PTC circuit protector having parallel areas of effective resistance
First Claim
1. A circuit protection device comprising:
- a polymeric resistor element that undergoes changes to its electrical resistance in response to temperature, said resistor element having a first surface and a second surface;
a first electrode in electrical contact with said first surface; and
a second electrode in electrical contact with said second surface;
said first electrode and said second electrode in electrical connection with each other by way of said polymeric resistor element;
said polymeric resistor element has a first area of effective resistance and a second area of effective resistance, said first area of effective resistance is electrically in parallel with said second area of effective resistance;
wherein said first and said second areas of effective resistance combine to comprise more than about half of said polymeric resistor element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A PTC circuit protection device to protect electronic devices against excessive temperatures and electrical currents. The device comprises a polymeric resistor element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The polymeric resistor element changes resistance in response to temperature changes. The resistor element has an upper surface and a lower surface. The first electrode is in electrical contact with both the upper surface and the lower surface. The second electrode is in electrical contact with both the upper surface and the lower surface. The circuit protection device has a first effective area of resistance and a second effective area of resistance that is electrically in parallel with the first effective area.
55 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A circuit protection device comprising:
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a polymeric resistor element that undergoes changes to its electrical resistance in response to temperature, said resistor element having a first surface and a second surface; a first electrode in electrical contact with said first surface; and a second electrode in electrical contact with said second surface; said first electrode and said second electrode in electrical connection with each other by way of said polymeric resistor element; said polymeric resistor element has a first area of effective resistance and a second area of effective resistance, said first area of effective resistance is electrically in parallel with said second area of effective resistance; wherein said first and said second areas of effective resistance combine to comprise more than about half of said polymeric resistor element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A circuit protection device comprising:
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a polymeric resistor element that changes its electrical resistance in response to temperature changes and has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, and a second end opposite said first end; a first electrode having; a first portion in electrical contact with said upper surface proximate to the first end; a second portion in electrical contact with said lower surface proximate to the second end; a second electrode having; a first portion in electrical contact with said lower surface proximate to the first end; a second portion in electrical contact with said upper surface proximate to the second end; wherein said first portion of said first electrode opposes and is in electrical contact with said first portion of said second electrode; wherein said second portion of said first electrode opposes and is in electrical contact with said second portion of said second electrode; wherein said first and said second portions of said first electrode are electrically connected to one another by a first side electrode positioned between said first end and said second end of said resistor element; and wherein said first and said second portions of said second electrode are electrically connected to one another by a second side electrode positioned between said first end and said second end of said resistor element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A circuit protection device comprising:
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a polymeric resistor element that changes resistance in response to temperature changes, said resistor element having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, and a second end opposite said first end; a first electrode in electrical contact with said upper surface and extending from at least about said first end to at least about said second end; a second electrode in electrical contact with said lower surface; a first side electrode at said first end and electrically connected to said first electrode and said second electrode; a third electrode in electrical contact with said lower surface and extending from at least about said first end to at least about said second end; a fourth electrode in electrical contact with said upper surface; a second side electrode between said first end and said second end and electrically connected to said third electrode and said fourth electrode; wherein said circuit protection device has a first effective area of resistance and a second effective area of resistance that is electrically in parallel with said first effective area of resistance. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for producing a circuit protection device having a resistor element that conducts electricity through a first area of effective resistance and a second area of effective resistance that is electrically in parallel with said first area of effective resistance, said first and said second areas of effective resistance combine to comprise more than about half of said polymeric resistor element, comprising:
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forming a polymeric resistor element that changes resistance in response to environmental changes to have an upper surface and a lower surface; positioning a first electrode in electrical contact with said upper surface and said lower surface; and positioning a second electrode in electrical contact with said upper surface and said lower surface.
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Specification