Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an electrical component (100) includes providing an electrically insulating substrate (104) having an outer surface (108), applying a coating layer on the outer surface and irradiating the coating (106) layer with an electron beam (110) to form an electrical conductor (102) on the substrate. The irradiating may include heating the coating layer to melt the coating layer to form the electrical conductor. The coating layer may have a low binder concentration and a high metal concentration. The irradiating may include vaporizing substantially all the binder leaving a substantially pure metallic layer to form the electrical conductor. The coating layer may be irradiated until non-metallic material of the coating layer is completely removed.
Abstract:
An electrical contact assembly (10) includes a first electrical contact (12) having a first mating element (16), and a second electrical contact (14) having a second mating element (18). The first and second electrical contacts being configured to mate together at the first and second mating elements such that the first and second mating elements engage each other at a contact interface (20). A distribution of contact pressure across the contact interface at least partially coincides with a distribution of electrical current flow across the contact interface.
Abstract:
A method is provided for crimping an electrical terminal (10) to an electrical wire having electrical conductors (30). The method includes positioning the electrical wire (28) and the electrical terminal (10) between opposing crimp tooling members of a crimp tool. The method also includes pressing a crimp barrel (20) of the electrical terminal (10) against the electrical conductors (30) of the electrical wire (28) using the crimp tooling members such that the electrical conductors (30) are mechanically and electrically connected to the crimp barrel (20). The crimp barrel (20) is pressed against the electrical conductors (30) such that at least some contact portions (131) of metallic surfaces (126) of at least some of the electrical conductors (30) melt and form hot weld bonds (130) with one or more contact portions (131) of the metallic surface (126) of one or more adjacent electrical conductors (30).
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an electrical component (100) includes providing a substrate (104), applying an insulating layer (110) on the substrate, applying a circuit layer (112) on the insulating layer, irradiating the insulating layer with an electron beam (114) to transform the insulating layer, and irradiating the circuit layer with an electron beam to transform the circuit layer. The substrate may be a metallic substrate that is highly thermally conductive. The insulating layer provides electrical isolation and effective heat transfer between the circuit layer and the substrate. The method may include coupling a light emitting diode module (102) or other active circuits requiring thermal management to the circuit layer resident on the electrically insulating/thermally conducting layer.
Abstract:
An electrical component (10) includes an interior layer (20) that includes an exterior surface (28). The electrical component (10) includes an intermediate layer (22) that includes at least one platinum group metal (PGM). The intermediate layer extends on the exterior surface of the interior layer. The intermediate layer has an exterior PGM surface (30). The electrical component includes a silver layer (24) that includes silver. The silver layer extends on the exterior PGM surface such that the intermediate layer extends between the interior layer and the silver layer.
Abstract:
An electrical wire (100) includes a bundle of electrical conductors (102) that has an end segment (110) that extends to an end (108) of the bundle. Each electrical conductor in the bundle engages at least one other electrical conductor. The electrical wire also includes conductive particles (106) disposed between and engaging at least some of the electrical conductors in the bundle along the end segment. The conductive particles are configured to provide an electrical connection between the corresponding electrical conductors engaged by the conductive particles.
Abstract:
A crimping device (100) includes an anvil (114) and a crimp tooling member (116). The anvil is configured to receive a terminal (102) on a top surface (112) thereof. The crimp tooling member has a forming profile (118) recessed from a bottom side (132) of the crimp tooling member. The forming profile is configured to engage a crimp barrel (110) of the terminal as the crimp tooling member moves towards the anvil during a crimping operation to crimp the crimp barrel into mechanical and electrical engagement with an electrical wire (104) disposed within the crimp barrel. The forming profile defines at least one pocket (170) along a top-forming surface (136) of the forming profile that extends between two side walls (134) of the forming profile. Each pocket is configured to form a corresponding protrusion (196) in the crimp barrel of the terminal during the crimping operation.