Importance

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Abstract

A circuit protection device that can be incorporated into a coaxial cable connector for protecting the circuit from a voltage transient, comprises an annulus 11 that has a central aperture for receiving a central conductor, e.g. pin, of the connector. The annulus is electrically insulating and has a central electrode (12) for connection to the connector pin and a peripheral electrode (14) for connection to the connector housing and the coaxial cable screen. A portion of the electrodes overlie each other and are separated from each other by a layer of semiconductor switching material (16). For example, a chalcogenide glass switching material (16) may be evaporated onto a small projecting area (15) of the central electrode, followed by a small circular area (17) of copper, and the deposited copper area (17) may be wire bonded to the rest of the peripheral electrode (14) by wire bridge (18). In use, the switching material (16) will immediately change to a low resistance state when the coaxial cable is subjected to a voltage transient in order to protect the circuit, and will then revert to its high resistance state.

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First Claim