TWI689962B - Protection element - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a protection element. The protection element includes: an insulating outer casing; a plurality of terminal electrodes, including a first terminal electrode and a second terminal electrode, the terminal electrodes penetrating the insulating outer casing and being supported by the insulating outer casing; a conductor, Both ends of the conductor are electrically connected to the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode via a connecting material, respectively, to form a first bidirectional current path between the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode; and a blocking element, configured Between the conductor and the insulating outer shell.

Description

Protection element

The invention relates to a protection element, and in particular to a protection function with over-current, over-voltage or over-temperature.

In the previous protection elements, the terminal electrodes were mostly arranged on the substrate, and the fusible conductors were arranged on the terminal electrodes. The application requirements of the protection elements in the future or the rated operating currents related to the motors are quite high, even higher than 40A Or 60A, the terminal electrode and the substrate provided on the substrate cannot withstand such a large abnormal current flow. Even the terminal electrode and the substrate will be melted or broken due to the high heat and high pressure generated by the meltable conductor at the moment of fusing. In addition, the cross-sectional area (thickness and width) of the fusible conductor must be increased if it can withstand an operating current of more than 100A or the rated current, and the fusible conductor must be separated into two parts after fusing, and there must be enough space. , To ensure that the insulation resistance of the fusible conductor after disconnection is within the safe range, and the previous protection components cannot meet the future customer or market needs of high rated current values.

The protection elements of the prior art mostly use the fuse of the fusible conductor to break the current path between the first electrode and the second electrode of the protection element, but the working current or rated current of the protection element keeps increasing, which promotes The volume of the molten conductor also continues to increase, which will eventually cause the melting time of the fusible conductor to fail to meet the market demand or the safety requirements of various countries.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention does not use the method of melting the fusible conductor to break the current path between the first electrode and the second electrode of the protection element, but accelerates the disconnection of the first protection element by blocking the element After the current path between the electrode and the second electrode, and to ensure that the current path between the first electrode and the second electrode is disconnected, the insulation resistance of the protection element is within a safe range.

The invention provides a protection element. The protection element includes: an insulating outer shell; a plurality of terminal electrodes, including a first terminal electrode and a second terminal electrode, the terminal electrodes penetrate through the insulating outer shell and are supported by the insulating outer shell; a conductor, the two ends of the conductor are respectively The connecting material electrically connects the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode to form a first bidirectional current path between the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode; and a blocking element disposed between the conductor and the Between the insulating shells. The blocking element includes any one of six elements: thermal expansion element (material), elastic element (material), thermal deformation element (material), heat shrinkable element (material), memory element (material), magnetic element (material), or A combination of some of them. The conductor will not fuse during the protection process of the protective element or overcurrent. The protection element of the present invention is suitable for circuit protection with a rated current value greater than 40A, preferably for circuit protection with a rated current value greater than 60A, and most preferably for circuit protection with a rated current value greater than 100A.

888, 888a, 888b, 888c, 888d, 888e

7‧‧‧ heat generating components

7a, 7b‧‧‧Heating body electrode

7c‧‧‧Heating body

8‧‧‧Conductor

8x‧‧‧Conductor bump

9(1), 9(2), 9(3) ‧‧‧ connection material

10‧‧‧Insulated substrate

10b‧‧‧Top surface of insulating substrate

10a‧‧‧Lower surface of insulating substrate

11‧‧‧First electrode

21‧‧‧Second terminal electrode

31‧‧‧The third electrode

41‧‧‧collector electrode

11a, 21a ‧‧‧ terminal electrode upper surface

11b, 21b ‧‧‧ terminal electrode lower surface

16‧‧‧Blocking element or thermal expansion element or elastic element or thermal deformation element or heat shrinkable element or magnetic element

19‧‧‧Insulated shell

19x‧‧‧Insulated shell protruding body

19a‧‧‧Insulating shell cover

19b‧‧‧Insulating shell substrate

19c‧‧‧Insulated side body

19i‧‧‧Inner surface of insulating shell

19o‧‧‧Insulating shell outer surface

Ic, Id‧‧‧ output input current or first bidirectional current path

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888 of the present invention.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888 of the present invention.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888 of the present invention.

5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a protection element 888 of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a relationship diagram of relevant parameters of the thermal expansion element.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection element 888 after operation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection element 888 after operation.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection element 888 after operation.

11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888a of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection element 888a after operation.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection element 888b after its operation.

14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888c of the present invention.

15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888c of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection element 888c after operation.

17 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a protection element 888c of the present invention.

18 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888d of the present invention.

19 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection element 888d after operation.

20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888e of the present invention.

21 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888e of the present invention.

22 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888e of the present invention.

23 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a protection element 888ed/888e of the present invention.

24 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the conductor 8 of the present invention.

