IP Library Granted Patent US 7,012,501
Granted Patent B2
US 7,012,501 · App. 10/488,518 · Granted Mar 14, 2006

Electrical multi-layer component

Assignee: Epcos AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,012,501
App. No.
10/488,518
Granted
Mar 14, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical component includes a base body that contains dielectric layers. The dielectric layers are superimposed and contain ceramic. The component also includes outer contacts on an exterior of the base body, and a resistor in an interior of the base body located between two of the dielectric layers. The resistor is connected to the outer contacts, and is made from a layer that forms a path between the outer contacts. The path between the outer contacts has multiple bends.

Claims (51)

1. An electrical component comprising:

a base body; and

outer contacts on an exterior of the base body;

wherein the base body comprises:

dielectric layers that are stacked and that contain ceramic;

electrode layers that are stacked;

a first resistor between two of the dielectric layers, the first resistor being connected to the outer contacts, the first resistor comprising a layer that forms a first path between outer contacts, and the first resistor being above the electrode layers; and

a second resistor between two of the dielectric layers, the second resistor being connected to the outer contacts, the second resistor comprising a layer that forms a second path between outer contacts, and the second resistor being below the electrode layers;

wherein the dielectric layers comprise a ceramic layer, the ceramic layer comprising a varistor ceramic, and wherein a sintering temperature of the ceramic layer is between 950° C. and 1200° C.

2. The electrical component according to claim 1 , wherein the dielectric layers and the first and second resistors are sintered together.

3. The electrical component according to claim 1 , wherein a surface in the base body that contains the first resistor or the second resistor does not contain an electrode layer.

4. The electrical component according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the first path or the second path is at least ten times larger than a width of the first path or the second path, respectively.

5. The electrical component according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first path and the second path meanders.

6. The electrical component according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first resistor and the second resistor is formed of a resistive material having a resistance of at least 0.1 ohm.

7. The electrical component according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first resistor and the second resistor is formed from a resistive material that contains an alloy comprised of silver and palladium, the palladium having a proportion in the alloy from 15% to less than 100% by weight.

8. The electrical component according to claim 7 , wherein the proportion of palladium is between 50% and 70% by weight.

9. The electrical component according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first resistor and the second resistor is comprised of a material that contains up to 70% by volume of an additive that has a specific resistance that is at least ten times larger than a specific resistance of other components of the material.

10. The electrical component according to claim 9 , wherein the additive comprises Al 2 O 3 .

11. The electrical component according to claim 1 , wherein the ceramic layer is based on BaTiO 3 .

12. The electrical component according to claim 1 , wherein:

the electrode layers comprise first and second stacks of electrode layers that are arranged side-by-side in the base body;

the outer contacts comprise first and second pairs of outer contacts that are connected by the first and second resistors, the first pair of outer contacts comprising one outer contact on each of two facing side areas of the base body, and the second pair of outer contacts comprising one outer contact on each of the two facing side areas of the base body;

adjacent electrode layers in the first stack of electrode layers contact alternate outer contacts in the first pair of outer contacts; and

adjacent electrode layers in the second stack of electrode layers contact alternate outer contacts in the second pair of outer contacts.

13. The electrical component according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second stacks of electrode layers are each part of a different multilayer varistor.

14. The electrical component according to claim 13 , wherein two varistors that include the first and second stacks of electrode layers, together with the first resistor and the second resistor, form ; a π-filter.

15. An electrical component comprising:

a base body that has facing side areas;

outer contacts on an exterior of the base body, the outer contacts comprising a first pair of outer contacts and a second pair of outer contacts, the first pair of outer contacts comprising one outer contact on each facing side area of the base body, and the second pair of outer contacts comprising one outer contact on each facing side area of the base body;

wherein the base body comprises:

dielectric layers that are stacked and that contain ceramic;

first and second stacks of electrode layers arranged side-by-side, the first stack of electrode layers being part of a first multilayer varistor and the second stack of electrode layers being part of a second multilayer varistor, wherein adjacent electrode layers in the first stack of electrode layers contact alternate outer contacts in the first pair of the outer contacts, and wherein adjacent electrode layers in the second stack of electrode layers contact alternate outer contacts in the second pair of the outer contacts;

a first resistor above the first and second stacks of electrode layers, the first resistor being between two of the dielectric layers, the first resistor being connected to an outer contact in the first pair of outer contacts and to an outer contact in the second pair of outer contacts, and the first resistor comprising a layer that forms a first path between outer contacts connected to the first resistor, the first path having multiple bends; and

a second resistor below the first and second stacks of electrode layers, the second resistor between two of the dielectric layers, the second resistor being connected to an outer contact in the first pair of outer contacts and to an outer contact in the second pair of outer contacts, and the second resistor comprising a layer that forms a second path between two outer contacts connected to the second resistor, the second path having multiple bends; and

wherein the electrical component is symmetric relative to a plane that runs parallel to one of the dielectric layers, and wherein the first and second multilayer varistors and the first and second resistors form a π-filter.

16. The electrical component of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first resistor and the second resistor comprises a continuous layer having multiple holes.

17. The electrical component of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first path and the second path has multiple bends.

18. The electrical component of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first resistor and the second resistor comprises a continuous layer having multiple holes.

19. An electrical component comprising:

a base body; and

outer contacts on an exterior of the base body;

wherein the base body comprises:

dielectric layers that are stacked and that contain ceramic;

electrode layers that are stacked, the electrode layers comprising first and second stacks of electrode layers that are arranged side-by-side in the base body;

a first resistor between two of the dielectric layers, the first resistor being connected to the outer contacts, the first resistor comprising a layer that forms a first path between outer contacts, and the first resistor being above the electrode layers; and

a second resistor between two of the dielectric layers, the second resistor being connected to the outer contacts, the second resistor comprising a layer that forms a second path between outer contacts, and the second resistor being below the electrode layers;

wherein the outer contacts comprise first and second pairs of outer contacts that are connected by the first and second resistors, the first pair of outer contacts comprising one outer contact on each of two facing side areas of the base body, and the second pair of outer contacts comprising one outer contact on each of the two facing side areas of the base body;

wherein adjacent electrode layers in the first stack of electrode layers contact alternate outer contacts in the first pair of outer contacts; and

wherein adjacent electrode layers in the second stack of electrode layers contact alternate outer contacts in the second pair of outer contacts.

20. The electrical component according to claim 19 , wherein the first and second stacks of electrode layers are each part of a different multilayer varistor.

21. The electrical component according to claim 20 , wherein two varistors that include the first and second stacks of electrode layers, together with the first resistor and the second resistor, form a π-filter.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 26, 2022
From: EPCOS AG
To: TDK ELECTRONICS AG
Reel/Frame 061774/0102 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2004
From: KRUMPHALS, ROBERT; PECINA, AXEL; GREIER, GUNTHER; KOPPEL, HARALD
To: EPCOS AG
Reel/Frame 015633/0519 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 101 44 364 · Sep 10, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040239476A1 · Dec 2, 2004