This application is a U.S. national stage application of the PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2020/036012 filed on Sep. 24, 2020, which claims the benefit of foreign priority of Japanese patent application No. 2019-204344 filed on Nov. 12, 2019 and Japanese patent application No. 2020-019475 filed on Feb. 7, 2020, the contents all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a laminated varistor to be used for various electronic devices.
In recent years, home electric appliances and in-vehicle electronic devices have been becoming smaller and smaller. Varistors that are components of these home electric appliances and in-vehicle electronic devices are also required to be small in size. In addition, as the frequency increases, the capacitance of the varistor affects the performance of a circuit that drives a home electric appliance or an in-vehicle electronic device. Therefore, there is a demand for a varistor having a small capacitance and a small variation in capacitance while securing a predetermined varistor voltage. In addition, when two varistors are used as a pair, it is proposed that the two varistors are combined and formed as one element in order to reduce a difference between the capacitances of the two varistors. As prior art literature information related to the invention of this application, PTL 1 is known as an example.
In the conventional laminated varistors, however, capacitance occurs between two internal electrodes facing each other exhibiting varistor performance, and also stray capacitance occurs between the internal electrode and another external electrode. In particular, the stray capacitance varies due to a variation in the thickness or shape of the external electrode. As a result, a variation in the capacitance of the varistor is likely to occur. Note that the stray capacitance refers, other than capacitance between internal electrodes included in a varistor, to capacitance occurring between the internal electrode and an external electrode and that occurring between the external electrodes or the like.
In response to this problem, the present disclosure discloses a laminated varistor described below.
That is, the laminated varistor according to the present disclosure includes a sintered body, a first external electrode, a second external electrode, a third external electrode, a first internal electrode, a second internal electrode, and a third internal electrode. The sintered body has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a first end surface, a first side surface, a second end surface, and a second side surface that are sequentially arranged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the upper surface. The sintered body is formed by laminating a plurality of varistor layers. Each of the plurality of varistor layers has a main surface, a back surface, and four end surfaces. Of two adjacent varistor layers, a main surface on one side and a back surface on the other side are joined. The four side surfaces of each of the plurality of varistor layers become the first end surface, the first side surface, the second end surface, and the second side surface of the sintered body. In addition, one of the plurality of varistor layers has a third internal electrode. At least one of the others of the plurality of varistor layers has at least one of a first internal electrode and a second internal electrode. The first external electrode is provided on the first end surface of the sintered body. The second external electrode is provided on the second end surface of the sintered body. The third external electrode is provided on the first side surface of the sintered body. The first internal electrode is electrically connected to the first external electrode. The second internal electrode is electrically connected to the second external electrode. The third internal electrode is electrically connected to the third external electrode. The first internal electrode and the third internal electrode have a first overlap when viewed from the upper surface of the sintered body. A first varistor region is formed by the first overlap. The second internal electrode and the third internal electrode have a second overlap when viewed from the upper surface of the sintered body. A second varistor region is formed by the second overlap. The first varistor region and the second varistor region are arranged at positions closer to the second side surface than to the first side surface.
With the configuration as described above, the stray capacitance to occur between the internal electrode and the external electrode can be reduced. Along with that, a variation in the stray capacitance due to a variation in the width or shape of a surface of the external electrode can also be reduced. As a result, when the two laminated varistors are used as a pair, a variation in the capacitance between the two laminated varistors can be reduced.
Hereinafter, laminated varistors according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.
Sintered body 11 contains ZnO as a main component, and contains, as accessory components, Bi2O3, Co2O3, MnO2, Sb2O3, and the like, or Pr6O11, Co2O3, CaCO3, Cr2O3, and the like. The sintered body has a form in which ZnO is sintered and at their grain boundaries, the other accessory components are precipitated. In addition, internal electrodes are formed in a plurality of varistor layers constituting sintered body 11.
Sintered body 11 has upper surface 28 and lower surface 29, and first end surface 13, first side surface 19, second end surface 16, and second side surface 21 that are sequentially arranged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from upper surface 28.
