Abstract: An electrical device can include a body having a shape and including one or more components, and first and second electrodes implemented at respective locations of the body and configured to provide first and second engagements with a mounting surface and to allow a settling motion when the electrical device is positioned on the mounting surface. The electrical device can further include a third electrode implemented at a respective location of the body and configured to allow a limited range of the settling motion such that at an end of the limited range of the settling motion, the third electrode provides a third engagement with the mounting surface.

Abstract: Electrical devices can be manufactured with a number of metal oxide varistors (MOVs) with each MOV including an external electrode on a first side of a metal oxide layer and an internal electrode on a second side of the metal oxide layer, and a layer of sealing material at or near a perimeter of the second side of the metal oxide layer of each MOV. A stack having one or more pairs can be provided, with each pair including two MOVs with their second sides facing each other such that the respective layers of sealing material engage each other, and the engaged layers can be fused to result in a seal that provides a sealed chamber of a gas discharge tube (GDT) between the two internal electrodes of each pair, with the seal having a thickness that is approximately same as a selected gap dimension between the two internal electrodes.

Abstract: A protective supply circuit can include an AC line configured to receive AC power, and a transient blocking unit (TBU) implemented along the AC line. The protective supply circuit can further include a circuit protection device coupled to the AC line and implemented to be parallel with a load circuit when the load circuit is connected to the circuit protection device. The circuit protection device can be configured to be non-conducting when a voltage being provided to the load circuit is in a normal range and conducting when the voltage has an overvoltage value greater than the normal range to shunt substantially all excess power away from the load circuit. The TBU can be configured to block excessive current in the AC line resulting from the current in the circuit protection device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electrical device can include a body having a shape that extends along a longitudinal direction, and a set of electrodes implemented on the body at different locations along the longitudinal direction and configured to allow the electrical device to be positioned and mounted to a surface. The set of electrodes can include first and second electrodes configured to provide first and second engagements with the surface, respectively, and to allow a settling motion when the electrical device is positioned on the surface. The set of electrodes can further include a selected electrode having a side configured to allow the settling motion and an engagement portion configured to stop the settling motion and thereby provide a third engagement with the surface.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube (GDT) can include first and second electrodes each including an edge and an inward facing surface, such that the inward facing surfaces face each other. The GDT can further include a sealing portion implemented to join the edge portions of the first and second electrodes to form a chamber between the inward facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes. The GDT can further include an electrically insulating portion implemented to provide a surface that covers a portion of the inward facing surface of each of at least one of the first and second electrodes such that a leakage path between the first and second electrodes includes a path on the surface of the electrically insulating portion.

Abstract: A protective circuit can include an AC line configured to provide power from an AC source, and a first protection circuit coupled to the AC line and implemented to be electrically parallel with a load circuit. The first protection circuit can be configured to be in an inactive state to be substantially non-conducting when a voltage across the load circuit is in a normal range or an active state to be substantially conducting when the voltage across the load circuit has an overvoltage value greater than the normal range to shunt power away from the load circuit. The protective circuit can further include a second protection circuit implemented to be electrically between the AC source and the load circuit. The second protection circuit can be configured to block power from the AC source in response to a condition resulting from the first protection circuit being in the active state.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a gas discharge tube (GDT) can include first and second electrodes each including an edge and an inward facing surface, such that the inward facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes face each other. The GDT can further include a sealing portion implemented to join and seal the edge portions of the inward facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes to define a sealed chamber between the inward facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes. The GDT can further include an electrically insulating portion implemented to provide a surface in the sealed chamber and to cover a portion of the inward facing surface of each of at least one of the first and second electrodes such that a leakage path within the sealed chamber includes the surface of the electrically insulating portion.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electrical device can include a body having a shape that extends along a longitudinal direction, and a set of electrodes implemented on the body at different locations along the longitudinal direction and configured to allow the electrical device to be positioned and mounted to a surface. The set of electrodes can include first and second electrodes configured to provide first and second engagements with the surface, respectively, and to allow a settling motion when the electrical device is positioned on the surface. The set of electrodes can further include a selected electrode having a side configured to allow the settling motion and an engagement portion configured to stop the settling motion and thereby provide a third engagement with the surface.

Abstract: Devices and methods related to metal oxide varistor (MOV) having modified edge. In some embodiments, a MOV can include a metal oxide layer having first side and second sides, first and second electrodes implemented on the first and second sides of the metal oxide layer, respectively, with each electrode including a laterally inner portion and an edge portion. The edge portion of at least the first electrode can have a flared profile. In some embodiments, two of such MOVs can be joined to provide a sealed chamber defined by shapes of the first sides of the respective metal oxide layers and enclosing a gas therein, such that the sealed chamber with the gas and the first electrodes of the two MOVs form a gas discharge tube (GDT).

Abstract: In some embodiments, a gas discharge tube (GDT) can include first and second electrodes each including an edge and an inward facing surface, such that the inward facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes face each other. The GDT can further include a sealing portion implemented to join and seal the edge portions of the inward facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes to define a sealed chamber between the inward facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes. The GDT can further include an electrically insulating portion implemented to provide a surface in the sealed chamber and to cover a portion of the inward facing surface of each of at least one of the first and second electrodes such that a leakage path within the sealed chamber includes the surface of the electrically insulating portion.

