Chip resistor with upper electrode having nonuniform thickness and method of making the resistor

A chip resistor comprising:

• an insulating substrate having an upper surface and a side surface;
• a first conductor pattern formed on the upper surface;
• a resistor element connected to the first conductor pattern;
• and
• a second conductor pattern extending on the first conductor pattern;
• the first conductor pattern including a thinner-walled portion contacting the upper surface, and a thicker-walled portion connected to the thinner-walled portion and contacting the upper surface, the thinner-walled portion being spaced from the resistor element and extending up to the side surface, the thicker-walled portion contacting the resistor element and being spaced from the side surface;
• the second conductor pattern contacting both of the thinner-walled portion and the thicker-walled portion.

A chip resistor comprising:

• an insulating substrate having an upper surface and a side surface;
• a first conductor pattern formed on the upper surface;
• and
• a resistor element connected to the first conductor pattern;
• the first conductor pattern including a thinner-walled portion contacting the upper surface, and a thicker-walled portion connected to the thinner-walled portion and contacting the upper surface, the thinner-walled portion being spaced from the resistor element and extending up to the side surface, the thicker-walled portion contacting the resistor element and being spaced from the side surface;
• wherein the thinner-walled portion has a thickness of 0.1-3.0 μm, whereas the thicker-walled portion has a thickness of 5-25 μm.