Note that a direction perpendicular to first end face 13 is defined as an X axis. A direction moving from first end surface 13 toward second end surface 16 is defined as a positive direction of the X axis. A direction perpendicular to first side face 19 is defined as a Y axis. A direction moving from first side surface 19 toward second side surface 21 is defined as a positive direction of the Y axis. A direction perpendicular to lower surface 29 is defined as a Z axis. A direction moving from lower surface 29 toward upper surface 28 is defined as a positive direction of the Z axis.
First external electrode 12 is provided on first end surface 13 of sintered body 11. Second external electrode 15 is provided on second end surface 16 of sintered body 11. Third external electrode 18 is provided on first side surface 19 of sintered body 11. An external electrode is not provided on second side surface 21 of sintered body 11.
As illustrated in
First external electrode 12 is electrically connected to first internal electrode 14. Second external electrode 15 is electrically connected to second internal electrode 17. Third external electrode 18 is electrically connected to third internal electrode 20.
When viewed from upper surface 28 of sintered body 11, a part of first internal electrode 14 and a part of third internal electrode 20 overlap. As a result, first varistor region 22 is formed. When viewed from upper surface 28 of sintered body 11, a part of second internal electrode 17 and a part of third internal electrode 20 also overlap. As a result, second varistor region 23 is formed. With such a configuration, the laminated varistor can be efficiently produced.
First internal electrode 14 is connected to first external electrode 12 at a position closer to second side surface 21 than to first side surface 19. First internal electrode 14 is extended from first end surface 13 toward second end surface 16, and then is extended toward first side surface 19 by being bent at a substantially right angle. When viewed from upper surface 28 of sintered body 11, first internal electrode 14 overlaps third internal electrode 20 at a portion where first internal electrode 14 is extended toward first side surface 19 by being bent. As a result, first varistor region 22 is formed. The position where first internal electrode 14 is bent is closer to second side surface 21 than third internal electrode 20 is.
Similarly, second internal electrode 17 is connected to second external electrode 15 at a position closer to second side surface 21 than to first side surface 19. Second internal electrode 17 is extended from second end surface 16 toward first end surface 13, and then is extended toward first side surface 19 by being bent at a substantially right angle. When viewed from upper surface 28 of sintered body 11, second internal electrode 17 overlaps third internal electrode 20 at a portion where second internal electrode 17 is extended toward first side surface 19 by being bent. As a result, second varistor region 23 is formed. The position where second internal electrode 17 is bent is closer to second side surface 21 than third internal electrode 20 is.
Here, an interval (thickness of the varistor region) in a lamination direction (Z-axis direction) between first internal electrode 14 and third internal electrode 20 is set to about 35 μm.
First varistor region 22 and second varistor region 23 are formed at positions closer to second side surface 21 than to first side surface 19. By doing in this way, it is possible to cause almost no stray capacitance between third external electrode 18 and first internal electrode 14 or second internal electrode 17. As a result, stray capacitance to occur between the internal electrode and the external electrode of the laminated varistor can be reduced, and a variation in the stray capacitance due to a variation in the shape or dimension of the external electrode can also be reduced. Furthermore, it is more desirable to provide the whole of first varistor region 22 and second varistor region 23 at a position closer to second side surface 21 than an intermediate position between first side surface 19 and second side surface 21 is.
A tip portion of first internal electrode 14 protrudes from first varistor region 22 by about 50 μm. Furthermore, a tip portion of second internal electrode 17 also protrudes from second varistor region 23 by about 50 μm. Similarly, a tip portion of third internal electrode 20 also protrudes from first varistor region 22 and second varistor region 23 by about 50 μm. By making the tip portions of the internal electrodes protrude in this way from the varistor regions where the internal electrodes overlap each other, a variation in capacitance can be suppressed with respect to a misalignment of the internal electrodes. The length of the protrusion is desirably more than or equal to the thickness of the varistor region and less than or equal to five times the thickness. This is because: if the length of the protrusion is less than the thickness of the varistor region, the variation in capacitance cannot be sufficiently suppressed with respect to the misalignment of the internal electrodes; and if the length is more than five times, the stray capacitance is likely to be large.
Note that different materials may be used for the layers constituting first varistor region 22 and second varistor region 23 and for the other layers. In this case, a relative permittivity of the layer not constituting the varistor region is set to be smaller than a relative permittivity of the layer constituting the varistor region. By doing in this way, the stray capacitance can be further reduced, and the variation in capacitance of the laminated varistor can also be reduced.
