1

 Then a trademark of the General Electric Company.

2

 The MOV applications to high-voltage surge arresters were also developed during that period, but are not 

 covered in this Anthology, except for the seminal Shakshaug et al. paper which is included as an 

 annex of Part 7.

Patents and Perspective on 

Surge Protection for Low-Voltage Circuits

Significance:

Part 6: Tutorials, textbooks, and reviews

Chapter 1 – Patents issued 1971 – 1984

These patents are included in this chapter of this Part 6 as they “teach” (using the legal term) applications of

surge-protective devices. Only the front pages of the patents are included here. Complete copies, of course,

would be available from the U.S. Patent Office. Seven of the nine patents included in this chapter were

granted for non-conventional structures and applications of the emerging metal-oxide varistor (MOV)

technology, fueled by the enthusiasm generated by the possibility of taking advantage of the flexibility of

manufacturing MOVs in structures more complex than a simple disc with only two terminal electrodes. A

search on the subject of “MOV” in the U.S. Patent Office yields nearly one hundred patents by other inventors.

All of these nine patents were assigned to the General Electric Company, which lost interest in any of them

as the electronics-oriented varistor business was sold off by General Electric, the beginning of a succession

of divestitures, acquisitions, and licensing of what has now become for several manufacturers primarily a

business of manufacturing simple two-terminal structures that are subsequently incorporated into an SPD

package by other manufacturers.

Two other patents included in this chapter deal with transient phenomena in power electronics and are cited

in several patents issued to other inventors of surge-protection schemes, although these two do not include

any claim associated with MOV applications.

Chapter 2 – Retrospective – 1972-2004

As witness to technology evolution and changing business priorities, this chapter of Part 6 begins – as an

acknowledgment to the origins of the technology – with an early patent filed in the US, for which GE acquired

a license and launched the “GE-MOV” ®1

 varistors in 1972, blossoming into a full line of two-terminal devices

for low-voltage applications2

. Next, this chapter shows an excerpt from a product specification bulletin listing

the wide range of ratings available by the mid-seventies. On the occasion of its Centennial, GE seemed

determined to stay in the business of transient protection, as claimed by an advertisement citing its long roots

in the field. However, while expansion of the variety of MOV structures continued, as shown by the covers

of successive editions (avatars) of the Transient Voltage Suppression Manual, GE eventually did exit the

business of low-voltage MOVs, with Harris Semiconductor taking over. That exit was later followed by yet

another divestiture, now apparent as the latest MOV avatar when browsing the Internet for present MOV

manufacturers – a long way from the 1970s GE-MOVs.
United States Patent 1111 3,569,819 

Inventors Francois D. Martzloff; 

William hlchlurrd) ; John P. b alden, 

Schenectad?, V.Y. 

Appl No 791,750 

F~led Jan. 16,1969 

Patented Mar. 9,1971 

Ass~gnec General Electric Compaaj 

-- 

RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR SHORT CIRCUITS 

THROUGH SWITCHING DEVICES IN POWER 

CIRCUITS 

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. 

U.S.CI .................. ... ......................... 321!12, 

321/4,321/14,321!45 

Int. CI ........................ .. .................. H02m 1/18, 

H02h 7/14 

Field of Search.. ..................................... 3 2 114. 

11-14,45,45C; 3071202; 317153 (Inquired) 

References Cited 

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

3,406,327 101 1968 Mapham et al. ............. 32 1/45 

OTHER REFERENCES 

The Institution of Electrical Engineers. Paper No. 3889E." 

An Audio-Frequent! H~gh Power Generator Employing Silicon Controlled Rectifiers." pp 255. 256. May i962, Copy in 

Class 321145 

Primar! t.r~~r~lint,r---Willtam ki. Beha Jr. 

.4ttorn~,:vs--Frank L. Ne~~hauser, Oscar B. Waddell, James C. 

Davis. Jr., Edward W. Goebel. Jr. and Joseph B. Forman 

ABSTRACT: When a short c~rcuit or shoot-through occurs in 

a power circuit having two thyristors in series with commutating circuit inductors, a shunt capacitor isolated from the DC 

power supply by an impedance auto~natically resonates with 

the inductors to turn off both thyristors. A second automatic 

recovery system for repeated short circu~ts that occur before 

the capacitor has recharged operates to teniporarily disable 

the power supply. In a high-voitage inverter the impedance is a 

resistor functioning to dampen voltage o\ershoots and to implement a relay or solid state second recovery system. 
United States Patent 

[72] Inventors Leon J. Goldberg; 

Francois D. Martzloff, both of Schenectady, 

N.Y. 

