Apparatus and method for protecting electronic circuitry from damage
US5150286A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 1991 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H5/005
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention icludes a device for protecting electronic circuitry from damage, especially damage resulting from high neutron flux density produced by a nuclear explosion. The invention protects the circuitry by disabling its power supply system upon detection of the nuclear event. The power supply system is disabled both by short-circuiting the main power supply, which provides control voltages to various subsidiary powert supplies, and by short-circuiting all the output filter capacitors in the system, which may have a substantial residual charge. The invention periodically and automatically attempts to re-start the power supply system, but the system can be re-started only if the nuclear event detector is not actuated. The circuit made according to the invention is entirely analog, and therefore does not depend, for its operation, on the continued functioning of the circuitry to be protected. The circuit of the invention responds very quickly, and provides a rapid, orderly shutdown of the power supply system. Therefore, the circuit of the present invention, and the circuitry being protected, are both likely to survive the nuclear event.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.