US3719862A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible contact members for use in high power electrical devices including a plurality of semiconductor units
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-15
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Granted: 1973-03-06
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Expires: 1992-03-15
Abstract
Abstract The invention is embodied in a one-piece connecting and assembly member wherein electrical contact is made by flexible contact portions on the member between one end of each of a plurality of fragile semiconductor units and a separate rigid contact member in a high power rectifier or the like. This contact is accomplished while protecting the semiconductor units from physical stresses which could otherwise be applied to them during manufacture and during thermal expansion and contraction of a high power device employing the semiconductor units. The flexible connecting and assembly member includes a cup-shaped portion having an opening for mating with one end of a rigid connecting stud in the high power device and a plurality of contacting fingers extending between the cup-shaped portion and each of the semiconductor units. Each of the fingers is comprised of a Ushaped portion, having first and second integral legs which extend generally in opposite directions along the axis of the cup-shaped portion and a shaped contacting portion. Furthermore, an additional contacting finger may be formed from the bottom of the cup-shaped portion for making electrical contact to an additional semiconductor unit. The use of the connecting and assembly member facilitates the manufacture of high power heat generating semiconductor devices, and in the ultimate use of such devices accommodates changes in temperature and the expansion and contraction of the devices utilizing such member.
Inventors
- 👤 S Gaicki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:54
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/20; H10W40/00; H10W40/70; H10W40/77; H10W90/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
In a high power electrical device having a plurality of semiconductor units each of which have a first end terminal and a second end terminal, a first rigid contacting member connecting all of the first end terminals together, a second rigid contacting member, housing means for holding the first and second rigid contacting members in a fixed relation, and a flexible contact member providing an electrical connection between the second contacting member and all of the second end terminals of the semiconductor units, said flexible contact member including: a cup-shaped portion closed at the bottom and open at the top, with the open top accepting the second contacting member therein and having an inside surface of the cup-shaped portion mating with the second contacting member to properly align said flexible contact member and the second contacting member with each other and with the housing means; and a pluraliTy of flexible fingers extending from said flexible contact member adjacent the cup-shaped portion and each of said fingers having a contacting portion in electrical contact with one of the second end terminals of the semiconductor units so that said flexible contact member provides an electrical connection between all of the second end terminals and the second contacting member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a high power electrical device having a plurality of semiconductor units each of which have a first end terminal and a second end terminal, a first rigid contacting member connecting all of the first end terminals together, a second rigid contacting member, housing means for holding the first and second rigid contacting members in a fixed relation, and a flexible contact member providing an electrical connection between the second contacting member and all of the second end terminals of the semiconductor units, said flexible contact member including: a cup-shaped portion closed at the bottom and open at the top, with the open top accepting the second contacting member therein and having an inside surface of the cup-shaped portion mating with the second contacting member to properly align said flexible contact member and the second contacting member with each other and with the housing means; and a pluraliTy of flexible fingers extending from said flexible contact member adjacent the cup-shaped portion and each of said fingers having a contacting portion in electrical contact with one of the second end terminals of the semiconductor units so that said flexible contact member provides an electrical connection between all of the second end terminals and the second contacting member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a high power electrical device having a plurality of semiconductor units each of which have a first end terminal and a second end terminal, a first rigid contacting member connecting all of the first end terminals together, a second rigid contacting member, housing means for holding the first and second rigid contacting members in a fixed relation, and a flexible contact member providing an electrical connection between the second contacting member and all of the second end terminals of the semiconductor units, said flexible contact member including: a cup-shaped portion closed at the bottom and open at the top, with the open top accepting the second contacting member therein and having an inside surface of the cup-shaped portion mating with the second contacting member to properly align said flexible contact member and the second contacting member with each other and with the housing means; and a pluraliTy of flexible fingers extending from said flexible contact member adjacent the cup-shaped portion and each of said fingers having a contacting portion in electrical contact with one of the second end terminals of the semiconductor units so that said flexible contact member provides an electrical connection between all of the second end terminals and the second contacting member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a high power electrical device having a plurality of semiconductor units each of which have a first end terminal and a second end terminal, a first rigid contacting member connecting all of the first end terminals together, a second rigid contacting member, housing means for holding the first and second rigid contacting members in a fixed relation, and a flexible contact member providing an electrical connection between the second contacting member and all of the second end terminals of the semiconductor units, said flexible contact member including: a cup-shaped portion closed at the bottom and open at the top, with