Patent ID: 7741949

Claim:
A varistor comprising: a ceramic insulating substrate; a varistor section having an outer surface, the varistor section including: a varistor layer provided on the ceramic insulating substrate, a first internal electrode provided at the varistor layer, a second internal electrode having a first portion facing the first internal electrode, the first internal electrode and the first portion of the second internal electrode sandwiching at least a portion of the varistor layer, a first via-conductor embedded in the varistor layer, the first via-conductor exposed from the varistor layer, the first via-conductor being connected to the first internal electrode, and a second via-conductor embedded in the varistor layer, the second via-conductor exposed from the varistor layer, the second via-conductor being connected to the second internal electrode; a first external electrode provided on the outer surface of the varistor section and connected to the first via-conductor, and a second external electrode provided on the outer surface of the varistor section and connected to the second via-conductor, wherein the first internal electrode has a first joint portion connected to the first via-conductor, the second internal electrode has a second joint portion connected to the first via-conductor, and the varistor section further includes a third via-conductor embedded in the varistor layer, the third via-conductor being provided between the first joint portion and the ceramic insulating substrate as to be connected to the first joint portion and the ceramic insulating substrate, and a fourth via-conductor embedded in the varistor layer, the fourth via-conductor being provided between the second joint portion and the ceramic insulating substrate as to be connected to the second joint portion and the ceramic insulating substrate.