In order to further understand the features and technical contents of the present invention, please refer to the protection elements of the following related embodiments, and make detailed descriptions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows. In addition, wherever possible, elements/components using the same reference numerals in the drawings and embodiments represent the same or similar parts. In addition, the illustration is drawn in a schematic way, and the ratio of each size may be different from the actual one. You should refer to the following description to judge for yourself. The implementation is described as follows:

[Protection element 888 of the first embodiment]

FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are schematic cross-sectional views of the protection element 888 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the protection element 888. Please refer to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, and Figure 6 at the same time. The protection element 888 of this embodiment includes: an insulating outer casing 19; a plurality of terminal electrodes, including a first terminal electrode 11 and a second terminal electrode 21, penetrating the insulating outer casing 19 and supported by the insulating outer casing 19; a conductor 8, a conductor 8 The two ends of the are electrically connected to the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 via connecting materials [9(1), 9(2)], respectively, to form a first between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 A bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path; and a blocking element 16 are arranged between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer case 19. The blocking element 16 includes any one of or a combination of a thermal expansion element, an elastic element, a thermal deformation element, a thermal shrinkage element, a memory element, and a magnetic element. The function of the blocking element 16 is: when the connecting material 9(1), 9(2) is melted or liquefied, the blocking element 16 starts to push or suck the conductor 8 away or pull away from the first end electrode 11 or the second Since the terminal electrode 21 or the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21, the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 is disconnected.

【Insulation shell 19】

The insulating outer casing 19 has a function of protecting elements or objects in the insulating outer casing 19, such as: the conductor 8, the second end of each terminal electrode, and the thermal expansion element 16. The insulating outer casing 19 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an insulating outer casing cover 19a and an insulating outer casing base 19b. The insulating outer case 19 shown in FIG. 3 includes an insulating outer case cover 19a, an insulating outer case base 19b, and an insulating outer case side body 19c. The insulating housing 19 shown in FIG. 5 includes an insulating housing cover 19a, an insulating housing base 19b, and an insulating housing projection 19x. The function of the insulating housing projection 19x is to support the end electrode (i.e. the first end The electrode 11, the second terminal electrode 21), or, maintain or limit the direction of the thermal expansion element 16. The components of the insulating housing 19 include one or a combination of polymers and ceramic materials. The ceramic material includes any one or a combination of two or more of silicon carbide (SiC), aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride (SiN), and graphite. Among them, the polymer includes any one kind or a combination of two or more kinds of engineering plastics having good heat resistance. The main component of the insulating outer shell 19 of the protection element 888 of this embodiment is a polymer, which includes polyhenylenesulfide. When the insulating outer shell 19 is formed into the shape (or other shape) of FIG. 1, it can be divided into two parts, the insulating outer shell cover 19a and the insulating outer shell base 19b, which are formed separately. The insulating outer shell cover 19a may also use an insert molding process to integrally form the first end electrode 11, the second end electrode 21, and the insulating outer shell cover 19a. The insulating outer shell 19 may have any shape. The insulating outer shell 19 of this embodiment is a rectangular parallelepiped or a square.

【Multiple terminal electrodes】

The two terminal electrodes (ie, the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21) penetrate the insulating outer casing 19 and are supported by the insulating outer casing 19. One end (first end) of each terminal electrode (ie, the first end electrode 11 and the second end electrode 21) is arranged (exposed) outside the insulating outer casing 19, and the other end (second end) is floated (as shown in the figure: 3) Inside the insulating outer casing 19 or extending to the inner surface 19i of the insulating outer casing 19 (e.g., FIGS. 1 and 2). Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows that the second end of the first terminal electrode 11 and the second end of the second terminal electrode 21 are floated in the insulating housing 19 (ie, the upper and lower surfaces of the second end of each electrode (ie, 11a , 21a, 11b, 21b) are not in contact with the inner surface 19i) of the insulating outer shell 19. In addition, because the terminal electrodes (ie, the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21) are not made by a printing process, they are formed and designed by other processes well known in the industry (such as a pressing process) The thickness and density of the terminal electrodes can be adjusted according to actual application or design requirements to reduce the internal resistance of the terminal electrodes. The materials of all terminal electrodes of the present invention include materials made of any one of gold, silver, copper, tin, iron, lead, aluminum, nickel, palladium, platinum, etc. as a main component or a combination of parts thereof as a main component Sheet or strip metal. In addition, the surface of the terminal electrodes may be coated with one or more layers of metal materials that are less susceptible to oxidation or more stable, such as nickel, tin, lead, aluminum, nickel, gold, etc. In this way, it is possible to prevent high temperatures from flowing through the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 and oxidizing the surfaces of the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21. The multiple terminal electrodes in the present invention are not made by printing process, suitable for circuit protection with rated current value greater than 40A, preferably suitable for circuit protection with rated current value greater than 60A, and most suitable for rated current Circuit protection with a value greater than 100A. All terminal electrodes of the present invention can be implemented in a manner similar to that described above.

