AU2183199A

AU2183199A - Lightning protection device for wired equipment

Info

Publication number: AU2183199A
Application number: AU21831/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Omry Rotem
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-01-28
Filing date: 1999-01-28
Publication date: 1999-08-16
Also published as: EP1058956A1; CA2318876A1; IL123087A0; WO1999039419A1

Description

WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054 LIGHTNING PROTECTION DEVICE FOR WIRED EQUIPMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device adopted to prevent damage, caused by the phenomena of lightning, to electronic equipment connected to 5 wires which are exposed to lightning and more particularly to Lightning Protection for wired equipment like Telephone Networks, Communication Network, TV Sets and other similar Equipment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The natures of the telephone, computer communication networks and 10 other wired equipment, which is connected to partly outdoor wires or networks of wires hang and spread all over, making it highly sensitive to the harm caused by the lightning phenomena. Because the lightning involves enormous levels of energy, the direct consequences are destroying the equipment, and in many cases it might cause burning of the equipment. Due to these hazards, the 15is telephone communication equipment for example, always includes some kind of standard protection, defined by the Government Standard Institute, or local "PTT"'. The common protections mostly use one or more of the following components: * Gas Tube Surge Arrestors 20 * Varistore protecting device * Tamsorb and other Semiconductor protection devices * Band Gap voltage limiters * Coils and Chokes 1 WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054 These devices are used and incorporated in the equipment are well known and need no further elaboration. The problem of these protection devices and schemes, is that the level of the protection demonstrated by said devices are low, and even in case of an 5 indirect lightning hit, the equipment suffers severe malfunctions and sometimes total damage. Furthermore, the known protection device are "passive" and thus are all the time in the same mode of operation, regardless the status of the apparatus or device to be protected. 10 It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a device which would provide better protection to the various networks. It is a further object of the present invention to provide "active" device which could distinguish between an "on" or "off' or any operational mode of the electronic device it is adopted to protect. 2 WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device according to the invention is intended to protect different kinds of equipment, such as: Telephone equipment, or computer communication network equipment, or other electronic or electric devices and appliances. 5 The device comprises a housing in which are mounted in combination: a) A signal input connection to the EMF surge protection unit. b) A protected output signal connection from the EMF surge protection unit to the users at the protected zone. c) A logic unit of decision for the signal galvanic connection or 10 attenuation level by a switch. d) An assess Logic unit, adopted to evaluate the signal status or the signal usage status. e) A switch for galvanic connection / attenuation level change from the incoming signal and protected zone signal. 15 f) A Logic Unit for the assessment of the input signal, define the conditions to pass a request to change mode. In a preferred embodiment the device further includes any or all of: a) An optional sensor to sense the in-coming signal. This sensor can be realized using a galvanically insulated sensing technique. 20 b) An optional sensor to sense the signal from the protected zone. c) An optional input for request or conditional request for the operating of said switch. 3 WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054 a) Slow EMF energy absorbing devices. Cut the energy level while the voltage is rising beyond a certain level, pass the excess energy to the earth. e) Fast EMF energy absorbing devices. f) Devices of an inductive, resistive or capacitive nature. 5 g) A protection device power supply. h) Optional signal and/or protection status output. 4 WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The invention will now be described with reference to the annexed electric block diagram (Fig. 1) which is illustrated by way of example. The device according to the invention is capable to protect all kinds of 5 equipment with adaptation of the sensors and the switch. The device operates in two or more distinctive usage types: 1.The IDLE line state. At this state, the line is in a waiting state, for either a signal from the outside and connected equipment, or, by actuating the electronic device or lifting the hook of a telephone, for instance, before dialing. 10o 2.The ACTIVE line state. During this state the line of a telephone for instance, is ringing or unhooked and the user is waiting for the dial tone, is dialing, or is speaking. Turning to the block diagram the device comprises a signal input connection to the EMF surge protection unit, 1, a protected output signal 15 connection 2 from the EMF surge protection unit to the users at the protected zone. A logic unit 3 of decision for the signal galvanic connection or attenuation level by switch 8. An optional sensor 4 to sense the in coming signal. This sensor can be realized using a galvanically insulated sensing technique. A further optional sensor 5 to sense the signal from the protected zone. This sensor can 20 be realized using a galvanically insulated sensing technique. An assess Logic unit 6, adopted to evaluate the signal status or the signal usage status. This logic unit performs constant assessment of the signal status or usage status and pass the outcome to the logic of decision. The unit is connected to Logic Unit 3 via 7. 5 WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054 The main switch 8 for galvanic connection / attenuation level change from the incoming signal and protected zone signal. A further optional input 9 for request or conditional request for the operating of said switch, which is connected to a Logic Unit 10 for the assessment 5 of the input signal, define the conditions to pass a request to change status mode. A Slow EMF energy absorbing devices 11 adopted to cut the energy level while the voltage is rising beyond a certain level, pass the excess energy to the earth. The nature of the devices at this area will be slow to moderate reaction speed but large energy absorbing level. 10 A Fast EMF energy absorbing devices 12 adopted to cut the energy level while the voltage is rising behind certain level, pass the excess energy to the earth. The nature of the devices at this area will be fast reaction speed and accurate voltage trimming but small to moderate energy absorbing level. Devices of an inductive, resistive or capacitive nature 13. These devices 15 stop the flow of the EMF wave, and delay its speed from input 1 to output 2. The purpose of device 13 is to compensate the slow reaction speed of the devices denoted 11. A protection device power supply 14. The power source can be external AC adapter or a battery or in some cases the signal itself. An Optional signal and/or protection status output 15. This output is 20 intended to indicate an external device about certain signal situations as signal disconnection or short circuit or level exceeding. Also it is possible to report to the protected zone about the probability of presence of an EMF noise, and the reflected risk level. 6 WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054 The type of protection in the present example in each state of the phone line is different: During the IDLE line state, the equipment is protected by INSULATION concept. INSULATION = GALVANICALLY INSULATED OR ATTENUATED. 5 While the phone line is in the IDLE state i.e., the line is INACTIVE, the phone line and the connected equipment is protected by insulating it from the telephone line. That INSULATION is carried out in the device. The device must be located at any point on the line, between the entry to the premises and to the connection point into the protected equipment. The protection device identifies the IDLE state of 10 the phone line and automatically switches itself to INSULATE the phone line from its equipment. During the IDLE state, the protecting device logic unit automatically identifies the ringing state or the lifting of the hook by the user, and then switches itself to the CONNECTED state OR NON-ATTENUATED. 15 During the ACTIVE state, when the phone line is connected to its equipment, the equipment is protected by the LIMITATION concept or the ISOLATION concept described above. The above example refers to a device adopted to protect a telephone line and equipment. 20 However, it is within the scope of the invention and device to protect any electrical and electronic device and apparatus and/or appliances, provided some of the compounds such as the switch and the sensor are charged in accordance with the specific apparatus. 7 WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054 Further, the sensors are adapted to the nature of the signal and its characteristics. The outcome of the sensor which defines the status is transferred to the logic unit which controls the operation of switch 8. 8

