PTC device
The present invention provides a PTC device having the larger rated current and/or the larger rated voltage. The PTC device includes a plurality of laminar PTC components which are laminated via an insulation layer and has a first end portion and a second end portion. Each PTC component includes a PTC element which is defined by a first main surface and a second main surface which face to each other, and is terminated at the first end portion and the second end portion, as well as a first laminar electrode which is disposed on the first main surface and a second laminar electrode which is disposed on the second main surface, The PTC device has a first side electrode which is common to the plurality of the PTC components at the first end portion and a second side electrode which is common to the plurality of PTC components at the second end portion, The first laminar electrode of each PTC component extends to the first end portion; the second laminar electrode of each PTC component extends to the second end portion. As a result, the plurality of PTC components are connected in parallel with each other between the first side electrode and the second side electrode, The plurality of the PTC components in the laminated state are such that the first laminar electrode is positioned as an outer most first electrode at one outermost portion of the laminated plurality of the PTC components and the second laminar electrode is positioned as the outermost second electrode at the other outermost portion of the laminated plurality of the PTC component. A first electrically conductive element is positioned on the outside of the outermost first electrode and a second electrically conductive element is positioned on the outside of the outermost second electrode; the first electrically conductive element is electrically connected, directly or indirectly, to the first side electrode; and the second electrically conductive element is electrically connected, directly or indirectly, to the second side electrode.
1. A PTC device which comprises a plurality of laminar PTC components which are laminated via an insulation layer, said PTC device having a first end portion and a second end portion, characterized in that:
each PTC component comprises a PTC element which is defined by a first main surface and a second main surface facing each other, and which is terminated at the first end portion and the second end portion; and a first laminar electrode which is disposed on the first main surface and a second laminar electrode which is disposed on the second main surface;
the PTC device has a first side electrode which is common to the plurality of the PTC components at the first end portion and a second side electrode which is common to the plurality of the PTC components at the second end portion;
the first laminar electrode of each PTC component extends to the first end portion;
the second laminar electrode of each PTC component extends to the second end portion;
the plurality of the PTC components are connected in parallel with each other between the first side electrode and the second side electrode;
the plurality of the PTC components in the laminated state are such that the first laminar electrode is positioned as an outermost first electrode at one outermost portion of the laminated plurality of the PTC components and the second laminar electrode is positioned as the outermost second electrode at the other outermost portion of the laminated plurality of the PTC components;
a first electrically conductive element is positioned on the outside of the outermost first electrode and a second electrically conductive element is positioned on the outside of the outermost second electrode;
the first electrically conductive element is electrically connected, directly or indirectly, to the first side electrode; and
the second electrically conductive element is electrically connected, directly or indirectly, to the second side electrode, wherein a part of the insulation material is provided adjacent to at least a part of the periphery of an electrically conductive adhesive that is connected to the first laminar electrode.
2. The PTC device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrically conductive element is a metal lead which is connected to the first laminar electrode of the PTC component as the outermost first electrode with the electrically conductive adhesive positioned therebetween.
3. The PTC device according to claim 2 wherein the insulation material is provided so as to surround substantially the entire periphery of the electrically conductive adhesive.
4. The PTC device according to claim 2 wherein the second electrically conductive element is a metal layer which is formed by plating on the second laminar electrode of the PTC component as the outermost second electrode.
5. The PTC device according to claim 2 wherein the insulation layer positioned between the PTC components is a cured prepreg.
6. The PTC device according to claim 1 wherein the insulation material is provided so as to surround substantially the entire periphery of the electrically conductive adhesive.
7. The PTC device according to claim 1 wherein the second electrically conductive element is a metal layer which is formed by plating on the second laminar electrode of the PTC component as the outermost second electrode.
8. The PTC device according to claim 1 wherein the insulation layer positioned between the PTC components is a cured prepreg.
9. The PTC device according to claim 1 wherein the second electrically conductive element is a metal layer which is formed by plating on the second laminar electrode of the PTC component as the outermost second electrode.
10. The PTC device according to claim 1 wherein the insulation layer positioned between the PTC components is a cured prepreg.
11. An electrical apparatus which is a lithium ion battery or a lithium polymer battery, said apparatus comprising
a circuit protection device comprising a PTC device which comprises a plurality of laminar PTC components which are laminated via an insulation layer, said PTC device having a first end portion and a second end portion, characterized in that:
each PTC component comprises a PTC element which is defined by a first main surface and a second main surface facing each other, and which is terminated at the first end portion and the second end portion; and a first laminar electrode which is disposed on the first main surface and a second laminar electrode which is disposed on the second main surface;
the PTC device has a first side electrode which is common to the plurality of the PTC components at the first end portion and a second side electrode which is common to the plurality of the PTC components at the second end portion;
the first laminar electrode of each PTC component extends to the first end portion;
the second laminar electrode of each PTC component extends to the second end portion;
the plurality of the PTC components are connected in parallel with each other between the first side electrode and the second side electrode;
the plurality of the PTC components in the laminated state are such that the first laminar electrode is positioned as an outermost first electrode at one outermost portion of the laminated plurality of the PTC components and the second laminar electrode is positioned as the outermost second electrode at the other outermost portion of the laminated plurality of the PTC components;
a first electrically conductive element is positioned on the outside of the outermost first electrode and a second electrically conductive element is positioned on the outside of the outermost second electrode;
the first electrically conductive element is electrically connected, directly or indirectly, to the first side electrode; and
the second electrically conductive element is electrically connected, directly or indirectly, to the second side electrode,
wherein a part of the insulation material is provided adjacent to at least a part of the periphery of an electrically conductive adhesive that is connected to the first laminar electrode.
12. The electrical apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the first electrically conductive element is a metal lead which is connected to the first laminar electrode of the PTC component as the outermost first electrode with the electrically conductive adhesive positioned therebetween.
13. The electrical apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the insulation material is provided so as to surround substantially the entire periphery of the electrically conductive adhesive.
14. The electrical apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the second electrically conductive element is a metal layer which is formed by plating on the second laminar electrode of the PTC component as the outermost second electrode.
15. The electrical apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the insulation layer positioned between the PTC components is a cured prepreg.