Monster Cable Products, Inc.

Constant Velocity Transmission Lines, Inc.

Monster, LLC

Richard N Marsh

Demian T Martin

Gregory A Mercurio

Bruce A Brisson

Anthony M Wu

A single-phase apparatus and method for protecting for all AC power wires/lines and combinations thereof. The present invention prevents (1) the hazardous condition occurring at the wall receptacle, arising from accidental reversal of the line wire with the neutral wire, from adversely affecting at least one peripheral device in the line, and (2) the overheating and destruction of components in an over-voltage protection circuit by providing an efficient circuit configuration which assures a rapid simultaneous disconnect of both the hot line and neutral power lines. The present invention achieves this by opening the circuit to simultaneously disconnect both line and neutral power lines feeding a load when the over-voltage event occurs in any of three wire pairings: line-to-neutral, line-to-ground, or neutral-to-ground.

Tri-mode over-voltage protection and disconnect circuit apparatus and method

A single-phase apparatus and method having a component-efficient circuit configuration for protecting AC power lines from power surges and preventing the hazardous condition occurring at the wall receptacle which arises from accidental reversal of the line wire (L) with the neutral wire (N), from adversely affecting peripheral devices attached to the line. Protection is achieved by removing operating power from a relay having normally-open contacts to simultaneously disconnect both hot and neutral power lines, but not the ground (G), feeding the peripheral device when the over-voltage event occurs in any of three wire pairings: L-N, L-G, or N-G. A lighted indicator warns that the apparatus has absorbed an excessive energy and has opened the circuit.

An input/output filtering system having a single-phase tri-mode over-voltage protection and disconnect circuit for use with peripheral devices. The system prevents the accidental reversal of the line wire with the neutral wire from adversely affecting at least one peripheral device and the overheating and destruction of MOVs in the over-voltage protection circuit. In the event of a sufficiently high voltage causing excessive heating of the MOVs, the hot line will be disconnected from the peripheral device through the use of fuses placed beside each MOV. An audible alarm indicates that a protection device has absorbed an excessive energy. The system further employs an input filter and a plurality of output filters. Such filtration is applied to that noise which travels through an Internet line as well as through a basic power line.

Input/output filtering system having tri-mode over-voltage protection and disconnect circuit for audio/video systems

A filter for suppressing noise surges and noise frequencies in ac power lines to an audio video load includes at least one noise suppression circuit. The noise suppression circuit in turn includes first and second inductors coupled to respective power lines in series with the load. A capacitor is coupled between the power lines at the input of the first inductor and the output of the second inductor. With this arrangement, the capacitor suppresses noise surges in the power line, while being protected by the second inductor from being damaged by the surges. Also, the filter suppresses two noise frequencies using only the single capacitor. If desired, additional noise suppression circuits can be provided, with each noise suppression circuit suppressing two noise frequencies using only a single capacitor.

AC power source filter for audio video electrical load

An interchangeable electrical connector includes a connector body and an adapter body. The connector body includes electrical contact means, such as a banana plug tip, for engaging an electrical terminal. The connector body includes a conical portion and a threaded portion which is coaxial with the conical portion. The adapter body includes a conical portion which is shaped for co-operative engagement with the conical portion of the connector body, and a threaded portion which is coaxial to the conical portion of the adapter body. The threaded portion of the adapter body is for cooperative engagement with the threaded portion of the connector body, such that cooperative rotation of the connector body relative to the adapter body draws the conical portion of the connector body into engagement with the conical portion of the adapter body. The wedging action of the two conical portions frictionally engages the connector body to the adapter body.

Interchangeable electrical connector

Method for the secure engagement of an electrical plug within its respective receptacle, for increasing the efficacy of the electrical contact therebetween, and apparatus to perform the method. An electrical plug, having reversibly expandable electrically conductive blades, includes an internal swage mechanism which enables the expansion of the blades within the receptacle once the blade has been inserted therein. The swage function is effective without recourse to additional tools.

Locking electrical connector

A single-ended digital interface cable and a balanced digital interface cable having a source end and a load end for propagating audio frequency signals in a digital format is disclosed. Each of the cables comprises a fixed capacitor or a capacitor and switch network which is coupled at or near the load end of the cables for providing a fixed bandwidth or for use in selectively controlling the bandwidth of the cables and a series resistance at each end thereof to dampen ringing.

Digital interface cable

A filter network adapted to be placed in parallel with a power supply which provides a high impedance to the 60 Hz utility frequency but acts like a short circuit to all higher frequencies. The network comprises a plurality of parallel circuits, each of which comprise a capacitor, an inductor and a resistor in series with a second resistor coupled in parallel with the inductor. Signal levels above 60 Hz in a prototype circuit using seven such parallel circuits with a parallel capacitor coupled thereto shows that above 60 Hz the signal from the power supply is attenuated by 25-30 dB at 1 KHz and that the impedance is substantially resistive beyond 1 KHz.

A-C power line filter

A filter network adapted to be placed in parallel with a power supply which provides a high impedance to the 60 Hz utility frequency but acts like a short circuit to all higher frequencies. The network comprises a plurality of parallel circuits, each of which comprise a capacitor, an inductor and a resistor in series with a second resistor coupled in parallel with the inductor. Signal levels above 60 Hz in a prototype circuit using seven such parallel circuits with a parallel capacitor coupled thereto shows that above 60 Hz the signal from the power supply is attenuated by 25-30 dB at 1 KHz and that the impedance is substantially resistive beyond 1 KHz. To maximize the power factor of the circuit comprising the network and consequently the dynamic range of audio equipment coupled thereto, the magnitude of the total capacitance of the network is chosen to be as close as possible to the magnitude of the input inductance of the audio equipment. Switches are provided for selectively adjusting the number of parallel circuits in the network to change its frequency response as well as to accommodate loads having different input inductive reactance at 60 Hz.

Filter and power factor compensation network

A critically damped capacitor comprising a capacitance C having in series therewith a parasitic inductance L.sub.S, a parasitic resistance R.sub.S and an additional resistance R.sub.A in series with the plates of the capacitor. The value of R.sub.A is chosen such that ##EQU1## The additional resistance R.sub.A in one embodiment is provided by a layer of conductive epoxy which is attached or added to one or both of the end plates of the capacitor. Electrical leads are coupled to the end plate having the epoxy by being embedded in the epoxy. If epoxy is not used on an end plate, the lead is coupled to the end plate in a conventional manner. In another embodiment the additional resistance R.sub.A is provided by a discrete resistor which is welded, soldered or otherwise attached to one or both of the end plates. If only one resistor is used, one lead of the capacitor is coupled to its end plate in a conventional manner and the second lead is coupled to the free end of the resistor. In one embodiment, the resistor is enclosed and the ends of the capacitor sealed by a non-electrically conductive epoxy. In another embodiment, the capacitor and resistor are enclosed within a container filled with non-conductive epoxy and the leads of the capacitor extend externally therefrom in a conventional manner so as to form an integrated capacitive element or device.

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Cool, CA, United States of America

Richard N Marsh