Surface mount electrical device with multiple PTC elements

• Main Authors: SWENSEN, ROBERT G, LUCIANO, HONORIO S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.11.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS; GENERATION; RESISTORS

A surface-mountable electrical circuit protection device comprising first and second laminar PTC elements, each having first and second surfaces. The PTC elements are electrically connected in parallel. A first electrode is attached to the first of the first PTC element and a second electrode is attached to the second surface of the second PTC element. A third electrode, having an electrical resistance is positioned between the first and second laminar PTC elements. The third electrode is connected to the second surface of the first PTC element and the first surface of the second PTC element and has a main portion and a sub-portion. The main portion of the third electrode is separated from the sub-portion by an element having a higher electrical resistance than the electrical resistance of the third electrode. A first electrically conductive end termination wraps around a first end of the device and is in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes. A second electrically conductive end termination wraps around a second end of the device and is in electrical contact with the third electrode. The stacked configuration of the PTC elements allows for an increased electrical rating without increasing the overall footprint, i.e., length and width, of the device.