Stephen W Whitney, Age 59Fort Myers, FL

6351011, Feb 26, 2002

Jan 12, 2000

09/481927

Stephen J. Whitney - Lake Zurich IL
Jeffrey S. Niew - Burr Ridge IL
Michael J. Weber - Wheeling IL

Littlefuse, Inc. - Desplaines IL

H01L 2362

257355, 257787, 257659

A number of integrated circuit dies having on board protection against electrical overstress (EOS) transients are provided. Generally, the devices have an integrated circuit die with an outer periphery and a functional die area. A plurality of conductive input/output pads are formed on the integrated circuit die. Typically, a first conductive guard rail is disposed on the integrated circuit die and forms a gap between each one of the input/output pads. A voltage variable material is disposed in the gaps between the conductive guard rail and the input/output pads. Typically, a plurality of electrical leads are electrically connected to a respective one of the plurality of conductive input/output pads. At normal operating voltages, the voltage variable material is non-conductive. However, in response to an EOS transient, the voltage variable material switches to a low resistance state, providing a conductive path between the conductive guard rail and the input/output pads.

6507264, Jan 14, 2003

Aug 28, 2000

09/649113

Stephen J. Whitney - Lake Zurich IL

Littelfuse, Inc. - Des Plaines IL

H01H 8508

337159, 337158, 337295, 337405, 257690

A fuse element partially encapsulated in an arc-suppression material which can, in turn, be integrated along with a semiconductor device into a semiconductor package to provide overcurrent protection, as well as a method of integrating such a fuse along with a semiconductor device into a semiconductor package wherein the semiconductor package has a standard form factor based on the semiconductor device integrated within.

6510032, Jan 21, 2003

Mar 24, 2000

09/534277

Stephen J. Whitney - Lake Zurich IL

Littelfuse, Inc. - Des Plaines IL

H02H 322

361111, 361119

The present invention provides an integrated overvoltage and overcurrent circuit protection device for use in telecommunication circuits. The integrated protected circuit device combines an overcurrent device and a fuse and an overvoltage protection device such as a thyristor to respectively protect against overcurrent conditions and transient overvoltages. Integration of the two devices in a common package ensures proper coordination and matching of the components, reduces the final product cost and reduces the physical space required on a telecommunications circuit for overvoltage and overcurrent circuit protection.

6522515, Feb 18, 2003

Jan 6, 2000

09/478575

Stephen J. Whitney - Lake Zurich IL

Littelfuse, Inc. - Des Plaines IL

H02H 500

361104, 361 56, 361 911, 361 931

A connector port for providing power to a serial device and termination of differential signals received therefrom is provided. The port includes circuitry providing a data interface and a power interface. The data interface is operably connected between an input differential wire pair and an output differential wire pair for providing termination of the input wire pair and transmission of signal onto the output wire pair. Further, the power interface includes a fuse link operably connected between a voltage input and a voltage output for providing overcurrent protection.

6549114, Apr 15, 2003

Aug 19, 1999

09/379422

Stephen J. Whitney - Lake Zurich IL
Louis Rector - Allegany NY
Hugh M. Hyatt - Bremerton WA
Anthony D. Minervini - Orland Park IL
Honorio S. Luciano - Elk Grove Village IL

Littelfuse, Inc. - Des Plaines IL

H01L 710

338 21, 338 13, 338 20, 439181, 361127, 361782

An arrangement of voltage variable materials for the protection of electrical components from electrical overstress (EOS) transients. A device having a plurality of electrical leads, a ground plane and a layer of voltage variable material. The voltage variable material physically bonds the plurality of electrical leads to one another as well as provides an electrical connection between the plurality of electrical leads and the ground plane. A die having a circuit integrated therein is attached to the ground plane. Conductive members electrically connect the plurality of electrical leads to the integrated circuit. At normal operating voltages, the voltage variable material has a high resistance, thus channeling current from the electrical leads to the integrated circuit via the conductive members. In response to a high voltage EOS transient, the voltage variable material essentially instantaneously switches to a low resistance state, channeling the potentially harmful EOS transient to the ground plane and away from the integrated circuit.

6636404, Oct 21, 2003

Aug 28, 2000

09/649762

Stephen J. Whitney - Lake Zurich IL
David Zhang - Des Plaines IL
Scott Davidson - Woodstock IL

Littelfuse, Inc. - Des Plaines IL

H02H 322

361111, 361119

An integrated overvoltage and overcurrent circuit protection device for use in telecommunication circuits. The integrated circuit protection device combines a overcurrent device such as a fuse and a overvoltage protection device such as a thyristor to respectively protect against overcurrent conditions and transient overvoltages. Integration of multiple devices in a common package ensures proper coordination and matching of the components, reduces the final product cost and reduces the physical space required on a telecommunications circuit for overvoltage and overcurrent circuit protection.

6693508, Feb 17, 2004

Feb 9, 2000

09/500622

Stephen J. Whitney - Lake Zurich IL
Louis Rector - Allegany NY
Hugh M. Hyatt - Bremerton WA
Anthony D. Minervini - Orland Park IL
Honorio S. Luciano - Elk Grove Village IL

Littelfuse, Inc. - Des Plaines IL

H01L 713

338 20, 338 21, 338221, 361127

An arrangement of voltage variable materials for the protection of electrical components from electrical overstress (EOS) transients. A device having a plurality of electrical leads, a ground plane and a layer of voltage variable material. The voltage variable material physically bonds the plurality of electrical leads to one another as well as provides an electrical connection between the plurality of electrical leads and the ground plane. A die having a circuit integrated therein is attached to the ground plane. Conductive members electrically connect the plurality of electrical leads to the integrated circuit. At normal operating voltages, the voltage variable material has a high resistance, thus channeling current from the electrical leads to the integrated circuit via the conductive members. In response to a high voltage EOS transient, the voltage variable material essentially instantaneously switches to a low resistance state, channeling the potentially harmful EOS transient to the ground plane and away from the integrated circuit.

6815841, Nov 9, 2004

Nov 3, 1999

09/433499

William P. Brown - Rolling Meadows IL
James Chen - Palatine IL
Carl S. Reid - Northbrook IL
Demetrios Thanopoulos - Arlington Heights IL
Stephen J. Whitney - Lake Zurich IL

Littelfuse, Inc. - Des Plaines IL

B60Q 100

307 101, 361626, 439289, 439366, 307147

A fuse arrangement for use in a vehicle is provided having a configuration wherein a common bus terminal connected to a voltage supply is connected to terminals of one or more axial fuses. The other fuse terminals are, in turn, connected to a wiring harness that is located on an opposite side of the fuse box from the common bus terminal in a base of a fuse box. Additionally, the present invention includes a fuse array including a planar substrate with fuses constructed on the substrate by film metallization. Furthermore, the invention includes a carrier strip used for packaging automotive fuses that is made of a flexible material capable of being rolled into a package for shipping to an end user. The invention also includes a mini fuse having reduced terminal spacing for use in vehicles with mixed voltage systems wherein the reduced terminal spacing fuse is used for a particular voltage.