Patent ID: 6411487
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H01R,H01T,H02H

Abstract:
A coaxial surge protector, which comprises:a transmission line, the transmission line being in the form of a two-sided printed circuit board, the transmission line having associated therewith a circuit ground; a housing defining an inner cavity, the transmission line being situated within the inner cavity of the housing and being coupled to circuit ground; a signal input connector and a signal output connector, the signal input and output connectors being mounted on the housing, the transmission line being electrically coupled to the signal input and output connectors; a surge suppressor element, the surge suppressor element being electrically coupled between the transmission line and circuit ground, the surge suppressor element being in a first, substantially non-conductive state when a voltage impressed thereacross is below a predetermined threshold voltage and a second, substantially conductive state when a voltage impressed thereacross is at least equal to a predetermined threshold voltage; and a thermally activated shunt assembly, the shunt assembly being thermally coupled to the surge suppressor element, the shunt assembly sensing when the surge suppressor element is in an overheated condition upon which the shunt assembly defines a substantially electrically conductive shunt in parallel with the surge suppressor element and between the transmission line and circuit ground, the shunt assembly being non-reversible and permanently changing state from a substantially open circuit to a substantially short circuit when an overheating condition with respect to the surge suppressor element is sensed.