Patent US5279301A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5534843A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5534843A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thermistor
Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corp
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Filing: 1994-01-28
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Granted: 1996-07-09
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Expires: 2014-01-28
Abstract
Abstract An insulating glass layer covers the surface of a thermistor element except at the two end surfaces. The insulating glass layer is partially or fully composed of crystallized glass. A terminal electrode is integrally formed on both end surfaces. The terminal electrodes include a baked-on electrode layer formed from a conductive paste. Layers of nickel and tin or lead/tin are plated onto the baked-on electrode. The insulating glass layer enhances shape-maintainability of the insulating glass layer and the baked-on electrodes, provides a smoother glass surface, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing thermistor, prevents resistance variance due to plating of the baked-on electrodes and provides a strong anti-breaking strength thermistor. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass layer is less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the thermistor element. This difference in coefficients of thermal expansion tends to help the thermistor element resist stress breakage.
Inventors
- 👤 Masakiyo Tsunoda
- 👤 Hiroaki Nakajima
- 👤 Masami Koshimura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C7/00; H01C7/02; H01C7/008; H01C1/00; H01C1/02; H01C1/034; H01C1/14; H01C1/1406
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A thermistor, comprising: a thermistor element having first and second opposed end surfaces, and first, second third and fourth peripheral sides; an insulating glass layer on said first, second third and fourth peripheral sides; said first and second opposed end surfaces being substantially free of said insulating glass layer; said insulating glass layer being at least partially crystallized glass; a terminal electrode on each of said first and second opposed end surfaces; and said terminal electrode having a baked-on electrode layer in contact with its respective end surface, and at least one plated layer on said baked-on electrode layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A thermistor, comprising: a thermistor element having first and second opposed end surfaces, and first, second third and fourth peripheral sides; an insulating glass layer on said first, second third and fourth peripheral sides; said first and second opposed end surfaces being substantially free of said insulating glass layer; said insulating glass layer being at least partially crystallized glass; a terminal electrode on each of said first and second opposed end surfaces; and said terminal electrode having a baked-on electrode layer in contact with its respective end surface, and at least one plated layer on said baked-on electrode layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 1, wherein said insulating glass layer includes a substantial proportion of said crystallized glass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 1, wherein: a transition temperature for said insulating glass layer before crystallization is in a range from about 400° C. to about 1000° C.; and a crystallization temperature of said insulating glass layer is higher than said transition temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 1, wherein said insulating glass layer includes a mixture of SiO 2 , ZnO and BaO.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 1, wherein: said at least one plated layer includes a first plated layer on said baked-on electrode layer, and second plated layer on said first plated layer; said first plated layer is nickel; and said second plated layer is selected from the group consisting of Sn and a mixture of Sn/Pb.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A thermistor, comprising: a thermistor element having first and second opposed end surfaces, and first, second third and fourth peripheral sides; an insulating glass layer on said first, second third and fourth peripheral sides; said first and second opposed end surfaces being substantially free of said insulating glass layer; said insulating glass layer being at least partially crystallized glass; a terminal electrode on each of said first and second opposed end surfaces; and said crystallized glass has a thermal expansion coefficient of from about 40 to about 100% of a thermal expansion coefficient of said thermistor element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
A thermistor, comprising: a thermistor element having first and second opposed end surfaces, and first, second third and fourth peripheral sides; an insulating glass layer on said first, second third and fourth peripheral sides; said first and second opposed end surfaces being substantially free of said insulating glass layer; said insulating glass layer being at least partially crystallized glass; a terminal electrode on each of said first and second opposed end surfaces; and said crystallized glass has a thermal expansion coefficient of from about 40 to about 100% of a thermal expansion coefficient of said thermistor element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 6, wherein: said crystallized glass has a thermal expansion coefficient of from about 50 to about 90% of a thermal expansion coefficient of said thermistor element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 1, further comprising: at least one internal resistance regulating: electrode on at least one of said first, second, third and fourth peripheral sides element; and said insulating glass layer covering said at least one internal resistance regulating electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 1, further comprising: at least two internal resistance regulating electrodes on at least one of said first and third peripheral sides.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 9, wherein said at least two internal resistance regulating electrodes are electrically connected to respective terminal electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one internal resistance regulating electrode is within said thermistor element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one internal resistance regulating electrode is electrically connected to said terminal electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 6, wherein said insulating glass layer includes a substantial proportion of said crystallized glass.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 6, wherein: a transition temperature for said insulating glass layer before crystallization is in a range from about 400° C. to about 1000° C.; and a crystallization temperature of said insulating glass layer is higher than said transition temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 6, further comprising: at least one internal resistance regulating electrode on at least one of said first, second, third and fourth peripheral sides element; and said insulating glass layer covering said at least one internal resistance regulating electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 6, further comprising: at least two internal resistance regulating electrodes on at least one of said first and third peripheral sides.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 16, wherein said at least two internal resistance regulating electrodes are electrically connected to respective terminal electrodes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 15, wherein said at least one internal resistance regulating electrode is within said thermistor element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 18, wherein said at least one internal resistance regulating electrode is electrically connected to said terminal electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thermistor as recited in claim 6, wherein said insulating glass layer includes a mixture of SiO 2 , ZnO and BaO.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5210516A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |