The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 29, 1993
Filed:
Jun. 25, 1991
Pravin Popat, Norton, MA (US);
Diethard Unterweger, Plainville, MA (US);
Ronald J Candelet, Attleboro, MA (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A surge protection system has a surge protection device comprising a semiconducting disc element disposed between two electrodes. The element is operable to selectively conduct electrical energy between the electrodes in providing a first level of surge protection for the circuit, and the electrodes are adapted to move toward each other to maintain a short circuit condition between the electrodes in the event the element is destroyed in providing a second relatively greater level of surge protection. The semiconducting element provides a critical energy conduction path between a selected limited portion of one side of the element and the other element side along which destruction of the element preferentially occurs due to overheating in providing the second level of surge protection. One electrode has a selected limited post portion disposed in electrical engagement with said selected limited portion of said one element side to facilitate establishment and maintenance of the short circuit condition between the electrodes in providing the second level of surge protection.