US 11,811,272 B2
Electronic module having a fuse in a power tool
Eric W. Wachter, Baltimore, MD (US); and Erik A. Ekstrom, York, PA (US)
Assigned to BLACK & DECKER, INC., New Britain, CT (US)
Filed by Black & Decker Inc., New Britain, CT (US)
Filed on Sep. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/022,806.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/907,105, filed on Sep. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0099055 A1, Apr. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. H05K 1/18 (2006.01); H02K 11/00 (2016.01); H02K 11/33 (2016.01); H02K 7/14 (2006.01); H01H 37/76 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 11/0094 (2013.01) [H01H 37/761 (2013.01); H02K 7/145 (2013.01); H02K 11/33 (2016.01); H05K 1/181 (2013.01); H05K 2201/10181 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic module for a power tool having an electric motor, comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB);
an inverter bridge circuit including a plurality of power switches mounted on the PCB and configured to switchably supply electric power from a power source to the electric motor;
a first conductive track disposed on the PCB and coupled to the power source;
a second conductive track disposed on the PCB and coupled to the inverter bridge circuit;
a fuse strap provided between the first conductive track and the second conductive track, the fuse strap having a main body spaced apart from the PCB, a first mounting portion mounted on the first conductive track via a first solder joint, and a second mounting portion mounted on the second conductive track via a second solder joint; and
a plurality of through-hole vias provided through the first conductive track and at least partially through the PCB, wherein, when current through the fuse strap exceeds a current threshold for a set amount of time, the first solder joint melts and flows into the plurality of through-hole vias away from the first mounting portion to allow the first mounting portion to detach from the first conductive track.