Patent ID: 6048095
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: G01K,H01R

Abstract:
An external connection mechanism of temperature-measuring type for use in a system including an instrument that releasably receives at least one edge of a printed-circuit board and has an insulating terminal base holding electric terminals mounted thereon for external connection of the printed-circuit board, the system further including a thermocouple with two different metals joined together at one ends thereof to form a measuring junction, said two metals having opposite ends connected to two electric terminals on the insulating terminal base of the instrument for connection to the printed circuit board, respectively; the external connection mechanism comprising:at least one U-shaped resilient metal piece held by the insulating terminal base while being electrically joined with one of the two electrical terminals connected to the thermocouple, respectively, the U-shaped resilient metal piece having two parallel legs for releasably receiving one edge of the printed-circuit board therebetween,a temperature sensor having an outer surface, said temperature sensor held by the one edge of the printed-circuit board and connected to a temperature-responsive circuit of the printed-circuit board,a contact lug formed by bending one of the two legs of the metal piece toward the other leg thereof so as to cause the lug to engage a conductive portion of the printed-circuit board received by the metal piece, anda temperature-measuring station formed by bending root portion of the other one of the two legs of the said metal piece proximate said electric terminal joined with said metal piece, the temperature-measuring station being so positioned and shaped as to engage resiliently said temperature sensor, when the printed-circuit board is received by the metal piece, whereby when the metal piece receives the printed-circuit board, the temperature sensor held by the received printed circuit board resiliently engages the temperature-measuring station and measures temperature in the proximity of said electric terminal joined with said metal piece to produce output that is applied to the temperature-responsive circuit of the printed-circuit board.