[Conductor 8 and connecting materials 9(1), 9(2)]

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the two ends of the conductor 8 are electrically connected to the first terminal electrode 11 and the second via the connecting material (ie 9(1), 9(2)) The terminal electrode 21 forms a first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21. The conductor 8 may be a multi-layer structure with conductor layers of different metals. Of course, the conductor 8 may also have a single-layer structure, and only include a single metal conductor layer. The main material of the conductor 8 includes an alloy composed of any one or more of metal materials with high melting point and high conductivity, such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper alloy, and the like. The suitable melting point temperature of the conductor 8 is higher than 620°C, and the preferred melting point temperature is between 1000°C and 2000°C. When the conductor 8 is in use or operation of the protection element 888, or when the current flowing through the conductor 8 exceeds the rated current of the protection element 888, the conductor 8 will not melt or fuse due to its own heat generation. The level (or magnitude) of the rated current of the conductor 8 can be achieved by adjusting the cross-sectional area of the conductor 8 or selecting materials of different conductivity. The connection materials 9(1) and 9(2) are conductive connection materials, and their melting point or liquefaction point is lower than the melting point or liquefaction point of the conductor 8, for example, lead-free solder used in the industry as a solder (mainly tin) ) Or leaded solder, wherein the melting point or liquefaction point of the connection material 9(1) and the connection material 9(2) may be the same or different. The melting points of the connection materials 9(1) and 9(2) can be equal to or close to or higher than the maximum temperature of the reflow furnace (currently about 260°C) in the manufacturing process of the customer (ie, the user of the protection element 888). The melting point or liquefaction point of the connecting material can be adjusted. The melting point temperature can be between 200°C and 580°C, and the preferred temperature is between 230°C and 500°C. The conductor 8 may have bumps 8x (please refer to FIG. 24), and the bumps 8x and the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2) can ensure the conductor 8 and the terminal electrodes (ie, the first terminal electrode 11, the second terminal electrode 21) Electrical connection. When the connection materials 9(1) and 9(2) are in the process of the protection element 888, or when the current flowing through the conductor 8 and the connection materials 9(1) and 9(2) exceeds the rated current of the protection element 888, At least one of the connection materials 9(1) and 9(2) is thermally melted or liquefied (from the conductor 8 itself generating heat or the connection materials 9(1) and 9(2) generating heat themselves). The above description applies to all conductors 8 and connecting materials of the present invention.

【Blocking element 16】

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the blocking element 16 includes a thermal expansion element (material), an elastic element (material), a thermal deformation element (material), and a heat shrinkable element (material) , A memory element (material), a magnetic element (material), any one of them, or a combination of parts thereof, is arranged between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer case 19. The technical characteristics of the thermal expansion element, the elastic element, the thermal deformation element, the thermal shrinkage element, and the memory element (such as shape memory alloy) in the blocking element 16 are all elements that will deform or displace due to heat, by expansion and contraction , Displacement and other actions to push or pull the conductor 8 away from its original position. The blocking element 16 of the present invention has an insulating characteristic or a technical characteristic with high insulation resistance. The blocking element 16 may be an insulating material with high insulation resistance or a high insulation resistance, or it may have an insulating characteristic or high insulation with an external material resistance. The related similar elements well known in the industry are suitable for the blocking element 16 of the present invention. Another type of blocking element 16 is a magnetic element, and its technical feature is that it has the characteristic of attracting metal or conductor, and sucks or pulls the conductor 8 away from its original position. Of course, the magnetic element may not have insulation characteristics or high insulation resistance. There may be one or more blocking elements 16. The blocking element 16 may comprise one or more thermal expansion elements or elastic elements or thermal deformation elements or thermal shrinkage elements or memory elements or magnetic elements, or a combination thereof. For example, FIG. 4 shows two blocking elements 16 arranged between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer shell 19. In FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, there is only one blocking element 16. The function of the blocking element 16 is: when the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2) are melted or liquefied, the blocking element 16 starts to push or pull the conductor away or attract away (magnetic element, please refer to Figure 13) The first terminal electrode 11 or the second terminal electrode 21 or the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21, therefore, the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 is disconnected Current path. The blocking element 16 of this embodiment selects the thermal expansion element 16, and the expanded thermal expansion element 16 can maintain the expanded shape after the heat source disappears. In this way, even if the conductor 8 moves around, the protruding thermal expansion element 16 prevents the two ends of the conductor 8 from simultaneously contacting the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 (please refer to FIGS. 8 and 10 ). The material of the thermal expansion element 16 includes a polymer or any temperature-dependent material that expands. In the present invention, the material of the thermal expansion element 16 is a rubber material mainly composed of rubber. The thermal expansion element 16 of the present invention has insulating properties or has a high insulation resistance. The thermal expansion element 16 of the present invention is flame retardant. The insulation and flame retardancy of the above two can reduce the possibility of high temperature or arc (especially in the case of high rated voltage and high rated current) when the conductor 8 is separated from these terminal electrodes, thereby ensuring insulation The safety of the outer casing 19. The expansion start temperature of the thermal expansion element 16 of the present invention can be adjusted. The expansion ratio of the thermal expansion element 16 of the present invention can be adjusted. Please refer to FIG. 7, the relationship between the thermal expansion element 16 expansion start temperature (℃), time (min) and expansion rate (%), the above expansion start temperature is designed at 275 ℃, the more obvious expansion start temperature is designed at 350 ℃ Of course, the higher the heat source temperature (>350℃), the higher the expansion rate (%). Fig. 7 shows that when the temperature of the heat source is lower than 260°C, the expansion rate has little relationship with time, and the curves of 240°C and 260°C show that the expansion rates are both less than 5%. When the heat source temperature is 275℃, the expansion rate reaches 130% within 5 minutes. When the heat source temperature is 350℃, the expansion rate will reach 580% within 3 minutes. When the heat source temperature is 600℃, the expansion rate reaches 950% within 3 minutes. Therefore, the preferred expansion start temperature is between 275°C and 600°C. Of course, the above three parameters (expansion start temperature, time, expansion rate) can all be adjusted. The formulation of the material can be adjusted according to actual needs, and the relationship between the three of the above three parameters can be modified.

