# US 2021/0242664 A1 · Lightning protection spark gaps for cable devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0242664 A1 - Document ID: US20210242664A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/165,403 - Filed: 2021-02-02 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-03 - Assignees: Ppc Broadband, Inc. - Applicants: Ppc Broadband, Inc. - Inventors: Paul Bailey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242664A1 ## CPC - H01T 4/02: Details - H01T 4/08: structurally associated with protected apparatus (with switches H01H9/14; with fuses H01H85/44) - H01T 4/10: having a single gap or a plurality of gaps in parallel - H02H 9/06: using spark-gap arresters - H05K 1/026: {Spark gaps} - H05K 1/116: {Lands, clearance holes or other lay-out details concerning the surrounding of a via} - H01T: SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES (overvoltage protection circuits H02H) - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A spark gap circuit includes a circuit board. The spark gap circuit also includes an input configured to connect to the circuit board and to receive signals. The spark gap circuit also includes a spark gap configured to connect to the circuit board and the input. The spark gap circuit also includes an output configured to connect to the spark gap. The spark gap is configured to cause a return loss between the input and the output to be within a first predetermined range. The spark gap is configured to cause a parasitic capacitance between the input and the output to be within a second predetermined range. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spark gap circuit, comprising: a circuit board; an input configured to connect to the circuit board and to receive signals; a spark gap configured to connect to the circuit board and the input, the spark gap comprising: a first conducting electrode; a second conducting electrode that is grounded; and a dielectric material configured to be positioned within a gap between the first and second conducting electrodes; a first capacitor configured to connect to the circuit board and the spark gap; a second capacitor configured to connect to the circuit board and the first capacitor; an output configured to connect to the circuit board and the second capacitor; wherein the spark gap is configured to cause a return loss between the input and the output to be within a first predetermined range; wherein the spark gap is configured to cause a parasitic capacitance between the input and the output to be within a second predetermined range; wherein the first conducting electrode has a length from about 750 μm to about 2000 μm; wherein the first conducting electrode has a diameter from about 500 μm to about 1 mm; wherein the first conducting electrode has a mass from about 1 gram to about 100 grams; wherein a signal trace extends from the input to the first capacitor; wherein the first conducting electrode is substantially parallel with the signal trace; wherein the second conducting electrode comprises a staple with two leads and a cross bar positioned therebetween; wherein the two leads are substantially perpendicular to the circuit board; wherein the cross bar is substantially perpendicular to the first conducting electrode and the signal trace; wherein the cross bar is positioned farther away from the circuit board than the first conducting electrode such that the gap exists therebetween; wherein a thickness of the gap is from about 150 μm to about 250 μm; wherein a thickness of the dielectric material is from about 75 μm to about 125 μm; wherein the dielectric material comprises air, paper, or a combination thereof; wherein the dielectric material has a relative permittivity from about 1 to about 3; wherein the first and second capacitors are configured to block direct current (DC) flow therethrough and to provide surge protection; wherein a voltage rating of the first capacitor is greater than a voltage rating of the second capacitor; and wherein the output is configured to connect to a cable or a device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spark gap circuit of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined range is from about 15 dB to about 40 dB within a cable television (CATV) bandwidth. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spark gap circuit of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined range is from about 0.01 pF to about 0.05 pF. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spark gap circuit of claim 1, wherein the first conducting electrode is configured to increase an impedance of the signal trace, as measured by return loss, from about 0.01 dB to about 1 dB. ### Claim 5 A spark gap circuit, comprising: a circuit board; an input configured to connect to the circuit board and to receive signals; a spark gap configured to connect to the circuit board and the input, the spark gap comprising: a first conducting electrode; a second conducting electrode that is grounded; and a dielectric material positioned within a gap between the first and second conducting electrodes; a first capacitor configured to connect to the circuit board and the spark gap; an output configured to connect to the circuit board and the first capacitor; wherein a signal trace extends from the input to the first capacitor; wherein the first conducting electrode is substantially parallel with the signal trace; wherein the second conducting electrode comprises a staple with two leads and a cross bar positioned therebetween; wherein the two leads are substantially perpendicular to the circuit board; wherein the cross bar is substantially perpendicular to the first conducting electrode and the signal trace; wherein the cross bar is positioned farther away from the circuit board than the first conducting electrode such that the gap exists therebetween; wherein the spark gap is configured to cause a return loss between the input and the output to be within a first predetermined range; wherein the spark gap is configured to cause a parasitic capacitance between the input and the output to be within a second predetermined range; and wherein the output is configured to connect to a cable or a device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The spark gap circuit of claim 5, wherein the first predetermined range is from about 20 dB to about 50 dB within a cable television (CATV) bandwidth. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The spark gap circuit of claim 5, wherein the second predetermined range is from about 0.01 pF to about 0.1 pF. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The spark gap circuit of claim 5, wherein the first conducting electrode is configured to increase an impedance of the signal trace, as measured by return loss, from about 0.01 dB to about 1 dB. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The spark gap circuit of claim 5, wherein the first conducting electrode has a length from about 750 μm to about 2000 μm, wherein the first conducting electrode has a diameter from about 500 μm to about 1 mm, and wherein the first conducting electrode has a mass from about 1 gram to about 100 grams. