JP2015099756A - Short-circuit element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a short-circuit element that short-circuits between open electrodes before a power-feeding circuit of a heat-generating body is cut off.SOLUTION: A short-circuit element includes: first and second electrodes 11 and 12; a first supporting electrode 21 supporting a first soluble conductor 14 together with the first electrode 11; a second supporting electrode 22 supporting a second soluble conductor 15 together with the second electrode 12; a heat-generating body 16; and a third electrode 13 connected to the first electrode 11 via the heat-generating body 16 and the first soluble conductor 14. A power-feeding path 3 to the heat-generating body 16 that goes through the heat-generating body 16, the third electrode 13, the first soluble conductor 14, and the first electrode 11 is provided, and the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited by the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 being biased and agglutinated on the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 side due to heat generation of the heat-generating body 16, and then the connection between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 is cut off.

Description

  The present invention relates to a short-circuit element that physically and electrically shorts an open power supply line and signal line with an electrical signal.

  Many secondary batteries that can be charged and used repeatedly are processed into battery packs and provided to users. Particularly in lithium ion secondary batteries with high weight energy density, in order to ensure the safety of users and electronic devices, in general, a battery pack incorporates a number of protection circuits such as overcharge protection and overdischarge protection, It has a function of shutting off the output of the battery pack in a predetermined case.

  This type of protection element includes an overcharge protection or overdischarge protection operation of the battery pack by turning on / off the output using an FET switch built in the battery pack. However, when the FET switch is short-circuited for some reason, a lightning surge or the like is applied and an instantaneous large current flows, or the output voltage drops abnormally due to the life of the battery cell, or excessively abnormal Even when the voltage is output or the voltage variation of each of the battery cells connected in series increases, the battery pack and the electronic device must be protected from accidents such as ignition. Therefore, in order to safely shut off the output of the battery cell in any possible abnormal state, a protection element made of a fuse element having a function of cutting off the current path by an external signal is used. .

  As a protection element of a protection circuit for a lithium ion secondary battery or the like, as described in Patent Document 1, it can be extended between the first electrode, the heating element extraction electrode, and the second electrode on the current path. There is a type in which a molten conductor is connected to form a part of a current path, and the fusible conductor on the current path is melted by a self-heating due to an overcurrent or a heating element provided inside the protective element. In such a protective element, the melted liquid soluble conductor is collected on the conductor layer connected to the heating element to separate the first and second electrodes and cut off the current path.

JP 2010-003665 A JP 2004-185960 A JP 2012-003878 A

  By the way, in recent years, HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and EV (Electric Vehicle) using a battery and a motor are rapidly spreading. As a power source for HEV and EV, a lithium ion secondary battery has been used from the viewpoint of energy density and output characteristics. In automobile applications, a high voltage and a large current are required. For this reason, dedicated cells that can withstand high voltages and large currents have been developed, but in many cases due to manufacturing cost problems, it is necessary to connect multiple battery cells in series and in parallel to use general-purpose cells. Secures the correct voltage and current.

  Here, in a car or the like that is moving at high speed, sudden reduction in driving force or sudden stop may be dangerous, and battery management that assumes an emergency is required. For example, when a battery system abnormality occurs during traveling, it is preferable to supply a driving force for moving to a repair shop or a safe place, or a driving force for a hazard lamp or an air conditioner.

  However, in a battery pack in which a plurality of battery cells as in Patent Document 1 are connected in series, when a protection element is provided only on the charge / discharge path, an abnormality occurs in a part of the battery cell, and the protection element When is operated, the charging / discharging path of the entire battery pack is interrupted, and no more power can be supplied.

  Therefore, in order to eliminate only abnormal battery cells in a battery pack composed of a plurality of cells and effectively use normal battery cells, a short circuit that can bypass only abnormal battery cells can be formed. Devices have been proposed.

  FIG. 28 shows a configuration example of a short-circuit element, and FIG. 29 shows a circuit diagram of a battery circuit to which the short-circuit element is applied. As shown in FIG. 29, the short-circuit element 50 is connected in parallel with the battery cell 51 on the charge / discharge path, and melts with the first and second open electrodes 52 and 53 that are normally open. Two fusible conductors 54 and 54 that short-circuit the first and second open electrodes 52 and 53, and a heating element 55 that is connected in series with the fusible conductor 54 and melts the fusible conductor 54.

  In the short-circuit element 50, a heating element 55 and an external connection electrode 61 connected to one end of the heating element 55 are formed on an insulating substrate 60 such as a ceramic substrate. Further, the short-circuit element 50 includes a heating element electrode 63 connected to the other end of the heating element 55 via an insulating layer 62 such as glass on the heating element 50, first and second open electrodes 52, 53, And the 1st, 2nd support electrodes 64 and 65 which support the soluble conductor 54 with the 1st, 2nd open electrodes 52 and 53 are formed.

  The first support electrode 64 is connected to the heating element electrode 63 exposed on the insulating layer 62 and is adjacent to the first open electrode 52. The first support electrode 64 supports both sides of one soluble conductor 54 together with the first open electrode 52. Similarly, the second support electrode 65 is adjacent to the second open electrode 53 and supports both sides of the other soluble conductor 54 together with the second open electrode 53.

  The short-circuit element 50 forms a power feeding path from the external connection electrode 61 to the first open electrode 52 through the heat generating body 55, the heat generating body electrode 63, and the soluble conductor 54.

  The heating element 55 self-heats when current flows through the power supply path, and melts the soluble conductor 54 by this heat (Joule heat). As shown in FIG. 29, the heating element 55 is connected to a current control element 56 such as an FET via an external connection electrode 61. The current control element 56 regulates power supply to the heating element 55 when the battery cell 51 is normal, and controls the current to flow to the heating element 55 via the charge / discharge path when abnormal.

  When an abnormal voltage or the like is detected in the battery cell 51, the battery circuit using the short-circuit element 50 shuts off the battery cell 51 from the charge / discharge path by the protection element 57 and activates the current control element 56. A current is passed through the heating element 55. Thereby, the soluble conductor 54 is melted by the heat of the heating element 55. The soluble conductor 54 is biased toward the first and second open electrodes 52 and 53 having a relatively large area and then melted, and the molten conductor is aggregated and bonded between the two open electrodes 52 and 53. Therefore, the open electrodes 52 and 53 are short-circuited by the molten conductor of the fusible conductor 54, thereby forming a current path that bypasses the battery cell 51.

  In addition, the short-circuiting element 50 opens the space between the first support electrode 64 and the first open electrode 52 when the fusible conductor 54 moves to the first open electrode 52 side and melts, thereby generating a heating element. Since the power supply path to 55 is interrupted, the heat generation of the heating element 55 stops.

  Here, in this type of short-circuit element 50, it is required to reliably short-circuit the open electrodes 52 and 53 by melting the soluble conductor 54. That is, the short-circuit element 50 is to short-circuit the open electrodes 52 and 53 by agglomeration of the melted conductor of the soluble conductor 54 between the open electrodes 52 and 53. The support electrode 64 and the first open electrode 52 are opened, whereby the power supply path to the heating element 55 is blocked, and the soluble conductor 54 cannot be heated any more.

  Therefore, the short-circuit element 50 is formed between the first support electrode 64 and the first open electrode 52 by the movement of the soluble conductor 54 before the molten conductor of the soluble conductor 54 is aggregated between the open electrodes 52 and 53. When is opened, the first and second open electrodes 52 and 53 cannot be short-circuited, and energization to the heating element 55 is also stopped, so that a bypass current path cannot be formed. Therefore, in various circuits such as a battery circuit, a short-circuit element that can reliably short-circuit between open electrodes and form a bypass current path by melting a soluble conductor is desired.

