Patent · US Expired

Branching unit for underwater telecommunications systems

US5841205A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
5References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 3, 1995
Grant dateNov 24, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 3, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B10/808
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A branching unit for an underwater communications system is arranged so as to provide remote hot switching for electrical power. The unit has three terminations (1, 2, 3) each for a different one of three line cables and one or more power demand circuits (20) requiring an electrical power feed from the line cables. A first switch is actuable to complete a current path between an appropriate pair of the three terminations via one or more of the power demand circuits depending upon relative line voltage. A second switch is actuable after actuation of the first switch depending upon current supplied to the power demand circuit(s) rising above that which occurs upon action of the first switch. The second switch completes a circuit between the non-paired termination and a fourth termination for a sea-earth.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.