Abstract: The present invention may provide a surge current sensor and a surge protection system that deploys one or more surge current sensors. The surge current sensor may be placed on or near to a conduit, and it may be used for sensing the surge current conducted therein. The surge current sensor may include a current transformer and a processor. The current transformer may be used for receiving a magnetic flux generated by the surge current and transforming the received magnetic flux to a voltage. The processor may be coupled with the current transformer, such that it may be configured to generate a digital signal based on the voltage. Once the digital signal indicates that the magnitude of the surge current has exceeded a predefined threshold, the surge protection system may initiate a surge protection mechanism.

Abstract: A surge protection circuit to reduce capacitance inherent of standard diode packaging and to improve voltage clamping reaction speeds under high surge conditions. The surge protection circuit has a coil having a first end and a second end and a diode cell having a top layer, a center diode junction, and a bottom layer. The top layer is directly connected to the second end of the coil and the bottom layer is directly connected to a ground. The diode cell has no wire leads.

Abstract: An EMP/HEMP protection device for protecting equipment from electromagnetic pulses. The protection device includes a housing defining a cavity therein and separated into two chambers, a dirty chamber for propagation of signals before filtering of electromagnetic interference, and a clean chamber, isolated from the dirty chamber, for propagation of signals after filtering. A rigid-flex printed circuit board (PCB) is disposed in the cavity for facilitating electrical connections between the chambers. Surface mount electrical components for EMP/HEMP protection are coupled with the rigid-flex PCB. Power and/or data signals are transferred from the dirty chamber to the clean chamber though a wave guide below cutoff (WBC). The WBC is formed from opposing electrical ground planes within a center PCB of the rigid-flex PCB. An electrically conductive and weather sealing gasket is disposed in the cavity of the housing for further EMI isolation.

Abstract: A surge suppression device may include a housing having a cavity, a center conductor positioned within the cavity, a spiral inductor having an inner curve coupled to the center conductor and an outer curve, a coil capture device connected to the outer curve of the spiral inductor, and a ring assembly having a first ring connected to the coil capture device, a second ring connected to the housing, and a voltage limiting device positioned between the first ring and the second ring.

Abstract: A DC surge protection circuit for protecting hardware from surges. During operation when no surge condition is present, the circuit passes signals from an input to an output through an inductance. When a surge is present, the circuit conducts a portion of the surge through at least one diode and diverts the surge to a ground node. A gas tube begins to conduct a portion of the surge above a first voltage level after the at least one diode first begins to conduct. A first MOV begins to conduct a portion of the surge above a second voltage level after the gas tube begins to conduct. The circuit may include a status portion. The circuit may be within an enclosure for plug-in to a motherboard or within an enclosure of an in-line connector for connection with a cable. The circuit may be configured to attach directly to a frame.

Abstract: A low let-through voltage surge suppression or protection circuit for protecting hardware or equipment from electrical surges. During operation when no surge condition is present, the circuit allows propagation of signals from a source to a load along a signal path. When a surge is present, the circuit senses and diverts the surge away from the signal path, utilizing common mode and/or differential mode surge protection. An electronic filter is connected in parallel with surge suppression circuit elements for reducing the let through voltage that would otherwise propagate and require a higher power surge suppression circuit element to mitigate. Cascading multiple electronic filters in parallel with surge suppression circuit elements further reduces voltage let through.

Abstract: An active surge suppression or protection circuit for protecting hardware or equipment from electrical surges. During operation when no surge condition is present, the circuit passes signals from an input source to a connected load along a signal path. When a surge is present, the circuit automatically senses and diverts the surge away from the signal path. A switching component is provided along the signal path for either allowing transmission or preventing transmission of a signal along the signal path. Upon diverting the surge, the circuit automatically changes the switching component from a closed state (for allowing transmission) to an open state (for preventing transmission). After the surge has passed, the circuit automatically changes the switching component from the open state to the closed state. Other automatic circuit behaviors may also be achieved in response to the diversion of a surge condition from the signal path.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting hardware devices is disclosed. A DC pass RF surge suppressor includes a housing defining a chamber having a central axis, the housing having an opening to the chamber, an input conductor disposed in the chamber of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the chamber, an output conductor disposed in the chamber of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the chamber, a non-linear protection device positioned in the opening of the housing for diverting surge energy to a ground, a capacitor connected in series with the input conductor and the output conductor, a first spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the input conductor and an outer edge coupled to the non-linear protection device, and a second spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the output conductor and an outer edge coupled to the non-linear protection device.

