Electromechanical relay constructions comprise an external housing, a pair of switchable electrical contacts disposed within the housing, an element for activating the pair of electrical contacts, and a temperature sensing element disposed within the housing adjacent the electrical contracts. The temperature sensing element provides a signal for determining the temperature within the relay housing. The relay may comprise two or more temperature sensing elements disposed within the housing a desired distance from one another. The temperature sensing element may be attached to a member or substrate disposed within the housing, may be attached to an existing internal structure of the housing, or may be attached to one of the contacts. The temperature sensing element may be selected from the group consisting of resistance temperature detectors, negative temperature coefficient thermistors, thermopile sensors, thermocouples, and combinations thereof.

Electromechanical relay constructions comprise an external housing, a pair of switchable electrical contacts disposed within the housing, an element for activating the pair of electrical contacts, and a temperature sensing element disposed within the housing adjacent the electrical contracts. The temperature sensing element provides a signal for determining the temperature within the relay housing. The relay may comprise two or more temperature sensing elements disposed within the housing a desired distance from one another. The temperature sensing element may be attached to a member or substrate disposed within the housing, may be attached to an existing internal structure of the housing, or may be attached to one of the contacts. The temperature sensing element may be selected from the group consisting of resistance temperature detectors, negative temperature coefficient thermistors, thermopile sensors, thermocouples, and combinations thereof.

Testable sealed and/or self-diagnosing electromagnetic or solid-state relays simplify troubleshooting of electrical circuits. The testable relay comprises a relay housing with terminals adapted to connect to a circuit and an opposing top wall with testable terminals formed as projections being flush with or extending from the top wall and being exposed for testing the relay by applying a multimeter device. A self-diagnosing relay comprises a relay housing with terminals adapted to connect to a circuit, and at least two light-emitting diodes (LEDs). One of the LED indicates the relay is energized, and another LED light is a diagnostic LED and indicates if the relay is damaged.

Testable sealed and/or self-diagnosing electromagnetic or solid-state relays simplify troubleshooting of electrical circuits. The testable relay comprises a relay housing with terminals adapted to connect to a circuit and an opposing top wall with testable terminals formed as projections being flush with or extending from the top wall and being exposed for testing the relay by applying a multimeter device. A self-diagnosing relay comprises a relay housing with terminals adapted to connect to a circuit, and at least two light-emitting diodes (LEDs). One of the LED indicates the relay is energized, and another LED light is a diagnostic LED and indicates if the relay is damaged.

Provided is an electrical connection box including a housing casing for housing a relay, and a heat transfer sheet for transferring heat from the relay to the housing casing, the electrical connection box including: a bus bar provided between a top surface and an inside surface that correspond to each other in the housing casing so as to oppose the top surface and the inside surface; a first holding portion protruding from the inside surface and holding the bus bar via the heat transfer sheet; and a second holding portion protruding from the top surface and holding the bus bar.

Provided is an electrical connection box including a housing casing for housing a relay, and a heat transfer sheet for transferring heat from the relay to the housing casing, the electrical connection box including: a bus bar provided between a top surface and an inside surface that correspond to each other in the housing casing so as to oppose the top surface and the inside surface; a first holding portion protruding from the inside surface and holding the bus bar via the heat transfer sheet; and a second holding portion protruding from the top surface and holding the bus bar.

A base plate for an electronic component, in particular an electronic relay, has a plate-shaped base body, in particular made of plastic, and at least one electrical contact. The electrical contact fully extends through the base body. At one end the electrical contact forms an electrical terminal of the electronic component, in particular of the relay. At another end the electrical contact has an electrically conductive connection section which can be connected to a circuit board without soldering, in particular by being pressed into the circuit board, to form a permanent electrical connection.

A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a moveable element within a cavity. The MEMS device also includes a first layer over the cavity, the first layer having a first hole and a second hole. The first hole has a first diameter. The second hole has a second diameter. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter, and the second hole is farther from the moveable element than the first hole. The first hole is sealed with a first dielectric material. The second hole is sealed with a second dielectric material. The cavity filled with a gas at a pressure of at least approximately 10 torr.

A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a moveable element within a cavity. The MEMS device also includes a first layer over the cavity, the first layer having a first hole and a second hole. The first hole has a first diameter. The second hole has a second diameter. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter, and the second hole is farther from the moveable element than the first hole. The first hole is sealed with a first dielectric material. The second hole is sealed with a second dielectric material. The cavity filled with a gas at a pressure of at least approximately 10 torr.

A trailer break-away switch comprises an electromechanical means to energize a towed trailer brake in the event of unintended decoupling of the trailer from the towing vehicle. When in normal operation, the trailer break-away switch operates as a normally open switch between the stored energy source (the battery) on the trailer and the trailer brake system. In the event of unintended decoupling of the trailer from the towing vehicle, a pin is pulled from the trailer break-away switch, which activates the switch. Activating the switch allows electrical power to be connected to the trailer brake system. In some cases, the switch directly connects a trailer battery to the electromagnetic coils of the electric brakes.