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The spark gap circuit of claim 5, wherein a thickness of the gap is from about 150 μm to about 250 μm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The spark gap circuit of claim 5, wherein a thickness of the dielectric material is from about 75 μm to about 125 μm, wherein the dielectric material comprises air, paper, or a combination thereof, and wherein the dielectric material has a relative permittivity from about 1 to about 3. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The spark gap circuit of claim 5, further comprising a second capacitor configured to be connected to the circuit board and the first capacitor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The spark gap circuit of claim 12, wherein the first and second capacitors are configured to block direct current (DC) flow therethrough and to provide surge protection, and wherein a voltage rating of the first capacitor is greater than a voltage rating of the second capacitor. ### Claim 14 A spark gap circuit, comprising: a circuit board; an input configured to connect to the circuit board and to receive signals; a spark gap configured to connect to the circuit board and the input; an output configured to connect to the spark gap; wherein the spark gap is configured to cause a return loss between the input and the output to be within a first predetermined range; and wherein the spark gap is configured to cause a parasitic capacitance between the input and the output to be within a second predetermined range. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The spark gap circuit of claim 14, wherein the first predetermined range is from about 25 dB to about 60 dB within a cable television (CATV) bandwidth. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The spark gap circuit of claim 14, wherein the second predetermined range is from about 0.01 pF to about 0.2 pF. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The spark gap circuit of claim 14, wherein the spark gap comprises: a first conducting electrode; a second conducting electrode that is grounded; and a dielectric material positioned between the first and second conducting electrodes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The spark gap circuit of claim 17, wherein the first conducting electrode is configured to increase an impedance of a signal trace between the input and the output, as measured by return loss, from about 0.01 dB to about 1 dB. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The spark gap circuit of claim 17, wherein the first conducting electrode has a length from about 750 μm to about 2000 μm, wherein the first conducting electrode has a diameter from about 500 μm to about 1 mm, and wherein the first conducting electrode has a mass from about 1 gram to about 100 grams. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The spark gap circuit of claim 17, wherein a thickness of a gap between the first and second conducting electrodes is from about 150 μm to about 250 μm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The spark gap circuit of claim 17, wherein a thickness of the dielectric material is from about 75 μm to about 125 μm, wherein the dielectric material comprises air, paper, or a combination thereof, and wherein the dielectric material has a relative permittivity from about 1 to about 3. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The spark gap circuit of claim 17, wherein the second conducting electrode is not connected to the circuit board. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The spark gap circuit of claim 17, wherein the second conducting electrode comprises a plate that is substantially parallel with the circuit board, and wherein the first conducting electrode is substantially perpendicular with the plate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The spark gap circuit of claim 17, wherein the first conducting electrode is substantially perpendicular to the circuit board and extends through the circuit board. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The spark gap circuit of claim 17, wherein the first conducting electrode comprises a first staple with two leads and a cross bar positioned therebetween, wherein the cross bar of the first staple is substantially parallel with a signal trace, and wherein the signal trace extends from the input to the output. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The spark gap circuit of claim 25, wherein the cross bar of the first staple is positioned on a first side of the circuit board. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The spark gap circuit of claim 26, wherein the second conducting electrode is positioned on a second side of the circuit board. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The spark gap circuit of claim 26, wherein the second conducting electrode is positioned on the first side of the circuit board. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The spark gap circuit of claim 28, wherein the second conducting electrode comprises a second staple with two leads and a cross bar positioned therebetween, wherein the cross bars of the first and second staples are substantially perpendicular to one another, and wherein a gap is defined between the cross bars of the first and second staples. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The spark gap circuit of claim 17, further comprising: a first capacitor configured to connect to the circuit board and the spark gap; and a second capacitor configured to connect to the circuit board, the first capacitor, and the output. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The spark gap circuit of claim 30, wherein the first and second capacitors are configured to block direct current (DC) flow therethrough and to provide surge protection, and wherein a voltage rating of the first capacitor is greater than a voltage rating of the second capacitor. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The spark gap circuit of claim 30, wherein the first conducting electrode is substantially parallel with a signal trace, and wherein the signal trace extends from the input to the first capacitor. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The spark gap circuit of claim 30, wherein the first conducting electrode is substantially perpendicular with a signal trace, and wherein the signal trace extends from the input to the first capacitor. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The spark gap circuit of claim 33, wherein the second conducting electrode comprises a staple with two leads and a cross bar positioned therebetween, wherein the two leads are substantially perpendicular to the circuit board, wherein the cross bar is substantially perpendicular to the first conducting electrode and the signal trace, wherein the cross bar is positioned farther away from the circuit board than the first conducting electrode such that a gap exists between the first conducting electrode and the cross bar.