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:
May. 20, 1997
Filed:
May. 01, 1995
Sebastian J Messina, Jr, Fredon, NJ (US);
Joseph E Murphy, Seaside Heights, NJ (US);
Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
Electro-static discharge protection for sensitive circuitry in devices, which have exposed metallic contacts for accessing such circuitry, is achieved by providing switching apparatus in these devices. The switching apparatus isolates the sensitive circuitry from static electricity which may be impressed upon the exposed metallic contacts. In operation, when a first device is placed in engagement with a second device for transferring data, charging a battery or the like, the switching apparatus relies on the weight exerted by the first device on the second device for establishing a conducting path between the contacts and the sensitive circuitry in each device. This conducting path is interrupted when the first device is removed from the second device thereby providing isolation for the sensitive circuitry from any static electricity which may be impressed upon the exposed metallic contacts. The switching apparatus also is configurable for establishing a conducting path from the contacts on each device to ground potential whenever the first device is removed from the second device. The ground potential conducting path provides additional protection for the sensitive circuitry against electro-static discharge damage.