Another option for the blocking element 16 of the present invention is the elastic element 16, which has insulating properties or has a high insulation resistance. For example, the elastic element 16 has a multilayer structure, the inner layer is a metal material with elasticity, and the outer layer is a polymer with insulation or high insulation resistance. Of course, the elastic element 16 of the present invention may also be a single-layer structure, and its main material includes a polymer with elasticity and high insulation resistance. The function of the elastic element 16 is that when the connecting materials 9 (1) and 9 (2) are cured (ie, in a solid state), the elastic element 16 is compressed by the conductor between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer shell 19. When the connection materials 9(1), 9(2) are melted or liquefied, the connection materials 9(1), 9(2) cannot compress the elastic element 16 between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer shell 19 by the conductor, the elastic element The elasticity of 16 pushes the conductor 8 away from the first terminal electrode 11 or the second terminal electrode 21 or the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21, therefore, disconnecting between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 The first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path. The thermal expansion element 16 or the elastic element 16 in this embodiment is applicable to all protection elements in the present invention. In the following, the blocking element 16 or the elastic element 16 is replaced by a thermal expansion element 16.

【Description of operation of protection element 888】

Please refer to FIG. 1, when a current lower than the rated current flows through the conductor 8 and the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2), the protection element 888 will not operate, maintaining the initial state of the protection element 888. Please refer to FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, when current higher than the rated current flows through the conductor 8 and the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2), the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2) will The conductor 8 and the connecting materials 9(1) and 9(2) generate heat to cause at least one of the connecting materials 9(1) and 9(2) to be melted or liquefied. At the same time, the thermal expansion element 16 also The conductor 8 and the connecting materials 9(1) and 9(2) themselves generate heat and expand, so that the current path of the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) is cut off. FIG. 8 shows that the connecting materials 9 (1) and 9 (2) are melted and the thermal expansion element 16 expands. The expanded thermal expansion element 16 pushes both ends of the conductor 8 away from the first end electrode 11 and the second end electrode 21. Therefore, The first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 is disconnected. It should be noted that the thermal expansion element 16 is interposed between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 after expansion. Because the thermal expansion element 16 has the characteristics of flame retardancy and high insulation resistance, the first terminal electrode 11 and the second The two terminal electrodes 21 can withstand higher rated current and rated voltage. In addition, the conductor 8 will not melt during the protection process of the protection element 888 or overcurrent (the current higher than the rated current value flows through the conductor 8). FIG. 9 shows that the connecting material 9 (2) is melted and the thermal expansion element 16 expands. The expanded thermal expansion element 16 pushes one end of the conductor 8 away from the second end electrode 21. Therefore, the first end electrode 11 and the second end electrode The first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path between 21 is broken. FIG. 10 shows that the connecting materials 9 (1) and 9 (2) are melted and the thermal expansion element 16 expands. The expanded thermal expansion element 16 pushes one end of the conductor 8 away from the first end electrode 11. Therefore, the first end electrode 11 The first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path with the second terminal electrode 21 is disconnected.

[Protection element 888a of the second embodiment]

