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. 18, 1999
Filed:
May. 15, 1997
Masaaki Sato, Hachioji, JP;
Mitsuru Inoue, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Yasuharu Yamada, Sagamihara, JP;
Akihiro Kasai, Sagamihara, JP;
Hideyuki Harada, Sagamihara, JP;
Hirofumi Yoshihara, Hamura, JP;
Sankosha Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Optotechno Co., Ltd., Sagamihara, JP;
Abstract
A multi-terminal surge protection device able to absorb surges of either polarity between lines and between a line and ground, in which the difference in operating time between the device elements connected to lines is reduced. A plurality of unipolar surge protection device elements are used which only operate to absorb surges of a specific polarity, and do not exhibit a reverse withstand characteristic upon application of a reverse-polarity voltage. One element is connected to a first line and another element to a second line, while a different element is connected to ground. A semiconductor substrate and second electrode are used that are common to all elements. To prevent lateral interference between elements, at least the element connected to ground is isolated from the line elements.