Transient voltage suppressor having built-in-test capability for solid state power controllers

A transient protection circuit configured for use in a solid state power controller (SSPC) comprising a feed line communicatively coupled to a plurality of power channels, the transient protection circuit comprising:

• a shared transient voltage suppressor communicatively coupled to ground;
• a transient voltage suppression circuit comprising a transient voltage suppression (TVS) diode in series with a non-TVS diode, wherein the TVS diode is coupled to ground and the non-TVS diode is coupled to a shared feed line;
• and
• a shared protection line communicatively coupled to the shared transient voltage suppressor;
• wherein the shared protection line is configured to be communicatively coupled to and shared by the plurality of power channels;
• wherein the plurality of power channels are communicatively coupled to the shared feed line;
• wherein each of the plurality of power channels is communicatively coupled to a non-shared load line;
• wherein, when the shared protection line is communicatively coupled to and shared by the plurality of power channels, positive pulses above a threshold originated from the non-shared load line of any one of the plurality of power channels is dissipated through the any one of the plurality of power channels and the shared feed line to the transient voltage suppression circuit;
• wherein, when the shared protection line is communicatively coupled to and shared by the plurality of power channels, negative pulses above a threshold originated from the non-shared load line of any one of the plurality of power channels are dissipated through the shared protection line and the shared transient voltage suppressor.

A method of forming a transient protection circuit configured for use in a solid state power controller (SSPC) comprising a plurality of power channels, the method comprising:

• forming a shared transient voltage suppressor communicatively coupled to ground;
• forming a shared protection line communicatively coupled to the shared transient voltage suppressor;
• and
• configuring the shared protection line to be communicatively coupled to and shared by the plurality of power channels;
• configuring the plurality of power channels to be communicatively coupled to a shared feed line;
• configuring each of the plurality of power channels to be communicatively coupled to a non-shared load line;
• wherein, when the shared protection line is communicatively coupled to and shared by the plurality of power channels, positive pulses above a threshold originated from the non-shared load line of any one of the plurality of power channels are dissipated through the any one of the plurality of power channels to the shared feed line;
• wherein, when the shared protection line is communicatively coupled to and shared by the plurality of power channels, negative pulses above a threshold originated from the non-shared load line of any one of the plurality of power channels are dissipated through the shared protection line and the shared transient voltage suppressor.