Patent ID: 7633374

Claim:
A method of manufacturing an electrical component having a positive temperature coefficient, the electrical component comprising: (a) a base comprised of ceramic layers and electrode layers, the electrode layers being among the ceramic layers, the ceramic layers comprising a ceramic material that has a positive temperature coefficient in at least one part of an R/T characteristic curve, and (b) a first collector electrode attached to a first side of the electrical component and a second collector electrode attached to a second side of the electrical component, wherein the first collector electrode and the second collector electrode contact alternate electrode layers, wherein the electrical component has a volume V and a resistance R, the resistance R being measured between collector electrodes at a temperature of between 0° C. and 40° C., and wherein V·R<600Ω·mm 3 , wherein the method comprises: forming the base using ceramic green sheets interspersed with the electrode layers, the ceramic green sheets comprising the ceramic layers that comprise the ceramic material that has the positive temperature coefficient in the at least one part of the R/T characteristic curve; and removing a binder from, and sintering, the base in an environment having an oxygen content, wherein the oxygen content of the environment is lower than an oxygen content of air; wherein the oxygen content of the environment is less than 8 vol. %.