Abstract: A frequency selective transient voltage protector (FSTVP) circuit that may be used in connection with a communication line over which POTS and DSL service may be simultaneously provided. The FSTVP circuit attenuates high frequency transient voltages that exceed a predetermined voltage level, while permitting low frequency, generally high voltage signals (e.g., ring signals) and high frequency, low voltage signals (e.g., DSL signals) to pass with little or no attenuation. The FSTVP circuit comprises a frequency selective network (that comprises a frequency discriminator and a voltage discriminator) connected to an overvoltage protection device that shunts any high frequency transient voltages thus protecting devices connected downstream along the communications line from damage. The frequency selective network is tuned to gate the overvoltage protection device when the frequency and voltage of a signal present on the communication line exceed predetermined values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for protecting a pair of telephone lines and similar data communication channels from overvoltage and transients. A filter for filtering noise and transient voltage signals above desired data signals on telephone lines and similar data communication channels includes a longitudinal transformer. The longitudinal transformer includes a single transformer core and a pair of coils. A first one of the coils is connected in series with a first telephone line or a first similar data communication channel. A second one of the coils is connected in series with a second telephone line or a second similar data communication channel. The pair of coils are substantially identical; each coil having an identical number of turns. A high impedance is provided with the longitudinal transformer to noise and transient voltage signals above desired data signals. A low impedance is provided with the longitudinal transformer to desired data signals.

Abstract: A telephone and data communications line protection apparatus is provided for protecting at least one telephone line pair. The telephone and data communications line protection apparatus includes a housing containing protection circuitry for protecting at least one telephone line pair. The housing includes a cavity for receiving a terminal portion of an electrical grounding, earthing spring clip member. The protection circuitry includes an electrical grounding contact extending into a housing cavity for electrical and mechanical contact engagement with the terminal portion of the electrical grounding, earthing spring clip member. The electrical grounding, earthing spring clip member has a predetermined profile corresponding to the housing. The electrical grounding, earthing spring clip member includes an aperture to receive a grounding wire.

Abstract: An external DC (direct current) power supply is provided for supplying backup DC power to a supported device having an AC input connector. The power supply includes an AC (alternating current) voltage source. A voltage rectifier is coupled to the AC voltage source for rectifying the AC voltage source. An energy storage device coupled in parallel to the voltage rectifier provides a predetermined DC voltage threshold level. A connector of the external DC power supply applies a power output of the parallel combination of the voltage rectifier and the energy storage device to the AC input connector of the supported device. The external DC power supply is capable of reliably, effectively and efficiently supplying backup power to the AC power input of a supported system without requiring any special wiring or modification of the supported system using only the AC input plug for connection to the supported system.

Abstract: A line conditioner system is provided for use with an in-line wire terminating base for terminating a plurality of telephone line pairs. The line conditioner system includes an electrical grounding, earthing bar and an integral module for conditioning a single telephone line pair. The electrical grounding, earthing bar extends along the length of the in-line wire terminating base and includes a pair of electrical grounding terminals received in electrical and mechanical contact engagement with an electrical grounding member of the in-line wire terminating base. The electrical grounding, earthing bar includes an elongated straight plate portion extending between the pair of electrical grounding terminals. The electrical grounding earthing bar is configured for easy assemble, manufacture and cleanability. The integral module includes a printed wiring board carrying protection circuitry for conditioning the single telephone line pair.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection apparatus is used with a pair of telephone or communications TIP/A and RING/B lines including voltage clamping circuitry for clamping voltage signals on the lines at a predetermined voltage potential. The voltage clamping circuitry includes a pair of voltage clamping devices connected in series between the TIP/A and RING/B lines and a third voltage clamping device connected between a junction connection of the pair of the voltage clamping devices and a ground potential connection and current limiting devices for limiting current flow in the lines. The predetermined voltage potential exceeds a primary alternating current (AC) power line peak value by a set tolerance value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for protecting a non-isolated data communications cable against ground skew used with an AC power source. A current summing transformer is coupled to an AC power source. The current summing transformer includes a single transformer core and a plurality of coils. One of the coils is connected in series with each phase, neutral (if present) and ground line in the AC power source. The plurality of coils are substantially identical. Each coil has an identical number of turns and an identical direction of winding on the transformer core. The current summing transformer is only needed in the power path to one of two or more interconnected systems. The current summing transformer introduces a high impedance to surge current in the data cable ground of one or many non-isolated data cables attached to the system and at the same time offers substantially zero impedance to the normal power currents including leakage and fault ground currents.

Abstract: A fiber to curb and telecommunications T1 carrier overvoltage protection apparatus includes a pair of semiconductor junction breakdown crowbar devices connected in series between TIP and RING telephone lines, and a reverse standoff voltage breakdown zener-type device connected between ground potential and a junction connection of the series connected semiconductor junction breakdown crowbar devices.

