Abstract:
Over-temperature protection devices, over-temperature applications on substrates, such as printed circuit boards, and over-temperature protection circuits, e.g., over-temperature protection in combination with a fuse or heater are provided. In various embodiments a shape memory alloy member is used, which can either break electrical contact with a conductor (open a circuit) or make electrical contact with a conductor (close a circuit). Upon opening a first circuit, the member can move to contact another conductor and complete a second circuit. The member can close a circuit, which is in parallel with a fused load, to provide a short circuit path that opens a fuse upon an over-temperature condition occurring, e.g., within an electrical device such as a cell phone or battery. Or, the member can be provided in parallel with a heater that energizes upon an overcurrent condition, triggering the member to open a circuit.
Abstract:
There is disclosed a method of surface mounting a connector which enables a connector to be automatically mounted while preserving reliability of soldered portions and without additionally providing a special apparatus. The connector is formed to be thick at a portion and thin at another portion with respect to an axis C1. In surface mounting the connector on the printed circuit board, a hook member is inserted into a through hole formed in advance through the printed circuit board. Then, the reflow process is carried out on the printed circuit board whereby terminals of the chips including the lead pins are soldered. The printed circuit board is removed from a reflow furnace, and cooled, whereupon the hook member is bent toward a hooking portion side. This brings the hooking portion into engagement with the underside of the printed circuit board, whereby the connector is firmly fixed to the printed circuit board.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for forming a rigid circuit board has a circuit board with a reduced thickness in a bend region. The bend region may have several layers of laminate and conductive material. The circuit board is heated to the glass transition temperature which allows the circuit board to become flexible. The apparatus has a clamping member and a stationary member. The clamping member uses a shape memory alloy actuator with a transition temperature about the same as the glass transition temperature of the laminate. The actuator is used to form the bend region to a predetermined shape around the stationary member. When the circuit board is cooled, the circuit board again becomes rigid in its predetermined shape.
Abstract:
Attempts have been made to increase the number of pins of packages accompanying the trend toward fabricating integrated circuits highly densely and in smaller sizes. The present invention provides technology for improving reliability in fabricating packages of the surface-mounted type that have increased number of pins. That is, when the packages are mounted on the wiring substrate, the lead pins that receive load from the axial direction exhibit bending strength which is smaller than the junction strength of solder at the junction portions. To achieve this object, the lead pins are made of a material having large resiliency such as a fiber-reinforced material, a transformation pseudo elastic material, an ultra-high tension material, or a heat-resistant ultra-high tension material.
Abstract:
A printed circuit comprising an electrically insulating substrate and an electrically conductive layer on the substrate, this layer being a pseudo-elastic or elastically deformable alloy that undergoes significant deformations in a reversible manner and is a copper alloy containing at least 50% by weight copper in the form of large-grained polycrystals that undergo martensitic transformation. Preferably, the layer contains 60-80% by weight of copper, the large-grained polycrystals having a grain size of at least about 3 mm. The martensitic transformation takes place within the temperature range -55.degree. C. to +125.degree. C., and the layer has a thickness between 30.mu. and 200.mu., preferably about 100.mu..
Abstract:
A system and a method of providing electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) protection. A removable component is inserted into an end product. The removable component includes a retractable EMC protection apparatus. In response to the insertion of the removable component a shape memory alloy on the EMC protection apparatus is heated to a temperature above the activation temperature of the shape memory alloy. The shape memory alloy then changes from a first shape to a second shape in response to the heating. In response to the change in the shape of the shape memory alloy an EMC protection component of the EMC protection apparatus is inserted into an enclosure opening of the removable component.
Abstract:
An apparatus is provided with a component configured to be operatively coupled to an interface. In a first state, the component is mechanically and/or electrically attached to a substrate. Exposure of the interface to a thermal event that meets or exceeds a first temperature the resilient material is subject to undergo a state change to a second state. The state change includes a physical transformation of the interface, and includes a position change of the component.
Abstract:
An apparatus is provided with a component configured with an interface comprising a resilient material. In a first state, the component is mechanically and/or electrically attached to a substrate. Exposure of the interface to the temperature that meets or exceeds the transition temperature of interface causes the resilient material to undergo a state change. The state change of the interface alters the position of the component, including separation of the component from the substrate. The separation disrupts the attachment thereby mitigating damage to the substrate and/or component.
Abstract:
Systems and processes that integrate thermoplastic and shape memory alloy materials to form an adaptive composite structure capable of changing its shape. For example, the adaptive composite structure may be designed to serve as a multifunctional adaptive wing flight control surface. Other applications for such adaptive composite structures include in variable area fan nozzles, winglets, fairings, elevators, rudders, or other aircraft components having an aerodynamic surface whose shape is preferably controllable. The material systems can be integrated by means of overbraiding (interwoven) with tows of both thermoplastic and shape memory alloy materials or separate layers of each material can be consolidated (e.g., using induction heating) to make a flight control surface that does not require separate actuation.
Abstract:
Systems and processes that integrate thermoplastic and shape memory alloy materials to form an adaptive composite structure capable of changing its shape. For example, the adaptive composite structure may be designed to serve as a multifunctional adaptive wing flight control surface. Other applications for such adaptive composite structures include in variable area fan nozzles, winglets, fairings, elevators, rudders, or other aircraft components having an aerodynamic surface whose shape is preferably controllable. The material systems can be integrated by means of overbraiding (interwoven) with tows of both thermoplastic and shape memory alloy materials or separate layers of each material can be consolidated (e.g., using induction heating) to make a flight control surface that does not require separate actuation.