Patent ID: 7724123

Claim:
A varistor comprising a varistor element, and a plurality of external electrodes disposed on the varistor element, wherein the varistor element is a laminated body comprising of a lamination of a plurality of varistor layers comprising ZnO as a principal ingredient and comprising a rare-earth element and Ca, first and second internal electrodes, and a third internal electrode arranged so as to interpose at least one varistor layer between the first and second internal electrodes, and wherein the plurality of external electrodes has a first external electrode connected to the first inner electrode and functioning as an input/output terminal electrode, a second external electrode connected to the second inner electrode and functioning as an input/output terminal electrode, and a third external electrode connected to the third inner electrode and functioning as a ground terminal electrode, wherein the first, second, and third external electrodes are formed by baking an electroconductive paste comprising Pt on a principal surface parallel to the laminate direction of the varistor layers out of outer surfaces of the varistor element, and wherein surfaces of the first, second, and third external electrodes are exposed.