  In addition to the power supply circuit, for example, activation of various devices is not performed by software, but physically or irreversibly using a short-circuit element. It has also been proposed to reliably activate the device by short-circuiting and conducting the functional circuit. Even in this type of activation circuit, it is necessary to reliably short-circuit the open electrodes and to make the functional circuit conductive by melting the soluble conductor.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a short-circuit element that can reliably short-circuit between open electrodes before the power feeding circuit of the heating element is shut off.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a short-circuit element according to the present invention includes first and second electrodes that are arranged close to each other and open, and a first support electrode that is adjacent to the first electrode. A second support electrode adjacent to the second electrode, a first soluble conductor supported by the first electrode and the first support electrode, a second electrode and a second A first fusible conductor supported by a support electrode; a heating element for melting the first and second fusible conductors; and disposed adjacent to the first electrode and opened to be connected to the heating element. And a third electrode connected to the first electrode via the first soluble conductor, the heating element, the third electrode, the first soluble conductor, And a power supply path to the heating element via the first electrode, the heat generation of the heating element, When the first and second fusible conductors are melted and biased toward the first and second electrodes, the first and second electrodes are short-circuited through the molten conductors, and the first possible conductor is The molten conductor aggregates on the first electrode, whereby the first and third electrodes are cut off.

  The short-circuit element according to the present invention includes first and second electrodes that are arranged close to each other and open, a first fusible conductor supported by the first electrode, and the first electrode. A heating element for melting the fusible conductor, and disposed close to and open to the first electrode, connected to the heating element and connected to the first electrode via the first fusible conductor. A power supply path to the heating element via the heating element, the third electrode, the first soluble conductor, and the first electrode, Due to the heat generated by the heating element, the first soluble conductor melts and aggregates on the first and second electrodes, whereby the first and second electrodes are short-circuited through the molten conductor, The first soluble conductor is aggregated on the first electrode, so that the first and third electrodes are Are those cross.

  According to the present invention, since the third electrode constituting the power feeding path to the heating element is provided separately from the first supporting electrode that supports the first soluble conductor, the heating element is heated by the heating element. Even if the first electrode and the first support electrode are blocked by the first fusible conductor being biased and melted, the first and second electrodes are short-circuited via the molten conductor. In addition, it is possible to prevent the power supply path to the heating element from being interrupted, and to reliably short-circuit the first and second electrodes.

1A and 1B are diagrams showing a short-circuit element according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an electrode arrangement of the short-circuit element according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a state before the operation of the short-circuit element according to the present invention. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a state in which the first and second soluble conductors heated by the heating element are biased, where FIG. 4A is a plan view and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the first and second electrodes are short-circuited and the conduction with the third electrode is interrupted by the fusion of the molten conductors of the first and second fusible conductors. , (A) is a plan view, and (B) is a cross-sectional view. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a state after the operation of the short-circuit element according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state in which the feeding electrode is cut off before the first and second electrodes are short-circuited in the short-circuit element that serves as both the supporting electrode that supports the soluble conductor and the electrode that feeds power to the heating element. FIG. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a short-circuit element in which a heating element is provided at a position that does not overlap with the third electrode. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing an electrode arrangement of a short-circuit element in which the second support electrode and the second soluble conductor are not provided, where FIG. 9A is a plan view and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a state before the operation of the short-circuit element in which the second support electrode and the second soluble conductor are not provided, where FIG. 10A is a plan view and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the first soluble conductor heated by the heating element is biased in the short-circuit element in which the second support electrode and the second soluble conductor are not provided. Is a plan view, and (B) is a sectional view. FIG. 12 is a short-circuit element in which the second support electrode and the second soluble conductor are not provided, and the first and second electrodes are short-circuited by the molten conductor of the first soluble conductor, and the third electrode and It is a figure which shows the state by which conduction | electrical_connection was interrupted | blocked, (A) is a top view, (B) is sectional drawing. FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a battery circuit to which the short-circuit element according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a short-circuit element in which a heating element is formed on the surface of an insulating substrate. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a short-circuit element in which a heating element is formed on the back surface of the insulating substrate. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a short-circuit element in which a heating element is formed inside an insulating substrate. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a short-circuit element in which a heating element is formed in parallel with the first to third electrodes on the surface of the insulating substrate. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a soluble conductor having a high-melting-point metal layer and a low-melting-point metal layer and having a coating structure. FIG. 18A shows a structure in which the high-melting-point metal layer is an inner layer and is covered with a low-melting-point metal layer. (B) shows a structure in which a low melting point metal layer is used as an inner layer and is covered with a high melting point metal layer. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a soluble conductor having a laminated structure of a high melting point metal layer and a low melting point metal layer, wherein (A) shows an upper and lower two layer structure, and (B) shows a three layer structure of an inner layer and an outer layer. . FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a soluble conductor having a multilayer structure of a high melting point metal layer and a low melting point metal layer. FIG. 21 is a plan view showing a fusible conductor in which a linear opening is formed on the surface of the refractory metal layer and the low melting point metal layer is exposed. FIG. 21A shows the opening along the longitudinal direction. The formed part (B) has an opening formed in the width direction. FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a soluble conductor in which a circular opening is formed on the surface of the high melting point metal layer and the low melting point metal layer is exposed. FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a soluble conductor in which a circular opening is formed in a refractory metal layer and a low melting metal is filled therein. FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a soluble conductor from which a low melting point metal surrounded by a high melting point metal is exposed. 25 is a diagram showing a state before the operation of the short-circuit element using the fusible conductor shown in FIG. 24, (A) is a plan view, and (B) is a sectional view. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a state where the first and second soluble conductors heated by the heating element are biased in the short-circuit element using the soluble conductor shown in FIG. 24, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view. FIG. 27 shows a short-circuit element using the fusible conductor shown in FIG. 24, in which the first and second electrodes are short-circuited by the molten conductor of the first and second fusible conductors and is electrically connected to the third electrode. It is a figure which shows the state by which was interrupted | blocked, (A) is a top view, (B) is sectional drawing. FIG. 28 is a plan view showing a short-circuit element that doubles as a support electrode that supports a soluble conductor and an electrode that supplies power to a heating element. FIG. 29 is a circuit diagram of a battery circuit to which the short-circuit element shown in FIG. 28 is applied.

  Hereinafter, a short circuit element to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, the drawings are schematic, and the ratio of each dimension may be different from the actual one. Specific dimensions should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, it is a matter of course that portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios are included between the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B), the short-circuit element 1 to which the present invention is applied is arranged on the insulating substrate 10 so as to be close to each other and open to the first and second electrodes 11 and 12. The first soluble conductor 14 supported by the first electrode 11, the second soluble conductor 15 supported by the second electrode 12, and the first and second soluble conductors 14, 15 The heating element 16 that melts and the first electrode 11 is disposed in close proximity to the heating element 16 and is opened. The heating element 16 is connected to the heating element 16 and is connected to the first electrode 11 through the first soluble conductor 14. A third electrode 13 is provided.

[Insulated substrate]
The insulating substrate 10 is formed in a substantially square shape using an insulating member such as alumina, glass ceramics, mullite, zirconia, and the like. In addition, the insulating substrate 10 may be made of a material used for a printed wiring board such as a glass epoxy board or a phenol board, but the temperature at the time of fusing of the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 is noted. There is a need to.

[Heating element]
The heating element 16 is a conductive member that has a relatively high resistance value and generates heat when energized, and is made of, for example, W, Mo, Ru, or the like. These alloys, compositions, or compound powders are mixed with a resin binder or the like to form a paste using a screen printing technique and then fired.