Abstract: A telephone line overvoltage protection method and assembly are provided. The telephone line overvoltage protection assembly includes a telephone line station protector having at least first and second threaded arrester wells coupled to a telephone line pair to be protected, an adapter base, and a plug-in type telephone line overvoltage protector module mounted to the adapter base and having TIP, RING and ground pins. The adapter base includes TIP, RING and ground sockets for removably receiving the TIP, RING and ground pins of the overvoltage protector. First and second mounting legs project from the adapter base for being fixedly inserted into the first and second threaded arrester wells. First and second electrodes extend from the first and second mounting legs for electrical connection with the TIP and RING sockets and the arrester wells.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection apparatus used with a pair of telephone lines includes first voltage clamping circuitry for clamping voltage signals on the lines at a first predetermined voltage potential. The first voltage clamping circuitry is formed by at least a pair of solid-state protective chip devices and a failure mode mechanism adapted for connecting the lines to ground responsive to increased temperature of the solid-state protective chip device and providing a ground connection for the pair of solid-state protective chip devices. A pair of current limiting resistors operatively connected to the failure mode mechanism provide sneak current protection.

Abstract: A telephone line overvoltage protection method and device are provided. An overvoltage protection apparatus used with a pair of telephone lines includes first voltage clamping circuitry for clamping voltage signals on the lines at a first predetermined voltage potential; second voltage clamping circuitry for clamping voltage signals on the lines at a second predetermined voltage potential. The second voltage clamping circuitry includes filter circuitry for filtering the voltage signals when the voltage signals exceed the second predetermined voltage signals. The first voltage clamping circuitry is formed by a solid state protective device and a failure mode mechanism adapted for connecting the lines to ground responsive to increased temperature of the solid state protective device.

Abstract: A telephone line overvoltage protection device includes a first terminal guard housing defining a plurality of terminal receiving channels and has a mating portion. A second housing contains a printed wiring board and includes a cooperating portion receiving the first mating portion of the first terminal guard housing in mating engagement. A plurality of terminals slidingly received in the terminal receiving channels include a grounding connecting member. Each of the terminals includes an outwardly extending terminal portion extending outside the first terminal guard housing. The outwardly extending terminal portion of each of the terminals includes a first bend defining a line of the terminal portions. The printed wiring board contains a plurality of aligned terminal receiving apertures receiving all of the outwardly extending terminal portions.

Abstract: A telephone line overvoltage protection device and a method of forming an overvoltage protection device are provided. A first terminal guard housing defines a plurality of terminal receiving channels. A second housing contains a printed wiring board and the first terminal guard housing is arranged for mating engagement with the second housing. A plurality of terminals are inserted in the terminal receiving channels. Each of the terminals includes an outwardly extending terminal portion extending outside the first terminal guard housing. The outwardly extending terminal portion of each of the terminals is formed to define a line of terminal portions corresponding to a plurality of terminal receiving apertures in the printed wiring board. Then the terminal portions are inserted in the terminal receiving apertures and soldered to the printed wiring board. The terminals are bent to position the printed wiring board and a mating portion of the first terminal guard housing for insertion into the second housing.

Abstract: An AC waveform monitoring system includes detecting circuitry for providing a sensed analog signal. Oscillator circuitry is coupled to the detecting circuitry for providing a zero crossing signal. The oscillator circuitry is synchronized with a frequency of the sensed analog signal. Signal processing circuitry is coupled to both the detecting circuitry and the oscillator circuitry for identifying a peak voltage signal and an integral volt-seconds signal of the sensed analog signal responsive to the zero crossing signal. Digital processing circuitry is coupled to the signal processing circuitry and the oscillator circuitry. The digital processing circuitry includes memory for storing a plurality of predetermined signal voltage boundary values and a program utilizing the identified peak voltage signal, the integral volt-seconds signal and the stored predetermined signal values to identify an abnormal voltage event.

Abstract: A connector guard is provided for a telephone line overvoltage protection device of the type having a plurality of terminals for electrical and mechanical connection with a telephone connector block. The connector guard comprises a housing including a plurality of walls extending in an axial direction between a first end and a second end. The housing is formed of electrically insulative material. The housing walls define a plurality of terminal receiving channels that extend between the first and second ends of the housing. The terminals are slideably inserted into the channels from the first end and are retained in snap-fit engagement with the housing. The housing walls electrically insulate adjacent ones of the terminals. The connector guard channels are dimensioned to provide contact pressure on the terminals to maintain effective electrical connections. The connector guard is dimensioned to facilitate electrical testing access to the terminals.

Abstract: A line noise signal measurement system is provided with detecting circuitry for providing a sensed analog signal. Compression circuitry is coupled to the detecting circuitry for providing an amplitude compressed signal responsive to the applied sensed signal. The compression circuitry has a stepwise substantially linear transfer function responsive to a variable magnitude of the applied sensed signal. Signal processing circuitry is coupled to the compression circuitry for sequentially generating a digital signal representative of the sensed analog signal. Digital processing circuitry sequentially identifies a maximum peak signal for a predetermined time interval and provides linearity correction for the identified maximum peak signals and generates a display of the corrected peak signals.

Abstract: Overvoltage protection arrangements are provided for a pair of telephone lines effective for suppressing noise and transient voltage signals occurring above data and voice signals carried on the telephone lines and that avoids current flow between the telephone lines responsive to common mode voltage signals on the lines so that audible hum is avoided. The overvoltage protection arrangements include first voltage clamping circuitry for clamping voltage signals on the lines at a first predetermined voltage potential and second voltage clamping and filter circuitry for clamping voltage signals on the lines at a second predetermined voltage potential and for filtering noise and transient signals from the voltage signals only when the voltage signals exceed the second predetermined voltage potential. The second voltage clamping circuitry substantially avoids current flow between the lines responsive to common mode voltage signals on the lines.