Discharge gap device and its mounting structure

• US 6,178,078 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamanishi, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ballato, Josie
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/190,758
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 361/91.2, 361/110, 361/111, 361/117, 361/118, 361/119, 361/136, 361/748, 337/15-20, 337/28
• US Class Current: 361/117
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 4/08 structurally associated with protected apparatus with switches H01H9/14; with fuses H01H85/44

Abstract

A discharge gap device which is provided between an antenna input terminal or a secondary side earth and a commercial power source, or between the power lines of a commercial power source as a ground discharge countermeasure for electrical equipments such as a television set, a video cassette recorder, and a television and video compound device. The discharge gap device functions only as a discharge gap unit and has two conductors. Normally, the conductors are not electrically connected to each other, and upon application of over-voltage, discharge occurs between the conductors; that is, the conductors are electrically connected to each other.

Claims

1. A discharge gap device adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB), comprising:

a dielectric having two opposing surfaces;

at least two lead wires each having a portion adapted to be attached to the printed circuit board and another portion attached to one surface of said dielectric;

at least two conductors which are connected to said lead wires and provided on said one surface of said dielectric; and

a resistor connected between said two lead wires in parallel with said discharge gap device without being directly attached to said at least two conductors or directly mounted on said dielectric, the other surface of said dielectric being free of conductive material to avoid shunting capacitance being formed across said at least two conductors and to prevent passage of high frequency components across the gap device,

wherein upon application of over-voltage, discharge is caused to occur between said conductors.

2. The discharge gap device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductors are of solder.

3. The discharge gap device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductors are electrodes, and said electrodes are spaced a predetermined distance from each other so that said electrodes are confronted with each other.

4. The discharge gap device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said electrodes have protruded ends which are protruded towards each other.

5. The discharge gap device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said electrodes has a plurality of protruded ends.

6. The mounting structure of the discharge gap device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discharge gap device is provided between a part which produces high voltage and a part which absorbs the high voltage.

7. The discharge gap device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lead wires are connected to said dielectric by welding solder, and the resultant soldering regions are employed as said conductors.

8. The discharge gap device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a surface of said dielectric to which said lead wires are connected is covered with resin.

9. The discharge gap device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductors on said dielectric between which discharge occurs are not covered with resin.

10. The mounting structure of the discharge gap device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discharge gap device is provided between a power source line to which a commercial power source is connected and a secondary circuit.

11. The mounting structure of the discharge gap device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the secondary circuit is an antenna input terminal of a tuner.