  The heating element 16 is covered with an insulating layer 17 on the surface 10 a of the insulating substrate 10. The insulating layer 17 is provided to protect and insulate the heating element 16 and to efficiently transmit the heat of the heating element 16 to the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 and is made of, for example, a glass layer. When the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are heated by the heating element 16, the molten conductors of the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 can be easily aggregated. On the insulating layer 17, first to third electrodes 11 to 13 and first and second support electrodes 21 and 22 are formed.

  The heating element 16 has one end connected to the heating element electrode 18 and the other end connected to the third electrode 13 via the heating element extraction electrode 19. The heating element electrode 18 is provided with an external connection terminal 18 a led to the side edge of the insulating substrate 10. The heating element 16 is connected to an external circuit through the external connection terminal 18a.

[First to third electrodes, first and second support electrodes]
When the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are arranged close to each other and opened, and the short-circuit element 1 operates, the molten conductors of the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 described later are aggregated and bonded. The switch 2 is short-circuited through the molten conductor. The first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are provided with external connection terminals 11 a and 12 a at the side edges of the insulating substrate 10, respectively. The first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are connected to an external circuit such as a power supply circuit and a digital signal circuit through the external connection terminals 11a and 12a, and the short circuit element 1 operates to bypass the external circuit. It becomes a current path or a power supply path to the functional circuit.

  The third electrode 13 is formed on the insulating layer 17, is connected to the heating element 16 through the heating element extraction electrode 19, and is disposed close to the first electrode 11. The third electrode 13 is connected to the first electrode 11 via the first soluble conductor 14. Thus, the short-circuit element 1 is transferred to the heating element 16 via the heating element electrode 18, the heating element 16, the heating element extraction electrode 19, the third electrode 13, the first soluble conductor 14, and the first electrode 11. Is provided.

  Energization of the power supply path 3 is controlled by a current control element 32 connected to the heating element electrode 18, and energization is performed as necessary, such as when an abnormal voltage of the battery or activation of the device, and the heating element 16 generates heat. Further, in the energization path 3, the first electrode 11 and the third electrode connected via the first soluble conductor 14 are melted when the first soluble conductor 14 is melted by the heating element 16 generating heat. 13 is cut off, power feeding is stopped and heat generation of the heating element 16 is stopped.

  On the opposite side of the first electrode 11 from the second electrode 12, a first support electrode 21 is provided adjacently. The first support electrode 21 supports the first soluble conductor 14 together with the first electrode 11, and is formed on the insulating layer 17 with the same material as the first electrode 11.

  A second support electrode 22 is provided adjacent to the second electrode 12 on the side opposite to the first electrode 11. The second support electrode 22 supports the second soluble conductor 15 together with the second electrode 12, and is formed on the insulating layer 17 with the same material as the second electrode 12.

[Coating treatment]
Here, the first to third electrodes 11 to 13 and the first and second support electrodes 21 and 22 can be formed using a general electrode material such as Cu or Ag. Also, Ni / Au plating, Ni / Pd plating, Ni / Pd / Au plating, etc. are coated on the surfaces of the first to third electrodes 11 to 13 and the first and second support electrodes 21 and 22. The coating is preferably performed by a known method such as plating. As a result, the short-circuit element 1 prevents the first to third electrodes 11 to 13 and the first and second support electrodes 21 and 22 from being oxidized, and the first and second molten conductors 14 and 15 are reliably connected. Can be retained. In addition, when the short-circuit element 1 is reflow-mounted, the low melting point metal that forms the outer layer of the connecting solder 23 or the first and second molten conductors 14 and 15 for connecting the first and second molten conductors 14 and 15 is used. It is possible to prevent the first to third electrodes 11 to 13 and the first and second support electrodes 21 and 22 from being eroded (soldered) by melting. In addition, the short circuit element 1 may form a coating film such as Ni / Au plating, Ni / Pd plating, Ni / Pd / Au plating on the surface only on the first to third electrodes 11 to 13.

[First and second soluble conductors]
The first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 can use any metal that is quickly melted by the heat generated by the heating element 16, for example, a low melting point metal such as Pb-free solder mainly composed of Sn. Can be suitably used.

  Moreover, the 1st, 2nd soluble conductors 14 and 15 may contain a low melting metal and a high melting metal. As the low melting point metal, it is preferable to use solder such as Pb-free solder containing Sn as a main component, and as the high melting point metal, it is preferable to use Ag, Cu or an alloy containing these as main components. By including the high melting point metal and the low melting point metal, even when the reflow temperature exceeds the melting temperature of the low melting point metal and the low melting point metal melts when the short circuit element 1 is reflow mounted, Outflow to the outside can be suppressed, and the shapes of the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 can be maintained. In addition, even when fusing, the low melting point metal melts, and the high melting point metal is eroded (soldered), so that the fusing can be quickly performed at a temperature lower than the melting point of the high melting point metal. In addition, the 1st, 2nd soluble conductors 14 and 15 can be formed by various structures so that it may demonstrate later.

  The first soluble conductor 14 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape, and is connected to the first and third electrodes 11, 13 and the first support electrode 21 via a connecting solder 23 and the like. The first fusible conductor 14 connects the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 before the heating element 16 generates heat, and constitutes a part of the energization path 3 to the heating element 16. To do. The second soluble conductor 15 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape, and is connected to the second electrode 12 and the second support electrode 22 via a connection solder 23 or the like.

  The first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 are melted by the heat of the heating element 16 when the heating element 16 generates heat, and the molten conductor aggregates on the first and second electrodes 11 and 12. As a result, the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited.

  The first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 are coated with a flux 24 to prevent oxidation and improve wettability.

[Circuit configuration of short circuit element]
The short-circuit element 1 has a circuit configuration shown in FIG. That is, in the state before the operation, the short-circuit element 1 is insulated by the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 being brought close to each other and separated from each other, and the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 are separated. Constitutes a switch 2 that is short-circuited by melting. The first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are incorporated between various external circuits 28A and 28B such as a power supply circuit by being connected in series on the current path of the circuit board on which the short-circuit element 1 is mounted.

  In the short-circuit element 1, the heating element 16 continues from the first electrode 11 through the first soluble conductor 14, the third electrode 13, and the heating element extraction electrode 19, and further supplies power to the heating element electrode 18. A path 3 is formed.

  In the short-circuit element 1, energization to the power feeding path 3 is normally controlled by a current control element 32 connected via the heating element electrode 18. The current control element 32 is a switch element that controls energization of the power supply path 3, and is configured by, for example, an FET, and is connected to a detection element 35 that detects the necessity of a physical short circuit of an external circuit in which the short circuit element 1 is incorporated. ing. The detection element 35 is a circuit that detects whether it is necessary to energize between the various external circuits 28A and 28B in which the short-circuit element 1 is incorporated. For example, the construction of a bypass current path when the battery pack has an abnormal voltage, network communication equipment The external circuits 28A and 28B are physically and irreversibly caused by the short circuit of the first and second electrodes 11 and 12, such as the construction of a bypass signal path that bypasses the data server for hacking and cracking, and the activation of devices and software. When it becomes necessary to short-circuit the current path between them, the current control element 32 is operated.

  As a result, the short-circuit element 1 is energized in the power supply path 3 by the current control element 32 and the heating element 16 generates heat. When electricity is supplied to the heating element 16 through the power supply path 3, the connecting solder 23 is melted, and the first soluble conductor 14 is connected to the first as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). The first and second electrodes 11 and 12 that are biased and melted toward the electrode 11 and are insulated by the molten conductor are short-circuited, and the external circuits 28A and 28B are connected.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the short-circuit element 1 connects the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 after the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited. The first soluble conductor 14 that has been displaced is biased toward the first electrode 11. As a result, the short-circuit element 1 opens between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 that are connected via the first soluble conductor 14, and the power supply path 3 to the heating element 16 is blocked. Is done. Thereby, the power supply to the heat generating body 16 is stopped, and the heat generation of the heat generating body 16 is stopped. A circuit configuration at the time of operation of the short-circuit element 1 is shown in FIG.