Convex part 24 is provided in a central portion of first side surface 19 and from the bottom surface to the upper surface. Its height (a height protruding from the first side surface) is set to about 50 μm to 200 μm.
Usually, a laminated varistor is obtained by: laminating varistor green sheets on each of which an electrode pattern to become an internal electrode has been printed; then cutting into individual pieces; sintering the pieces; and forming external electrodes. When cutting into individual pieces, the cutting is performed with a blade having a shape in which a convex part is provided in a region to become a side surface. As a result, the convex part can be formed on the first side surface. By providing convex part 24 on first side surface 19 and providing third external electrode 18 on convex part 24 in this way, a distance between first internal electrode 14 and third external electrode 18 and a distance between second internal electrode 17 and third external electrode 18 can be increased. As a result, stray capacitance can be reduced.
In addition, by providing third external electrode 18 on convex part 24, a shape of third external electrode 18 can be stabilized. As a result, a variation in capacitance can be reduced.
In addition, by providing convex part 24, the surface on which third external electrode 18 is to be provided can be easily recognized.
Further, third external electrode 18 is formed by dipping only convex part 24 into electrode paste. As a result, the shape of third external electrode 18 can be stabilized. As a result, the variation in capacitance can be further reduced. In order to form third external electrode 18 by dipping only convex part 24 into electrode paste in this way, the height of convex part 24 is desirably set to be more than or equal to about 50 μm and less than or equal to 200 μm. If the height is small, an effect of suppressing the variation is decreased. On the other hand, if the height is large, connection of a terminal electrode becomes difficult when the height is more than or equal to a solder coating height.
In addition, it is more desirable not to provide a concave part in second side surface 21. By doing in this way, the areas of the internal electrodes can be effectively used, and directionality becomes easier to identify by appearance. As a result, manufacturing process can be simplified.
As a method of providing concave part 25 only in first side surface 19, there is the following method. First, internal electrodes are configured such that surfaces to become the first side surfaces face each other, and a varistor layer is laminated, as illustrated in
As apparent from the above exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure includes the following aspects. In the following, reference numerals are given in parentheses in order to clearly indicate the correspondence with the exemplary embodiments.
A laminated varistor according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes sintered body (11), first external electrode (12), second external electrode (15), third external electrode (18), first internal electrode (14), second internal electrode (17), and third internal electrode (20). Sintered body (11) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having upper surface (28) and lower surface (29), and first end surface (13), first side surface (19), second end surface (16), and second side surface (21) that are sequentially arranged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from upper surface (28). In addition, sintered body (11) is formed by laminating a plurality of varistor layers (11a, 11b, 11c). Each of the plurality of varistor layers (11a, 11b, 11c) has main surface (11a), back surface (11b), and four side surfaces. Of two adjacent varistor layers (11a, 11b), main surface (28a, 28b) on one side and back surface (29a, 29b) on the other side are joined. The four side surfaces of each of the plurality of varistor layers (11a, 11b, 11c) become first end surface (13), first side surface (19), second end surface (16), and second side surface (21) of sintered body (11). In addition, one varistor layer (11a) of the plurality of varistor layers (11a, 11b, 11c) has third internal electrode (20). At least one layer (11b) of the others of the plurality of varistor layers (11a, 11b, 11c) has at least one of first internal electrode (14) and second internal electrode (17). First external electrode (12) is provided on first end surface (13) of sintered body (11). Second external electrode (15) is provided on second end surface (16) of sintered body (11). Third external electrode (19) is provided on first side surface (19) of sintered body (11). First internal electrode (14) is electrically connected to first external electrode (12). Second internal electrode (17) is electrically connected to second external electrode (15). Third internal electrode (20) is electrically connected to third external electrode (18). First internal electrode (14) and third internal electrode (18) have a first overlap when viewed from upper surface (28) of sintered body (11). First varistor region (22) is formed by the first overlap. Second internal electrode (17) and third internal electrode (18) have a second overlap when viewed from the upper surface of sintered body (11). Second varistor region (23) is formed by the second overlap. First varistor region (22) and second varistor region (23) are arranged at positions closer to second side surface (21) than to first side surface (19).
