Systems and methods using diodes to protect electronic devices
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsStanley W. Czarnecki, Icko E. T. Iben
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for protecting an electronic device from an electrical event such as electrostatic discharge and other spurious events according to one embodiment of the present invention includes first and second leads adapted for passing an electric current through an electronic device, a first diode protection mechanism coupled to the leads such that the first diode protection mechanism is connected in parallel with the electronic device when the leads are coupled to the electronic device, and a second diode protection mechanism coupled in series with the electronic device when the leads are coupled to the electronic device.
Claims20
A system for protecting an electronic device from an electrical event, comprising:
- first and second leads adapted for passing an electric current through an electronic device;
- a second diode protection mechanism coupled in series with the electronic device when the leads are coupled to the electronic device;
- and
- a first diode protection mechanism coupled to the leads such that the first diode protection mechanism is connected in parallel with the electronic device and the second diode protection mechanism when the leads are coupled to the electronic device,
- wherein at least one of the diode protection mechanisms contains multiple sets of diodes, the sets of diodes in the at least one of the diode protection mechanisms being arranged in parallel with one another, each set of diodes comprising at least two diodes.
A system for protecting a sensor element of a magnetic head from an electrical event, comprising:
- first and second leads adapted for passing an electric current through a sensor element of a magnetic head;
- a first diode protection mechanism coupled to the leads such that the first diode protection mechanism is connected in parallel with the sensor element when the leads are coupled to the sensor element;
- and
- a second diode protection mechanism coupled to the leads such that the second diode protection mechanism is connected in parallel with the sensor element and coupled to the leads at a position farther from the sensor element than where the first diode protection mechanism is coupled to the leads when the leads are coupled to the sensor element, the second diode protection mechanism being for reducing a pulse width of an electrical event.
A system for protecting sensor element of a magnetic head from an electrical event, comprising:
- first and second leads adapted for passing an electric current through a sensor element;
- a first diode protection mechanism coupled to the leads such that the first diode protection mechanism is connected in parallel with the sensor element when the leads are coupled to the sensor element;
- and
- a resistor mechanism coupled in series with the sensor element, wherein the leads are in a cable, the first diode protection mechanism being coupled directly to the leads in the cable.
A method for selecting diode protection mechanisms for protecting a sensor element of a magnetic head from an electrical event the method comprising;
- selecting a first diode protection mechanism for connection directly in parallel with the sensor element;
- and
- selecting a second diode protection mechanism for connection in series with the sensor element;
- wherein the diode protection mechanisms are selected such that more current flows through the sensor element and the second diode protection mechanism when a current or voltage in an operating range is applied to leads of the sensor element, and more current flows through the first diode protection mechanism when a current or voltage higher than the operating range is applied to either of the leads of the sensor element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.