Claims

1. A protecting device for electric and electronic devices and appliances which comprises in combination: a) a signal input connection to the EMF surge protection unit; 5 b) a protected output signal connection from the EMF surge protection unit to the users at the protected zone; c) a logic unit of decision for the signal galvanic connection or attenuation level by a switch; d) an assess Logic unit, adopted to evaluate the signal status 10 or the signal usage status; e) a switch for galvanic connection / attenuation level change from the incoming signal and protected zone signal; and f) a logic unit for the assessment of the input signal, define the conditions to pass a request to change mode. 15

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 provided with an optional sensor to sense the in-coming signal, which can be realized using a galvanically insulated sensing technique.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 provided with an optional sensor to sense the signal from the protected zone. 20

4. The device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 provided with an optional input for request or conditional request for the operating of said switch. 9 WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054

5. The device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 provided with slow EMF energy absorbing devices to cut the energy level while the voltage is rising beyond a certain level, pass the excess energy to the earth.

6. The device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 provided with fast EMF 5 energy absorbing devices.

7. The device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 provided with devices of an inductive, resistive or capacitive nature.

8. 8. The device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 provided with a protection device power supply. lo

9. The device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 provided with optional signal and/or protection status output.

10. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 being galvanically insulated or/and change the properties of the connection of the Telephone, Communication Network, antenna or other input line to the equipment. 15

11. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 adapted to (a) distinguish the line usage state, wherein the line is connected while the line is in use, and insulated while the line is not in use and connection is not required, and (b) distinguish the equipment usage state, wherein the line is connected while the equipment or another related unit is "ON" 20 state, and insulated while the equipment or another related unit is switched to "OFF" state.

12. A protecting device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 which can distinguish the line or equipment usage mode, determine the highest 10 WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054 protection possible for this mode, and adapt the protection scheme to this mode.

13. A protecting device as claimed in claims 1 to 10 wherein said sensors would sense the state of the line and the connected equipment. 5

14. A protecting device as claimed in claims 1 to 10 wherein said sensors will use a galvanically insulated or high impedance sensor, which will have negligible or no effect on the line and equipment.

15. A protecting device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 where a limitation unit is provided which can be used in the protecting device, to 10 enhance the ability of the protecting device to protect from high energy surges at the line while the line and equipment are connected.

16. A protecting device as claimed in claims 1 to 10 wherein a limitation unit is provided which can use staged architecture in order to stop and reduce the energy wave from entering the equipment, so as to be able 15 to reduce the energy to a size that can be tolerated by the equipment with no damage.

17. A protecting device as claimed in claims 14 to 16 wherein said limitation unit can include energy slope barrier device for either the common mode energy wave or a differential mode energy wave. 20

18. A protecting device as claimed in claims 1 to 10 wherein said electronic logic system of the protecting device can automatically, on the basis of needs definitions and/or connected sensors, switch the protecting schemes from insulation to limitation and vice versa. 11 WO 99/39419 PCT/IL99/00054

19. A protection device, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 12