Claims
- 1. A surge-protected coaxial termination device comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall having a first axial length; b. an inwardly-directed radial step element extending from said inner wall and having a second axial length, wherein said second axial length is significantly shorter than said first axial length of said inner wall, and wherein said inwardly-directed radial step element has a reduced diameter in comparison with said inner wall; c. a center conductor extending axially into the central bore of said metallic outer body, said center conductor being in close proximity to an innermost surface of said inwardly-directed radial step element to form a spark gap therebetween; and d. air within the spark gap formed between the innermost surface of said inwardly-directed radial step element and said center conductor.
- 2. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 1 wherein the center conductor includes a slightly enlarged diameter element in the vicinity of said inwardly-directed radial step element to facilitate the transmission of a spark across the spark gap.
- 3. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 1 wherein a first side of said inwardly-directed radial step element lies adjacent to a zone of relatively high impedance.
- 4. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 1 wherein said inwardly-directed radial step element lies between a first zone of relatively high impedance and a second zone of relatively high impedance.
- 5. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 1 including a resistive terminating element coupled between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 6. A surge-protected coaxial termination device comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall having a first axial length; b. an inwardly-directed radial step element extending from said inner wall and having a second axial length, wherein said second axial length is significantly shorter than said first axial length of said inner wall, and wherein said inwardly-directed radial step element has a reduced diameter in comparison with said inner wall and lies between a first zone of relatively high impedance and a second zone of relatively high impedance; and c. a center conductor extending axially into the central bore of said metallic outer body, said center conductor being in close proximity to an innermost surface of said inwardly-directed radial step element to form a spark gap therebetween.
- 7. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 6, wherein the center conductor includes a slightly enlarged diameter element in the vicinity of said inwardly-directed radial step element to facilitate the transmission of a spark across the spark gap.
- 8. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 6 including a resistive terminating element coupled between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 9. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 8 including a DC blocking capacitor coupled in series with said resistive terminating element between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 10. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 6 including air within the spark gap formed between said inwardly-directed radial step element and said center conductor.
- 11. A surge-protected coaxial termination device comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall having a first axial length; b. a center conductor extending axially into the central bore of said metallic outer body; c. an outwardly-directed radial step element extending from said center conductor and having a second axial length, wherein said second axial length is significantly shorter than said first axial length of said inner wall, and wherein said outwardly-directed radial step element has an increased diameter in comparison with said center conductor, an outermost surface of said outwardly-directed radial step element being in close proximity to said inner wall to form a spark gap therebetween; and d. air within the spark gap formed between the outermost surface of said outwardly-directed radial step element and said inner wall.
- 12. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 11 wherein the metallic outer body includes a slightly enlarged diameter element in the vicinity of said outwardly-directed radial step element to facilitate the transmission of a spark across the spark gap.
- 13. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 11 wherein a first side of said outwardly-directed radial step element lies adjacent to a zone of relatively high impedance.
- 14. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 11 wherein said outwardly-directed radial step element lies between a first zone of relatively high impedance and a second zone of relatively high impedance.
- 15. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 11 including a resistive terminating element coupled between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 16. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 15 including a DC blocking capacitor coupled in series with said resistive terminating element between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 17. A surge-protected coaxial termination device comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall having a first axial length; b. a center conductor extending axially into the central bore of said metallic outer body; c. an outwardly-directed radial step element extending from said center conductor and having a second axial length, wherein said second axial length is significantly shorter than said first axial length of said inner wall, and wherein said outwardly-directed radial step element has an increased diameter in comparison with said center conductor, an outermost surface of said outwardly-directed radial step element being in close proximity to said inner wall to form a spark gap therebetween, said outwardly-directed radial step lying between a first zone of relatively high impedance and a second zone of relatively high impedance.
- 18. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 17 wherein the metallic outer body includes a slightly enlarged diameter element in the vicinity of said outwardly-directed radial step element to facilitate the transmission of a spark across the spark gap.
- 19. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 17 including a resistive terminating element coupled between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 20. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 19 including a DC blocking capacitor coupled in series with said resistive terminating element between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 21. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 17 including air within the spark gap formed between said outwardly-directed radial step element and said metallic outer body.
- 22. A surge-protected coaxial termination device comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall; b. a center conductor extending axially into the central bore of said metallic outer body; c. a lateral conductor secured to said center conductor and extending toward said inner wall for creating a spark gap between at least a portion of said lateral conductor and said metallic outer body, said lateral conductor being proximate to a first zone of relatively high impedance on a first side of said lateral conductor; and d. air within the spark gap formed between said lateral conductor and said metallic outer body.
- 23. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 22 wherein said lateral conductor is a post.
- 24. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 22 wherein said lateral conductor is proximate to a second zone of relatively high impedance on a second opposing side of said lateral conductor.
- 25. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 24 including a resistive terminating element coupled between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 26. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 25 further including a DC blocking capacitor coupled in series with said resistive terminating element between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 27. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 26 wherein:
a. said resistive terminating element extends axially within said central bore of said metallic outer body between first and second ends of said resistive terminating element; and b. said DC blocking capacitor extends radially between an end of said resistive terminating element and said metallic outer body.
- 28. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 27 wherein said resistive terminating element is a carbon composition resistor.
- 29. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 27 wherein said DC blocking capacitor is a chip capacitor.
- 30. A surge-protected coaxial termination device comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall; b. a center conductor extending axially into the central core of said metallic outer body; c. a lateral conductor secured to said metallic outer body and extending toward the center conductor for creating a spark gap between at least a portion of said lateral conductor and said center conductor, said lateral conductor being proximate to a first zone of relatively high impedance on a first side of said lateral conductor; and d. air within the spark gap formed between said lateral conductor and said center conductor.
