Cascade Varistor Having Improved Energy Handling Capabilities

A varistor having a rectangular configuration defining first and second opposing end surfaces offset in a lengthwise direction, the varistor comprising:

• a first terminal adjacent the first opposing end surface;
• a second terminal adjacent the second opposing end surface;
• an active electrode layer comprising a first electrode electrically connected with the first terminal and a second electrode electrically connected with the second terminal, the first electrode spaced apart from the second electrode in the lengthwise direction to form an active electrode end gap;
• and
• a floating electrode layer comprising a floating electrode, the floating electrode layer spaced apart from the active electrode layer in a height-wise direction to form a floating electrode gap;
• wherein the active electrode end gap ranges from about 100 microns to about 1000 microns and the floating electrode gap ranges from about 15 microns to about 300 microns.

The varistor of claim 1, wherein:

• the first electrode overlaps the floating electrode in the longitudinal direction along an overlap distance;
• the active electrode layer has a length in the lengthwise direction between the first terminal and the second terminal;
• and
• an overlap ratio is greater than about 5.

A varistor comprising:

• a first terminal;
• a second terminal;
• a plurality of active electrode layers, each of the plurality of active electrode layers electrically connected with at least one of the first terminal or second terminal;
• and
• a plurality of floating electrode layers interleaved with the plurality of active electrode layers in a cascade configuration;
• wherein a capacitance of the varistor is less than about 100 pF.

A varistor comprising:

• a first terminal;
• a second terminal;
• a plurality of active electrode layers, each of the plurality of active electrode layers electrically connected with at least one of the first terminal or second terminal;
• and
• a plurality of floating electrode layers interleaved with the plurality of active electrode layers in a cascade configuration;
• wherein a specific transient energy capability of the varistor is greater than about 1×107 J/m3.