Resetting surge protection in telephone line interface circuits

A surge reset circuit for use with a surge protection circuit, the surge reset circuit comprising:

• a sensor connected to a discharge terminal of a first portion of the surge protection circuit;
• a feedback circuit connected to the sensor and capable of providing a reset feedback signal to a second portion of the surge protection circuit in response to a voltage level generated by the sensor, the voltage level representing a discharge current flowing through the discharge terminal;
• and
• a cutoff device connected between the feedback circuit and the second portion of the surge protection circuit, the cutoff device being capable of resetting the surge protection circuit by disabling the second portion of the surge protection circuit in response to the reset feedback signal.

A method for resetting a surge protection circuit, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a transient energy surge;
• protecting a power source during the transient energy surge using the surge protection circuit;
• sensing an amount of current draining from the surge protection circuit;
• and
• automatically resetting the surge protection circuit for a next surge based upon the amount of the current draining from the surge protection circuit;
• wherein the automatically resetting step further comprises:
• disabling a current limiter portion of the surge protection circuit;
• reducing the amount of the current flowing through a negative surge protection portion of the surge protection circuit;
• and
• enabling the current limiter portion of the surge protection circuit.