Electrical protection module

Abstract

An electrical protection module includes a printed circuit board, an antenna port and a radio frequency port. The printed circuit board includes a shorting structure, an isolation structure, a hot line and a ground line. The antenna port is coupled to the hot line and the ground line of the printed circuit board for electrically connecting to an antenna. The radio frequency port is coupled to the printed circuit board for electrically connecting to a radio circuit module. The shorting structure is configured to electrically connect the hot line to an external ground, and the isolation structure is configured to isolate the external ground from a system ground. The shorting structure, the hot line and the external ground form a path for discharging an external abnormal energy received from the antenna to the external ground.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an electrical protection module. Background Technology

[0002] Current wireless communication equipment needs to maintain high communication quality and ensure system robustness in harsh and transient electromagnetic environments, protecting antenna reception from the effects of external abnormal energy (such as lightning strikes or electromagnetic field coupling). For the protection of signal lines in wireless communication modules, a common method is to use independent semiconductor protection components grounded to dissipate energy to the ground (e.g., external gas discharge tubes or transient voltage suppression diodes). However, when the RF coaxial cable is connected to the RF connector of the wireless communication module and finally assembled with the chassis, a continuous and complete ground is formed between the system ground and the external ground. If abnormal energy induces a current in this continuous and complete ground and enters the system ground, it can damage the circuitry within the wireless module. Therefore, how to maintain the system robustness of wireless communication equipment in electromagnetic environments, protecting its antenna reception from the effects of external abnormal energy, is a pressing problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the present invention provides an electrical protection module to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0004] This invention discloses an electrical protection module comprising a printed circuit board, an antenna port, and a radio frequency (RF) port. The printed circuit board includes a short-circuit structure, an isolation structure, a live wire, and a ground wire. The antenna port is coupled to the live wire and the ground wire of the printed circuit board for electrical connection to an antenna. The RF port is coupled to the printed circuit board for electrical connection to a wireless circuit module. The short-circuit structure electrically connects the live wire to an external ground, and the isolation structure isolates the external ground from a system ground. Attached Figure Description

[0005] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the wireless communication module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0006] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the electrical protection module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the electrical protection module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the metal surface of the electrical protection module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another metal surface of the electrical protection module in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0010] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the wireless communication module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the wireless communication module 10 includes a wireless circuit module 100 and an electrical protection module 110. The wireless circuit module 100 is coupled to a system ground SG and is used to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to the electrical protection module 110. The electrical protection module 110 isolates an external ground EG and the system ground SG, and is coupled to the wireless circuit module 100 and an antenna 120. When abnormal external energy (such as lightning strikes, electrostatic discharge, etc.) attempts to enter the wireless communication module 10 through the antenna 120, the electrical protection module 110 can dissipate the abnormal external energy to the outside of the wireless communication module 10 (e.g., the external ground EG) to prevent the wireless circuit module 100 from being damaged by the abnormal external energy intrusion. In addition, since the external ground EG is completely disconnected from the system ground SG, the wireless communication module 10 can also prevent induced current from entering the wireless circuit module 100.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the electrical protection module 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electrical protection module 20 may be... Figure 1 The electrical protection module 110 shown, and its applicability in Figure 1 The wireless communication module 10 is shown. (As shown) Figure 2 As shown, the electrical protection module 20 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 200, an antenna port 210, and an RF port 220. The PCB 200 includes a short circuit structure 202, an isolation structure 204, a live wire 206, and a ground wire 208. Alternatively, the PCB 200 may be a substrate with two metal sheets covered by a dielectric material. The live wire 206 provides a path for current to flow through the electrical protection module 20 during operation. The ground wire 208 can be connected to a system ground SG. When the electrical protection module 20 leaks current, current can flow through the ground wire 208 into the system ground SG to prevent damage to the electrical protection module 20 due to excessive current. The antenna port 210 is coupled to the live wire 206 and the ground wire 208 of the PCB 200 for electrical connection to an antenna (e.g., ...). Figure 1 Antenna 120 (shown). RF port 220 is coupled to printed circuit board 200 for electrical connection to a wireless circuit module (e.g., Figure 1The wireless circuit module 100 is shown. In the printed circuit board 200, a short-circuit structure 202 is used to electrically connect the live wire 206 to an external ground EG, and an isolation structure 204 is used to isolate the external ground EG from a system ground SG. That is, external abnormal energy may directly enter the wireless communication module 10 through the live wire 206 coupled to the antenna port 210, or it may enter the wireless communication module 10 through a loop formed by the ground wire 208 coupled to the antenna port 210. Both paths will damage the wireless communication module 10. The short-circuit structure 202, which electrically connects the live wire 206 to the external ground EG, can form a path (e.g., a venting path) to vent the external abnormal energy received from the antenna to the external ground EG. In addition, to prevent the external abnormal energy vented by the short-circuit structure 202 from entering the wireless communication module 10 through the loop formed by the antenna port 210 and the radio frequency port 220, the isolation structure 204 isolates the external ground EG from the system ground SG. In this situation, since the external ground EG is completely disconnected from the system ground SG, an open circuit is formed in the circuit. External abnormal energy can only be discharged to the outside of the wireless communication module 10 through the path formed by the short circuit structure 202, the live wire 206 and the external ground EG, and will not enter the wireless communication module 10 through the live wire 206.