According to the laminated varistor of the first aspect, it is possible to cause almost no stray capacitance between third external electrode (18) and first internal electrode (14) or second internal electrode (17). As a result, the stray capacitance to occur between first internal electrode (14) or second internal electrode (17) and third external electrode (18) can be reduced. Along with that, a variation in the stray capacitance due to a variation in third external electrode (18) can also be reduced.
In the laminated varistor of the first aspect according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, first internal electrode (14) is connected to first external electrode (12) at a position closer to second side surface (21) of sintered body (11) than third internal electrode (20) is. In addition, first internal electrode (14) extends toward second end surface (16) of sintered body (11). First internal electrode (14) bends at another position closer to second side surface (21) of sintered body (11) than third internal electrode (20) is, extends toward first side surface (19), and has the first overlap.
In the laminated varistor of the first aspect according to a third aspect of the present disclosure, first internal electrode (14) and second internal electrode (17) are provided in different varistor layers (11a, 11b). First varistor region (22) and second varistor region (23) are arranged at different positions when viewed from upper surface (28) of sintered body (11).
According to the laminated varistor of the third aspect, interaction between first internal electrode (14) and second internal electrode (17) can be reduced.
In the laminated varistor of the first aspect according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, third internal electrodes (20a, 20b) are provided in two different varistor layers (11d, 11e). Third internal electrode (20a) in varistor layer (11e) on one side overlaps first internal electrode (14) when viewed from upper surface (28) of sintered body (11). As a result, first varistor region (22) is formed. Third internal electrode (20b) in varistor layer (11d) on the other side overlaps second internal electrode (17) when viewed from upper surface (28) of sintered body (11). As a result, second varistor region (23) is formed. First varistor region (22) and second varistor region (23) are arranged at different positions when viewed from the upper surface of sintered body (11).
According to the laminated varistor of the fourth aspect, the interaction between first internal electrode (14) and second internal electrode (17) can be further reduced.
In the laminated varistor of the first aspect according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, convex part (24) is provided on first side surface (19). Third external electrode (18) is provided on convex part (24).
According to the laminated varistor of the fifth aspect, a distance between first internal electrode (14) and third internal electrode (18) and a distance between second internal electrode (17) and third internal electrode (18) can be increased. As a result, stray capacitance can be reduced. In addition, by providing third external electrode (18) on convex part (24), a shape of third external electrode (18) can be stabilized. As a result, a variation in capacitance of the laminated varistor can be reduced. In addition, by providing convex part (24), the surface on which third external electrode 18 is to be provided can be easily recognized.
In the laminated varistor of the first aspect according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, concave part (25) is provided in first side surface (19). Third external electrode (18) is provided on the inside of concave part (25).
According to the laminated varistor of the sixth aspect, concave part (25) is provided in first side surface (19), and third external electrode (18) is provided on the inside of concave part (25). As a result, the shape of third external electrode (18) can be stabilized. As a result, a laminated varistor with a small variation in stray capacitance or the like can be obtained.
In the laminated varistor of the sixth aspect according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, second side surface (21) is flat.
According to the laminated varistor of the seventh aspect, the areas of internal electrodes (14, 17, 18) can be effectively used, and directionality becomes easier to identify by appearance. As a result, manufacturing process can be simplified.
The laminated varistor according to the present disclosure can reduce stray capacitance to occur between an internal electrode and an external electrode, and can also reduce a variation in the stray capacitance due to a variation in the external electrode. As a result, the laminated varistor is industrially useful.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2019-204344 | Nov 2019 | JP | national |
2020-019475 | Feb 2020 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2020/036012 | 9/24/2020 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2021/095368 | 5/20/2021 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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10706995 | Uchida | Jul 2020 | B1 |
11195643 | Feichtinger | Dec 2021 | B2 |
20050212648 | Liu | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20090154052 | Yoneda | Jun 2009 | A1 |
20110043963 | Bultitude | Feb 2011 | A1 |
20120079693 | Bultitude | Apr 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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63-211602 | Sep 1988 | JP |
4-277601 | Oct 1992 | JP |
Entry |
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International Search Report of PCT application No. PCT/JP2020/036012 dated Dec. 15, 2020. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20230134880 A1 | May 2023 | US |