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Hazardous area coupler device for high frequency signals

  • US 10,027,067 B2
  • Filed: 07/22/2014
  • Issued: 07/17/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A coupler for allowing electronic transmission of an alternating current signal through the wall of a hazardous area enclosure, comprising:

  • a hollow coupler housing body having an elongated shape defining a first end and a second end;

    an electronic circuit disposed inside said hollow coupler housing body wherein there is a space between the electronic circuit and the hollow coupler housing body;

    potting material encapsulating the electronic circuit and filling the space;

    a first set of signal lines disposed at least in part inside the hollow coupler housing body and having an inner termination at the electronic circuit and an outer termination projecting out of said first end;

    a second set of signal lines having an inner termination at the electronic circuit and an outer termination projecting out of said second end;

    each of the signal lines in said first set of signal lines corresponding to one of the signal lines in said second set of signal lines;

    wherein said electronic circuit includes current limiting resistors;

    fuses, which provide for over-current protection in case of a fault;

    respective electrical paths between the inner terminations to connect each signal line of said first set of signal lines with a corresponding signal line of said second set of signal lines; and

    a plurality of low capacitance diode array sets, each of said low capacitance diode array sets comprising a plurality of low capacitance diodes, with each of said low capacitance diode array sets electrically disposed between a respective electrical path and protective ground and wherein each of said low capacitance diode array sets collectively has a capacitance not greater than four picofarads and has a clamping voltage, such that the electronic circuit permits alternating current signals to pass between the first and second-sets of signal lines but shunts to ground any signal greater than the clamping voltage of the respective low capacitance diode array set, whereby the coupler allows for the transmission of intrinsically safe high frequency signals and provides protection from supply voltage connected to signal source devices associated with the high frequency signals.

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