Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Electrostatic capacitors – Fixed capacitor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-06
2001-10-30
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Electrostatic capacitors
Fixed capacitor
C361S309000, C361S308100, C361S310000, C361S303000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06310758
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lead terminal to be connected and to hold an electronic component elements, such as, an energy-trap type piezoelectric resonator, and the present invention also relates to an electronic component including such a lead terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a lead terminal including a U-shaped cup-like section has been used as a lead terminal and joined to an electronic component device, such as a piezoelectric resonator. An example of this type of lead terminal is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 63-67908.
FIG. 6
illustrates lead terminals each having a U-shaped cup-like section. In lead terminals
51
and
52
shown in
FIG. 6
, substantially U-shaped cup-like sections
51
b
and
52
b
are arranged to extend continuously with and along side ends of corresponding linear lead terminal bodies
51
a
and
52
a
. The lead terminal bodies
51
a
and
52
a
consist of narrow plate-shaped members. In the structure of the U-shaped cup-like section
51
b
, a pair of stopper sections
51
b
, and
51
b
2
are arranged to extend continuously beside each other at one end of the U-shaped cup-like section
51
b
. In the structure of the U-shaped cup-like section
52
b
, a pair of stopper sections
52
b
1
and
52
b
2
are arranged to extend continuously beside each other at one end of the U-shaped cup-like section
52
b.
The lead terminals
51
and
52
are obtained by punching out plate-shaped, metallic members, and by bending ends of the punched out plate-shaped, metallic members to form the U-shaped cup-like sections
51
b
and
52
b.
As shown in
FIG. 7A
which is a horizontal sectional view, when the pair of lead terminals
51
and
52
shown in
FIG. 6
are used, a piezoelectric resonator
53
is held by inserting the resonator between the U-shaped cup-like sections
51
b
and
52
b
. More specifically, one end of the piezoelectric resonator
53
is inserted into and soldered to the U-shaped cup-like section
51
b
in order to electrically connect the U-shaped cup-like section
51
b
to one of the electrodes of the piezoelectric resonator
53
. Similarly, the other end of the piezoelectric resonator
53
is inserted into the U-shaped cup-like section
52
b
in order to electrically connect the other electrode of the piezoelectric resonator
53
to the U-shaped cup-like section
52
b.
Accordingly, the piezoelectric resonator
53
can be reliably held by the pair of lead terminals
51
and
52
. In addition, the electrodes of the piezoelectric resonator
53
can be electrically connected to the corresponding lead terminals
51
and
52
.
As shown in
FIGS. 7A and 7B
, however, when the piezoelectric resonator
53
that is relatively thin, and a piezoelectric resonator
53
A that is relatively thick, are used, the distance or space between the pair of lead terminals
51
b
and
52
b
must inevitably be changed. In other words, since the space between the lead terminals
51
and
52
varies with the thicknesses of the piezoelectric resonators
53
and
53
A, the space between the lead terminals
51
and
52
cannot be made constant without correcting the sizes of the piezoelectric resonators
53
and
53
A in the direction of a line connecting the lead terminals
51
and
52
. Therefore, in producing the piezoelectric resonator
53
or
53
A, the piezoelectric resonator
53
or
53
A must be cut out from a mother piezoelectric plate in correspondence with its position between the lead terminals
51
and
52
. Consequently, not only is a substrate used with poor efficiency and the steps of producing the piezoelectric resonators
53
and
53
A made complicated, but costs are also increased.
The stopper sections
51
b
1
,
51
b
2
,
52
b
1
and
52
b
2
are placed at both sides of the piezoelectric resonator
53
or
53
A in the thickness direction thereof, so that the size of a completed piezoelectric resonator component in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric resonator
53
or
53
A inevitably becomes much larger. Therefore, the size of the piezoelectric resonator part cannot be reduced.
Wire rods having circular end surfaces, that is, round wire rods, are frequently used for the lead terminals which are attached to various types of electronic component devices such as piezoelectric resonators. Such lead terminals are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 7-291344 and 6-251905.
Although round wire rods with various forms such as a round wire rod with a bent section at an intermediate portion thereof have been proposed, rods having a U-shaped cup-like section for holding an electronic component device are not known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide lead terminals which are to be attached to and hold an electronic component device therebetween, the lead terminals being arranged and constructed to allow spaces between the lead terminals to be constant regardless of the thickness of the electronic component device used, and to allow for reduction in size of the electronic component in the thickness direction of the electronic component device.
Also, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic component including the leads having the unique characteristics described in the preceding paragraph.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a lead terminal for use in holding an electronic component device and being electrically connected to the electronic component device includes a substantially linear lead terminal body, and a substantially L-shaped end section including a first side and a second side. The first side is located at one end of the lead terminal body so as to be located in substantially the same plane as the lead terminal body by bending a portion of the substantially L-shaped end section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lead terminal body. The second side is defined by a bent portion including one end of the first side that is bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane including the lead terminal body. In the lead terminal, the electronic component device is held by the first side and the second side of the substantially L-shaped end section.
The internal angle between the first side and the second side is preferably within a range of about 85° to about 90°.
The length of the second side is preferably about 0.2 mm to about 0.9 mm greater than the size, measured along the second side of the lead terminal, of a side of the electronic component device to which the lead terminal is attached.
The length of the lead terminal body is preferably greater than the size of the electronic component device measured along the lengthwise direction of the lead terminal body. In addition, a portion of the electronic component device extending in the lengthwise direction of the lead terminal body is preferably held along the full length thereof by the lead terminal.
The lead terminal may be attached to a piezoelectric resonator that defines the electronic component device.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electronic component includes a lead having a lead terminal used to hold an electronic component device and electrically connected to the electronic component. The lead terminal includes a substantially linear lead terminal body, and a substantially L-shaped end section including a first side and a second side. The first side is located at one end of the lead terminal body so as to be located in the same plane as the lead terminal body by bending a portion of the substantially L-shaped end section in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the lead terminal body. The second side is located at one end of the first side so as to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane including the lead terminal body. The electronic component also inc
Ha Nguyen
Keating & Bennett LLP
Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Reichard Dean A.
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