Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Fien

Kenneth J. Fien has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Telecommunications terminal block
    Patent number: 5557250
    Abstract: A vent-safe protector for a telecommunications gas tube (102) includes two electrodes (108,140) (150',140) separated by a non-linear resistive material (134). Each electrode is connected to a gas tube protector terminal (108, 142) to provide an alternate discharge path if the gas tube (102) fails. The non-linear resistive material (134) is substantially non-conductive when the electrical potential between the electrodes is less than the material's breakdown voltage V.sub.B. Above that voltage it becomes conductive and supports a plasma discharge therethrough, effecting a sudden increase in conductivity between the electrodes for discharging high energy potentials with a voltage foldback functionally analogous to the foldback behavior of the gas tube protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Christian A. M. Debbaut, William J. Curry, Kimberley A. Jessup, Kenneth J. Fien