Patent ID: 7649726
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: H02H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising circuitry for protecting the apparatus from destructive electrical conditions, the apparatus comprising: one or more input/output (I/O) lines; a first protection circuit coupled to an I/O line and operable to provide a primary level of protection for the I/O line, the first protection circuit comprising: a second protection circuit coupled to the first protection circuit and to the I/O line, wherein the second protection circuit is operable to provide a secondary level of protection for the I/O line, wherein the second protection circuit comprises one or more diodes directly connected to the I/O line for voltage clamping; wherein the one or more diodes of the first protection circuit are coupled between the current limiting device and the one or more diodes of the second protection circuit; wherein the one or more diodes comprised in the first protection circuit have a lower forward voltage drip compared to the one or more diodes comprised in the second protection circuit.