Electrostatic discharge device of surface mount type and fabricating method thereof

1. Field of the Invention An electrostatic discharge device (ESD device) of the surface mount type and a method of fabricating such devices are disclosed. The ESD device includes an upper cover plate made of an insulating material, a middle insulating plate made of an insulating material and laminated on the lower surface of the upper cover plate, and having a discharge opening, with first and second discharge terminals formed in the middle insulating plate at opposite edges of the discharge opening, and a lower cover plate made of an insulating material and laminated on the lower surface of the middle insulating plate, and hermetically sealing the discharge opening of the middle insulating plate in cooperation with the upper cover plate, and having a second signal electrode brought into electric contact with the first discharge terminal, and a second ground electrode brought into electric contact with the second discharge terminal. In the ESD device, plasma discharge gas fills the discharge opening sealed by the upper and lower cover plates. This ESD device is easily installed on a PCB through a surface mounting process, and is used for protecting electronic circuits or electronic parts from electrostatic damage, and is easily and simply produced through a ceramic laminating process at a low production cost.