  At this time, the short-circuit element 1 is connected to the first support electrode 21 that supports the first soluble conductor 14 and the first soluble conductor 14, and the third power supply path 3 to the heating element 16 is configured. The electrode 13 is formed separately. In this regard, as shown in FIG. 7, in the configuration in which the first support electrode 21 and the third electrode 13 are integrated, the first possible electrode is between the first support electrode 21 and the first electrode 11. When the molten conductor 14 is biased toward the first electrode 11, the power supply path to the heating element 16 is interrupted, and the first soluble conductor 14 is melted to short-circuit between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12. There is a possibility that the heat generation of the heating element 16 stops before the heating. Further, if the first support electrode 21 is formed wide in order to prevent the first electrode 11 and the first support electrode 21 from being blocked by the deviation of the first soluble conductor 14, the entire short-circuit element is increased in size. As a result, the miniaturization could not be achieved.

  On the other hand, in the short-circuit element 1, since the connection with the third electrode 13 constituting the power supply path 3 is maintained even when the first support electrode 21 and the first electrode 11 are cut off, Until the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited, power supply to the heating element 16 is not stopped, and the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 can be reliably short-circuited. Further, it is not necessary to form the first support electrode 21 wider than the width necessary for supporting the first fusible conductor 14, and the short circuit element 1 can be reduced in size and size.

  Accordingly, the short-circuit element 1 is short-circuited between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 because the power supply path 3 is cut off in a state where the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited by the molten conductor. It is possible to prevent the power supply path 3 from being interrupted without any problems.

[area]
Here, the area of the first electrode 11 is preferably larger than that of the third electrode 13. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the first electrode 11 is formed longer than the third electrode 13, and the area is increased, whereby the short-circuit element 1 is interposed between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13. When the first fusible conductor 14 mounted over is heated, the first fusible conductor 14 is biased toward the first electrode 11 having a large area, and most of the molten conductor is the first. It is drawn on the electrode 11. Therefore, the short-circuit element 1 can short-circuit the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 by the molten conductor aggregated on the first electrode 11, and the first soluble conductor 14 is the first By fusing between the electrode 11 and the third electrode 13, the power feeding path 3 can be cut off.

  The first electrode 11 preferably has a larger area than the first support electrode 21. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the first electrode 11 is formed wider than the first support electrode 21, and the area is increased, so that the short-circuit element 1 includes the first electrode 11 and the first support. When the first soluble conductor 14 mounted between the electrodes 21 is heated, the first soluble conductor 14 is biased toward the first electrode 11 having a large area, and the molten conductor 14 Most is attracted onto the first electrode 11. Therefore, the short-circuit element 1 can short-circuit the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 by the molten conductor aggregated on the first electrode 11.

  Similarly, the area of the second electrode 12 is preferably larger than that of the second support electrode 22. Thus, in the short-circuit element 1, when the second molten conductor 15 is heated, the second molten conductor 15 is biased toward the first electrode 11 having a large area, and most of the molten conductor is the second. Is attracted onto the electrode 12. Therefore, the short-circuit element 1 can short-circuit the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 by the molten conductor aggregated on the first and second electrodes 11 and 12.

[interval]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in the short-circuit element 1, the gap G1 between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 is equal to or greater than the gap G2 between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 ( G1 ≧ G2) is preferable. As described above, the short circuit between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 is caused by the displacement and melting of the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 toward the first and second electrodes 11 and 12. Occur. Similarly, the interruption between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 is caused by the displacement and melting of the first fusible conductor 14 toward the first electrode 11.

  Therefore, the gap G1 between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 is formed wider than the gap G2 between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 (G1> G2). The moving distance of the soluble conductor 14 is shorter between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 (G2) than between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 (G1). Therefore, the short-circuit element 1 can short-circuit between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 faster than the interruption between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13.

  In addition, when the distance G1 between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 is equal to the distance G2 between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 (G1 = G2), the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 move in directions close to each other, and therefore, the moving distance required for the short circuit is only the first fusible conductor 14. Thus, the distance is shorter than the distance moved to the first electrode 11 side. Therefore, the short-circuit element 1 can short-circuit between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 faster than the interruption between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13. That is, the short-circuit element 1 is configured such that the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 are disconnected before the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited, and the power supply to the heating element 16 is stopped. The situation where the short circuit between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 becomes impossible can be prevented.

  In addition, the short-circuit element 1 is formed such that a gap G3 between the first electrode 11 and the first support electrode 21 is wider than a gap G1 between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 (G3> G1). It is preferable. The first soluble conductor 14 is supported by the first electrode 11 and the first support electrode 21, and is also connected between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13. And when the 1st soluble conductor 14 is heated by the heat generating body 16, deviation will occur easily, so that the space | interval between electrodes is wide. That is, the first fusible conductor 14 has a first gap 11 when the gap G3 between the first electrode 11 and the first support electrode 21 is wider than the gap G1 between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13. The bias between the third electrode 13 and the first electrode 11 occurs before the bias between the third electrode 13 and the first electrode 11.

  As described above, since the first electrode 11 is formed in a larger area than the first support electrode 21 and the third electrode 13 in the short-circuit element 1, It is biased toward the electrode 11 side. Accordingly, the short-circuit element 1 is formed by forming the gap G3 between the first electrode 11 and the first support electrode 21 wider than the gap G1 between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13, thereby generating a heating element. When the first soluble conductor 14 is heated by 16, a deviation from the first support electrode 21 to the first electrode 11 first occurs.

  Thereby, in the short-circuit element 1, the first soluble conductor 14 biased on the first electrode 11 is melted, the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited by the molten conductor, and then the first The first soluble conductor 14 is biased from the third electrode 13 to the first electrode 11 side, or the molten conductor is attracted, and the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 are blocked. That is, the short-circuit element 1 is configured such that the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 are disconnected before the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited, and the power supply to the heating element 16 is stopped. The situation where the short circuit between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 becomes impossible can be prevented.

  The short-circuit element 1 is preferably formed so that the gap G4 between the second electrode 12 and the second support electrode 22 is also wider than the gap G1 between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13. As a result, in the short-circuit element 1, the first fusible conductor 14 and the second fusible conductor 15 as well as the first and second electrodes 11 are cut off before the interruption between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13. , 12 can be agglomerated, and the first and second electrodes 11, 12 can be short-circuited more reliably.

[Third electrode]
As shown in FIG. 4, the short-circuit element 1 forms the third electrode 13 in a biasing direction in which the first soluble conductor 14 is biased from the first support electrode 21 toward the first electrode 11. It is preferable. Thereby, since the 3rd electrode 13 is formed in the biasing direction of the short-circuit element 1 when the first soluble conductor 14 is biased from the first support electrode 21 to the first electrode 11 side, The first soluble conductor 14 is detached from the third electrode 13, the conduction between the third electrode 13 and the first electrode 11 through the first soluble conductor 14 is cut off, and the power supply path to the heating element 16 The situation where 3 is interrupted can be prevented.

