Fuse having an auxiliary arctransfer electrode

Claim 1

A FUSE DEVICE FOR THE PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OR DEVICES AND PREFERABLY FOR USE IN PROTECTING SEMICONDUCTOR ELEMENTS, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AT LEAST ONE FUSE CONDUCTOR PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF CONSTRICTIONS HAVING DIFFERENT FUSING CHARACTERISTICS; AND AT LEAST THREE SPACED ELECTRODES, SAID FUSE CONDUCTOR BEING CONNECTED BETWEEN TWO OF SAID ELECTRODES, AT LEAST ONE OTHER ELECTRODES BEING AN AUXILIARY ELECTRODE WHICH IS DISPOSED TO COOPERATE WITH THE MOST SENSITIVE CONSTRICTION AND BEING SPACED FROM SAID FUSE CONDUCTOR THEREBY TO PREVENT A DIRECT GALVANIC CONNECTION BETWEEN THE AUXILIARY ELECTRODE AND THE FUSE CONDUCTOR DURING NORMAL OPERATION, AND TO TRANSFER THE CURRENT FROM ONE ELECTRODE CONNECTED WITH THE FUSE CONDUCTOR TO THE AUXILIARY ELECTRODE WHICH ACTS AS A BASE FOR THE ARC WHICH IS CREATED WHEN THE FUSE CONDUCTOR MELTS.