Patent · US Expired

Voltage transient suppression

US6043636A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
34References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 20, 1997
Grant dateMar 28, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 20, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B70/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A voltage transient suppression circuit includes a capacitor, a diode, and a voltage limiter. The negative terminal of the capacitor can be coupled to the negative terminal of a variable voltage circuit element (e.g., a switching device, a series impedance, or a load). The anode of the diode can be coupled to the positive terminal of the variable voltage circuit element, and the cathode of the diode is connected to the positive terminal of the capacitor. The voltage limiter is connected in parallel with the capacitor. When the voltage applied across the voltage limiter is above a predetermined voltage, current is allowed to conduct through the voltage limiter and a voltage potential drop across the voltage limiter is substantially independent of the current conducted therethrough. When the voltage applied across the voltage limiter is below the predetermined voltage, current is substantially prevented from passing through the voltage limiter.

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