[21] Appl. No. 4,246 

1221 Filed Jan. 20,1970 

[45] Patented Aug. 17,1971 

[ 73 ] Assignee General Electric Company 

[54] OVERCURRENT PROTECTION FOR SOLIDSTATE VOLTAGE REGULATOR 

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs. 

[52] U.S. CI ..................................................... 323!9, 

323143.5 S, 323145, 323162 

[5 11 Int. CI ......................................................... G05f 1/20, 

G05f 1/30 

[SO] Field of Search ............................................ 3 1711 6, 33, 

33 SC; 321114; 32319.43.5.45.57.62 

1561 References Cited 

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

3,281,652 1011966 Perrins ....................... 323143.5 X 

3,461,378 8/1969 King ............................. 323145 X 

3,495,129 211970 Donner et al. ................ 323143.5 X 

3,514,688 511970 Martin .......................... 323143.5 X 

Primary Examiner-J. D. Miller 

Assistant Examiner-A. D. Pellinen 

Attorneys-John F. Ahern, Paul A. Frank, Julius J. 

Zaskalicky, Donald R. Campbell, Frank L. Neuhauser, 

Oscar B. Waddell and Joseph B. Forman 

ABSTRACT: A solid-state voltage regulator constructed with 

low current rating step changing solid-state switches, or pairs 

of switches, is protected against overcurrents in the interval 

before the opening of a slow-acting circuit breaker. The overcurrent is transferred from one switch to another in sequence 

rapidly to take advantage of the short time current overcapacity, or is diverted to a shunting protective switch which 

can have other functions. Alternatively, one switch has a high 

current rating, and the overcurrent is diverted to the heavyduty switch. 
United States Patent 1191 

Martzloff 

54 I INTEGRAL SENSOR FOR MONITORING A 

METAL OXIDE VARlSTOR 

[75] Inventor: Francois D. Martzloff, Schenectady, 

N.Y. 

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company, 

Schenectady, N.Y. 

[22] Filed: Sept. 30, 1971 

[21] Appl. No.: 185,184 

[52] U.S. CI ................... 338/20, 73/362 SC, 338122 

[5 1 ] Int. Cl ............................................ Hole 7/10 

[58] Field of Search ................. 338/13, 20, 21, 324, 

3381325, 322; 731362 SC; 323168. 69 

[561 References Cited 

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

3.622.849 - 11/1971 Kelley ............................... 323169 X 

2.747358 511956 LeBel ................................... 323169 

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 

783,669 911957 Great Britain .................. 731362 SC 

1451 June 26, 1973 

Primary Examiner-C. L. Albritton 

Attorney- Frank 1.. Neuhauser. John F. Ahern et id. 

[57] ABSTRACT 

A body of sintered metal oxide material having first and 

second opposed surfaces and a third surface disposed 

therebetween has first and second electrodes in contact 

with the first two opposed surfaces for establishing a 

main conductive path through the device and a third 

electrode in contact with one of the two opposed surfaces and spaced very close to the corresponding electrode for establishing a monitoring conductive path for 

sensing the operating temperature of the body as a 

function of the resistance thereof. The monitoring path 

may also be established by a pair of third electrodes positioned on opposite sides of the surface interconnecting the first two surfaces whereby the monitoring path 

intersects the main conductive path. The sintered metal 

oxide material has varistor characteristics. 

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 
~nitedlates Patent 1191 

Tasca et al. 

1111 3,711,794 

1451 Jan. 16,1973 

1541 SURGE SUPPRESSION TRANSMISSION 

MEANS 

[75] Inventors: Dante M. Taw, Philadelphia, Pa.; 

John D. Hamden, Jr.; Franc& D. 

Martzioff, both of Schenectady, 

N.Y. 

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company 

(221 Filed: Oct. 21,1971 

[2l] Appl. No.: 191,216 

(521 US. Cf .................. 333196, 333197 R. 33318 1 A. 