the open top accepting the second contacting member therein and having an inside surface of the cup-shaped portion mating with the second contacting member to properly align said flexible contact member and the second contacting member with each other and with the housing means; and a pluraliTy of flexible fingers extending from said flexible contact member adjacent the cup-shaped portion and each of said fingers having a contacting portion in electrical contact with one of the second end terminals of the semiconductor units so that said flexible contact member provides an electrical connection between all of the second end terminals and the second contacting member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein: said cup-shaped portion being closed at one end by a circular closing portion, said closing portion lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said cylindrical portion; each of said fingers having two integral legs formed in a U-shaped, one of said legs extending from said cylindrical portion in one direction generally parallel to said axis thereof, the other of said legs extending from said one of said legs generally in the opposite direction parallel to said axis; and said contacting portions of said fingers lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said closing portion and extending from the other of said legs in radial directions with respect to the center of said circular closing portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said contacting portions of said fingers lie in a plane parallel to and located beneath said plane of said closing portion and said flexible contact member further includes another finger portion extending from said closing portion and having another contacting portion lying generally in the same plane as said other contacting portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said fingers and said cup-shaped portions are integral with each other and formed from a single piece of copper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
189 words
In an electrical assembly having a first contacting member with a supporting surface thereon, a plurality of individual semiconductor units which give off large quantities of heat and which have first end terminals located on the supporting surface, and which have second end terminals, a second contacting member having a first contacting surface, and housing members holding said first and second contacting members in a spaced relation and one of the housing members providing an insulating portion located between the first and second contacting members to provide electrical isolation therebetween, and said electrical assembly having a connecting assembly, said connecting assembly including: rigid contacting means having a second contacting surface abutting against the first contacting surface of the second contacting member and a third contacting surface; and one-piece flexible contacting means having a cup-shaped portion placed in mating engagement with said third contacting surface of said rigid contacting means and a plurality of flexible fingers extending in lateral directions from said cup-shaped portion, and each of said fingers having a selectively shaped portion for making electrical connection to the second end terminals of each of the individual semiconductor units.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
In an electrical assembly having a first contacting member with a supporting surface thereon, a plurality of individual semiconductor units which give off large quantities of heat and which have first end terminals located on the supporting surface, and which have second end terminals, a second contacting member having a first contacting surface, and housing members holding said first and second contacting members in a spaced relation and one of the housing members providing an insulating portion located between the first and second contacting members to provide electrical isolation therebetween, and said electrical assembly having a connecting assembly, said connecting assembly including: rigid contacting means having a second contacting surface abutting against the first contacting surface of the second contacting member and a third contacting surface; and one-piece flexible contacting means having a cup-shaped portion placed in mating engagement with said third contacting surface of said rigid contacting means and a plurality of flexible fingers extending in lateral directions from said cup-shaped portion, and each of said fingers having a selectively shaped portion for making electrical connection to the second end terminals of each of the individual semiconductor units.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The connecting assembly defined in claim 5 wherein said rigid contacting means includes a solid cylindrical conductive member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
The connecting assembly defined in claim 5 wherein: said cup-shaped portion of said flexible contacting means has a generally circular cross-section which is closed at one end by a circular closing portion and open at its other end; each of said fingers includes a U-shaped portion having first and second legs, said first leg extending from said open end of said cup in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of said circular closing portion, said second leg extending from said first leg portion in the direction opposite to said first leg portion; and said selectively shaped portions of each of said fingers extending from said second legs in a radial direction from the center of said circular closing portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The connecting assembly defined in claim 7 wherein said fingers and said cup-shaped member are integral with each other and formed from a single Shaped piece of soft copper having a thickness on the order of 16 thousandths of an inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The connecting assembly defined in claim 8 having an additional finger extending from said circular closing portion of said cup-shaped portion and said additional finger including a further selectively shaped portion lying generally in the same plane as said other selectively shaped portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The connecting assembly defined in claim 9 wherein said additional finger is formed in a generally L-shaped configuration from a portion of said circular closing portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-05 | 1976-09-04 | 1977-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-05 | 1980-09-04 | 1981-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-05 | 1984-09-04 | 1985-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |