Electrostatic discharge protection apparatus and method employing a high frequency noncoupled starter circuit

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing electrostatic discharge protection. An exemplary micro tube spark gap type electrostatic discharge protection device comprises first and second separated spark electrodes hat form a spark gap therebetween. A high frequency noncoupled starter circuit 20 is provided that comprises first and second high voltage electrodes disposed adjacent to the spark gap, and coupled to a high frequency voltage source. The high frequency voltage source generates a high frequency voltage that passes from the high voltage electrodes through the spark gap. The high frequency voltage (electric field) supplied by the voltage source falls just short of ionizing the gap, but provides energy to start a discharge. Once ionization occurs, the high frequency voltage is shut off, allowing for maximal energy loss. This results in a voltage versus time characteristic having a decreased ionization voltage and an increased power loss level after the high frequency voltage shuts off.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.