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:
Oct. 19, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 18, 1997
Lakhi Nandlal Goenka, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Delin Li, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);
Daniel Phillip Dailey, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Charles Frederick Schweitzer, Novi, MI (US);
Michael Bednarz, Canton, MI (US);
Brenda Joyce Nation, Troy, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An an electronic circuit having improved protection against harsh environments, a preferred embodiment thereof including: a substrate 10 having a top surface 12; an electronic component 14 attached to the top surface of the substrate; a plastic and metal foil laminated barrier 16 having an outer periphery 18 thereabout, the outer periphery being sealably attached to the top surface 12 of the substrate so as to define a closed pocket 20 between the top surface 12 and the barrier 16 within which the electronic component 14 is enclosed; and a desiccant element 50. The desiccant element 50 includes: a case 51 having an internal chamber, an inlet orifice 58, and an outlet orifice 59, wherein the inlet and outlet orifices are each in communication with the internal chamber; a predetermined amount of desiccant material 53 contained within the internal chamber; a normally-open interior valve 54 situated between the inlet orifice 58 and the internal chamber; a normally-closed exterior valve 56 situated between the outlet orifice 59 and the internal chamber; and heating means 52 for selectably heating the desiccant material 53 preferably above a regeneration temperature thereof. The desiccant element 50 is situated such that at least the interior orifice 54 thereof is sealably enclosed within the closed pocket 20.