1. A semiconductor device, comprising:
a package having a heat sink, a case surrounding a perimeter of the heat sink, and a top plate separated from the heat sink and positioned overlying the heat sink;
a semiconductor element provided on the heat sink through an intervening insulating substrate;
a sealant in the package; and
a metal terminal extended from within the package to the exterior of the package and electrically connected to the semiconductor element at a location within the package,
wherein the metal terminal includes:
a busbar mounting portion comprising a planar body extending over the surface of the top plate and provided with an aperture for a fastener to pass therethrough,
a lead portion extending through the top plate and connected to the busbar mounting portion, and
a spring structure, biasable in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the top plate, in the busbar mounting portion.
2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein
the spring structure is a folded portion extending between the busbar mounting portion and the lead portion.
3. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein
the metal terminal further includes a second spring structure formed of a folded portion of the terminal located at an end of the busbar mounting portion opposed to the connection of spring structure with busbar mounting portion.
4. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein
the busbar mounting portion is spaced from the top plate by the spring structure.
5. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, further comprising:
an attachment member located within a recess provided on a surface of the top plate;
wherein the center of the hole of the busbar mounting portion is aligned with the center of a hole of the attachment member in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the top plate, and a portion of the folded portion extends into a space between the attachment portion and the busbar mounting portion.
6. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein
the busbar mounting portion is supported over the top plate case by the spring structure.
7. The semiconductor device according to claim 6, further comprising:
an attachment member having a hole therein and located within recesses provided on the top surface of the top plate,
wherein the center of the hole of the busbar mounting portion is aligned on the same line with the center of the hole of the attachment member in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the top plate, and a portion of the second folded portion extends into the space between the nut and the busbar mounting portion.
8. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein
the folded portion is folded back in the direction of the tope plate, and
the busbar mounting portion overlies and contacts the top plate and is connected to the lead portion passing through the resin top plate through the folded portion.
9. The semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein
the busbar mounting portion is provided with a hole.
10. The semiconductor device according to claim 9, further comprising:
a fastener location in a recess provided on the surface of top plate,
wherein the center of the hole of the busbar mounting portion is aligned on the same line with the center of the hole of the nut in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the top plate.
11. A method of connecting a package terminal to a busbar, comprising:
extending a portion of the terminal inwardly of the package and into electrical contact with a conductor within the package, and
forming a portion of the terminal extending from the packages as connection portion and an isolation portion.
12. The method of claim 11, including the step of configuring the isolation portion as a u-shaped bend in the body of the terminal.
13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of spacing the connecting portion from the surface of the package with the isolation portion.
14. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of:
providing a hole through the connecting portion;
providing a fastener anchor within the body of the package and aligned with the hole;
extending a fastener through the hole and into the anchor and thereby moving the connection portion with respect to the body of the package; and
providing a bias on the connection portion with the isolation portion in a direction opposed to the body of the package.
15. The method of claim 11, further including the step of:
providing a plate and extending the portion of the terminal extending into the package through the plate; and
positioning a sealant between the plate and the conductor within the package.
16. A packaged semiconductor device having an electrical connection to the semiconductor device extending therefrom, comprising:
a terminal forming a pathway for the electrical connection, formed of a single piece of a conductive material, and having a first portion extending inwardly of the packaged semiconductor device; and
a second portion disposed exteriorly to the packaged semiconductor device, and a flexible portion extending between the first and the second portions.
17. The packaged semiconductor of claim 16, further including:
an aperture extending through the second portion;
a fastener recipient positioned within the package; and
a fastener extending through the aperture and into the recipient.
18. The packaged semiconductor of claim 17, wherein the fastener secures a conductor to the second portion of the terminal, and supplies a force to induce a bias in the connecting portion.
19. The packaged semiconductor of claim 16, wherein the second portion is spaced from the exterior of the package and supported by the flexible portion.
20. The packaged semiconductor of claim 16, wherein the second portion directly contacts the package of the packaged semiconductor device.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A personal unit for notifying a deafhearing-impaired user of a sound event in its surrounding environment and for communicating an immediate assistance request to a central station, said personal unit comprising:
a transceiver for receiving a sound event message representative of said sound event detected in said environment,
an output module for notifying said user of said sound event message, and
an input module for inputting said immediate assistance request, said request to be communicated to said central station using said transceiver;
said transceiver being further for receiving an inquiry message initiated by said central station in response to said request,
said output module being further for displaying said inquiry message, and
said input module being further for inputting an answer to said inquiry message, said answer to be communicated to said central station using said transceiver.
2. The personal unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a vibrator activated upon reception of said sound event message for warning said user said reception.
3. The personal unit as claimed in any one of claim 1, wherein said output module comprises a display screen for displaying an icon representative of said sound event message.
4. The personal unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said output module comprises a display screen and said inquiry message comprises a text to be displayed on said display screen.
5. The personal unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input module comprises buttons for selecting the answer to be inputted.
