Patent ID: 6043636
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: H02M,Y02B

Abstract:
A voltage transient suppression circuit, comprising:a capacitor having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the negative terminal for coupling to a negative terminal of a variable voltage circuit element;a diode having an anode and a cathode, the anode for coupling to a positive terminal of the variable voltage circuit element, the cathode connected to the positive terminal of the capacitor; anda voltage limiter connected in parallel with the capacitor such that: when voltage applied to the voltage limiter is above a predetermined voltage, current is allowed to conduct through the voltage limiter and a voltage potential drop across the voltage limiter is substantially independent of the current conducted therethrough; and when voltage applied to the voltage limiter is below the predetermined voltage, current is substantially prevented from passing through the voltage limiter, whereby the voltage transient suppression circuit protects the variable voltage circuit element from transients.