An externally-controllable thermal tripping device comprising a voltage dependent resistor including a voltage dependent resistor chip; a thermal tripper including a tripping electrode; and a controllable heating element. The tripping electrode is connected to an electrode of the voltage dependent resistor chip through a meltable welding material, and the controllable heating element is controlled by an external control device to generate heat and transmit generated heat to a commissure of said welding material to melt said welding material and electrically disconnect the tripping electrode from the voltage dependent resistor chip.

A battery control apparatus for a battery according to the present invention excludes a faulty battery cell from the connection between battery cells and at the same time automatically connects a replacement battery cell to the battery cells when a fault occurs in some of the battery cells, thereby allowing the output voltage of the battery to be kept constant in spite of the faulty battery cell. Further, in a state where a plurality of battery modules are connected in parallel, the battery control apparatus disconnects a battery module including a faulty battery cell during the replacement of the faulty battery cell, thereby preventing the output voltage of the battery from being discontinuous. In addition, a switch used in the battery control apparatus for a battery is a fusible switch including two separate fixed electrodes and one movable electrode.

A battery control apparatus for a battery according to the present invention excludes a faulty battery cell from the connection between battery cells and at the same time automatically connects a replacement battery cell to the battery cells when a fault occurs in some of the battery cells, thereby allowing the output voltage of the battery to be kept constant in spite of the faulty battery cell. Further, in a state where a plurality of battery modules are connected in parallel, the battery control apparatus disconnects a battery module including a faulty battery cell during the replacement of the faulty battery cell, thereby preventing the output voltage of the battery from being discontinuous. In addition, a switch used in the battery control apparatus for a battery is a fusible switch including two separate fixed electrodes and one movable electrode.

An externally-controllable thermal tripping device comprising a voltage dependent resistor including a voltage dependent resistor chip; a thermal tripper including a tripping electrode; and a controllable heating element. The tripping electrode is connected to an electrode of the voltage dependent resistor chip through a meltable welding material, and the controllable heating element is controlled by an external control device to generate heat and transmit generated heat to a commissure of said welding material to melt said welding material and electrically disconnect the tripping electrode from the voltage dependent resistor chip.

A circuit protection device includes: a housing (102) defining a cavity (130); a metal oxide varistor (110) disposed within the cavity; a movable electrode (122) attached to a first side of the metal oxide varistor by a solder connection (140); an arc shield (114) disposed within the housing on the first side of the metal oxide varistor and adjacent to the movable electrode; and a spring (120) attached to the arc shield, wherein the arc shield is mechanically biased against the movable electrode along a surface direction parallel to the first side when the spring is in a compressed state. The device is easy to assemble in lower cost and provides fast response to overheating caused by a fault condition.

A circuit protection device includes: a housing (102) defining a cavity (130); a metal oxide varistor (110) disposed within the cavity; a movable electrode (122) attached to a first side of the metal oxide varistor by a solder connection (140); an arc shield (114) disposed within the housing on the first side of the metal oxide varistor and adjacent to the movable electrode; and a spring (120) attached to the arc shield, wherein the arc shield is mechanically biased against the movable electrode along a surface direction parallel to the first side when the spring is in a compressed state. The device is easy to assemble in lower cost and provides fast response to overheating caused by a fault condition.

A device includes a thermally deformable assembly accommodated in a cavity of the interconnection part of an integrated circuit. The assembly can bend when there is a variation in temperature, so that its free end zone is displaced vertically. The assembly can be formed in the back end of line of the integrated circuit.

A device includes a thermally deformable assembly accommodated in a cavity of the interconnection part of an integrated circuit. The assembly can bend when there is a variation in temperature, so that its free end zone is displaced vertically. The assembly can be formed in the back end of line of the integrated circuit.

A power switch device has a housing, a movable shuttle and at least one shape memory alloy actuator. The housing has a cavity and stationary current carrying contacts which extend through the housing to the cavity. The movable shuttle with a bridge contact provided in the cavity. The at least one shape memory alloy actuator is attached to a first end of the shuttle and to a first end of the housing. The at least one shape memory alloy actuator is configured to respond to a first activation signal. The at least one shape memory alloy actuator contracts from an initial shape in response to the first actuation signal to move the shuttle and the bridge contact toward the stationary current carrying contacts to a closed position in which the bridge contact is positioned in electrical engagement with the stationary current carrying contacts.

A fuse element comprises a low melting point metal layer, a first high melting point metal layer having a higher melting point than a melting point of the low melting point metal layer, and a restricting portion including a high melting point material having a higher melting point than a melting point of the low melting point metal layer and configured to restrict flow of the low melting point metal or deformation of a layered body constituted by the first high melting point metal layer and the low melting point metal layer.