[0012] In one embodiment, the short-circuit structure 202 includes a conductor-backed coplanar waveguide (CBCPW) structure. In one embodiment, the CBCPW structure includes an L-shaped termination, and the L-shaped termination is electrically connected to an external ground EG. That is, through the L-shaped termination in the CBCPW structure, the short-circuit structure 202 electrically connects the live wire 206 to the external ground EG to form a path for dissipating the external abnormal energy.

[0013] In one embodiment, the isolation structure 204 includes a slotted structure. In one embodiment, the slotted structure isolates the external ground EG from the system ground SG. That is, the external ground EG is completely disconnected from the system ground SG through the slotted structure. Furthermore, since the slotted structure isolates the external ground EG from the system ground SG, abnormal external energy cannot enter the wireless circuit module through the system ground SG and the RF port 220, but will only be discharged to the outside of the wireless communication module 10 through the path formed by the short-circuit structure 202, the live wire 206, and the external ground EG.

[0014] In one embodiment, the electrical protection module 20 further includes a transmission line 212 for transmitting at least one radio frequency signal received from the antenna or the wireless circuit module. In one embodiment, the transmission line 212 is coupled to a short-circuit structure 202. That is, when external abnormal energy enters the wireless communication module 10, because the transmission line 212 is coupled to the short-circuit structure 202, the external abnormal energy is dissipated to the outside of the wireless communication module 10 (e.g., external ground EG) through the short-circuit structure 202, and will not enter the wireless circuit module through the transmission line 212, thereby preventing the wireless circuit module from being damaged by the external abnormal energy.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the electrical protection module 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electrical protection module 30 may be... Figure 1 The electrical protection module 110 shown or Figure 2 The electrical protection module 20 is shown. (For example...) Figure 3 As shown, the electrical protection module 30 includes a printed circuit board 300, an antenna port 310, and a radio frequency (RF) port 320. The printed circuit board 300 may be a substrate 306 with metal surfaces 302 and 304 covered by a dielectric material. The antenna port 310 is coupled to the printed circuit board 300 for electrically connecting to an antenna (not shown) and receiving signals transmitted from the antenna. In the electrical protection module 30, the antenna port 310 may extend through metal surfaces 302 and 304, but is not limited thereto. The RF port 320 is coupled to the printed circuit board 300 for electrically connecting to a wireless circuit module (not shown) and receiving RF signals transmitted from the wireless circuit module. In the electrical protection module 30, the RF port 320 may be coupled to the metal surface 304 of the printed circuit board 300, but is not limited thereto.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the metal surface 40 of the printed circuit board of the electrical protection module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The metal surface 40 may be... Figure 3 The metal surface 302 is shown. (As shown in the image) Figure 4 As shown, the metal surface 40 includes an isolation structure 400. The isolation structure 400 may be... Figure 2 The isolation structure 204 and isolation structure 400 shown can be a slotted structure. This slotted structure completely divides the metal surface 40 into metal surface 402 and metal surface 404, wherein metal surface 402 and metal surface 404 are completely independent metal surfaces. The short-circuit structure of the electrical protection module (e.g.) Figure 2 The short-circuit structure 202 shown can electrically connect the metal surface 402 to an external ground (e.g., external ground EG) to form a path for dissipating external abnormal energy. The metal surface 404 can be electrically connected to a system ground (e.g., system ground SG). The antenna port 406 of the electrical protection module (can be...) Figure 2Antenna port 210 shown or Figure 3 The antenna port 310 shown may be contained within the first metal surface 40. That is, the antenna port 406 is coupled to the metal surface 402 for electrical connection to an antenna (not shown) and for receiving signals transmitted from the antenna.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another metal surface 50 of the printed circuit board of the electrical protection module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The metal surface 50 may be... Figure 3 The metal surface shown is 304. (As shown in the image) Figure 5 As shown, the metal surface 50 includes a transmission line 502, a short-circuit structure 504, a live wire 506, at least one via hole 508, and at least one bare copper layer 510. The transmission line 502 can be... Figure 2 The transmission line 212 shown is used to transmit at least one radio frequency signal from an antenna or wireless circuit module. Short-circuit structure 504 (which may be...) Figure 2 The short-circuit structure 202 shown is coupled to transmission line 502, and short-circuit structure 504 includes a back-covered conductor coplanar waveguide structure. This back-covered conductor coplanar waveguide structure includes an L-shaped termination for electrical connection to an external ground (e.g., external ground EG). The live wire 506 may be... Figure 2 The live wire 206 is shown. Live wire 506 is coupled to transmission line 502. At least one via 508 is electrically connected to an external ground (e.g., external ground EG) and electrically connected to a ground wire coupled to antenna port 406 (e.g., ground EG). Figure 2 The ground wire 208 shown is at Figure 5 (Not shown), and an antenna port 406 electrically connected to the external ground (e.g., external ground EG). That is, the short-circuit structure 504 electrically connects the live wire 506 to at least one via 508 coupled to the external ground. A path is formed by the short-circuit structure 504 (including the L-shaped terminal), the live wire 506, and the at least one via 508 electrically connected to the external ground to dissipate external abnormal energy received from an antenna (not shown), which can be dissipated to the external ground (e.g., external ground EG). The live wire 506 and at least one bare copper 510 can be used to electrically connect the two ends of the transmission line 502, and at least one bare copper 510 can be used to electrically connect to the radio frequency port of the electrical protection module, so that the radio frequency port is electrically connected to a wireless circuit module (not shown) and receives radio frequency signals from the wireless circuit module.

