Abstract: The present invention provide a protection device which comprises a PTC component and a first non-resettable contact component which is connected electrically in parallel to the PTC component, characterized in that a second non-resettable contact component is connected electrically in series to the PTC component, and when the PTC component is tripped by a current which is diverted by opening the contact of the first non-resettable contact component, the contact of the second non-resettable contact component opens due to heat which is generated by the PTC component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protection device which comprises a resin base 14, a PTC component 24, a bimetal component 26, an arm 28 and an upper plate 46 which are housed in a resin housing wherein the resin base 14 includes a terminal 12 which is integrated with the resin base by insert molding. The protection device further includes a resin cover 16 which is formed by insert molding so as to cover the PTC component 24, the bimetal component 26, the arm 28 and the upper plate 46 which are superposed in this order over the terminal 12 within a space in the resin base 14.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protection device which provides a greater degree of freedom in a disposition of the bimetal switch as well as be able to more accurately control an actuation of the bimetal member of the bimetal switch. The protection device characterized in that the device comprises a bimetal switch wherein a first PTC member and a bimetal member are connected electrically in parallel with each other; and a second PTC member; and the bimetal member is disposed to be actuated by tripping of the second PTC member.

Abstract: There is provided a PTC device having a sufficient function to detect the possibility of the substrate reaching an extraordinary high temperature more rapidly, and prevent the substrate from reaching such an extraordinary high temperature beforehand. The PTC device 10 includes a layered support 14 that functions as a heat transfer medium and a polymer PTC element 12 disposed thereon wherein the polymer PTC element is disposed on one surface 15 of the layered support (in a thermally connected condition) and the polymer PTC element and the layered support are molded in a resin such that the other surface 15? of the layered support is exposed.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer PTC device including a polymer PTC element having a lower resistance. The production process of a PTC device which includes a PTC element (102) having a polymer PTC component (110) and metal electrodes (104) placed on both sides thereto; and a lead (106) connected electrically to at least one of the metal electrodes, is characterized in that the polymer PTC component is formed of an electrically conductive polymer composition which comprises a polymer material and conductive fillers dispersed therein, and the connection of the lead to the metal electrode is performed at a temperature which is lower than the melting point of the polymer material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means in which contact between contacts in a “double-break (or double-make) contact structure” occurs in two places in the same state as much as possible. A contact structure includes two fixed members (110,112) each of which has a fixed contact (116,118) and a movable member (102) containing a movable contact (106) which contacts or separates from the fixed contact of each of the fixed members. The movable member is in the form of a strip as a whole, its one end is supported so as to allow the above mentioned contact and separation of the movable member, and the other end of the movable member has the movable contact, and the movable member has a narrowed section between its two ends.

Abstract: The present invention provides a PTC device which makes more compact a PTC device as well as an electrical device such as a battery pack comprising the PTC device and a secondary battery or a dry-cell type secondary battery. The PTC device includes a PTC component including a laminar polymer PTC element containing an electrically conductive filler, and a polymer material, and a metal electrode disposed on a surface of each side of the polymer PTC element. A lead is positioned at least in part on the metal electrode of the PTC component, and connected to the metal electrode by an electrically conductive material. An exposed part of the conductive material is covered by a protective member containing a material that is able to absorb or envelop an alkali.

Abstract: A PTC device as well as an electrical device such as a battery pack or a dry-cell type secondary cell containing a PTC device and a secondary cell is made more compact. The PTC device includes (1) a PTC component including a laminar polymer PTC element having an electrically conductive filler and a polymer material, and a metal electrode disposed on a surface of each side of the polymer PTC element; and (2) a lead positioned at least in part on the metal electrode of the PTC component, and connected to the metal electrode by an electrically conductive material. An exposed part of the electrically conductive material is covered by a protective member including a polypropylene resin, a nylon resin or an epoxy resin.

Abstract: There is provided a PTC device which allows compact connection as much as possible. Such PTC device includes a polymer PTC element (102) including (A) a polymer PTC component (112) an electrically conductive filler, and a polymer material; and (B) a metal electrode (104) placed on at least one surface of the polymer PTC component. Also present are a lead (106) of which at least a part is positioned on the metal electrode of the PTC element; a protective coating (108) which surrounds an exposed area of the PTC element, and a hardened solder paste which is present as a connection area (110) which electrically connects the metal electrode and said at least a part of the lead.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer PTC device which has a further improved performance. Such PTC device comprises (A) a polymer PTC element containing (a1) an electrically conductive filler and (a2) a polymer material, and (B) at least one metal electrode disposed on at least one surface of the polymer PTC element, and the electrically conductive filler is an Ni alloy filler which has oxidation resistance under a high temperature and dry atmosphere, and the polymer material is a thermoplastic crystalline polymer.

Abstract: There is provided a PTC device having a sufficient function to detect the possibility of the substrate reaching an extraordinary high temperature more rapidly, and prevent the substrate from reaching such an extraordinary high temperature beforehand. The PCT device 10 includes a layered support 14 that functions as a heat transfer medium and a polymer PTC element 12 disposed thereon wherein the polymer PTC element is disposed on one surface 15 of the layered support (in a thermally connected condition) and the polymer PTC element and the layered support are molded in a resin such that the other surface 15? of the layered support is exposed.