333113, 338/216.338/21.329/162 

(511 lnt C1. ......... HOlp 1/00,HOlp 1/22. HOlc 7/12 

(581 Fii of Search ... 333197 R. 81 AB. 17, 13.24.2, 

33312.96.97 S; 338120-21.216.220; 

317/61.5; 3391147; 3291161-162 

~61 References Cited 

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

Tubbs ..................................... 333196 

Johnson .............................. 338 IX 

Hunt .................................... 32911 62 

Ferriil. Jr ............................ 333196 X 

Norton ............................... 338120 X 

Reggia ................................ 338 1 A 

Gunn et al. ......................... 333181 B 

Chester et al. ...................... 333198 S 

Jacohs et al. ..................... 32911 61 X 

Garstang ................................ 333179 

3,426299 2/1969 Dixon, Jr ......-................ 333f24.2 X 

3.61 1.073 101197 1 Hamarnoto et at. ................ 338/20 X 

3.663.458 511972 Masuyama et a1 .................... 252/5 I8 

OTHER PUBLICATIONS 

Gunn, M. W., "Wave Propagation in Rectangulzr 

Waveguide Containing a Semiconducting Film" Proc. 

IEE. Vol. 1 14 2-1 967, pp. 207-2 10. 

Primary Examiner-Eli Liebennan 

Assistant Examiner- Wm. H. Punter 

Attorney-Frank L. Neuhauser et al. 

In a coaxial connector a generally toroidal shaped 

member of metal oxide varistor material is connected 

between the inner and outer conductors of the connector. The metal oxide varistor material has an alpha 

in excess of 10 in the current density range of from 

1O4 to 105 amperes per square centimeter. The spacing of the peripheral portions of the member is set so 

that a high impedance is presented to normal applied 

voltage between the peripheral portions. For voltages 

applied between the peripheral portions progressively 

in excess of the normal voltage rapidly decreasing impedance is presented by the toroidal member in accordance with the alpha of the material thereby limiting the variation in voltage between the peripheral 

portions of the toroidal shaped member. 

I I Clois, 13 Drawing Figurn 
Usrited States Patent r1w 

Anderson et al. 

Invcn tors: 

Assignee: 

Filed: 

Appl. No. 

Thomas E. Ander.wn, Normal. Ill.; 

Frnncois U. hlartzloff, Schenectady, 

N.Y. 

General Electric Company, 

Schenectady, N.Y. 

June 29, 1973 

375,132 

U.S. CI ..................... 317161, 317/61.5, 317168, 

33812 1 

Int. CI. ............................................. H02h 9/04 

Eield of Search ......... 33812 I, 20; 3 17161.5, 68, 

317141, 61 

Refereuces Cited 

UNI? ED STATES PATENTS 

3,304,529 211967 Forwald ct ;II ........................ 33x12 I 

3,740,701 611973 Harntlcn ........................... 338121 X 

3,764,566 10/1973 Mnrsuok;~ CI 31. ................ 33R/2 1 X 

Primary Examiner-James D. Trammcll 

Arrornry, Agott, or Firm--Paul I. Edelson; Joscph T. 

Cohen; Jerome C. Squillaro 

1571 ABSTRACT 

A polycrystalline varistor of the bulk effect inc oxide 

base type adapted for use in voltage surge suppression 

on VHF signal lines is disclosed. The dcvicc comprises 

a unitary body including a spiral inductor elcctric;dly 

in series with the varistor element to prevent capacitive loading of the protected signal line. 

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 
United States Patent [ 191 

Martzloff 

1541 POL,YCRYSTAI,LINE VARISTOR SURGE 

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR HIGH 

FREQliENCY APPLICATIONS 

175 1 Inventor: Francuis U. hlartzloff. Schencctady. 

N.Y. 

173 1 Assignee: General Electric Company, 

Schencctacl). N.Y 

(221 Filed. June 29, 1973 

(2 1 1 Appl. No.: 374,933 

(521 l1.S.C'I ................. 317161.5, 3 17153, 3 17167, 

3 17/50. 333176. 333/13. 33812 I, 33x121 6 

151 1 Int. C'I... ................... H02h 3/20, H02h 3122 

(5x1 Field of Search .......... 7 17/61, 61.5, 66. 235 A. 

3 17/134 A. 261; 338/?0. 21. 216; 1001166. 773 133/70 C', 70 S. 79, XO R, XO T. 70 CR. ---, . 

