Patent ID: 8183504
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: H01C,H01L,H02H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A surface-mountable electrical circuit protection device comprising: a generally box-shaped heat-generating element carrier comprising a central planar layer forming a first polymeric positive temperature coefficient (“PPTC”) resistor having first and second major surfaces, a first electrode layer formed at the first major surface and in intimate electrical contact therewith, and a second electrode layer formed at the second major surface and in intimate electrical contact therewith, the element canier defining a space for receiving at least one heat-generating electrical element; and at least first, second and third terminal electrode regions formed along at least one major edge wall of the device for enabling surface mounting and electrical connection of the device to an electrical circuit substrate; a second PPTC resistor having third and fourth major surfaces, a third electrode layer formed at the third major surface and in intimate electrical contact therewith, and a fourth electrode layer formed at the fourth major surface and in intimate electrical contact therewith, the at least one heat-generating electrical element having a first metallized contact face bonded to a metal layer path within the element carrier space comprising a part of the first electrode layer, the heat-generating electrical element having a second metallized contact face connected to the third terminal electrode region by an electrical interconnect structure, the heat-generating electrical element being positioned between the first PPTC resistor and the second PPTC resistor within the device such that a current above a threshold level flowing through the heat-generating electrical element in an electrical circuit including the device generates heat that is transfened directly to the first PPTC resistor to aid tripping to a high resistance state.