11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888a according to a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the protection element 888a. The protection element 888a of this embodiment includes: an insulating outer shell 19; a plurality of terminal electrodes, including a first terminal electrode 11 and a second terminal electrode 21, penetrating the insulating outer shell 19 and being supported by the insulating outer shell 19; conductor 8, conductor 8 The two ends of the are electrically connected to the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 via connecting materials [9(1), 9(2)], respectively, to form a first between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 Bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path; heat collecting electrode 41, arranged between the first end electrode 11 and the second end electrode 21, and electrically connecting the conductor 8 via the connecting material 9(3); and thermal expansion element 16, arranged Between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer shell 19. The protection element 888a of this embodiment is similar to the protection element 888 of FIG. 1, but the main difference between the two is that the protection element 888a of this embodiment further includes a heat collecting electrode 41, which is disposed at the first end electrode 11 and the second end Between the electrodes 21, the conductor 8 is electrically connected via a connecting material 9(3). The melting points of the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2), 9(3) may be the same or different. The protection element 888a includes two thermal expansion elements 16, arranged between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer case 19, and one of them is arranged between the first terminal electrode 11 and the heat collecting electrode 41, and the other is arranged between the second terminal electrode 21 and Between the heat collecting electrodes 41. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection element 888a of this embodiment after operation. FIG. 12 shows that the melting point of the connection material 9(3) is higher than that of the connection materials 9(1) and 9(2). The connection materials 9(1), 9(2) are melted and the thermal expansion element 16 expands (but the connection material 9(3) is not melted or completely melted), the expanded thermal expansion element 16 pushes both ends of the conductor 8 away from the first end electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21, therefore, the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 is disconnected. Of course, the melting point of the connection material 9(1) may be higher than the melting point of the connection material 9(2), or the melting point of the connection material 9(2) may be higher than the melting point of the connection material 9(1). The conductor 8 is pushed away or sucked away or pulled away from the first terminal electrode 11 or the second terminal electrode 21 through the thermal expansion element 16 or the blocking element 16, therefore, the first between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 The bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path is broken. Other related descriptions of this embodiment are similar to those of the protection element 888 of the first embodiment, please refer to them by yourself, and will not repeat them here.

[Protection element 888b of the third embodiment]

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection element 888b of this embodiment after operation. FIG. 6 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the protection element 888b. The protection element 888b of this embodiment includes: an insulating outer casing 19; a plurality of terminal electrodes, including a first terminal electrode 11 and a second terminal electrode 21, penetrating the insulating outer casing 19 and supported by the insulating outer casing 19; a conductor 8, a conductor 8 The two ends of the are electrically connected to the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 via connecting materials [9(1), 9(2)], respectively, to form a first between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 A bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path; a magnetic element 17; and a thermal expansion element 16 are arranged between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer case 19. The protection element 888b of this embodiment is similar to the protection element 888 of FIG. 3, but the main difference between the two is that the protection element 888a of this embodiment further includes a magnetic element 17, which is disposed on the inner surface 19i of the insulating housing 19 or The insulating outer shell 19 is exposed or exposed on the inner surface 19 i of the insulating outer shell 19. The technical feature of the magnetic element 17 is that when the conductor 8 is pushed away from the first end electrode 11 and the second end electrode 21 by the thermal expansion element 16, the magnetic element 17 can attract the conductor 8 to the magnetic element 17 to prevent the conductor 8 from moving arbitrarily. The magnetic element 17 of this embodiment is also applicable to all other embodiments of the invention. Of course, in this embodiment, the thermal expansion element 16 may not be included, and the magnetic element 17 is used as the blocking element 16. When a current higher than the rated current flows through the conductor 8 and the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2), The connection material 9(1), 9(2) will cause at least one of the connection material 9(1), 9(2) to be affected by the conductor 8 and the connection material 9(1), 9(2) itself heating It melts or liquefies. At the same time, the magnetic element 17 has the characteristics of attracting the conductor 8 or metal due to its magnetism, so the conductor 8 can be attracted or pulled away from the first terminal electrode 11 or the second terminal electrode 21. Therefore, the first The first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path between the terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 is disconnected. Other related descriptions of this embodiment are similar to those of the protection element 888 of the first embodiment, please refer to them by yourself, and will not repeat them here.

[Protection element 888c of the fourth embodiment]

14 and 15 are schematic cross-sectional views of a protection element 888c according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 17 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the protection element 888c. The protection element 888c of this embodiment includes: an insulating outer shell 19; a plurality of terminal electrodes, including a first terminal electrode 11, a second terminal electrode 21, and a third terminal electrode 31, penetrate the insulating outer shell 19 and be supported by the insulating outer shell 19 ; Conductor 8, both ends of the conductor 8 are electrically connected to the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 via connecting materials [9 (1), 9 (2)], so that the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode A first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path is formed between 21; a heat generating component 7, electrically connected between the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path and the third terminal electrode 31; and a thermal expansion element 16, configured Between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer shell 19. The protection element 888c of this embodiment is similar to the protection element 888 of FIG. 3, but the main difference between the two is that the multiple terminal electrodes of the protection element 888c of this embodiment include the third terminal electrode 31. The protection element 888c of this embodiment further includes a heat generating component 7 electrically connected between the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path and the third terminal electrode 31. 14 shows that the heat generating element 7 is disposed above the second terminal electrode 21, and FIG. 16 shows that the heat generating element 7 is disposed below the second terminal electrode 21. The heat generating component 7 of the protection element 888c includes a heating element 7c and two heating element electrodes (ie, 7a, 7b). The heating element electrode 7a is electrically connected to one end of the heating element 7c, and the heating element electrode 7b is electrically connected to the other end of the heating element 7c. One end of the heating element 7c is electrically connected to the third terminal electrode 31 via the heating element electrode 7a, and the other end of the heating element 7c is electrically connected to the second terminal electrode 21 via the heating element electrode 7b.

