Patent ID: 8320091

Claim:
An apparatus for providing transient protection, the apparatus comprising: a detector configured to detect a presence of a transient signal at a first node, wherein the detector is configured to activate a detected state of a detection signal upon detection of the transient signal; a timer configured to activate a control signal for a first duration of time based at least partly on a state of the detection signal; a current source configured to modify a trigger current at least partly in response to a state of the control signal, wherein the trigger current is configured to be modified to at least two different current levels; and a latch having a low-impedance state and a high-impedance state, wherein the latch is configured to receive the trigger current as an input, wherein the latch is configured to conduct a latch current from the first node to a second node when the latch is in the low-impedance state, and wherein the latch is further configured to transition from the high-impedance state to the low-impedance state for a first activation voltage of the transient signal when the trigger current is at a first current level and to transition from the high-impedance state to the low-impedance state for a second activation voltage of the transient signal when the trigger current is at a second current level having a magnitude greater than the first current level, and wherein the first activation voltage is greater than the second activation voltage, and wherein the latch is further configured to receive the control signal, and wherein the latch is further configured to transition from the high-impedance state to the low-impedance state for a third activation of the transient signal when the trigger current is at the second level and the control signal is activated, wherein the second activation voltage is greater than the third activation voltage.