electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a first battery cell terminal of the cell. The battery housing can comprise a second electrical conductor at a second end portion of the housing body, the second electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a second battery cell terminal of the cell to define a first electrical pathway between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The battery housing can include a bypass conductor to define a second electrical pathway between the switch and the second electrical conductor.

Battery housing

An electrical breaker responsive to a fault condition is disclosed. A thermally-activated switch can be disposed between a first terminal and second and third terminals of the breaker. The switch can have a normal operating condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the second terminal. The switch can have a fault condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to both the second terminal and the third terminal, causing a majority of the current to flow between the first terminal and the third terminal and a minority of the current to flow between the first terminal and the second terminal. The breaker can include a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor between the first terminal and one of the second and third terminals. The thermally-activated switch can be integrated into a variety of structures, for example, a battery pack which can house one or more cells.

Electromechanical circuit breaker

Devices and methods related to flat discharge tubes. In some embodiments, a gas discharge tube (GDT) device can include a first insulator substrate having first and second sides and defining an opening. The GDT device can further include second and third insulator substrates mounted to the first and second sides of the first insulator substrate with first and second seals, respectively, such that inward facing surfaces of the second and third insulator substrates and the opening of the first insulator substrate define a chamber. The GDT device can further include first and second electrodes implemented on the respective inward facing surfaces of the second and third insulator substrates, and first and second terminals implemented on at least one external surface of the GDT device. The GDT device can further include electrical connections implemented between the first and second electrodes and the first and second terminals, respectively.

Flat gas discharge tube devices and methods

Surface-mountable conductive polymer devices include a conductive polymer layer between first and second electrodes, on which are disposed first and second insulation layers, respectively. First and second planar conductive terminals are on the second insulation layer. A first cross-conductor connects the second electrode to the first terminal, and is separated from the first electrode by a portion of the first insulation layer. A second cross-conductor connects the first electrode to the second terminal, and is separated from the second electrode by a portion of the second insulation layer. In some embodiments, at least one cross-conductor includes a beveled portion through the first insulation layer to provide enhanced adhesion between the cross-conductor and the first insulation layer, while allowing greater thermal expansion without undue stress. In other embodiments, these advantages are achieved by having at least one cross-conductor in physical contact with a metallized anchor pad on the first insulation layer.

Conductive polymer electronic devices with surface mountable configuration and methods for manufacturing same

Surface-mountable devices include a conductive polymer layer between first and second electrodes, on which are disposed first and second insulation layers, respectively, with first and second planar terminals on the second insulation layer. A first cross-conductor connects the second electrode to the first terminal, and is separated from the first electrode by a portion of the first insulation layer. A second cross-conductor connects the first electrode to the second terminal, and is separated from the second electrode by a portion of the second insulation layer. At least one cross-conductor may include a beveled portion through the first insulation layer. Alternatively, at least one cross-conductor may contact an anchor pad on the first insulation layer, the anchor pad having a small area relative to the areas of the terminals. Enhanced adhesion between the cross-conductor(s) and the first insulation layer is provided, while allowing thermal expansion without excessive stress.

Disclosed are devices and methods related to flat gas discharge tubes (GDTs). In some embodiments, a plurality of GDTs can be fabricated from an insulator plate having a first side and a second side, with the insulator plate defining a plurality of openings. Each opening can be covered by first and second electrodes on the first and second sides of the insulator plate to thereby define an enclosed gas volume configured for GDT operation. Various examples related to such GDTs, including electrode configurations, opening configurations, pre-ionization features, grouping of a GDT with another GDT or device, and packaging configurations, are disclosed.

Devices and methods related to flat gas discharge tubes

Surface-mountable conductive polymer electronic devices include at least one conductive polymer active layer laminated between upper and lower electrodes. Upper and lower insulation layers, respectively, sandwich the upper and lower electrodes. First and second planar conductive terminals are formed on the lower insulation layer. First and second cross-conductors are provided by plated through-hole vias, whereby the cross-conductors connect each of the electrodes to one of the terminals. Certain embodiments include two or more active layers, arranged in a vertically-stacked configuration and electrically connected by the cross-conductors and electrodes in parallel. Several embodiments include at least one cross-conductor having a chamfered or beveled entry hole through the upper insulation layer to provide enhanced adhesion between the cross-conductor and the insulation layer. Several methods for manufacturing the present surface-mountable conductive polymer electronic devices are also provided.

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Riverside, CA, United States of America

Gordon Lee Bourns