73 C. 76 

156 1 References C'ited 

L;I\;I'I.ED STATES PA1 FNTS 

2.176.21 1 O/Y I 1 a ....... 333173 C 

2.XYh.l ?X 7/11 I-uller ct '11. ........... 3 17/61 

3.274,447 /I Ncl\on ............ 3 17/61 

(451 Jan. 28, 1975 

l'ritttur! E.\utt~i~wr-J. D. Miller 

A.c.\i.ttc~tlt E.ru1?1it1~r--~3tric~rr-Patrick R. Sake 

Attorrlry. A~erlt, or Firttt-Donald R. Campbell; 

Joseph T. Cohen; Jerome C. Squillaro 

1.57 I ABSTRACT 

A polycrystalline varistor of the bulk effect zinc oxide 

base type adapted for use in voltage surge suppression 

on VHF signal lines is disclosed. The device comprises 

a connector having a housing attached thereto containing a polycrystalline varistor and a conductivc 

spring memher. The spring member is configured to 

provide for the proper mechanical positioning of the 

varistor and to provide an electrical inductance in series with the varistor to prevent capacitive loading of 

the protected signal line. 

9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 
United States Patent [I91 

Burgess et al. 

11 11 4,103,274 

[451 Jul. 25,1978 

RECONSTITUTED METAL OXIDE 

VARISTOR 

Inventors: James F. Burgess, Schenectady; 

Roland T. Girard, Scotia; Francois D. 

Martdoff; Constantine A. 

Neugebauer, both of Schenectady, all 

of N.Y. 

Assignee: General Electric Company, 

Schenectady, N.Y. 

Appl. No.: 722,388 

Filed: Sep. 13,1976 

Int. Cl.2 ............................................... HOlC 7/10 

U.S. C1. ................................... 338/21; 29/610 R; 

29/621; 252/518; 338/20; 338/327 

Field of Search ........................... 338/20, 21, 327; 

29/610, 621; 427/101; 428/412, 328-330; 

252/518, 518.1, 518.3; 260/37 PC 

[56] References Cited 

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 

3,503,029 3/1970 Matsuoka ............................... 338/20 

3,935,157 1/1976 Schiier et al. .................. 260/37 PC 

3,999,159 12/1976 Matsuura et al. ...................... 338/21 

OTHER PUBLICATIONS 

Chemical Abstracts, vol. 85, 1976, p. 571. 

Primary Examiner-C. L. Albritton 

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lawrence D. Cutter; Joseph 

T. Cohen; Marvin Snyder 

[571 ABSTRACT 

Reconstituted metal oxide varistors are formed by hot 

pressing powdered metal oxide varistor ceramic with 

plastic resin. Metal electrodes may be pressed directly 

into the ceramic-plastic composite to provide improved 

contact characteristics. 

25 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 

A1 ELECTRODE 

CERAMIC 

PLASTIC 
United States Patent [I91 

Martzloff 

[54] MULTI-TERMINAL VARISTOR 

CONFIGURATION 

[75] Inventor: Francois D. Martzloff, Schenectady, 

N.Y. 

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company, 

Schenectady, N.Y. 

[21] Appl. No.: 972,448 

1221 Filed: Dec. 22,1978 

[51] Int. Cl.2 ............................................... H02H 1/04 

[52] US. Cl. ...................................... 361/127; 338/21; 

361/56 

[58] Field of Search ........................... 361/56, 91, 127; 

338/20, 21 

1561 References Cited 

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 

2,935,712 5/1960 Oppenheim et al. .................. 338/20 

3,764,854 10/1973 Craddock ............................. 361/127 

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 

7507645 ]/I976 Netherlands ............................... 338/21 

WI Jul. 8, 1980 

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lawrence D. Cutter; James 

C. Davis; Marvin Snyder 

~71 ABSTRACT 

A pair of varistor disks, each having one face thereof 

coated substantially entirely with electrode material 

and another face thereof coated with spaced-apart electrode material, such as in two semicircular patches, are 

joined together so that said faces coated with a single 

electrode are coincident. This configuration reduces by 

a factor of two the over-all area required for equal 

current density as compared with certain prior varistor 

configurations. The varistor of the present invention 

also exhibits a lower diarneter-to-thickness ratio and 

hence provides a significantly stronger mechanical 

structure. Additionally, the varistors of the present 

configuration may be readily provided with grooves 

between electrode surfaces so as to increase the interelectrode spacing, without significantly reducing the 

mechanical strength of the device. The invention of the 

present structure also permits flexible lead configurations. 

