Patent · US Expired

Current-limiting resistor having PTC behavior

US5990778A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
11References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 1998
Grant dateNov 23, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01C7/02
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The current-limiting resistor has two connection electrodes (1, 2) which are arranged parallel to one another, a resistance body (3) which has PTC behavior and with which large-area contact is made by the connection electrodes (1, 2) and at least one varistor (4) which is in electrically conductive contact with the resistance body (3). The varistor (4) is of pillar-shaped design and has at least two first portions (4a) routed predominantly perpendicularly to the varistor axis and, arranged between said portions, a second portion (4b) having a reduced cross section compared with each of the first portions (4a). The material of the resistance body (3) fills an interspace (6), which is formed by the at least two first portions (4a) and the second portion (4b), and encloses the outwardly pointing edges (4c) of the at least two portions. This resistor can be operated at high voltages, for example 5 or 10 kV, and advantageously has a single resistance body 3 and a single varistor. This obviates metal electrodes serving to make electrical contact with subelements.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.