Electromechanical circuit breakers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the breakers can be integrated into battery management systems to simplify battery management circuitry and/or to provide redundancy to the battery management systems. In some embodiments, the breakers can be provided to reduce damage to the battery management systems during hot-swapping of a battery cell. The breakers can be automatically resettable or not automatically resettable in various embodiments.

An embodiment of an electric heating element is disclosed, including an electrically resistive inner heating element, an electrically resistive outer heating element, and a thermostat positioned underneath a centrally-positioned medallion and along a cold leg of the inner heating element. The thermostat is configured to selectively allow electrical current to be delivered to the inner heating element while maximum electrical current, for example, continues to be provided to the outer heating element. The thermostat cycles the electrical current on and off when detecting maximum and minimum desired temperatures radiated from the electric heating element. The inner heating element has a pair of cold legs that extend parallel to a pair of cold legs of the outer heating element, some or all of which may be supported by a terminal bracket.

A temperature-dependent switch, comprising a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a switching mechanism unit and a switching mechanism housing, in which the switching mechanism unit is arranged and held captively therein. Furthermore, the switch comprises a switch housing, in which the switching mechanism housing is arranged and held captively therein. The switching mechanism housing surrounds the switching mechanism unit from a first housing side, a second housing side opposite the first housing side, and a housing circumferential side extending between and transversely to the first and the second housing sides, and on the first housing side comprises an opening through which a movable contact part of the switching mechanism interacts with a stationary contact part arranged on the switch housing. The switching mechanism housing comprises an electrically conductive base body, which forms at least part of the second housing side, said part of the second housing side forming a freely accessible outside of the switch. The switch further comprises an insulator, which electrically insulates the base body of the switching mechanism housing from the switch housing and is arranged inside the switch housing.

Temperature-dependent switch, comprising a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a switching mechanism unit, which comprises a movable contact part coupled to a bimetallic snap-action disc, and having a switching mechanism housing, in which the switching mechanism unit is arranged and held captively therein. Furthermore, the switch comprises a switch housing, in which the switching mechanism housing is arranged and held captively therein, wherein the switch housing comprises a stationary contact part, which acts as a mating contact to the movable contact part. The switching mechanism housing comprises an electrically conductive first base body and the switching mechanism is configured so as, below a response temperature of the bimetallic snap-action disc, to keep the switch in a low-temperature position in which the switching mechanism establishes a first electrical connection via the movable contact part between the first base body and the stationary contact part, and, if the response temperature is exceeded, to bring the switch into a high-temperature position in which the switching mechanism interrupts the first electrical connection. The switch further comprises a PTC component, which is electrically connected parallel to the first electrical connection.

A temperature-dependent switch, comprising a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a switching mechanism unit, and having a switching mechanism housing, in which the switching mechanism unit is arranged and held captively therein, wherein the switching mechanism housing comprises a first base body composed of electrically conductive material. The temperature-dependent switch furthermore comprises a switch housing having a second base body composed of electrically insulating material, in which the switching mechanism housing is arranged and held captively therein, wherein the switch housing comprises a stationary contact part. The first base body of the switching mechanism housing surrounds the switching mechanism unit from a first housing side, a second housing side opposite the first housing side, and a housing circumferential side extending between and transversely to the first and the second housing sides, and on the first housing side comprises an opening through which a movable contact part of the switching mechanism unit interacts with the stationary contact part. The second base body of the switch housing surrounds the first housing side and the circumferential housing side of the switching mechanism housing.

One example device for overcurrent protection for wireless power receivers includes a wireless power antenna comprising a wire coil; a conditioning circuit electrically coupled to the wireless power antenna to receive an electric power signal from the wireless power antenna; a temperature-sensitive fuse electrically coupled between the wireless power antenna and the conditioning circuit and configured to electrically decouple the wireless power antenna from the conditioning circuit in response to being blown; and a thermal energy source configured to generate thermal energy based on an electrical signal from an output of the conditioning circuit, the thermal energy source positioned proximate the temperature-sensitive fuse.

A temperature-dependent switch has a first and a second stationary counter contact and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism with a contact member. The switching mechanism, in its first switching position, presses the contact member against the first counter contact and, in this case, produces an electrically conducting connection between the two counter contacts via the contact member. The switching mechanism, in its second switching position, holds the contact member at a spacing from the first counter contact. A closing lock is provided, which prevents the switch, once opened, from closing again. The closing lock locks the temperature-dependent switching mechanism permanently in the second switching position thereof in a mechanical manner.

An embodiment of an electric heating element is disclosed, including an electrically resistive inner heating element, an electrically resistive outer heating element, and a thermostat positioned underneath a centrally-positioned medallion and along a cold leg of the inner heating element. The thermostat is configured to selectively allow electrical current to be delivered to the inner heating element while maximum electrical current, for example, continues to be provided to the outer heating element. The thermostat cycles the electrical current on and off when detecting maximum and minimum desired temperatures radiated from the electric heating element. The inner heating element has a pair of cold legs that extend parallel to a pair of cold legs of the outer heating element, some or all of which may be supported by a terminal bracket.

A miniature safety switch is used in motor vehicle electronics. The miniature safety switch has a housing base, from which a fixed contact arm and a bimetallic contact arm, which has a moving contact and a bimetallic snap disk attached thereto, are led out. A PTC resistor is brought into direct contact with the bimetallic snap disk by a compression spring and is electrically integrated in such a way that, as a result of the heat generated by the PTC resistor, the bimetallic snap disk remains in the open position thereof in the event of triggering.

A breaker is provided with a first terminal piece on which a fixed contact is formed, a movable piece with a movable contact for pressing the movable contact against the fixed contact so as to contact therewith, a thermally-actuated element deforming with a change in temperature and moving the movable piece so that the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact, and a second terminal piece electrically connected to the movable piece. The movable contact includes a first movable contact and a second movable contact arranged at a first end portion and a second end portion, respectively, of the movable piece in its longitudinal direction. The fixed contact includes a first fixed contact arranged at a position with which the first movable contact can contact, and a second fixed contact arranged at a position with which the second movable contact can contact.