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.

Date of Patent:
May. 09, 2006

Filed:

Feb. 08, 2005
Applicants:

Steven R. Young, Hutchinson, MN (US);

Fredrick V. Hayen, Dassel, MN (US);

Joshua J. Harmala, Dassel, MN (US);

Inventors:

Steven R. Young, Hutchinson, MN (US);

Fredrick V. Hayen, Dassel, MN (US);

Joshua J. Harmala, Dassel, MN (US);

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated, Hutchinson, MN (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01H 3/16 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

Structure and method for forming a switchable shunt for a suspension assembly having conductive, insulating and metal base layers. The shunt includes a bridge in the conductive layer with either a continuous connection or small gap between ends of the bridge. The continuous connection of the bridge is severed either by temporarily moving the lands out of their original plane by stretching and rupturing the bridge or by shearing the continuous connection of the bridge. For the sheared or gapped bridge, at least one end of the bridge is moved out of plane, compressed and elongated. When released, the separated ends of the bridge overlap and contact each other to form a normally-closed switch. To subsequently open the switchable shunt, at least one of the lands is moved out of plane to physically and electrically open the connection between the separated and overlapped ends of the bridge.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…