[Heating element]
Moreover, it is preferable that the short circuit element 1 forms the heat generating body 16 in the position which overlaps with at least one part of the 1st, 2nd soluble conductors 14 and 15 and the 1st, 2nd electrodes 11 and 12. FIG. As a result, the heat of the heating element 16 is efficiently transmitted to the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 and the first and second electrodes 11 and 12, and immediately after the heat generation, the first and second soluble elements are promptly transmitted. The conductors 14 and 15 can be melted. Further, since the molten conductor tends to wet and spread on the high-temperature electrode, it quickly aggregates and bonds on the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 heated by the heating element 16. Therefore, the short-circuit element 1 can quickly short-circuit the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 after the heat generating body 16 generates heat by the molten conductor.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the short-circuit element 1 may form the heating element 16 at a position where it does not overlap with the third electrode 13. Thereby, in the short-circuit element 1, the heat of the heating element 16 is preferentially transmitted to the first soluble conductor 14 and the first and second electrodes 11 and 12, and is transmitted to the third electrode 13 with a delay. Then, when the first fusible conductor 14 is heated and melted, the short-circuit element 1 is first melted and cut off between the first electrode 11 and the first support electrode 21, and the first conductor 11 is connected via the molten conductor. 1 and the 2nd electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited. Thereafter, the first fusible conductor 14 is melted and cut off between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13.

  Therefore, when the heating element 16 starts to generate heat, the short-circuit element 1 first short-circuits between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 and then blocks between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13. That is, the short-circuit element 1 is configured such that the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 are disconnected before the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited, and the power supply to the heating element 16 is stopped. The situation where the short circuit between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 becomes impossible can be prevented.

[Fever center]
The short-circuit element 1 is preferably formed such that the distance to the third electrode 13 is shorter than the distance from the heat generation center of the heating element 16 to the first support electrode 21.

  Here, the heat generation center of the heat generating element 16 refers to a region where the temperature becomes the highest in the initial stage of heat generation in the heat distribution that is generated when the heat generating element 16 generates heat. The heat generated from the heating element 16 has the largest amount of heat released from the insulating substrate 10. When the insulating substrate 10 is formed of a ceramic material having excellent thermal shock resistance but high thermal conductivity, the insulating substrate 10 is heated. Will spread. Therefore, in the initial stage of heat generation when energization is started, the heating element 10 is most heated at the center farthest from the outer edge in contact with the insulating substrate 10, and is radiated toward the outer edge in contact with the insulating substrate 10, so that the temperature does not easily rise.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the short-circuit element 1 forms the third electrode 13 at a position closer to the heat generation center C that is the highest temperature in the early stage of heat generation of the heat generator 16 than the first support electrode 21. As a result, the temperature becomes higher than that of the first support electrode 21, and the heated first soluble conductor 14 is relatively easily biased, and the molten conductor aggregates. Since the temperature of the first support electrode 21 is less likely to rise than the third electrode 13 due to heat radiation from the insulating substrate 10, the first fusible conductor 14 is biased toward the first and third electrodes 11 and 13. Thereby, the short circuit element 1 short-circuits between the 1st, 2nd electrodes 11 and 12 more reliably, when the molten conductor of the 1st soluble conducting 14 biased on the 1st electrode 11 aggregates. be able to.

  In the short-circuit element 1, the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are provided closer to the heating center C of the heating element 16 than the third electrode 13, and a part is provided on the heating center C. Yes. Therefore, in the short-circuit element 1, the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 have a higher temperature than the third electrode 13, and the heated first soluble conductor 14 is relatively easily displaced, and the molten conductor Agglomerate. Therefore, in the short-circuit element 1, the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited first, and then the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 are blocked.

[Modification]
Further, the short-circuit element according to the present invention may be formed by omitting the second support electrode 21 and the second soluble conductor 15 as shown in FIGS. In the short-circuit element 40, the first soluble conductor 14 connected between the first and third electrodes 11, 13 and the first support electrode 21 is melted to be agglomerated on the first electrode 11. At the same time, the molten conductor spreads to the second electrode 12 formed adjacently, and the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited. The short-circuit element 40 has the same configuration as that of the short-circuit element 1 described above except that the second support electrode 22 and the second soluble conductor 15 are omitted. Is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, in the state before the operation, the short-circuit element 40 has the first soluble conductor 14 and the first electrode 11 and the first support electrode 21 by the connecting solder 23. The first and third electrodes 11 and 13 are connected via a first soluble conductor 14. Further, the fusible conductor is not mounted on the second electrode 12 in the short-circuit element 40. The heating element 16 is superimposed on at least a part of the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 and the first soluble conductor 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, when the heating element 16 generates heat, the short-circuit element 40 melts the connecting solder 23 and the first fusible conductor 14 has a relatively large area. The first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited via the first fusible conductor 14 due to the bias toward the electrode 11 side. At this time, in the short-circuit element 40, the connection between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 through the first soluble conductor 14 is maintained. Therefore, power supply to the heating element 16 is maintained until the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited.

  As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the short-circuit element 40 has the first and third electrodes 11 because the heating element 16 further generates heat even after the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited. , 13 connected to each other, the first fusible conductor 14 is biased and aggregated toward the first electrode 11 side. Thereby, in the short-circuit element 40, the power feeding path 3 is blocked between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13, and the heat generation of the heating element 16 is stopped.

  Also in this short-circuit element 40, it is preferable that the area of the first electrode 11 is larger than that of the third electrode 13 as in the case of the short-circuit element 1. Thereby, when the 1st soluble conductor 14 mounted between the 1st, 3rd electrodes 11 and 13 is heated, the short circuit element 40 will be the molten conductor of the 1st soluble conductor 14. The majority is attracted onto the first electrode 11 having a large area. Therefore, the short-circuit element 40 can short-circuit the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 by the molten conductor aggregated on the first electrode 11, and the first soluble conductor 14 is the first By fusing between the electrode 11 and the third electrode 13, the power feeding path 3 can be cut off.

  Also in the short-circuit element 40, it is preferable that the first electrode 11 has a larger area than the first support electrode 21. Thus, when the first fusible conductor 14 mounted between the first electrode 11 and the first support electrode 21 is heated, the short-circuiting element 40 is heated. Is biased toward the first electrode 11 having a large area, and most of the molten conductor is attracted onto the first electrode 11. Therefore, the short-circuit element 40 can short-circuit the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 by the molten conductor aggregated on the first electrode 11.

  Further, also in the short-circuit element 40, the gap G1 between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 is formed wider than the gap G2 between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 (G1> G3). It is preferable. Accordingly, when the first fusible conductor 14 is heated by the heating element 16, the short-circuit element 40 is first biased from the first support electrode 21 to the first electrode 11 side, and the first electrode The first fusible conductor 14 biased on 11 is melted, the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited by the molten conductor, and then from the third electrode 13 to the first electrode 11 side. The first fusible conductor 14 is biased or the molten conductor is attracted to block between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13. That is, the short-circuit element 1 is configured such that the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 are disconnected before the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited, and the power supply to the heating element 16 is stopped. The situation where the short circuit between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 becomes impossible can be prevented.

  In addition, the short circuit element 40 forms the third electrode 13 in the bias direction in which the first fusible conductor 14 is biased from the first support electrode 21 toward the first electrode 11, similarly to the short circuit element 1. It is preferable to do. Further, the short-circuit element 40 forms the heating element 16 at a position overlapping at least the first soluble conductor and the first and second electrodes, and does not overlap the heating element 16 with the third electrode 13. It is preferable to form at a position. Further, the short-circuit element 40 is preferably formed such that the distance to the third electrode 13 is shorter than the distance from the heat generation center of the heat generating element 16 to the first support electrode 21.

[Circuit configuration example]
FIG. 13 shows a battery circuit 30 as an example of a short circuit to which the short element 1 is applied. In the battery circuit 30, the short-circuit element 1 can be used to construct a bypass current path that bypasses a battery cell that exhibits an abnormal voltage such as overcharge among the plurality of battery cells 31.

  In FIG. 13, the battery circuit 30 includes a short-circuit element 1, a current control element 32 that controls the operation of the short-circuit element 1, a battery cell 31, a protection element 33 that blocks the battery cell 31 from the charge / discharge path, and protection. A battery unit 34 having a current control element 32 for controlling the operation of the element 33 is provided, and a plurality of battery units 34 are connected in series.

