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:
Apr. 20, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 22, 2003
Stevenson J. Marek, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Craig A. Leabch, Saint Cloud, MN (US);
Larry C. Webb, Jr., Hutchinson, MN (US);
Mark A. Miller, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Anthony J. Liberko, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Raymond R. Wolter, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Steven R. Lagergren, Litchfield, MN (US);
Hutchinson Technology Inc., Hutchinson, MN (US);
Abstract
A switchable shunt has an insulating layer separating conductive lead and spring metal layers. The shunt includes a base region formed on the spring metal layer, one or more arms formed in the conductive lead layer and at least one of the insulating and spring metal layers, one or more pad regions electrically coupled to an arm and formed in at least the conductive lead layer, and one or more gaps. Each arm extends through a gap and is resiliently biased toward a shunted state with the pad region in electrical contact with the base region. The shunt is movable to an electrically open state where the pad and base regions are electrically isolated. A method of making the shunt includes etching the shunt from laminated material and pushing the arm and pad through the gap. The shunt may be operated by applying a force to the arm.