Suppression of electrostatic interference from a transformer with a short ring

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Refer now to all of the figures, where like reference numerals indicate identical parts throughout the drawings.
In FIG.
1, a transformer 10, having a conventional construction and operating according to known principles, is illustrated.
The transformer 10 is of the type used in electronic systems for tasks such as power conversion and/or regulation.
The transformer 10 includes a core 14 on which are disposed a plurality of windings 16.
The windings 16 are conventionally encased or otherwise contained in an electrically inert material such as an epoxy.
The transformer 10 is conventionally mounted on a dual in-line package (DIP) 18 having a plurality of pins such as 20.
The configuration of the DIP 18 is conventional and is specifically intended for mounting the transformer 10 in an electronic circuit or system by means of a printed circuit board (PCB) to which the pins 20 are electrically connected by, for example, soldering.
The pins 20 are further electrically connected to the windings 16 by means of leads or wires, such as the wire 22.
A short ring 25 girds the transformer 10, passing on the outside of the core 14 and the windings 16.
Generally, the short ring 25 is an annular ring which may be formed with an electrically conductive (and/or magnetically soft) material, such as copper, that may be mounted on the transformer 10 by conventional means.
The material of the short ring 25 may also comprise a conductive screen or a porous conductive material.
The short ring 25, and therethrough the transformer 10, may be electrically discharged by provision of an electrically conductive pathway (also "discharge path" or "discharge pathway").
As an example, the electrically conductive pathway may include a wire 30 with a first end 31 that is soldered at 32 to the short ring 25, and a second end 36 that is soldered to a pin 22 of the DIP 18.
The electrically conductive discharge path 32, 31, 30, 36, 22 functions to provide for discharging electrical charge induced on the short ring 25 and/or the transformer 10, thereby to suppress or eliminate electrostatic interference by an electric field caused by the electrical charge on the short ring 25 and/or the transformer 10