Apparatus for high surge voltage protection
AssigneeJohn Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
InventorShawn M. Chawgo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surge protection element for a conventional cable connector includes a printed circuit board preferably shaped as two concentric rings connected by two spokes. The outer ring is electrically connected to the grounded portion of the cable connector body. A printed circuit trace on one of the spokes is separated from a printed circuit trace on the inner ring by a spark gap. If a high voltage surge is carried by the coaxial cable transmission line, a spark is formed in the gap. As a consequence, the high voltage surge is transferred to the surge protection element which in turn conducts the electricity to the grounded body of the connector.
Claims17
A surge protection element for use in a cable connector, comprising:
- a printed circuit board including an inner ring and a first arm extending outward from said inner ring;
- a first trace on at least a portion of said inner ring, said first trace being disposed such that said first trace is electrically connected to a signal portion of said cable connector when said surge protection element is installed in said cable connector;
- and
- a second trace on at least a portion of said first arm, said second trace being disposed such that said second trace is electrically connected to a ground portion of said cable connector when said surge protection element is installed in said cable connector;
- wherein said first and second traces are separated by a spark gap.
In a CATV system that includes a coaxial cable having a central conductor, an outer conductor concentrically positioned in surrounding relation thereto, and a dielectric layer disposed between the central and outer conductors, a high voltage surge protection device adapted for use in the CATV system, comprising:
- a connection housing having a first end and a body portion that defines an internal cavity;
- an electronic component positioned within said cavity;
- and
- a surge protection element positioned entirely within said cavity and between said body portion and said electronic component, wherein said element includes a printed circuit board which includes an inner ring and a first arm extending outward from said inner ring;
- a first trace on at least a portion of said inner ring, said first trace being disposed such that said first trace is electrically connected to said electronic component;
- and
- a second trace on at least a portion of said first arm, said second trace being disposed such that said second trace is electrically connected to said housing;
- wherein said first and second traces are separated by a spark gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.