A laminated varistor includes a varistor layer, a first internal electrode provided on an upper surface of the varistor layer, a second internal electrode provided on a lower surface of the varistor layer and facing the first internal electrode across the varistor layer in upward and downward directions, a first external electrode provided on a first side surface of the varistor layer and electrically connected to the first internal electrode, and a second external electrode provided on a second side surface of the varistor layer and electrically connected to the second internal electrode. The first internal electrode is extended from the first external electrode in a first extension direction. The first internal electrode includes first electrode strips arranged in a first arrangement direction perpendicular to the first extension direction and spaced apart from one another. This laminated varistor has improved surge-resistant characteristics.

A composite electronic component includes a body having first and second external electrodes disposed on outer surfaces thereof and including a dielectric body; first and second electrodes disposed in the dielectric body and electrically connected to the first and second external electrodes, respectively; a third electrode disposed on the body and electrically connected to the first external electrode; an electrostatic discharge (ESD) layer disposed on the third electrode; and a fourth electrode disposed on the ESD discharge layer and electrically connected to the second external electrode.

In an electronic component, an outer electrode includes a sintered layer containing a sintered metal, an insulation layer containing an electric insulation material, and a Sn-containing layer containing Sn. The sintered layer extends from each of end surfaces of an element assembly onto at least one main surface thereof so as to cover each of the end surfaces of the element assembly. The insulation layer is directly provided on the sintered layer at each of the end surfaces of the element assembly so as to extend in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a side surface of the element assembly, and defines a portion of a surface of the outer electrode. The Sn-containing layer covers the sintered layer except for a portion of the sintered layer that is covered by the insulation layer, and constitutes another portion of the surface of the outer electrode.

In an electronic component, an outer electrode includes a sintered layer containing a sintered metal, an insulation layer containing an electric insulation material, and a Sn-containing layer containing Sn. The sintered layer extends from each of end surfaces of an element assembly onto at least one main surface thereof so as to cover each of the end surfaces of the element assembly. The insulation layer is directly provided on the sintered layer at each of the end surfaces of the element assembly so as to extend in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a side surface of the element assembly, and defines a portion of a surface of the outer electrode. The Sn-containing layer covers the sintered layer except for a portion of the sintered layer that is covered by the insulation layer, and constitutes another portion of the surface of the outer electrode.

A method of manufacturing an electronic component includes manufacturing a ceramic element including one pair of end surfaces and four side surfaces, forming external electrodes at both end portions of the ceramic element, measuring an initial characteristic value, determining any side surface to be machined among the four side surfaces and then determining, based on stored data, an amount of machining to be performed on the side surface to be machined, and machining, by the determined machining amount, the side surface of the ceramic element, which is determined to be machined, to be flush or substantially flush with the external electrodes.

In an electronic component, a first outer electrode includes a first conductive layer provided on a first end surface. A second outer electrode includes a second conductive layer provided on a second end surface. A first inner electrode passes through the first conductive layer. A second inner electrode passes through the second conductive layer.

An NTC thin film thermistor that includes at least a first thin film electrode, at least an NTC thin film, and at least a second thin film electrode. A further aspect relates to a method for producing an NTC thin film thermistor.

In an embodiment a multilayer varistor includes a ceramic body made from a varistor material, wherein the ceramic body includes a plurality of inner electrodes, first regions and second regions, wherein the varistor material in the first regions has a first average grain size D.sub.A, wherein the varistor material in the second regions has a second average grain size D.sub.B, and wherein D.sub.A<D.sub.B.

A multilayer chip varistor includes an element body, first and second external electrodes, and first and second electrical conductor groups. The first electrical conductor group includes a first internal electrode connected to the first external electrode, and a first intermediate electrical conductor opposed to the first internal electrode. The second electrical conductor group includes a second internal electrode including a first electrically conductive material and connected to the second external electrode, and a second intermediate electrical conductor opposed to the second internal electrode. At least one of the first and second intermediate electrical conductors includes the second electrically conductive material. The element body includes a low electrical resistance region between the first and second internal electrodes. The second electrically conductive material is diffused in the low electrical resistance region.

A multilayer chip varistor includes an element body, first and second external electrodes, and first and second electrical conductor groups. The first electrical conductor group includes a first internal electrode connected to the first external electrode, and a first intermediate electrical conductor opposed to the first internal electrode. The second electrical conductor group includes a second internal electrode including a first electrically conductive material and connected to the second external electrode, and a second intermediate electrical conductor opposed to the second internal electrode. At least one of the first and second intermediate electrical conductors includes the second electrically conductive material. The element body includes a low electrical resistance region between the first and second internal electrodes. The second electrically conductive material is diffused in the low electrical resistance region.