  The battery circuit 30 includes a detection element 35 that detects a voltage of the battery cell 31 of each battery unit 34 and outputs an abnormal signal to the protection element 33 and the current control element 32.

  In each battery unit 34, the protection element 33 is connected in series with the battery cell 31. Further, in the battery unit 34, the first electrode 11 of the short-circuit element 1 is connected to the open end of the protective element 33, and the second electrode 12 is connected to the open end of the battery cell 31, whereby the protective element 33 and The battery cell 31 and the short circuit element 1 are connected in parallel.

  In the battery unit 34, the current control element 32 and the protection element 33 are connected to the detection element 35, respectively. The detection element 35 is connected to each battery cell 31, detects the voltage value of each battery cell 31, and when the battery cell 31 becomes an overcharge voltage or an overdischarge voltage, the battery unit having the battery cell 31 34 is driven, and an operation signal is output to the current control element 32 connected to the short-circuit element 1.

  The current control element 32 can be composed of, for example, a field effect transistor (hereinafter referred to as FET). The current control element 32 is connected to the heating element electrode 18 and can control energization of the short-circuit element 1 to the power supply path 3. The current control element 32 is connected to the drive terminal of the protection element 33.

  The protective element 33 is mounted over a pair of electrodes connected on the charge / discharge path, a soluble conductor that short-circuits between the electrodes, and a soluble conductor in series. It can be constituted by an element having a heating element that generates heat when energized and melts a soluble conductor.

  The battery circuit 30 operates the protection element 33 and the short-circuit element 1 when the voltage value of the battery cell 31 exceeds a predetermined overdischarge or overcharge state by the detection signal output from the detection element 35. Then, the battery unit 34 is cut off from the charging / discharging current path, and the switch 2 of the short-circuit element 1 is short-circuited so that a bypass current path that bypasses the battery unit 34 is formed.

  In such a battery circuit 30, when the switch 2 of the short-circuit element 1 is open at normal times, current flows to the protection element 33 and the battery cell 31 side. When a voltage abnormality or the like is detected in the battery cell 31, the battery circuit 30 outputs an abnormality signal from the detection element 35 to the protection element 33, and the protection element 33 blocks the abnormal battery cell 31 from the charge / discharge current path. To do.

  Next, the battery circuit 30 is controlled so that an abnormal signal is also output to the current control element 32 by the detection element 35, and a current flows through the heating element 16 of the short-circuit element 1. In the short-circuit element 1, the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 are heated and melted by the heating element 16, so that the molten conductors aggregate and bond on the first and second electrodes 11 and 12. 1. The second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited. Thereby, the battery circuit 30 can form a bypass current path that bypasses the battery cell 31 by the short-circuit element 1. Next, in the short-circuit element 1, the power supply to the heating element 16 is stopped when the first soluble conductor 14 is melted between the first and third electrodes.

  Thus, even when an abnormality occurs in one battery cell 31, the battery circuit 30 can form a bypass current path that bypasses the battery cell 31 via the short-circuit element 1, and the remaining normal battery The charge / discharge function can be maintained by the cell 31.

  At this time, the short-circuit element 1 is provided with the first support electrode 21 that supports the first soluble conductor 14 and the third electrode 13 that constitutes the power supply path 3 to the heating element 16 separately. Even when the first soluble conductor 14 is melted and melted between the first support electrode 21 and the first electrode 11, the connection between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 is maintained. ing. Accordingly, since the heating element 16 continues to generate heat until the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited, the short-circuit element 1 reliably short-circuits the first and second electrodes 11 and 12. A bypass current path can be formed.

  In addition, the short-circuit element 1 connects the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 as the heating element 16 continues to generate heat even after the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited. Since the fusible conductor 14 is melted and the power supply path 3 is interrupted, the heat generation of the heating element 16 is stopped.

  Note that the short-circuit element 1 or the battery circuit 30 may be provided with a protective resistor having substantially the same resistance value as the internal resistance of the blocked battery cell 31. By providing the protective resistance on the bypass current path, the battery circuit 30 can have the same resistance value as that in the normal state even after the bypass current path is constructed.

[Heating element position]
In the short-circuit element 1 described above, the heating element 16 is covered by being formed inside the insulating layer 17 on the surface 10a of the insulating substrate 10. However, as shown in FIG. 16 may be formed on the surface 10a of the insulating substrate 10, and the insulating layer 17 may be laminated to cover the surface.

  In this case, the heating element electrode 18 and the heating element extraction electrode 19 connected to the heating element 16 are also formed on the surface 10 a of the insulating substrate 10 and covered with the insulating layer 17.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the short-circuit element 1 may have the heating element 16 formed on the back surface 10 b of the insulating substrate 10. In this case, the heating element 16 is covered with the insulating layer 17 on the back surface 10 b of the insulating substrate 10. Similarly, a heating element electrode 18 and a heating element extraction electrode 19 connected to one end of the heating element 16 are also formed on the back surface 10 b of the insulating substrate 10. The third electrode 13 connected to the heating element extraction electrode 19 is formed on the surface 10 a side of the insulating substrate 10 and is connected to the heating element extraction electrode 19 through a conductive through hole penetrating the insulating substrate 10.

  In the short-circuit element 1, the heating element 16 is formed on the back surface 10 b of the insulating substrate 10, so that the surface 10 a of the insulating substrate 10 is flattened, whereby the first to third electrodes 11 to 13, the first, The second support electrodes 21 and 22 can be collectively formed on the surface 10a by printing or the like. Therefore, the short circuit element 1 can simplify the manufacturing process of the first to third electrodes 11 to 13 and the first and second support electrodes 21 and 22 and can reduce the height.

  Further, even when the heating element 16 is formed on the back surface 10 b of the insulating substrate 10, the short-circuit element 1 uses the material having excellent thermal conductivity such as fine ceramic as the material of the insulating substrate 10. The first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 can be heated and blown in the same manner as in the case of being laminated on the surface 10a of the insulating substrate 10.

  Moreover, the short circuit element 1 may form the heat generating body 16 in the inside of the insulated substrate 10, as shown in FIG. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the insulating layer 17 that covers the heating element 16. In addition, the heating element electrode 18 and the heating element extraction electrode 19 connected to the heating element 16 are formed so that the lower layer portion connected to the heating element 16 extends to the inside of the insulating substrate 10, and the insulating substrate 10 has a conductive through hole. An upper layer portion is provided on the surface 10a side.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 17, the short-circuit element 1 includes the first to third electrodes 11 to 13 and the first and second support electrodes 21 and 22 on the surface 10 a of the insulating substrate 10. They may be formed side by side. In this case, the heating element 16 is covered with the insulating layer 17.

[Soluble conductor configuration]
As described above, the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 may contain a low melting point metal and a high melting point metal. As the low melting point metal, it is preferable to use solder such as Pb-free solder containing Sn as a main component, and as the high melting point metal, it is preferable to use Ag, Cu or an alloy containing these as main components. At this time, as shown in FIG. 18A, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 may be provided with a high melting point metal layer 70 as an inner layer and a low melting point metal layer 71 as an outer layer. A molten conductor may be used. In this case, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 may have a structure in which the entire surface of the refractory metal layer 70 is covered with the low melting point metal layer 71 and is covered except for a pair of opposing side surfaces. It may be a structure. The covering structure with the high melting point metal layer 70 and the low melting point metal layer 71 can be formed using a known film forming technique such as plating.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 18B, the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 are soluble in which a low melting point metal layer 71 is provided as an inner layer and a high melting point metal layer 70 is provided as an outer layer. A conductor may be used. Also in this case, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 may have a structure in which the entire surface of the low melting point metal layer 71 is covered with the high melting point metal layer 70 and is covered except for a pair of opposite side surfaces. The structure may be different.