Abstract: A protective circuit can include an AC line configured to provide power from an AC source, and a first protection circuit coupled to the AC line and implemented to be electrically parallel with a load circuit. The first protection circuit can be configured to be in an inactive state to be substantially non-conducting when a voltage across the load circuit is in a normal range or an active state to be substantially conducting when the voltage across the load circuit has an overvoltage value greater than the normal range to shunt power away from the load circuit. The protective circuit can further include a second protection circuit implemented to be electrically between the AC source and the load circuit. The second protection circuit can be configured to block power from the AC source in response to a condition resulting from the first protection circuit being in the active state.

Abstract: A battery housing can include a housing body defining a cavity sized and shaped to receive a cell for a battery, and a breaker coupled with the housing body. The battery housing can comprise a first electrical conductor at a first end portion of the housing body and electrically connected to the switch, the first electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a first battery cell terminal of the cell. The battery housing can comprise a second electrical conductor at a second end portion of the housing body, the second electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a second battery cell terminal of the cell to define a first electrical pathway between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The battery housing can include a bypass conductor to define a second electrical pathway between the switch and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: A battery housing can include a housing body defining a cavity sized and shaped to receive a cell for a battery, and a breaker coupled with the housing body. The battery housing can comprise a first electrical conductor at a first end portion of the housing body and electrically connected to the switch, the first electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a first battery cell terminal of the cell. The battery housing can comprise a second electrical conductor at a second end portion of the housing body, the second electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a second battery cell terminal of the cell to define a first electrical pathway between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The battery housing can include a bypass conductor to define a second electrical pathway between the switch and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: A battery housing can include a housing body defining a cavity sized and shaped to receive a cell for a battery, and a breaker coupled with the housing body. The battery housing can comprise a first electrical conductor at a first end portion of the housing body and electrically connected to the switch, the first electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a first battery cell terminal of the cell. The battery housing can comprise a second electrical conductor at a second end portion of the housing body, the second electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a second battery cell terminal of the cell to define a first electrical pathway between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The battery housing can include a bypass conductor to define a second electrical pathway between the switch and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: A protection circuit employing a pair of SCR devices connected respectfully from telephone line tip conductor and ring conductors to ground. The SCR devices are of the type providing internal semiconductor resistors between the gate and cathode terminals for sensing overcurrents in the telephone line conductors, and providing voltage sensitive semiconductor regions so that the SCR devices are sensitive to overvoltages on the telephone line conductors. A pair of diodes are connected across the cathode-anode terminals of the SCR devices to provide overvoltage protection for positive polarity overvoltages on the telephone line.

Abstract: A low capacitance overvoltage protection circuit (80) provides protection to a communication line (12, 14). A diode bridge (46) is connected to the communication line (12, 14) so that overvoltages of both polarities pass through an overvoltage protection device (44) in one direction. A bias voltage supply 48 applies a bias voltage across a semiconductor overvoltage protection device (44) through isolation resistors (64, 66) to make the capacitance of the device (44) independent of changes in communication line voltages. When line voltages exceed the magnitude of the bias voltage, a blocking diode (82) prevents current from flowing through the bias voltage supply (48) in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A protection circuit employing a pair of SCR devices cross coupled between a telephone line tip conductor and ring conductor. The SCR devices are of the type providing internal semiconductor resistors between the gate and cathode terminals for sensing overcurrents in the telephone line conductors, and providing voltage sensitive semiconductor regions so that the SCR devices are sensitive to overvoltages on the telephone line conductors. When employed with a telephone line termination transformer, the internal resistor of one SCR device provides the series resistance, together with the transformer winding resistance, for reliably allowing the other SCR device to be triggered into conduction and remain in a latched condition in response to an overcurrent condition.

Abstract: A protection circuit employing a pair of SCR devices connected respectfully from telephone line tip conductor and ring conductors to ground. The SCR devices are of the type providing internal semiconductor resistors between the gate and cathode terminals for sensing overcurrents in the telephone line conductors, and providing voltage sensitive semiconductor regions so that the SCR devices are sensitive to overvoltages on the telephone line conductors. A pair of diodes are connected across the cathode-anode terminals of the SCR devices to provide overvoltage protection for positive polarity overvoltages on the telephone line.

Abstract: A bipolar semiconductor overvoltage protection circuit presents less capacitance to a communication line. The overvoltage protection circuit includes an overvoltage protection device that is biased with a voltage to not only reduce the capacitance thereof, but also to reduce the change in capacitance as a function of frequency. Changes in communication line voltages thus change the capacitance of the overvoltage protection device less, resulting in the ability to allow the transmission of high capacity data protocols with reduced error rates.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit for protecting low voltage, high speed digital communication lines. The circuit is integrated into a semiconductor chip and includes a diode bridge, a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) device and resistors through which a bias voltage can be applied to the TVS device to reduce the capacitance hereof.