Primary Examiner-Harry E. Moose, Jr. 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 
United States Patent [I91 [I 11 Patent Number: 4,467,245 

Bloomer et al. [45] Date of Patent: Aug. 21, 1984 

[54] CURRENT-LIMITED SPARK GAP FOR 

TRANSIENT PROTECTION 

[75] Inventors: 

[73] Assignee: 

[21] Appl. No.: 

[22] Filed: 

Milton D. Bloomer; Francois D. 

Martzloff, both of Schenectady, 

N.Y. 

General Electric Company, 

Schenectady, N.Y. 

Feb. 18, 1983 

.......................................... HOlK 1/68 

................................. 315/75; 3 15/127; 

315/207; 315/240, 361/56; 361/111 

[58] Field of Search .................................... 3 15/73-75, 

315/125-127, 207, 240, 241 R; 307/126, 130; 

361/56, 11 1, 126 

1561 References Cited 

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 

2,888,639 5/1959 Petermichl et al. .............. 361/56 X 

3,660,719 5/1972 Grenier ................................. 361/56 

Primary Examiner-Eugene R. LaRoche 

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Geoffrey H. Krauss; James C. 

Davis, Jr.; Marvin Snyder 

[571 ABSTRACT 

High voltage transients are effectively clamped by 

means of a spark gap, in parallel connection with a load 

to be protected, and having a capacitor in series with 

the parallelled load-spark gap combination. The series 

capacitor limits follow-through current through the 

spark gap to a level permitting survival of the spark gap. 

Where the load is an incandescent lamp, the spark gap 

is formed by shaping the lamp internal lead structure, 

such that an additional external spark gap component is 

not required. 

13 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 
3,6182,841 United States Patent Office ,,,, .., ;, ,

3,682,841 

VOLTAGE DEPENDENT RESISTORS 

IN A BULK TYPE 

Michio Matsuoka. Takeshi Masuvama. and Yoshio Iida. 

Osaka-fu, ~a~an, assignors to "~ats"shita ~ld& I& 

dustrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan Filed Dec. 1, 1970, Ser. No. 93,971 

Claims priority, application Japan, Dec. 12, 1969, 

44/100,447; Dec. 16, 1969, 44/102,203, 44/ 

102,204,44/102,205,44/102,206; Dec. 23,1969, 

44/569; Apr. 6,1970,45/29,908 

Int. CI. HOlb 1/06 

US. CI. 252-518 5 Claims 

material, i.e. to the bulk, and the C-value is t controlled 

by changing a dimension in the direction in \which the 

current flows through the varistors. The silicosn carbide 

varistors, however, have a relatively low n-valuue ranging 

from 3 to 6 and are prepared by firing in nom-oxidizing 

atmosphere, especially for the purpose of obtaining a 

lower C-value. 

An object of the present invention is to proviide a voltage dependent resistor having non-linearity ddue to the 

bulk thereof and being characterized by a low C-value 

and high n-value. 

Another object of the present invention is tto provide 

a method for making a voltage dependent resisttor havinr?. 

the non-linearity due to the bulk thereof and beeing charABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 15 acterized by a high n-value, without using non+oxidizing 

atmosphere. A voltage dependent resistor of the bulk type. The These objects are achieved by providing a vcoltage deresistor has a sintered body consisting essentially of, pendent resistor of the bulk type comprising aa sintered as a major part, zinc oxide (z~O) and, as an additive, body consisting essentially of, as a major part,t, zinc ox- 0.05 to 10.0 mole percent of beryllium oxide (Be01 and 20 ide (ZnO), and, as an additive, 0.05 to 10.0 rmole per0.05 to 10.0 mole percent, in total, of at least one mem- cent of beryllium oxide (BeO) and 0.05 to 110.0 mole 

ber selected from the group consisting of bismuth oxide percent, in total, of at least one member seleccted from 

(Bia03), cobalt oxide (Coo) manganese oxide (MnO), the group consisting of bismuth oxide (Bi20B3), cobalt 

barium oxide (B~O), strontium oxide (SrO) and lead oxide (Coo), manganese oxide (MnO), bariuum oxide 

oxide (PbO). Electrodes are provided which are in con- 25 (BaO), strontium oxide (SrO) and lead oxid& (pbo), 

tact with said body. and electrodes in contact with said body. 

