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US4213164A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic protection circuit incorporating voltage divider sensing, gating and triggering

Assignee: Esquire Inc
•
Filing: 1978-06-14
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Granted: 1980-07-15
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Expires: 1998-06-14
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Abstract

Abstract A protection circuit for producing one or more triggers in the presence of a monitored overvoltage condition employing a complex voltage divider network including slow-acting breakover semiconductor devices for sensing ac voltage overloads in either or both polarities thereof, and operating gated semiconductors by controlling the voltages applied to both the gates and the main terminals thereof, which, in turn, discharge capacitors for trigger production. Monitoring may be with respect to supply voltage, power supply output voltage or one or more independent voltages.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert F. Gaertner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 13:05
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H9/00; H02H9/04; H02H9/041

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 117 words
An electronic protection circuit for providing a trigger to a circuit to be protected in the presence of an ac source voltage exceeding a predetermined amplitude, comprising charge storage means responsive to storing a charge from a first polarity of an applied ac voltage, switch means connected to the ac source operably switched on when the first polarity of the ac source exceeds a predetermined amplitude for a predetermined length of time, and gated semiconductor means connected to said charge storage means and to said switch means, switching on of said switch means gating on said gated semiconductor means to permit the charge stored on said charge storage means to be applied therethrough as an outgoing trigger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 117 words
An electronic protection circuit for providing a trigger to a circuit to be protected in the presence of an ac source voltage exceeding a predetermined amplitude, comprising charge storage means responsive to storing a charge from a first polarity of an applied ac voltage, switch means connected to the ac source operably switched on when the first polarity of the ac source exceeds a predetermined amplitude for a predetermined length of time, and gated semiconductor means connected to said charge storage means and to said switch means, switching on of said switch means gating on said gated semiconductor means to permit the charge stored on said charge storage means to be applied therethrough as an outgoing trigger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 118 words
An electronic protection circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gated semiconductor means includes a gate network and an anode network and wherein said charge storage means includes a diode and, serially connected and oppositely poled thereto, Zener diode means, said Zener diode means being connected to the gate network of said gated semiconductor means and to the anode network of said gated semiconductor means, said Zener diode means including isolation means for separating said gate network and anode network, the gating on of said gated semiconductor applying a further gate signal to said gate network, an outgoing trigger passing from the anode network through said gated semiconductor means when said gated semiconductor means is gated on.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 118 words
An electronic protection circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gated semiconductor means includes a gate network and an anode network and wherein said charge storage means includes a diode and, serially connected and oppositely pole thereto, a first Zener diode and a second Zener diode, said first Zener diode of higher voltage being connected to the gate network of said gated semiconductor means, said second Zener diode being connected to the anode network of said gated semiconductor means, the gating on of said gated semiconductor means applying a further gate signal to said gate network, an outgoing trigger passing from the anode network through said gated semiconductor means when said gated semiconductor means is gated on.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
An electronic protection circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the applied ac voltage connected to the charge storage means is the ac source voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
An electronic protection circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said switch means includes a slow-acting semiconductor breakover device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
An electronic protection circuit in accordance with claim 1 and including voltage divider means connected to the ac source voltage to provide a sensing point for first polarity sensing less than the full amplitude of the ac source voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 108 words
An electronic protection circuit in accordance with claim 1 and including second storage means responsive to storing a charge from the second polarity of an applied ac voltage, second switch means connected to the ac source operably switched on when the second polarity of the ac source exceeds a predetermined amplitude for a predetermined length of time, and second gated semiconductor means connected to said second charge storage means and to said switch means, switching on of said second switch means gating on said second gated semiconductor means to permit the charge stored on said second charge storage means to be applied therethrough as a second outgoing trigger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
An electronic protection circuit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said second switch means includes a second slow-acting semiconductor breakover device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
An electronic protection circuit in accordance with claim 7 and including second divider means connected to the ac source voltage to provide a sensing point for second polarity sensing less than the full amplitude of the ac source voltage.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3214667A Cited
US3729652A Cited
US3790856A Cited
US4135223A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-07-15 1984-01-14 1984-07-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-07-15 1988-01-14 1988-07-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-07-15 1992-01-14 1992-07-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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