【Thermal Generation Module 7】

The heat generating assembly 7 includes a heating element 7c and two heating element electrodes (ie, 7a, 7b), the heating element electrode 7a is electrically connected to one end of the heating element 7c, the heating element electrode 7b is electrically connected to the other end of the heating element 7c, and the heat generating element 7 It can be made into any shape or shape. The heat generating component 7 of this embodiment is formed in a wafer shape similar to a sandwich structure (eg, FIG. 14, the heating element 7c is sandwiched between the two heating element electrodes 7a, 7b). The heating element 7c is an element with a relatively high resistance value (compared to the conductor 8), and has the property of generating heat when passing current. The materials include ruthenium dioxide (RuO2), ruthenium oxide, zinc oxide, ruthenium, copper, and palladium , Platinum, titanium carbide, tungsten carbide, platinum, molybdenum, tungsten, carbon black, organic binders or inorganic binders, etc. One of the main components or part of the composition of the ceramic component as the main component. The heating electrode 7a, 7b may be a single-layer metal or multi-layer metal structure, and the materials of each layer include copper, tin, lead, iron, nickel, aluminum, titanium, platinum, tungsten, zinc, iridium, cobalt, palladium, silver, gold , An alloy of one or a part of iron carbonyl, nickel carbonyl, cobalt carbonyl, etc. All the heat generating components 7 of the present invention can be implemented in a manner similar to that described above.

[Description of operation of protection element 888c]

There are three situations in which the protection element 888c will occur. Case 1: Please refer to Figure 14. When the current below the rated current flows through the conductor 8 and the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2), the protection element 888c will not operate. The initial state of the protection element 888c is maintained. Case 2: When a current higher than the rated current flows through the conductor 8 and the connection materials 9(1), 9(2), the connection materials 9(1), 9(2) are affected by the conductor 8 and the connection material 9(1 ), 9(2) itself generates heat and causes at least one of the connection materials 9(1), 9(2) to be melted or liquefied, the conductor 8 is in the process of use or action of the protective element 888c, or, When the current flowing through the conductor 8 exceeds the rated current of the protection element 888c, the conductor 8 will not melt or melt due to its own heat generation. At the same time, the thermal expansion element 16 also expands due to the heat generated by the conductor 8 and the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2) itself, so the current path of the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) is disconnected, please refer to FIG. 13 (this (The protection element 888c of the embodiment operates similarly to the protection element 888b of FIG. 13). Case 3: When the heat generating component 7 is energized to generate heat, FIG. 16 shows that the connecting material 9(2) is melted and the thermal expansion element 16 expands. The expanded thermal expansion element 16 pushes both ends of the conductor 8 away from the second terminal electrode 21, therefore, The first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 is disconnected. The conductor 8 is not melted or melted due to the heat generated by the heat generating component 7 during the heat generation of the heat generating component 7. Other related descriptions of this embodiment are similar to those of the protection element 888 of the first embodiment, please refer to them by yourself, and will not repeat them here.

[Protection element 888d of the fifth embodiment]

18 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888d according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 23 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the protection element 888d. The protection element 888d of this embodiment includes: an insulating outer casing 19; a plurality of terminal electrodes, including a first terminal electrode 11, a second terminal electrode 21, and a third terminal electrode 31, penetrate the insulating outer casing 19 and be supported by the insulating outer casing 19 ; Conductor 8, both ends of the conductor 8 are electrically connected to the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 via connecting materials [9 (1), 9 (2)], so that the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode A first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path is formed between 21; the heat collecting electrode 41 is disposed between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21, and is electrically connected to the conductor 8 via a connecting material 9(3); The heat generating element 7 is electrically connected between the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path and the third terminal electrode 31 via the heat collecting electrode 41; and the thermal expansion element 16 is disposed between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer case 19. The protection element 888d of this embodiment is similar to the protection element 888a of FIG. 11, but the main difference between the two is that the multiple terminal electrodes of the protection element 888d of this embodiment include the third terminal electrode 31. The protection element 888c of this embodiment further includes a heat generating component 7 electrically connected between the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path and the third terminal electrode 31. Furthermore, the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 of the protection element 888d of this embodiment are floated in the insulating housing 19, and the third terminal electrode 31 is partially embedded in the insulating housing 19 and partially exposed in the insulating housing The inner surface of the body 19. The heat collecting electrode 41 is electrically connected to the conductor 8 via a connecting material 9 (3). The melting points of the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2), 9(3) may be the same or different. The heat generating component 7 includes a heating element 7c and two heating element electrodes (ie, 7a, 7b), the heating element electrode 7a is electrically connected to one end of the heating element 7c, the heating element electrode 7b is electrically connected to the other end of the heating element 7c, and the heat generating element 7 It can be made into any shape or shape. The heat generating component 7 of this embodiment is formed in a wafer shape similar to a sandwich structure (eg, FIG. 18, the heating element 7c is sandwiched between two heating element electrodes 7a, 7b). One end of the heat generating element 7 is electrically connected to the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path or conductor 8 via the heat collecting electrode 41, and the other end of the heat generating element 7 is electrically connected to the third end electrode 31. The other related descriptions of this embodiment are similar to the description of the protection element 888a of the second embodiment, please refer to it by yourself, and will not repeat them here.