Abstract: There is provided a more compact battery pack which is characterized in that the battery pack includes a PTC device (120) and a secondary battery which comprises a canister (100) and a sealing piece (102) which seals an opening of the canister wherein the sealing piece includes the PTC device which is attached on top of the sealing piece.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer PTC device including a polymer PTC element having a lower resistance. The production process of a PTC device which includes a PTC element (102) having a polymer PTC component (110) and metal electrodes (104) placed on both sides thereto; and a lead (106) connected electrically to at least one of the metal electrodes, is characterized in that the polymer PTC component is formed of an electrically conductive polymer composition which comprises a polymer material and conductive fillers dispersed therein, and the connection of the lead to the metal electrode is performed at a temperature which is lower than the melting point of the polymer material.

Abstract: There is provided a PTC device which allows compact connection as much as possible. Such PTC device includes a polymer PTC element (102) including (A) a polymer PTC component (112) an electrically conductive filler, and a polymer material; and (B) a metal electrode (104) placed on at least one surface of the polymer PTC component. Also present are a lead (106) of which at least a part is positioned on the metal electrode of the PTC element; a protective coating (108) which surrounds an exposed area of the PTC element, and a hardened solder paste which is present as a connection area (110) which electrically connects the metal electrode and said at least a part of the lead.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for electrical connection between a polymer PTC device and a metal lead element to thereby prevent the problems of the connection by caulking or soldering. For this purpose, the present invention provides a process for producing a connection structure by laser welding, said connection structure having (A) a PTC device (10) including (i) a laminar polymer PTC element (12) and (ii) a metal foil electrode (14) disposed on a main surface of the laminar polymer PTC element (12), and (B) a metal lead element (20) electrically connected to the metal foil electrode. The metal foil electrode (14) has at least two metal layers, one of which, the X-th layer, has laser beam absorption a % that is the lowest among the metal layers of the metal foil electrode (14). The X-th layer is present between a first metal layer (18) of the metal foil electrode and the laminar polymer PTC element (12).

Abstract: A PTC device is provided which is capable of surely functioning as the PTC device even in a wiring through which a large current flows. A combined PTC device (10, 10?) is composed of two PTC devices each containing a lamellar PTC element (12, 12?) which is composed of a polymeric PTC material and a pair of electrodes (14, 16; and 14?, 16?) which are arranged apart from each other on one side of the PTC element. The electrodes (14, 16) of one PTC device are respectively opposite to the electrodes (14?, 16?) of the other PTC device, and terminals (20, 21) are arranged between the respective opposite electrodes. The respective opposite electrodes and the terminal between them are electrically connected with each other.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer PTC device which has a further improved performance. Such PTC device comprises (A) a polymer PTC element containing (a1) an electrically conductive filler and (a2) a polymer material, and (B) at least one metal electrode disposed on at least one surface of the polymer PTC element, and the electrically conductive filler is an Ni alloy filler which has oxidation resistance under a high temperature and dry atmosphere, and the polymer material is a thermoplastic crystalline polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a PTC element having a novel structure and suitable for use in a starter circuit for a fluorescent lamp. The polymer PTC element (10) comprises a sheet-like body (1) made of a polymer PTC material, and the first and the second electrodes which are, for example, formed distant from each other on the same sheet surface of the sheet-like body (1) (the first electrodes 3a, 3b and the second electrodes 4a, 4b), wherein a clearance is formed between an inner wall of a through hole (7a, 7b) and a terminal (5a, 5b) as a space which at least partially traverses the sheet-like body (1) in its thickness direction.

Abstract: A PTC device is provided which is capable of surely functioning as the PTC device even in a wiring through which a large current flows. A combined PTC device (10, 10?) is composed of two PTC devices respectively comprising a lamellar PTC element (12, 12?) which is composed of a polymeric PTC material and a pair of electrodes (14,16; and 14?,16?) which are arranged apart from each other on one side of the PTC element. The electrodes (14, 16) of one PTC device are respectively opposite to the electrodes (14?, 16?) of the other PTC device, and terminals (20, 21) are arranged between the respective opposite electrodes. The respective opposite electrodes and the terminal between them are electrically connected with each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for electrical connection between a polymer PTC device and a metal lead element to thereby prevent the problems of the connection by caulking or soldering. For this purpose, the present invention provides a process for producing a connection structure by laser welding, said connection structure having (A) a PTC device (10) including (i) a laminar polymer PTC element (12) and (ii) a metal foil electrode (14) disposed on a main surface of the laminar polymer PTC element (12), and (B) a metal lead element (20) electrically connected to the metal foil electrode. The metal foil electrode (14) has at least two metal layers, one of which, the X-th layer, has laser beam absorption a % that is the lowest among the metal layers of the metal foil electrode (14). The X-th layer is present between a first metal layer (18) of the metal foil electrode-and the laminar polymer PTC element (12).