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:
Mar. 08, 2016
Filed:
Feb. 25, 2015
La-z-boy Incorporated, Monroe, MI (US);
Tahir Ahmad, Dundee, MI (US);
La-Z-Boy Incorporated, Monroe, MI (US);
Abstract
The switched mode power supply and method has respective AC circuit and DC circuit portions, each having their own respective grounds. To each of these respective grounds an attachment point providing an energy pathway to ground is defined. A spark gap structure, coupled between the attachment points, substantially inhibits the flow of direct current between the attachment points while providing a static electricity energy path between the attachment points. The spark gap structures may be implemented by circuit board traces, by electronic circuit component leads, by spaced apart structures such as heat sinks or by other discharging components. In this way the power supply does not need to rely on an earth ground in order to protect against damage due to electrostatic discharge.