Patent ID: 9601604
Date: 2017-03-21
CPC Classifications: H01C,H01L

Claim:
1. An electronic device consisting of: a body of semiconductor material, and a conductive material defining at least three conducting contacts forming respective terminals, wherein the semiconductor material and the conductive material are in contact with each other and overlapping at least partially to define the device, wherein the electrical characteristics of the device between any pair of terminals correspond to those of a varistor, which enables switching of an electrical current between one terminal and any two other terminals in such a manner that: when a current is applied inwards to a first terminal, there is a negligible current through a second terminal to which a positive potential is applied and a current out of a third terminal which is held at a negative potential with respect to the second terminal; and when a current is applied outwards of the first terminal, there is a positive current into the second terminal and a negligible current through the third terminal.