Mitigation of current collapse in transient blocking units

Details Mitigation of current collapse in transient blocking units Mitigation of current collapse in transient blocking units

2007-10-22

2009-11-10

Leja, Ronald W (Department: 2836)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Safety and protection of systems and devices

Impedance insertion

Reexamination Certificate

active

07616418

ABSTRACT:
A transient blocking unit (TBU) includes at least two depletion mode transistors connected to each other such that they can rapidly switch from a normal low-impedance state to a high-impedance current blocking state in response to an over-voltage or over-current condition. This behavior makes TBUs useful for protecting electrical devices and circuit from harmful electrical transients. Some kinds of transistors can exhibit a phenomenon known as current collapse, where channel conductance is temporarily reduced after exposure to high voltage. Although current collapse is undesirable, transistors exhibiting current collapse can have otherwise favorable properties for TBU applications. According to the present invention, a TBU is provided where a diode is placed in parallel with a TBU transistor that can exhibit current collapse. The diode prevents high power dissipation in a current collapsed transistor, thereby reducing the vulnerability of the TBU to permanent damage or destruction in service.

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