[0018] In summary, this invention provides an electrical protection module. Through short-circuit and isolation structures, the electrical protection module can prevent abnormal external energy from entering the wireless communication module, thereby avoiding damage to the wireless communication module.

[0019] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made within the scope of the claims of the present invention should be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0020] Symbol Explanation 10: Wireless communication module 100: Wireless circuit module 110, 20, 30: Electrical protection modules 120: Antenna EG: external SG: Systematic 200, 300: Printed Circuit Boards 202, 504: Short-circuit structure 204, 400: Isolation Structure 206, 506: Fireline 208: Ground wire 210, 310, 406: Antenna ports 212, 502: Transmission lines 220, 320: Radio Frequency Ports 302, 304, 40, 402, 404, 50: Metallic surface 306: Substrate 508: At least one via 510: At least one bare copper

Claims

1. An electrical protection module, comprising: A printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board includes a short-circuit structure, an isolation structure, a live wire and a ground wire; An antenna port is coupled to the live wire and the ground wire of the printed circuit board for electrical connection to an antenna; as well as An RF port is coupled to the printed circuit board for electrical connection to a wireless circuit module; The short-circuit structure is used to electrically connect the live wire to an external ground, and the isolation structure is used to isolate the external ground from a system ground; The short-circuit structure, the live wire, and the external ground form a path to dissipate an external anomalous energy received from the antenna to the external ground. The short-circuit structure includes a back-covered conductor coplanar waveguide structure.

2. The electrical protection module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back-covering conductor coplanar waveguide structure includes an L-shaped terminal, and the L-shaped terminal is electrically connected to the external ground.

3. The electrical protection module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the isolation structure includes a slotted structure.

4. The electrical protection module of claim 3, wherein the slotted structure isolates the external ground from the system ground.

5. The electrical protection module as described in claim 1, wherein the electrical protection module further comprises: A transmission line for transmitting at least one radio frequency signal received from the antenna or the wireless circuit module.

6. The electrical protection module of claim 5, wherein the transmission line is connected to the short-circuit structure.

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