The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 27, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:
Harold T Kelleher, Attleboro, MA (US);
David W West, Pembroke, MA (US);
Assignee:
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
257666 ; 257677 ;
Abstract
A leadframe (10) for diverting current to an adjacent conductor (55) when a current in the leadframe (10) exceeds a predetermined level includes a first portion (12) for carrying a chip (13) in which an integrated circuit has been constructed. A second portion (20) is connected to receive a current that flows through at least a portion of the integrated circuit. The second portion (20), which may include a bimetallic portion (40,41), is physically deformed by the current and is located to contact the adjacent conductor (55) when the current reaches the predetermined magnitude.