Lightning Protection Component With Bypass Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lightning protection components for electronic equipment often introduce leakage currents at high temperatures, leading to voltage errors and degrading the performance of measurement circuits, especially in differential measurement systems.
Innovation Solution
A lightning protection component with a bypass switch that prevents leakage currents in its open state and ensures the evacuation of lightning signals in its closed state, utilizing an ionizable gas to facilitate the movement of a movable contact under voltage, allowing for efficient discharge without electrical leakage, and featuring a detection circuit for verifying the operating state of the switch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a power Zener diode or TVS diode is used for lightning protection, then the lightning signal can be conducted to ground, but leakage currents are induced at high temperature which degrade measurement performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful leakage current path by introducing a bypass switch that diverts the leakage current away from the measurement circuit. The bypass switch is connected in parallel with the protection diode, providing a separate path for leakage current that prevents it from flowing through the sensitive measurement equipment, thus resolving the contradiction between protection capability and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass switch acts as an intermediary element between the protection diode and the measurement circuit. It mediates the leakage current by providing a controlled path that isolates the measurement circuit from the harmful effects of leakage current while maintaining the protection function. The switch is controlled by a control circuit that activates it when leakage current exceeds a threshold level.
2Measurement precision
If a bypass switch is introduced to prevent leakage currents, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bypass switch control circuit with the existing protection circuit architecture. The control circuit that governs the bypass switch is integrated into the same package or module as the protection diode, and the control logic is designed to work seamlessly with the existing measurement system. This integration minimizes the additional complexity while maintaining the benefits of leakage current suppression.
3Reliability
If REED relays are used to divert lightning signal to ground, then protection is provided, but the device complexity and potential interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical REED relay system with a solid-state bypass switch controlled by an electronic control circuit. This substitution eliminates the mechanical moving parts and magnetic field interference associated with REED relays, reducing device complexity and potential sources of interference while maintaining the lightning diversion function. The solid-state switch provides faster response time and more reliable operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures the protection of electronic equipment from lightning without disturbing its operation, maintaining accurate measurements by preventing voltage errors and extending the service life of the component through controlled discharge and distributed current handling.
Implementation Method 1
the gas is an ionizable gas which, under sufficient voltage, becomes conductive and contributes to accelerating the movement of the movable contact
Implementation Method 2
the switch is closed under the effect of a breakdown resulting from a power-up greater than a predetermined threshold between a nominal supply voltage of the equipment and a lightning voltage
Implementation Method 3
under the effect of an electrostatic force generated by an electric voltage present in the control input
Implementation Method 4
When lightning strikes the line, the diode becomes conductive and conducts the lightning signal to a sink circuit, usually ground
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
A lightning protection component, comprising at least one main input (2.1) capable of transmitting a lightning signal, at least one main output (3.1) designed to be connected to a piece of equipment (T) to be protected from the lightning signal, a branched output (3.2) designed to be connected to a dissipation circuit (M), a direct line (4) connecting the main input to the main output, a bypass circuit (5) that is mounted between the direct line and the branched output and that is provided with at least one bypass switch (6) having an open state in which the branched output is isolated from the direct line and a closed state in which the lightning signal is conducted from the direct line to the branched output.