Patent ID: 6504447
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: H01H,H01P

Abstract:
A power limiter having:a. a substrate having a top side, a bottom side and via holes, the top side of the substrate having ground contacts of an electrically conductive material formed thereon, and the bottom side of the substrate having a ground metallization layer formed thereon, said via holes electrically contacting said ground contacts, and forming openings between the top side and the bottom side of the substrate, said via holes including means by which an electrical connection is formed between the ground contacts and the ground metallization layer; b. a transmission line in the form of a strip of electrically conductive material formed on the top side of the substrate, said microstrip passing substantially between the via holes; and c. an air bridge formed of a substantially elongated strip of an electrically conductive ductile material having end portions and a center portion, the end portions of the strip being electrically and mechanically attached to the ground contacts of the substrate such that the air bridge forms an electrical connection between the ground contacts of the substrate, thereby forming a ground contact, said air bridge further formed such that the center portion is arched upward, passing over the transmission line on the top side of the substrate, forming an air gap therebetween such that when an undesirable signal is generated on the microstrip, the capacitance created causes the air bridge to flex towards the microstrip physically and electrically contacting said microstrip, thus shorting the undesirable signal to ground by passing the signal through the electrically conductive air bridge, through the ground contacts and the via holes to the ground metallization layer.