Surge protector for a transmission line connector
AssigneeThomson Licensing
InventorsHenri GIRARD, Max W. Muterspaugh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An F connector coupled to a transmission line applies a radio frequency (RF) signal to an RF input of a filter of a set-top box via an impedance matching network that includes a first inductor and a second inductor that are coupled in series. A capacitor and a third inductor are coupled in parallel between a discharge tube and a junction terminal that is interposed between the series coupled inductors for protecting electronic components such as the filter from a voltage surge developed in the transmission line.
Claims7
A network for applying a source of a radio frequency (RF) signal to a signal processing stage forming a load with respect to said network, comprising:
- a first inductor coupled to said load;
- a transmission line connector responsive to said RF signal and coupled to said first inductor for coupling said RF signal to said load, during normal operation, said connector being susceptible to couple a surge voltage to said first inductor, when said surge voltage occurs;
- a surge suppressing threshold device;
- a second inductor coupled to said connector for coupling said surge suppressing threshold device to said connector to suppress said surge voltage, when said surge voltage causes said surge suppressing threshold device to turn on;
- and
- a capacitor coupled to said second inductor to form a parallel resonant circuit for improving return loss at an interface of said network with one of said RF signal source and said load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.