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US 5,566,056 AGranted
Coaxial transmission line surge arrestor
AssigneeTII Industries, Inc.
InventorNisar A. Chaudhry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coaxial transmission line surge arrestor comprising a hollow conductive body having coaxial connectors mounted thereon and a gas discharge tube located inside the hollow metal body, the gas discharge tube having a hollow conductive housing and a center conductor having an axis parallel to the direction of signal transmission, the diameter of the center conductor being dimensioned for matching the impedance of the surge arrestor to that of the transmission line, the RF signal flowing through said gas discharge tube.
Claims95
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having two coaxial connectors that are axially aligned with each other;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing, said housing being in electrical contact with said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission, and
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line.
4 more elements
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having two coaxial connectors that are disposed at right angles to each other;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing, said housing being in electrical contact with said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission;
- and
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line.
5 more elements
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing, said housing being in electrical contact with said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission,
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line, and
- (c) means for mounting said surge arrestor on a printed circuit board.
5 more elements
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing, said housing being in electrical contact with said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission,
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line, and
- (c) a ground clip electrically connected to said conductor of said gas discharge tube and a thermally sensitive insulator which normally electrically insulates said ground clip from said hollow conductive housing but which permits an electrical connection between said ground clip, said conductive housing and said conductor when said gas discharge tube overheats.
5 more elements
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing, said housing being in electrical contact with said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing, said inert gas comprising a mixture of neon and argon,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission, and
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line.
4 more elements
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing, said housing being in electrical contact with said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing, said insulating ends being formed from a ceramic material,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission,
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line, and
- (6) wherein the portions of said ceramic insulating ends that contact said conductive housing are metallized.
5 more elements
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing, said housing being in electrical contact with said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission,
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line, and
- (6) wherein the exterior surface of said conductor and the interior surface of said housing are symmetrical around said longitudinal axis of said conductor.
5 more elements
A coaxial connector with an integral coaxial transmission line surge arrestor comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that siqnal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing which is an integral part of said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing, said insulating ends being formed from a ceramic material,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission,
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line, and
- (6) wherein the portions of said ceramic insulating ends that contact said conductive housing are metallized.
5 more elements
A coaxial connector with an integral coaxial transmission line surge arrestor comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing which is an integral part of said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission;
- and
- (5) the diameter of said conductor is varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line.
5 more elements
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing, said housing being in electrical contact with said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission;
- and
- (5) the diameter of said conductor is varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line.
5 more elements
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing, said housing being in electrical contact with said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission,
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line, and
- (6) wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of said housing and at least a portion of the exterior surface of said conductor are roughened for concentrating electric fields and facilitating reliable operation of said gas discharge tube.
5 more elements
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow housing fabricated from two electrically insulating members and an electrically conductive member located between said two insulating members,
- (2) conductive ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a center conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission;
- (5) at least a portion of the interior surface of said conductive housing member and at least a portion of the exterior surface of said center conductor being roughened for conducting electric fields and facilitating reliable operation of said gas discharge tube;
- and
- (6) wherein the diameter of said conductor is varied along at least a portion of said conductor for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line.
6 more elements
A coaxial connector with an integral coaxial transmission line surge arrestor comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing which is an integral part of said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission,
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line, and
- (6) wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of said housing and at least a portion of the exterior surface of said conductor are roughened for concentrating electric fields and facilitating reliable operation of said gas discharge tube.
5 more elements
A coaxial connector with an integral coaxial transmission line surge arrestor comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing which is an integral part of said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission,
- (5) the diameter of said conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said surge arrestor to that of said transmission line, and
- (6) wherein the exterior surface of said conductor and the interior surface of said housing are symmetrical around said longitudinal axis of said conductor.
5 more elements
A miniature gas discharge tube suitable for use in coaxial transmission line surge arrestors and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, the gas discharge tube comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive housing;
- (b) a pair of insulating ends for sealing said housing;
- (c) an inert gas sealed in said housing;
- (d) a center conductor extending through said housing, said center conductor having a longitudinal axis which is oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission;
- (e) said conductive housing having an interior surface which is symmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis and said center conductor having an exterior surface which is symmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis;
- and
- (f) the ratio of the inner diameter D of said conductive housing to the outer diameter d of said center conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor for matching the impedance of said gas discharge tube to the impedance of said coaxial transmission line.
4 more elements
A miniature gas discharge tube suitable for use in coaxial transmission line surge arrestors and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, the gas discharge tube comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive housing;
- (b) a pair of insulating ends for sealing said housing;
- (c) an inert gas sealed in said housing;
- (d) a center conductor extending through said housing, said center conductor having a longitudinal axis which is oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission;
- (e) said conductive housing having an interior surface which is symmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis and said center conductor having an exterior surface which is symmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis;
- and
- (f) the interior of said housing being divided into an active discharge region and an impedance matching region, the relative proportions of said regions being chosen for matching the impedance of said gas discharge tube to that of a coaxial transmission line and the diameter of said conductor is varied along at least a portion of the length of said conductor.
4 more elements
A method of protecting a coaxial transmission line with a surge arrestor comprising the steps of:
- (a) electrically connecting a first conductor of a first transmission line section to a hollow conductive housing having a pair of insulating ends for sealing said housing and an inert gas therein;
- (b) electrically connecting a second conductor of said first transmission line section to a first end of a center conductor extending through said housing, said center conductor having a longitudinal axis which is oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission, said conductive housing, said insulating ends and said center conductor forming a gas discharge tube, the interior surface of said conductive housing and the exterior surface of said center conductor are symmetric about said longitudinal axis and the ratio of the inner diameter D of said conductive housing to the outer diameter d of said center conductor is varied along at least a portion of the length of said center conductor for matching the impedance of said gas discharge tube to the impedance of said transmission line;
- and
- (c) passing a signal from said first transmission line section through said gas discharge tube.
1 more element
A surge arrestor for coaxial transmission lines comprising:
- (a) a hollow conductive body having at least one coaxial connector mounted thereon;
- (b) a gas discharge tube located in said hollow conductive body and adapted for connection in series with said transmission line such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing, said housing being in electrical contact with said conductive body,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a center conductor extending through said housing, said center conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission, the interior surface of said housing and the exterior surface of said center conductor being symmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis;
- and
- (5) the ratio of the inner diameter D of the conductive housing to the outer diameter d of the center conductor is varied along at least a portion of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of the surge arrestor to the impedance of the transmission line.
5 more elements
A coaxial transmission line surge arrestor system comprising:
- (a) a first transmission line section;
- (b) a second transmission line section;
- and
- (c) a gas discharge tube connected in series between said first and second transmission line sections such that signal flow is through said gas discharge tube, said gas discharge tube comprising
- (1) a hollow conductive housing,
- (2) insulating ends adapted to seal said housing,
- (3) an inert gas sealed in said housing,
- (4) a center conductor extending through said housing, said conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission;
- and
- (5) exterior surface of said center conductor and the interior surface of said housing are symmetric about said longitudinal axis and the ratio of the inner diameter of the conductive housing to the outer diameter of the center conductor is varied along at least portion of said conductor within said housing for matching the impedance of said gas discharge tube to the impedance of said coaxial transmission line.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.