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US5333196A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Current limiting battery feed arrangement

Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
•
Filing: 1993-03-23
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Granted: 1994-07-26
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Expires: 2013-03-23
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Abstract

Abstract A current limiting circuit in a battery feed arrangement provides a variable DC resistance for limiting subscriber loop current to a threshold value. The current limiting circuit also presents a low AC impedance so that no imbalance is introduced between tip and ring leads of the subscriber loop. The current limiting component is a low ON resistance power MOSFET in the ring side of the battery feed arrangement. The current limiting circuit is self protecting in the event of lightning strikes and AC power signals either induced or short-circuited.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gyula Jakab

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 09:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M19/00; H04M19/001

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 201 words
A battery feed arrangement for a telephone subscriber loop comprising: inputs for connection to power supply terminals; outputs for connection to a subscriber loop; a first battery feed resistor connected between one input and one output; a second battery feed resistor, having a value less than the first battery feed resistor, connected to the other output; a power FET having a control terminal and a controllable DC resistive path series connected with the second battery feed resistor and coupled to the other input; a capacitor connected between the control terminal and the resistive path of the power FET for a low impedance path for AC signals applied at the other output; and a control circuit connected to the control terminal of the power FET and having a loop current sensing subcircuit and a biasing subcircuit for providing a control voltage to the power FET in dependence upon the loop current; the control voltage having a first value for maintaining the controllable resistive path in a low resistance state when the loop current is below a predetermined threshold and a second value for increasing the controllable resistive path to a higher resistance state to maintain the loop current at the predetermined threshold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 201 words
A battery feed arrangement for a telephone subscriber loop comprising: inputs for connection to power supply terminals; outputs for connection to a subscriber loop; a first battery feed resistor connected between one input and one output; a second battery feed resistor, having a value less than the first battery feed resistor, connected to the other output; a power FET having a control terminal and a controllable DC resistive path series connected with the second battery feed resistor and coupled to the other input; a capacitor connected between the control terminal and the resistive path of the power FET for a low impedance path for AC signals applied at the other output; and a control circuit connected to the control terminal of the power FET and having a loop current sensing subcircuit and a biasing subcircuit for providing a control voltage to the power FET in dependence upon the loop current; the control voltage having a first value for maintaining the controllable resistive path in a low resistance state when the loop current is below a predetermined threshold and a second value for increasing the controllable resistive path to a higher resistance state to maintain the loop current at the predetermined threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
A battery feed arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the loop current sensing subcircuit includes a current sensing resistor in series with the power FET.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
A battery feed arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the biasing circuit includes a bipolar transistor controlling the gate of the power FET.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
A battery feed arrangement as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a low pass filter connected between the other input and the base of the bipolar transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A battery feed arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined threshold of the loop current is in the range 18-50 mA.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
A battery feed arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the loop current sensing subcircuit includes first and second voltage dividers connected diagonally across the first and second battery feed resistors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A battery feed arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein the loop current sensing subcircuit includes an amplifier connected to the first and second voltage dividers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 46 words
A battery feed arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the biasing subcircuit includes an amplifier having an inverting input and a noninverting input, the inverting input connected to the output of the loop current sensing amplifier and the noninverting input connected to a reference potential.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4560834A Cited
GB2224909A Cited
US5010293A Cited
US5138658A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-07-25 1998-01-24 1998-07-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-07-25 2002-01-24 2002-07-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-07-25 2006-01-24 2006-07-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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