- 31. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 30 wherein said lateral conductor is a post.
- 32. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 30 wherein said lateral conductor is proximate to a second zone of relatively high impedance on a second opposing side of said lateral conductor.
- 33. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 30 including a resistive terminating element coupled between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 34. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 33 further including a DC blocking capacitor coupled in series with said resistive terminating element between said center conductor and said metallic outer body in parallel with said spark gap.
- 35. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 34 wherein:
a. said resistive terminating element extends axially within said central bore of said metallic outer body between first and second ends of said resistive terminating element; and b. said DC blocking capacitor extends radially between an end of said resistive terminating element and said metallic outer body.
- 36. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 35 wherein said resistive terminating element is a carbon composition resistor.
- 37. The surge-protected coaxial termination device recited by claim 35 wherein said DC blocking capacitor is a chip capacitor.
- 38. A surge-protected coupler for coupling together two coaxial transmission devices, the surge-protected coupler comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall having a first axial length; b. an inwardly-directed radial step element extending from said inner wall and having a second axial length, wherein said second axial length is significantly shorter than said first axial length of said inner wall, and wherein said inwardly-directed radial step element has a reduced diameter in comparison with said inner wall; c. a center conductor extending axially into the central bore of said metallic outer body, said center conductor being in close proximity to an innermost surface of said inwardly-directed radial step element to form a spark gap therebetween; and d. air within the spark gap formed between the innermost surface of said inwardly-directed radial step element and said center conductor.
- 39. The surge-protected coupler recited by claim 38 wherein said inwardly-directed radial step element lies adjacent a zone of relatively high impedance.
- 40. The surge-protected coupler recited by claim 38 wherein said inwardly-directed radial step element lies between a first zone of relatively high impedance and a second zone of relatively high impedance.
- 41. The surge-protected coupler recited by claim 38 wherein the first end of said metallic outer body includes threads for engaging an end of a first coaxial transmission device, and wherein the second end of said metallic outer body includes threads for engaging an end of a second coaxial transmission device.
- 42. A surge-protected coupler for coupling together two coaxial transmission devices, the surge-protected coupler comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall having a first axial length; b. an inwardly-directed radial step element extending from said inner wall and having a second axial length, wherein said second axial length is significantly shorter than said first axial length of said inner wall, and wherein said inwardly-directed radial step element has a reduced diameter in comparison with said inner wall, said inwardly-directed radial step lying between a first zone of relatively high impedance and a second zone of relatively high impedance; and c. a center conductor extending axially into the central bore of said metallic outer body, said center conductor being in close proximity to an innermost surface of said inwardly-directed radial step element to form a spark gap therebetween.
- 43. A surge-protected coupler for coupling together two coaxial transmission devices, the surge-protected coupler comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall; b. a center conductor extending axially into the central core of said metallic outer body; c. a lateral conductor secured to said metallic outer body and extending toward the center conductor for creating a spark gap between at least a portion of said lateral conductor and said center conductor, said lateral conductor being proximate to a first zone of relatively high impedance on a first side of said lateral conductor; and d. air within the spark gap formed between said lateral conductor and said center conductor.
- 44. A surge-protected coupler for coupling together two coaxial transmission devices, the surge-protected coupler comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall having a first axial length; b. a center conductor extending axially into the central bore of said metallic outer body; c. an outwardly-directed radial step element extending from said center conductor and having a second axial length, wherein said second axial length is significantly shorter than said first axial length of said inner wall, and wherein said outwardly-directed radial step element has an increased diameter in comparison with said center conductor, an outermost surface of said outwardly-directed radial step element being in close proximity to said inner wall to form a spark gap therebetween; and d. air within the spark gap formed between the outermost surface of said outwardly-directed radial step element and said inner wall.
- 45. The surge-protected coupler recited by claim 44 wherein said outwardly-directed radial step element lies adjacent a zone of relatively high impedance.
- 46. The surge-protected coupler recited by claim 44 wherein said outwardly-directed radial step element lies between a first zone of relatively high impedance and a second zone of relatively high impedance.
- 47. The surge-protected coupler recited by claim 44 wherein the first end of said metallic outer body includes threads for engaging an end of a first coaxial transmission device, and wherein the second end of said metallic outer body includes threads for engaging an end of a second coaxial transmission device.
- 48. A surge-protected coupler for coupling together two coaxial transmission devices, the surge-protected coupler comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall having a first axial length; b. a center conductor extending axially into the central bore of said metallic outer body; c. an outwardly-directed radial step element extending from said center conductor and having a second axial length, wherein said second axial length is significantly shorter than said first axial length of said inner wall, and wherein said outwardly-directed radial step element has an increased diameter in comparison with said center conductor, an outermost surface of said outwardly-directed radial step element being in close proximity to said inner wall to form a spark gap therebetween, and said outwardly-directed radial step lying between a first zone of relatively high impedance and a second zone of relatively high impedance.
- 49. A surge-protected coupler for coupling together two coaxial transmission devices, the surge-protected coupler comprising:
a. a metallic outer body having a central bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends of said metallic outer body, the central bore being bounded by an inner wall; b. a center conductor extending axially into the central core of said metallic outer body; c. a lateral conductor secured to said center conductor and extending toward the inner wall for creating a spark gap between at least a portion of said lateral conductor and said inner wall, said lateral conductor being proximate to a first zone of relatively high impedance on a first side of said lateral conductor; and d. air within the spark gap formed between said lateral conductor and said inner wall.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/712,433, filed Nov. 14, 2000, and the benefit of such earlier filing date is hereby claimed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09712433 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
10856617 |
May 2004 |
US |