Abstract: A high power band pass RF filtering device having a housing defining an interior chamber and having one or more walls for substantially dividing the interior chamber into one or more sections. A circuit with filtering components for achieving strong attenuation of out-of-band signals is disposed within the interior chamber, certain components of the circuit being separated from one another by the walls. Ports on the housing electrically connect to a respective input node and output node of the circuit and also connect to surge protection elements for dissipating surge conditions present at the ports. A non-surge signal can travel between the ports and through the filtering components. An oil or other fluid is disposed and completely contained within the housing and contacts the circuit components for cooling the circuit components.

Abstract: A high power band pass RF filtering device having a housing for containing a printed circuit board with filtering components for achieving strong attenuation of out-of-band signals. An input port and an output port on the housing electrically connect to a respective input node and output node on the printed circuit board. Surge protection elements are connected at the input port and at the output port for dissipating surge conditions present at the input port or the output port to the housing before the surge travels through the printed circuit board. A non-surge signal present on the input port can travel through the filtering components on the printed circuit board towards the output port. An oil or other fluid is disposed and completely contained within the housing and contacts the printed circuit board for cooling the printed circuit board or the filtering components.

Abstract: A power distribution device may include an input port configured to receive power form a power source, a plurality of sockets arranged along a first plane to from a matrix, each of the plurality of sockets including first and second terminals, the first terminals coupled to the input port, the first and second terminals of each of the plurality of sockets configured to deliver the power therebetween upon coupling to a connection device, and a plurality of output ports aligned along a second plane, each of the plurality of output ports coupled to the second terminal of one of the plurality of sockets, the plurality of output ports configured to distribute the power to one or more power loads.

Abstract: A surge protection circuit may include a tuned circuit board with traces designed to provide a surge protected and RF isolated DC path while propagating RF signals through the PCB dielectric with microstrip lines. The surge protection circuit utilizes high impedance RF decoupling devices such as quarterwave traces or inductors which isolate the multistage DC protection scheme which may include a gas discharge tube, serial surge impeding devices such as inductors and/or resistors, a decoupled air/spark gap device and a Zener diode junction.

Abstract: A surge suppressor device includes a first housing defining a first cavity, input and output conductors disposed in the first cavity of the first housing, a capacitor connected in series with the input conductor and the output conductor, a first spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the input conductor and an outer edge and a second spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the output conductor and an outer edge. The surge suppressor device further includes a second housing defining a second cavity and connected to the first housing, a feed-through connecting the first cavity to the second cavity, a non-linear protection device positioned in the second cavity of the second housing and a first electrical wire passing through the feed-through and connecting the outer edge of the first spiral inductor to the non-linear protection device.

Abstract: A high power band pass RF filtering device having a housing for containing a printed circuit board with filtering components for achieving strong attenuation of out-of-band signals. An input port and an output port on the housing electrically connect to a respective input node and output node on the printed circuit board. Surge protection elements are connected at the input port and at the output port for dissipating surge conditions present at the input port or the output port to the housing before the surge travels through the printed circuit board. A non-surge signal present on the input port can travel through the filtering components on the printed circuit board towards the output port. An oil or other fluid is disposed and completely contained within the housing and contacts the printed circuit board for cooling the printed circuit board or the filtering components.

Abstract: A surge suppression device may include a housing having a cavity, a center conductor positioned within the cavity, a spiral inductor having an inner curve coupled to the center conductor and an outer curve, a coil capture device connected to the outer curve of the spiral inductor, and a ring assembly having a first ring connected to the coil capture device, a second ring connected to the housing, and a voltage limiting device positioned between the first ring and the second ring.

Abstract: A surge protection circuit may include a tuned circuit board with traces designed to provide a surge protected and RF isolated DC path while propagating RF signals through the PCB dielectric with microstrip lines. The surge protection circuit utilizes high impedance RF decoupling devices such as quarterwave traces or inductors which isolate the multistage DC protection scheme which may include a gas discharge tube, serial surge impeding devices such as inductors and/or resistors, a decoupled air/spark gap device and a Zener diode junction.

Abstract: An electrical component assembly includes a first printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of first-PCB conductive paths communicating with the surface of the first PCB, the assembly also includes at least one additional PCB having a plurality of additional-PCB conductive paths communicating with the surface of the PCB, with the conductive paths located such that when the additional PCBs and the first PCB are positioned one on top of the other, the conductive paths of the PCBs are substantially aligned, the conductive paths being formed from solder-filled vias passing through the PCBs and electrically-conductive junction pads positioned on the surface of the PCBs. The assembly also includes a plurality of electrical circuit components, wherein each component is electrically connected to a conductive path of one of the PCBs at one end and to a conductive path of another of the PCBs at the other end, the assembly also includes a plurality of traces that connect conductive paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting electrical circuits by suppressing voltage and/or current transients while simultaneously filtering unwanted noise, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI), at specially selected frequencies, by controlling the spatial array of devices in an electronic package to tailor the impedance versus frequency characteristics of the overall package.