  Further, the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 may have a laminated structure in which a refractory metal layer 70 and a low melting metal layer 71 are laminated as shown in FIG.

  In this case, the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 are connected to the first to third electrodes 11 to 13 and the first and second support electrodes 21 and 22 as shown in FIG. It is formed as a two-layer structure composed of a lower layer to be connected and an upper layer laminated on the lower layer, and an upper layer of the low melting point metal layer 71 may be laminated on the upper surface of the lower layer of the high melting point metal layer 70. Alternatively, the upper refractory metal layer 70 may be laminated on the upper surface of the lower refractory metal layer 71. Alternatively, the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 may be formed as a three-layer structure including an inner layer and an outer layer laminated on the upper and lower surfaces of the inner layer, as shown in FIG. The low melting point metal layer 71 serving as the outer layer may be laminated on the upper and lower surfaces of the refractory metal layer 70 serving as the inner layer, and the refractory metal layer 70 serving as the outer layer may be disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the low melting point metal layer 71 serving as the inner layer. You may laminate.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 may have a multilayer structure of four or more layers in which high melting point metal layers 70 and low melting point metal layers 71 are alternately laminated. . In this case, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 may have a structure in which the entire surface or a pair of opposite side surfaces are covered with a metal layer constituting the outermost layer.

  In the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15, the high melting point metal layer 70 may be partially laminated in a stripe shape on the surface of the low melting point metal layer 71 constituting the inner layer. FIG. 21 is a plan view of the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15.

  The first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 shown in FIG. 21A have a plurality of linear refractory metal layers 70 in the longitudinal direction on the surface of the low melting point metal layer 71 at predetermined intervals in the width direction. By being formed, a linear opening 72 is formed along the longitudinal direction, and the low melting point metal layer 71 is exposed from the opening 72. In the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15, when the low melting point metal layer 71 is exposed from the opening 72, the contact area between the molten low melting point metal and the high melting point metal increases, and the high melting point metal layer 70. It is possible to improve the fusing property by further promoting the erosion action. The opening 72 can be formed, for example, by subjecting the low melting point metal layer 71 to partial plating of a metal constituting the high melting point metal layer 70.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 21B, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 are formed on the surface of the low melting point metal layer 71 at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction at the linear refractory metal layer 70. By forming a plurality of holes in the width direction, the linear openings 72 may be formed along the width direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 22, the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 form a refractory metal layer 70 on the surface of the low melting point metal layer 71 and extend over the entire surface of the refractory metal layer 70. A circular opening 73 may be formed, and the low melting point metal layer 71 may be exposed from the opening 73. The opening 73 can be formed, for example, by subjecting the low melting point metal layer 71 to partial plating of a metal constituting the high melting point metal layer 70.

  In the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15, the low melting point metal layer 71 is exposed from the opening 73, thereby increasing the contact area between the melted low melting point metal and the high melting point metal, and erosion of the high melting point metal. The action can be further promoted to improve the fusing property.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 23, the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 are formed with a large number of openings 74 in the refractory metal layer 70 as an inner layer, and the refractory metal layer 70 is plated. The low melting point metal layer 71 may be formed using a technique or the like and filled in the opening 74. As a result, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 have an increased area where the low melting point metal to be in contact with the high melting point metal increases, so that the low melting point metal erodes the high melting point metal in a shorter time. Will be able to.

  Further, the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 are preferably formed such that the volume of the low melting point metal layer 71 is larger than the volume of the high melting point metal layer 70. The first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 are heated by the heat generated by the heating element 16, and the low melting point metal melts, thereby eroding the high melting point metal and thereby quickly melting and fusing. Therefore, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 promote this corrosion action by forming the volume of the low melting point metal layer 71 larger than the volume of the high melting point metal layer 70, and promptly 1 and the 2nd electrodes 11 and 12 can be short-circuited.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 24, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 are formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape and are covered with a refractory metal constituting the outer layer and are thicker than the main surface portions 14a and 15a. A pair of opposing first side edges 14b and 15b formed on the opposite sides, and a low melting point metal constituting the inner layer is exposed to have a thickness smaller than that of the first side edges 14b and 15b. You may have a pair of 2nd side edge parts 14c and 15c to do. As shown in FIG. 25, the first fusible conductor 14 has a first side edge portion 14 b connected between the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 and on the first support electrode 21. And the second side edge portion 14c is connected across the first electrode 11 and the first support electrode 21 in such a direction that the second side edge portion 14c becomes both ends in the fusing direction. The second fusible conductor 15 has the first side edge 15b connected on the second electrode and the second support electrode 22 and the second side edge 15c on both sides in the fusing direction. It is connected across the second electrode 12 and the second support electrode 22 in the direction of the end.

  The side surfaces of the first side edge portions 14b and 15b are covered with the refractory metal layer 70 and are thereby formed thicker than the main surface portions 14a and 15a of the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15. Has been. The second side edge portions 14 c and 15 c have the low melting point metal layer 71 whose outer periphery is surrounded by the refractory metal layer 70 on the side surface. The second side edge portions 14c and 15c are formed to have the same thickness as the main surface portions 14a and 15a except for both end portions adjacent to the first side edge portions 14b and 15b.

  As shown in FIG. 25, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 have the second side edge portions 14c and 15c from the first and second support electrodes 21 and 22, respectively. The first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 extending between the electrodes 11 and 12 are disposed along the fusing direction. The first fusible conductor 14 has a first side edge 14 b that extends from the first electrode 11 to the third electrode 13. As a result, the short-circuit element 1 rapidly aggregates the first and second soluble conductors 14 and 15 on the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 and short-circuits them, and also the first and third electrodes 11. , 13 can be delayed to maintain the heat generation of the heating element 16, and the first and second electrodes 11, 12 can be short-circuited reliably.

  That is, the second side edge portions 14c and 15c are formed to be relatively thinner than the first side edge portions 14b and 15b. Further, the low melting point metal layer 71 constituting the inner layer is exposed on the side surfaces of the second side edge portions 14c and 15c. As a result, the second side edge portions 14c and 15c have the erosion action of the refractory metal layer 70 by the low melting point metal layer 71, and the thickness of the eroded high melting point metal layer 70 is also the first side edge portion. By being formed thinner than 14b and 15b, it is quickly melted with less thermal energy than the first side edge portions 14b and 15b formed thick by the refractory metal layer 70. be able to. On the other hand, the first side edge portion 14b is covered with the refractory metal layer 70 with a large thickness, and requires a lot of heat energy until fusing as compared with the second side edge portion 14c.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 26, the short-circuit element 1 includes the first electrode 11 and the first support electrode to which the second side edge portions 14 c and 15 c are first passed when the heating element 16 generates heat. 21, and between the second electrode 12 and the second support electrode 22, and the molten conductor aggregates and bonds on the first and second electrodes 11 and 12. Thereby, as for the short circuit element 1, the 1st, 2nd electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited. Next, as shown in FIG. 27, the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 to which the first side edge portion 14b is passed are melted, the power supply path 3 to the heating element 16 is blocked, and the heating element 16 heat generation is stopped. That is, the short-circuit element 1 is configured such that the first and third electrodes 11 and 13 are disconnected before the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are short-circuited, and the power supply to the heating element 16 is stopped. The situation where the short circuit between the first and second electrodes 11 and 12 becomes impossible can be prevented.

  The first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 having such a configuration are made of a low melting point metal foil such as a solder foil constituting the low melting point metal layer 71 and a metal such as Ag constituting the high melting point metal layer 70. It is manufactured by coating with. As a method for coating a low melting point metal layer foil with a high melting point metal, an electrolytic plating method capable of continuously applying a high melting point metal plating to a long low melting point metal foil is advantageous in terms of work efficiency and manufacturing cost. It becomes.

