Spark gap
AssigneeDiversified Control, Inc.
InventorsLewis James, Scott Gorny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spark gap for protecting an electrical circuit from voltage surges includes a first electrical circuit trace element having a first end face of defined thickness and length, and a second electrical circuit trace element having a second end face of defined thickness and length. The first and second end faces are spaced from each other along their respective lengths to provide an air gap having a defined gap width. The gap width is of a size to provide a required spark gap breakover voltage under design conditions of temperature, humidity and air pressure. The air gap also has a defined gap length corresponding to the length of the first and second end faces. The gap length is of a size that maximizes spark gap life over repeated discharge cycles without introducing undesirable amounts of capacitance.
Claims23
A spark gap for protecting an electrical circuit from voltage surges comprising:
- a first electrical circuit trace element having a first end face of defined thickness and length;
- a second electrical circuit trace element having a second end face of defined thickness and length;
- said first and second end faces being spaced from each other along their respective lengths to provide an air gap having a defined gap width;
- said gap width being of a size to provide a required spark gap breakover voltage under design conditions of temperature, humidity and air pressure;
- and
- said air gap also having a defined gap length corresponding to the length of said first and second end faces, said gap length being of a size that maximizes spark gap life over repeated discharge cycles without introducing undesirable amounts of capacitance.
A method of forming a spark gap for protecting an electrical circuit from voltage surges, comprising:
- forming a first electrical circuit trace element with a first end face of defined thickness and length;
- forming a second electrical circuit trace element with a second end face of defined thickness and length;
- said first and second end faces being spaced from each other along their respective lengths to provide an air gap having a defined gap width;
- said gap width being selected based on determination of a required spark gap breakover voltage under design conditions of temperature, humidity and air pressure;
- and
- said air gap also having a defined gap length corresponding to the length of said first and second end faces, said gap length being determined empirically based on consideration of maximizing spark gap life over repeated discharge cycles without introducing undesirable amounts of capacitance.
In a printed circuit board having a substrate, a plurality of printed circuit traces, and one or more circuit components electrically connected to said circuit traces, a spark gap for protecting said one or more circuit component from voltage surges comprising:
- a first electrical circuit trace element having a first end face of defined thickness and length;
- a second electrical circuit trace element having a second end face of defined thickness and length;
- said first and second end faces being spaced from each other along their respective lengths to provide an air gap having a defined gap width;
- said gap width being of a size to provide a required spark gap breakover voltage under design conditions of temperature, humidity and air pressure;
- and
- said air gap also having a defined gap length corresponding to the length of said first and second end faces, said gap length being of a size that maximizes spark gap life over repeated discharge cycles without introducing undesirable amounts of capacitance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.