These and other objects of the invention will1 become 

apparent upon consideration of the following ddescription 

This invention relates to voltage dependent resistors taken together with the accompanying drawing in which 

having non-ohmic resistance due to the bulk thereof and 30 the single figure is a partly cross-sectional view through more particularly to varistors comprising zinc oxide and a voltage dependent resistor in accordance witkh the inberyllium oxide. vention. 

Various voltage dependent resistors such as silicon Before proceeding with a detailed descriptiwn of the 

carbide varistors, selenium rectifiers and germanium or voltage dependent resistors contemplated by &he invensilicon p-n junction diodes have been widely used for 35 tion, their construction will be described with reference 

stabilization of voltage or current of electrical circuits. to the aforesaid drawing wherein reference chaaracter 10 

The electrical characteristics of such a voltage depend- designates, as a whole, a voltage dependent resiistor com- ent resistor are expressed by the relation: prising, as its active element, a sintered body having a 

pair of electrodes 2 and 3 applied to opposite: surfaces 

I= ($)n 40 thereof. Said sintered body 1 is prepared in aa manner hereinafter set forth and is in any form such ass circular, 

where V is the voltage across the resistor, I is the cur- square or rectangular plate form. wire leads 5 aand 6 are 

rent flowing through the resistor, C is a constant corre- attached conductively to the electrodes 2 and 33, respecsponding to the voltage at a given current and exponent tively, by a connection means 4 such as solder orr the like. 

n is a numerical value greater than 1. The value of n is 45 The sintered body 1 of the voltage dependenat resistor 

calculated by the following equation: according to the invention comprises a compositition conlog10 (IzlI1) sisting essentially of, as a major part, zinc oxidle (ZnO) 

n= and, as an additive, 0.05 to 10.0 mole percent of beryl- logm (VdVl) lium oxide (BeO) and 0.05 to 10.0 mole percent$, in total, 

where V1 and Va are the voltages at given currents I1 and 50 of at least one member selected from the gr~~ con- 12, respectively. The desired value of C depends upon the sisting of bismuth oxide (BizOd, cobalt oxidee (COO). 

kind of application to which the resistor is to be put. It manganese oxide (MnO), barium oxide (BaO)), stronis ordinarily desirable &at the value of n be as large as tium oxide (SrO) and lead oxide (PbO) and hass the elecpossible since this exponent determines the extent to trodes 3 and 3 in contact with said body. 

which the resistors depart from ohmic characteristics. 55 A higher n-value can be obtained when saidi additive 

Voltage dependent resistors comprising simered bod- consists essentially of 1.0 to 8.0 mole percent (of berylies of zinc oxide with or without additives and silver lium oxide (BeO) and 0.1 to 3.0 mole percent,, in total, 

paint electrodes applied thereto, have previously been of at least one member selected from the groupp consistdisclosed. The non-linearity of such varistors is attrib- ing of bismuth oxide (BizO,), cobalt oxide (CoCO), man- uted to the interface between the sintered body of zinc 60 ganese oxide (MnO), barium oxide (BaO), sstrontium 

oxide with or without additives and the silver paint elec- oxide (SrO) and lead oxide (PbO). 

trode and is controlled mainly by changing the composi- Table 1 shows the optimal compositions of ssaid additions of said sintered body and silver paint electrode. tives for producing a voltage dependent resistox having 

Therefore, it is not easy to control the C-value over a hibh n-value, low C-value and high stability witfh respect 

wide range after the sintered body is prepared. Similarly, 65 to temperature, humidity and electric load. 

in varistors comprising germanium or silicon p-n junc- The sintered body 1 can be prepared by a pear se well 

tion diodes, it is difficult to control the C-value over a known ceramic technique. The starting material~ls having 

wide range because the non-linearity of these varistors the compositions described in the foregoing description 

is not attributed to the bulk but to the p-n junction. On are mixed in a wet mill so as to produce homaogeneous 

the other hand, the silicon carbide varistors have non- 70 mixtures. The mixtures are dried and pressed inn a mold 

linearity due to the contacts among the individual grains into the desired shape at a pressure of from 1100 kg./ 

of silicon carbide bonded together by a ceramic binding cmez to 1000 kgJcm.2. The pressed are: sintRrPrl 

copy provided by USPTO from the CSlR Image Database 
GE has been helping customers solve transient voltage 

problems since the introduction of GE-MOV@ varistors 

in 1972. The GE-MOV@ team is constantly researching 

the causes and effects of transients and developing new 

solutions to meet all types of transient suppression 

needs; committed to innovation beyond today's 

technology. 

