Patent ID: 6977468

Claim:
A spark gap device comprising: an integrated circuit (IC), the IC comprising: a substrate; a cathode element disposed on the substrate, the cathode element comprising a conductive material; and an anode element disposed on the substrate electrically isolated from the cathode element, the anode element comprising a conductive material, the anode and cathode elements being separated from each other by a spark gap; a capacitor that stores an electrical charge, the electrical charge stored on the capacitor exerting an electric field over the cathode and anode elements; and a trigger electrode capable of being actuated; a dielectric layer covering at least portions of each of the cathode element, the anode element, the trigger electrode, and the spark gap, wherein when the trigger electrode is actuated, an electrical current passes through the trigger electrode causing at least partial vaporization of the trigger electrode, said at least partial vaporization of the trigger electrode causing a plasma gas to be released that moves a portion of said dielectric layer away from the spark gap to allow ions to flow across the spark gap between the cathode element and the anode element.