Voltage-responsive protection device, and lamp-string apparatus that incorporates the same
OwnerChien-Chin Hsiaoinventor
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Abstract
A voltage-responsive protection device includes a current blocking unit disposed between a resistive element and a conductive unit. The current blocking unit prevents current flow between the resistive element and the conductive unit when an applied voltage across the voltage-responsive protection device does not exceed a predetermined rated voltage, and permits current flow between the resistive element and the conductive unit when the applied voltage exceeds the predetermined rated voltage. A lamp-string apparatus that incorporates the voltage-responsive protection device is also disclosed.
Claims40
A voltage-responsive protection device comprising:
- a resistive element;
- a conductive unit;
- and
- a current blocking unit disposed between said resistive element and said conductive unit, said current blocking unit preventing current flow between said resistive element and said conductive unit when an applied voltage across said voltage-responsive protection device does not exceed a predetermined rated voltage, and permitting current flow between said resistive element and said conductive unit when the applied voltage exceeds the predetermined rated voltage.
A packaged voltage-responsive protection device comprising:
- a resistor having opposite first and second ends;
- a first diode having a first anode coupled electrically to said first end of said resistor, and a first cathode that serves as a first external electrode;
- and
- a second diode having a second anode coupled electrically to said second end of said resistor, and a second cathode that serves as a second external electrode.
A lamp-string apparatus comprising:
- a string of series connected lamps;
- and
- a plurality of voltage-responsive protection devices, each of which is connected electrically in parallel to a respective of said lamps, each of said voltage-responsive protection devices including
- a resistive element,
- a conductive unit, and
- a current blocking unit disposed between said resistive element and said conductive unit, said current blocking unit preventing current flow between said resistive element and said conductive unit when a lamp voltage of the respective one of said lamps does not exceed a predetermined rated voltage, and permitting current flow between said resistive element and said conductive unit when the lamp voltage exceeds the predetermined rated voltage.
A method for fabricating a voltage-responsive protection device, comprising the steps of:
- a) forming a semi-finished product that has a current blocking unit disposed between a resistive element and a conductive unit, the current blocking unit preventing current flow between the resistive element and the conductive unit when an applied voltage across the voltage-responsive protection device does not exceed a predetermined rated voltage, and permitting current flow between the resistive element and the conductive unit when the applied voltage exceeds the predetermined rated voltage;
- and
- b) encapsulating the semi-finished product such that the conductive unit is partly exposed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.