As the field of electronics has grown rapidly through the 

use of solid-state components, so have the applications 

for surge suppressors to protect these transientsensitive devices. Innovations such as surface-mount 

technology have also altered the demand profile by 

adding packaging considerations to functional ones. 

As a result of innovation and research, the GE-MOV@ 

line of metal-oxide varistors has expanded to include 

surface-mount devices, new high-energy packages, 

connector-pin varistors, and high-temperature, lowprofile varistors. These new products supplement the 

GE-MOV@ line of radial, axial, and high-energy 

packaged varistors, already the broadest in the industrGE-MOV@ Features 

FAMILY FEATURES: 

Wide Voltage/Energy Range 

Excellent Clamp Ratio 

TYPE FEATURES: 

CHISM Series 

Surface Mount Varistors 

Better Performance 

Higher Reliability 

Lower Equipment Cost 

Saves on Board 

HeighVBul Weight 

CP Series 

Connector Pin Varistors 

Provides transient protection 

in connectors 

Available in 22, 20, and 

16 gauge sizes 

MA Series 

Axial Package 

Wide Voltage Range 

Automatic Insertion 

Power 

No Follow-On CUI 

ZA Series 

Radial Package 

Low Voltage Operation 

LA Series 

Radial Package 

Line Voltage Operation 

UL Recognized 

RA Series 

Low Profile 

High Tbmperature Capability 

Precise Seating Plane 

In-Line Leads 

PA Series 

Rigid Mountdown 

NEMA Creep and Strike Distance 

Quick Connect Terminal 

UL Recognized 

-MOW S~ecification Guide 

Fast Response Time UL Recogn 

Low Standby 

DA,DB,BA,BB Series 

High Energy Capability 

Rigid Terminals 

Isolated 

Low Inductance 

Improved Creep and Strike 

UL Recognized 

CA Series 

Industrial Discs 

Hi Reliability Series 

100% Rescreened 

100% Process Conditioning 

Meets Military Specifications 
GE Centennial Advertisement

 Most people recognize GE-MOV® varistors as the

ultimate in system transient protection. W ith good 

reason. These metal oxide varistors, or movistors, are 

the result of research and experience that stems from

the early years of General Electric, celebrating in 1978 

its 100th birthday.

 You may have shared our excitement along the GE

path to leadership. Steinmetz* lightning generator

demonstration in 1922. Anderson*s lightning

measurements on the Empire State Building in the

1930*s. The definitive study of surge voltages in

residential and industrial circuits formulated by 

Martzloff and Hahn of GE*s Corporate R&D Center 

in 1970. And, of course, GE*s $10 million investment

relating to the introduction of GE-MOV® varistors six

years ago.

 But in our view, the best is yet to come. GE*s R&D 

work on transient protection continues to find more

sophisticated materials, better measurements and

standardization. Soon, you*ll be able to put the 

resulting new products and new ideas to work for you.

 Experience, Innovation. Staying power. It*s what 

you*ve come to expect, and can expect from GE when

you need transient protection.

 For the full story on GE-MOV® varistors, call your 

local authorized GE semiconductor distributor, or 

write General Electric Co., Electronics Park 7-49,

Syracuse, N.Y. 13221. 222-06

® Registered Trademark of General Electric Co

.

There*s more

to GE semiconductors

than meets the eye

__________________________________________

G E N E R A L E L E C T R I C
Avatars of the GE Transient Voltage Suppression Manual

1976 - 2004

1976 – First Edition

(A collector’s item)

1978 – Second Edition

The line expands

1982 – Third Edition

Bigger is better

1983 – Fourth Edition

(More big discs/)

1986 – Fifth Edition 

Last Hurrah for GE-MOV

1992 – Same Text

A New Home

 

Browsing the Web in 2004 for varistor vendors delivers the following message:

The product you're searching for is part of a family that is no longer in the Intersil Corporation

product portfolio.

TRANSIENT VOLTAGE PRODUCTS

The former Harris Semiconductor and RCA Solid State family of transient voltage products

(Radial Varistors, Multi-Layer Varistors, Industrial MOVs, Diode Arrays and Surgector TVS

Thyristors) were sold to Littlefuse, Inc. These include products with prefixes of LA, ZA, CIII,

MLA, MLE, AUML, RA, BB, MA, HA, NA and SP.