6. The personal unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input module comprises an immediate assistance button for inputting the immediate assistance request by pressing said button.
7. The personal unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said sound event is one of a door bell detection event, a fire alarm detection event, a phone ring detection event, a sound detection event and a baby cry detection event.
8. A method for communicating an immediate assistance request to a central station using a portable personal unit for notifying a deafhearing-impaired user of a sound event in its surrounding environment, the method comprising:
receiving, on the portable personal unit, a sound event message representative of said sound event detected in said environment;
providing a notification of said sound event message on the portable personal unit;
inputting an immediate assistance request on the portable personal unit;
communicating said request to said central station;
receiving an inquiry message initiated by said central station in response to said request, on the portable personal unit;
displaying said inquiry message on the portable personal unit;
manually inputting an answer to said inquiry message on said portable personal unit; and
transmitting said answer to said central station.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said providing a notification of said sound event message comprises displaying an icon representative of said sound event message on said portable personal unit.
10. The method as claimed in any one of claims 8 and 9, wherein said providing a notification of said sound event message comprises activating a vibrator for warning said user of the reception of said sound event message.
11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said communicating said request comprises:
transmitting said request to a central station interfacing unit located in the surrounding environment of the portable personal unit, using a transceiver; and
said central station interfacing unit transmitting said request to said central station.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said central station interfacing unit transmitting said request to said central station is made using a wired technology.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said central station interfacing unit transmitting said request to said central station is made using a central station phone line.
14. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said receiving an inquiry message comprises:
receiving said inquiry message on a central station interfacing unit located in the surrounding environment of the portable personal unit;
said central station interfacing unit transmitting said request to the portable personal unit; and
receiving said inquiry message on the portable personal unit.
15. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said displaying said inquiry message on the portable personal unit comprises displaying a text inquiry message on a display screen.
16. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said manually inputting an answer comprises pressing a button associated with the answer, on said portable personal unit.
17. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said inputting an immediate assistance request on the portable personal unit comprises pressing a button on said portable personal unit.
18. The method as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 17, wherein said sound event is one of a door bell detection event, a fire alarm detection event, a phone ring detection event, a sound detection event and a baby cry detection event.
19. A portable personal unit for notifying a deafhearing-impaired user of a sound event in its surrounding environment and in communication with a detection unit having a unique identification code, said personal unit comprising:
a register for listing registered identification codes,
a transceiver for receiving a sound event message representative of a sound event detected in said environment, said sound event message comprising said unique identification code and said transceiver considering said sound event message only if said unique identification code is listed in said register,
an output module for providing a notification of the considered sound event message, and
an input module for adding and removing registered identification codes from said register.
20. The personal unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein said output module comprises a screen for displaying an icon associated in said register to said unique identification code.
21. A method for using a portable personal unit with at least a first and a second sound event detection systems, the personal unit for notifying a deafhearing-impaired user of sound events in its surrounding environment, the method comprising:
programming the portable personal unit to communicate with units of the first sound event detection system;
moving the portable personal unit in a surrounding environment of the second sound event detection system, the first and the second sound event detection systems having non-overlapping surrounding environments;
programming the portable personal unit to communicate with existing units of the second sound event detection system such that the portable personal unit is remained allowed to communicate with units of the first sound event detection system; and
moving the portable personal unit between the surrounding environments of the first and the second sound event detection systems for interchangeably using the portable personal unit with the first and the second sound event detection systems.
22. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:
while the portable personal unit is in the surrounding environment of one of the first and the second sound event detection systems, receiving on the personal unit a sound event message representative of a sound event detected in said one of the first and the second sound event detection systems; and
providing a notification of said sound event message on the portable personal unit.
23. The method as claimed in any one of claims 21 and 22, wherein each of the existing units of said second sound event is associated with a unique identification code and has a configuration register comprising the unique identification code of all existing units, and wherein said programming the portable personal unit to communicate with the existing units of the second sound event detection system comprises:
activating an input module of the portable personal unit for initiating the programming procedure;
the portable personal unit transmitting a message comprising the unique identification code of the portable personal unit in response to said activating;
activating a programming mode of one of the existing units;
the one existing unit receiving said message and adding the unique identification code of the portable personal unit in its configuration register;
said one existing unit transmitting its modified configuration register;
other ones of the existing units and the portable personal unit receiving the modified configuration register;
said other ones of the existing units updating their configuration register so as to include the unique identification code of the portable personal unit; and
the portable personal unit modifying its configuration register so as to include the unique identification code of all existing units.
24. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:
while the portable personal unit is in the surrounding environment of the second sound event detection system, receiving on the personal unit a sound event message representative of a sound event detected by an activated one of the existing units, the sound event message comprising the unique identification code of the activated one of the existing units;
the portable personal unit considering the sound event message only if the unique identification code in the sound event message is included in its configuration register; and
providing a notification of said sound event message on the portable personal unit if the sound event message is considered.