Patent ID: 6215388
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: G11B,H01C,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
A PTC device comprising a plurality of metal plates greater than two and a plurality of PTC material layers, said plates and layers having opposed facing surfaces and alternating with one another in parallel relationship with said layers and plates bonded to each other at electrically conductive interfaces between said layers and plates, each of said plates including an integrally formed portion extending outwardly from said electrically conductive interfaces, an adjacent pair of plates in said plurality of metal plates being connected in electrical series across one layer of said plurality of PTC material layers, alternating ones of said plurality of metal plates being interconnected by forming said integrally formed portions into interengaging relationship whereby the remaining plates of said plurality of metal plates are connected with one or the other of the plates in said one pair of plates other than through a said PTC material layer by way of direct parallel connections that are external to said opposing surfaces between said layers and plates and the remaining layers of said plurality of PIC material layers being connected in electrically parallel relationship with said one layer, said direct parallel connections being part of said PTC device as manufactured and existing prior to incorporation of said PTC device in an electrical circuit, said direct parallel connections being continuous and uninterruptable by way of switches or another interrupting device.