  When the refractory metal plating is performed by electrolytic plating, the electric field strength is relatively strong at the edge portion of the long low melting metal foil, that is, the side edge portion, and the refractory metal layer 70 is thickly plated (FIG. 24). reference). Thereby, the elongate conductor ribbon 40 by which the side edge part was formed thickly by the high melting-point metal layer is formed. Next, the first and second fusible conductors 14 and 15 are manufactured by cutting the conductor ribbon 40 into a predetermined length in the width direction (CC ′ direction in FIG. 24) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The Thereby, as for the 1st, 2nd soluble conductors 14 and 15, the side edge part of the conductor ribbon 40 becomes the 1st side edge parts 14b and 15b, and the cut surface of the conductor ribbon 40 is the 2nd side edge part 14c. , 15c. The first side edge portions 14b and 15b are covered with a refractory metal, and the second side edge portions 14c and 15c are connected to a pair of upper and lower refractory metal layers 70 on the end surface (cut surface of the conductor ribbon 40). A low melting point metal layer 71 sandwiched between the high melting point metal layers 70 is exposed to the outside.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,40 Short-circuit element, 2 switch, 3 Feeding path, 10 Insulation board | substrate, 10a surface, 10b back surface, 11 1st electrode, 11a External connection terminal, 12 2nd electrode, 12a External connection terminal, 13 3rd electrode , 14 First soluble conductor, 14a Main surface portion, 14b First side edge portion, 14c Second side edge portion, 15 Second soluble conductor, 15a Main surface portion, 15b First side edge portion, 15c Second side edge portion, 16 heating element, 17 insulating layer, 18 heating element electrode, 18a external connection terminal, 19 heating element extraction electrode, 21 first support electrode, 22 second support electrode, 23 solder for connection, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 Battery circuit, 31 Battery cell, 32 Current control element 32 Protection element, 34 Battery unit, 35 Detection element, 70 High melting point metal layer, 71 Low melting point metal layer, 72-74 opening

Claims (32)

First and second electrodes disposed close to each other and open;
A first support electrode adjacent to the first electrode;
A second support electrode adjacent to the second electrode;
A first soluble conductor supported by the first electrode and the first support electrode;
A second soluble conductor supported by the second electrode and the second support electrode;
A heating element for melting the first and second soluble conductors;
A third electrode disposed adjacent to and open to the first electrode, connected to the heating element and connected to the first electrode via the first soluble conductor; ,
A power supply path to the heating element via the heating element, the third electrode, the first soluble conductor, and the first electrode;
The first and second fusible conductors are melted by the heat generated by the heating element and biased toward the first and second electrodes, whereby the first and second electrodes are interposed via the molten conductor. Is short-circuited,
A short-circuit element in which the first and third electrodes are blocked by aggregation of the first soluble conductor on the first electrode. The first electrode has a larger area than the third electrode,
The second electrode has a larger area than the second support electrode,
The short circuit element according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode has a larger area than the first support electrode. The short-circuit element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a gap G1 between the first electrode and the third electrode and a gap G2 between the first electrode and the second electrode have the following relationship.
G1> G2   The short circuit element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the third electrode is formed in a bias direction of the first soluble conductor.   5. The short-circuit element according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is formed at a position overlapping at least the first and second soluble conductors and the first and second electrodes.   The short-circuit element according to claim 5, wherein the heating element is formed at a position that does not overlap the third electrode. First and second electrodes disposed close to each other and open;
A first soluble conductor supported by the first electrode;
A heating element for melting the first soluble conductor;
A third electrode disposed adjacent to and open to the first electrode, connected to the heating element and connected to the first electrode via the first soluble conductor; ,
A power supply path to the heating element via the heating element, the third electrode, the first soluble conductor, and the first electrode;
Due to the heat generated by the heating element, the first soluble conductor melts and aggregates on the first and second electrodes, whereby the first and second electrodes are short-circuited through the molten conductor. ,
A short-circuit element in which the first and third electrodes are blocked by aggregation of the first soluble conductor on the first electrode. The first electrode has a larger area than the third electrode,
The short-circuit element according to claim 7, wherein the first electrode has a larger area than the first support electrode. The short-circuit element according to claim 8, wherein a gap G1 between the first electrode and the third electrode and a gap G2 between the first electrode and the second electrode have the following relationship.
G1> G2   The short circuit element according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the third electrode is formed in a bias direction of the first soluble conductor.   The short circuit element according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the heating element is formed at a position overlapping at least the first soluble conductor and the first and second electrodes.   The short-circuit element according to claim 11, wherein the heating element is formed at a position that does not overlap the third electrode.   The short circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a distance from the heat generation center of the heat generating element to the third electrode is shorter than a distance from the heat generation center of the heat generating element to the first support electrode. element.   The short circuit element according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the heating element is provided in an insulating layer laminated on an insulating substrate or between the insulating layer and the insulating substrate.   The said heat generating body is a short circuiting element of any one of Claims 1-13 currently formed in the inside of an insulated substrate.   The said heat generating body is a short circuiting element of any one of Claims 1-13 currently formed in the surface on the opposite side to the surface side in which the said 1st-3rd electrode was formed.   The said heat generating body is a short circuiting element of any one of Claims 1-10 currently formed in the same surface as the surface in which the said 1st-3rd electrode of the insulating substrate was formed.   The short circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the first to third electrodes have a surface coated with any one of Ni / Au plating, Ni / Pd plating, and Ni / Pd / Au plating. element.   The short circuit element according to claim 1, wherein the first soluble conductor is solder. The first soluble conductor contains a low melting point metal and a high melting point metal,
The short-circuit element according to claim 1, wherein the low-melting-point metal is melted by heating from the heating element and erodes the high-melting-point metal. The low melting point metal is solder,
21. The short-circuit element according to claim 20, wherein the refractory metal is Ag, Cu, or an alloy containing Ag or Cu as a main component.   The short circuit element according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the first soluble conductor has an inner layer made of the refractory metal and an outer layer covered with the low melting point metal.   The short-circuit element according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the first soluble conductor has an inner layer made of the low melting point metal and an outer layer made of the high melting point metal.   The short circuit element according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the first soluble conductor has a laminated structure in which the low melting point metal and the high melting point metal are laminated.   The short circuit element according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the first soluble conductor has a multilayer structure of four or more layers in which the low melting point metal and the high melting point metal are alternately laminated.   The short circuit element according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the first soluble conductor has a high melting point metal laminated in a stripe shape on the surface of the low melting point metal constituting the inner layer.   The first soluble conductor has a high melting point metal layer having a large number of openings and a low melting point metal layer formed on the high melting point metal layer, and the openings are filled with a low melting point metal. The short-circuit element according to claim 20 or 21.   The short circuit element according to any one of claims 20 to 27, wherein the first soluble conductor has a volume of the low melting point metal larger than a volume of the high melting point metal.   The first soluble conductor includes a pair of opposing first side edges that are covered with the refractory metal constituting the outer layer and are thicker than the main surface portion, and the low melting point that constitutes the inner layer. And a pair of opposing second side edges that are exposed and are thinner than the first side face, wherein the first side edges are the first and third sides. 29. The connection according to claim 20, wherein the second side edge is connected between the first electrode and the first support electrode. The short-circuit element described in 1.   The said 2nd soluble conductor is the same structure as the said 1st soluble conductor of any one of Claims 19-29, The any one of Claims 1-6 made into the same structure. Short circuit element.   18. The short-circuit element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are provided at a position closer to the heat generation center of the heating element than the third electrode.   32. The short-circuit element according to claim 31, wherein the first and second electrodes are provided on a heat generation center of the heating element.

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