The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 14, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1998
Ian Paul Atkins, Cary, NC (US);
Robert Michael Ballance, Raleigh, NC (US);
Jonathan Conrad Cornelius, Fuquay-Varina, NC (US);
Sherif I Kamel, Apex, NC (US);
John Anthony Kizis, Fuquay-Varina, NC (US);
Clyde Benton Mabry, III, Greensboro, NC (US);
Other;
Abstract
An overvoltage protection device includes a first electrode member having a first substantially planar contact surface and a second electrode member having a second substantially planar contact surface facing the first contact surface. A wafer formed of varistor material and having first and second opposed, substantially planar wafer surfaces is positioned between the first and second contact surfaces with the first and second wafer surfaces engaging the first and second contact surfaces, respectively. The contact surfaces may apply a load to the wafer surfaces. Preferably, the electrode members have a combined thermal mass which is substantially greater than a thermal mass of the wafer. The wafer may be formed by slicing a rod of varistor material. The device may include a housing including the first substantially planar contact surface and a sidewall, the housing defining a cavity within which the second electrode is disposed.