Patent ID: 6323751
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: H01C,Y10T

Abstract:
A current limiter device comprising:at least two electrodes;a composite array structure which comprises a plurality of discrete elements of at least one electrically conductive composite material and regions of at least one insulating flexible material, said plurality of discrete elements of at least one electrically composite material being attached together by said regions of at least one insulating flexible material to form said composite array structure, each of said plurality of said discrete elements being in direct contact with at least one of said regions of at least one insulating flexible material, said discrete elements of at least one electrically conductive composite material and said regions of at least one insulating flexible material being disposed in substantially parallel relationship in a direction of current flow, said regions of at least one insulating flexible material having a smaller thickness than that of said discrete elements of at least one electrically conductive composite material such that said regions of at least one insulating material are spaced apart from at least one of said electrodes, said composite array structure being disposed between the electrodes to define interfaces therebetween;an inhomogeneous distribution of resistance at the interfaces whereby, during a high current event, adiabatic resistive heating at the interfaces causes rapid thermal expansion and vaporization of a component of said electrically conductive composite material and physical separation at at least one of the interfaces, thereby limiting a flow of said high current; andmeans for exerting compressive pressure on the electrically conducting composite material;wherein said thicknesses of said regions and of said discrete elements are measured in a plane and in direction parallel to a plane of said compressive pressure and wherein at least one surface of said regions of at least one insulating flexible material perpendicular to said plane of said compressive pressure is free from a direct application of said compressive pressure.