【Description of operation of protection element 888d】

There are three situations that can occur with the protection element 888d. Case 1: Please refer to Figure 18. When the current below the rated current flows through the conductor 8 and the connecting materials 9(1) and 9(2), the protection element 888d will not operate. The initial state of the protection element 888d is maintained. Case 2: When a current higher than the rated current flows through the conductor 8 and the connecting materials 9(1), 9(2) (the current does not flow through the connecting material 9(3) and the heat generating component 7 is not energized and does not generate heat) , The connection material 9(1), 9(2) will cause at least one of the connection material 9(1), 9(2) due to the heat of the conductor 8 and the connection material 9(1), 9(2) itself It is melted or liquefied. At the same time, the thermal expansion element 16 also expands due to the heat of the conductor 8 and the connection materials 9(1), 9(2) itself, so the current path of the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) is disconnected. Refer to FIG. 12 (the protection element 888d of this embodiment is similar to the protection element 888a of FIG. 12). Case 3: When the heat generating component 7 is energized to generate heat, FIG. 19 shows that the heat energy of the heat generating component 7 is transferred to the connecting material 9(3), the conductor 8, the connecting material 9(1), 9(2) via the heat collecting electrode 41 And the thermal expansion element 16, so that the connection materials 9(1), 9(2), 9(3) are melted and the thermal expansion element 16 is expanded (FIG. 19 shows the connection materials 9(1), 9(2), 9(3) Melting point is the same or similar), the expanded thermal expansion element 16 pushes the conductor 8 away from the first end electrode 11, the second end electrode 21, and the collector electrode 41, therefore, the first end electrode 11 and the second end electrode 21 The current path of the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) between them is disconnected, and the current path of the heat generating component 7 is also disconnected, so the heat generating component 7 stops generating heat. Of course, the melting point of the connection material 9(3) can be higher than that of the connection materials 9(1), 9(2), the connection material 9(3) is not melted, and the expanding thermal expansion element 16 pushes the conductor 8 away from the first end electrode 11, The second terminal electrode 21 (similar to FIG. 12), therefore, the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 is disconnected. The conductor 8 is not melted or melted due to the heat generated by the heat generating component 7 during the heat generation of the heat generating component 7. In addition, the melting point of the connection material 9(1) may be higher than the melting point of the connection material 9(2), or the melting point of the connection material 9(2) may be higher than the melting point of the connection material 9(1). Both ends of the conductor 8 are pushed away or sucked away or pulled away from the first end electrode 11 and the second end electrode 21 successively by the thermal expansion element 16 or the blocking element 16, or the thermal expansion element 16 or the blocking element 16 connects the conductor 8 At least one of the first end electrode 11 and the second end electrode 21 is pushed away or sucked away or pulled away. Therefore, the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path between the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 is disconnected.

[Protection element 888e of the sixth embodiment]

20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888e according to a sixth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 23 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the protection element 888e. The protection element 888e of this embodiment includes: an insulating outer shell 19; a plurality of terminal electrodes, including a first terminal electrode 11, a second terminal electrode 21, and a third terminal electrode 31, penetrate the insulating outer shell 19 and be supported by the insulating outer shell 19 ; Conductor 8, both ends of the conductor 8 are electrically connected to the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode 21 via connecting materials [9 (1), 9 (2)], so that the first terminal electrode 11 and the second terminal electrode A first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path is formed between 21; an insulating substrate 10; a heat collecting electrode 41, arranged between the first end electrode 11 and the second end electrode 21, and electrically connected via a connecting material 9(3) The connection conductor 8; the heat generating element 7, which is arranged on the insulating substrate 10, and is electrically connected between the first bidirectional (Ic, Id) current path and the third terminal electrode 31 via the heat collecting electrode 41; and the thermal expansion element 16, which is arranged Between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer shell 19. The protection element 888e of this embodiment is similar to the protection element 888d of FIG. 18, but the main difference between the two is that the heat generating component 7 of the protection element 888e of this embodiment includes two heat generating components 7, the protection of this embodiment The element 888e further includes an insulating substrate 10. The type of the insulating substrate 10 includes an organic substrate or a glass fiber epoxy substrate (eg: FR4 or FR5) or an inorganic substrate or a ceramic substrate (eg: LTCC substrate or HTCC substrate), etc., preferably a ceramic substrate or low temperature co-firing Ceramic (LTCC) substrate, the material of the insulating substrate 10 includes inorganic ceramic materials, low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC), glass ceramics, glass powder, glass fiber, epoxy resin, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, zirconium oxide, nitride A composite or composite of one or a combination of silicon, boron nitride, calcium borosilicate, soda lime, aluminosilicate, lead borosilicate, and organic binder. The two heat generating modules 7 are arranged on the lower surface 10a of the insulating substrate 10 (not wafer-shaped forming), and the two heat generating modules 7 are electrically connected in parallel to each other. The thermal expansion element 16 is disposed between the conductor 8 and the insulating outer casing 19, and is also interposed between the heat generating component 7 and the conductor 8. The other related descriptions of this embodiment are similar to the description of the protection element 888d of the fifth embodiment, please refer to it by yourself, and it will not be repeated here.

