Larry C Webb

US Patent:

20030106783, Jun 12, 2003

Filed:

Jan 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/349048

Inventors:

Stevenson Marek - Hutchinson MN, US
Craig Leabch - Saint Cloud MN, US
Larry Webb - Hutchinson MN, US
Mark Miller - Hutchinson MN, US
Anthony Liberko - Hutchinson MN, US
Raymond Wolter - Hutchinson MN, US
Steven Lagergren - Litchfield MN, US

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated

International Classification:

H01H015/00

US Classification:

200/01600A

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.

US Patent:

20030106784, Jun 12, 2003

Filed:

Jan 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/349050

Inventors:

Stevenson Marek - Hutchinson MN, US
Craig Leabch - Saint Cloud MN, US
Larry Webb - Hutchinson MN, US
Mark Miller - Hutchinson MN, US
Anthony Liberko - Hutchinson MN, US
Raymond Wolter - Hutchinson MN, US
Steven Lagergren - Litchfield MN, US

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated

International Classification:

H01H015/00

US Classification:

200/01600A

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.