Bourns acquired the Komatsulite Company back in 2014, who helped pioneer the use of mini-breaker technology in battery packs. These devices are used to protect notebook batteries, tablet batteries and smartphone battery cells, as well as other portable electronic battery cells such as in cameras and backup power packs. Mini-breakers typically come in an axial leaded format to allow them to be welded to the terminals of the battery cells. The advantage of the mini-breakers being welded so close to the battery tabs is that the mini-breakers can be situated in intimate contact with the individual battery cells, and are able to react quickly to any unusual rises in cell temperature. The ubiquity of mini-breakers in battery packs has now raised awareness in other applications and they are now becoming recognizable solutions in USB Type-C cables and other heat sensitive circuits.