【Protection element 888e】

21 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888e according to a modification. FIG. 23 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the protection element 888e. The protection element 888e of this modification is similar to the protection element 888e of FIG. 20, but the main difference is that the heat generating element 7 of the protection element 888e of this modification is arranged on the upper surface 10b of the insulating substrate 10. Other related descriptions of this modification are similar to the description of the protection element 888e of the sixth embodiment, please refer to it by yourself, and it will not be repeated here.

22 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection element 888e according to a modification. FIG. 23 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the protection element 888e. The protection element 888e of this modification is similar to the protection element 888e of FIG. 20, but the main difference between the two is that the heat generating element 7 of the protection element 888e of this modification is disposed in the insulating substrate 10. Other related descriptions of this modification are similar to those of the protection element 888e of the sixth embodiment, please refer to them by yourself, and no more details will be given here.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above in an embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone who has ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be deemed as defined in the appended patent application scope, and any similar changes within the spirit of the patent application scope of the present invention and the use of the description and drawings of the present invention shall be included in the patent of the present invention Within range.

888‧‧‧Protection element

8‧‧‧Conductor

9(1), 9(2)‧‧‧ connection material

11, 21‧‧‧ terminal electrode

11b, 21b ‧‧‧ terminal electrode lower surface

16‧‧‧Blocking element or thermal expansion element or elastic element or thermal deformation element or heat shrinkable element or magnetic element

19‧‧‧Insulated shell

19a‧‧‧Insulating shell cover

19b‧‧‧Insulating shell substrate

Claims (15)

A protection element, comprising: an insulating outer shell; a plurality of terminal electrodes, including a first terminal electrode and a second terminal electrode, the terminal electrodes penetrating and supported by the insulating outer shell; conductors, both ends of the conductor Respectively electrically connecting the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode via a connecting material to form a first bidirectional current path between the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode; and a blocking element disposed on the conductor Between the insulating outer casing, when the conductor itself generates heat due to the passage of a current higher than the rated current value, the blocking element disconnects the first bidirectional current path due to the heating of the conductor itself. As in the protection element described in item 1 of the patent application scope, the blocking element includes any one or a combination of a thermal expansion element, an elastic element, a thermal deformation element, a thermal shrinkage element, a memory element, and a magnetic element. The protection element according to item 1 or 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the blocking element is disposed between the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode. The protection element as described in item 1 of the patent application range, wherein the blocking element has insulation characteristics or has a high insulation resistance. The protection element as described in item 2 of the patent application range, wherein the thermal expansion element has flame retardancy. The protection element as described in item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the expansion start temperature of the thermal expansion element can be adjusted. The protection element as described in item 2 of the patent application range, wherein the expansion ratio of the thermal expansion element can be adjusted. The protection element as described in item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein after the thermal expansion element expands, when the heat source is lower than the expansion start temperature, the thermal expansion element still maintains the expanded shape. The protection element as described in item 1 of the patent application scope further includes a heat collecting electrode, the heat collecting electrode is coupled to the conductor, or the heat collecting electrode is electrically connected to the conductor. The protection element as described in item 1 or 9 of the patent application scope, wherein the terminal electrodes further include a third terminal electrode, and the protection element further includes a heat generating component that is coupled or electrically connected to the Between the first bidirectional current path and the third terminal electrode. The protection element as described in item 10 of the patent application scope further includes an insulating substrate, wherein the heat generating component is disposed on or in the insulating substrate. The protection element as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the melting point or liquefaction point of the connecting materials can be adjusted, and the temperature range is between 200°C and 580°C. The protection element as described in item 2 of the patent application range, wherein the magnetic element has a characteristic of attracting or attracting a conductor. The protection element according to item 1 or 9 of the patent application scope, wherein the first bidirectional current path is broken by the set of breaking elements, or the conductor is pushed by the blocking element At least one of the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode. The protection element as described in item 10 of the patent application scope, wherein, when the connecting material is melted, the blocking element pushes the conductor away from or sucks away or pulls away from at least one of the terminal electrodes, or , The blocking element pushes the two ends of the conductor away or sucks away or pulls away from the first end electrode and the second end electrode successively.

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