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US3793535A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Circuit for protecting semiconductors against transient voltages

Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1972-12-06
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1992-12-06
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Abstract

Abstract A surge protector is connected in parallel across each of the line-side and load-side circuits, that on the line-side having a relatively high clipping voltage and relatively high energy handling capability, and that at the load-side having a lower clipping voltage and lower energy handling capability. An LCnetwork is connected between the surge protectors to slope off the incoming transient voltage so that the line-side protector initiates the clipping action before the load-side protector starts to clip the voltage. The line-side protector dissipates most of the transient energy and the load-side protector clips the voltage to the required level.

Inventors

  • 👤 P Chowdhuri

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 12:30
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H9/00; H02H9/005

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 205 words
An overvoltage protective circuit having input terminals for connection to a power source which produces occasional transient voltage surges and output terminals for connection to a load having components incompatible with the voltage and power levels of the surges comprising: a. a first energy dissipative means connected in parallel across the input terminals, said dissipation means being so constructed as to have a relatively high clipping voltage level to substantially dissipate the energy level of the transient surges from the input terminals and to allow the remaining transient energy to be passed to a second dissipative means; b. a second energy dissipative means connected in parallel across the output terminals to receive said remaining transient energy, said second means being so constructed as to have a relatively low clipping voltage level below that of the transient-voltage withstand-capability of the load to dissipate a substantial amount of said remaining transient energy; and c. a delay-network connected between said first and second energy dissipative means for providing a delay and slope to any transient voltage received at said first means, so that when a transient surge occurs said first means triggers and limits the transient voltage and energy before said second means can reach its clipping voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 205 words
An overvoltage protective circuit having input terminals for connection to a power source which produces occasional transient voltage surges and output terminals for connection to a load having components incompatible with the voltage and power levels of the surges comprising: a. a first energy dissipative means connected in parallel across the input terminals, said dissipation means being so constructed as to have a relatively high clipping voltage level to substantially dissipate the energy level of the transient surges from the input terminals and to allow the remaining transient energy to be passed to a second dissipative means; b. a second energy dissipative means connected in parallel across the output terminals to receive said remaining transient energy, said second means being so constructed as to have a relatively low clipping voltage level below that of the transient-voltage withstand-capability of the load to dissipate a substantial amount of said remaining transient energy; and c. a delay-network connected between said first and second energy dissipative means for providing a delay and slope to any transient voltage received at said first means, so that when a transient surge occurs said first means triggers and limits the transient voltage and energy before said second means can reach its clipping voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
A protective circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said delay network comprises an LC-network with an inductance in series between said input and output terminals and a capacitance in parallel therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 51 words
A protective circuit as set forth in claim 1 and including a first switching means in series with said first energy dissipative means, said first switching means being responsive to close when the amplitude of the voltage surges reaches a predetermined magnitude and to open when the magnitude is reduced therebelow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 51 words
A protective circuit as set forth in claim 1 and including a second switching means in series with said second energy dissipative means, said second switching means being responsive to close when the amplitude of the voltage received reaches a predetermined magnitude and to open when the magnitude is reduced therebelow.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2789254A Cited
US3047746A Cited
US3084647A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-02-18 1977-08-20 1978-02-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-02-18 1981-08-20 1982-02-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-02-18 1985-08-20 1986-02-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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