Compact solid state station protector device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention involved a compact solid state protector unit which protects the electronic circuits of telephone equipment installed at the Central Office equipment or the customer's station equipment from high voltage transients and abnormal currents which would damage the electronic circuits of this telephone equipment.
Briefly stated, the present invention involves a compact solid state protector package having an inner insert structure, and an outer cover member having an open base end and adapted to be removably disposed over the insert structure, and a base member adapted to releasably seal the open base end of the cover member.
The inner insert structure is constructed and arranged to support the components of a protector circuit mounted thereon in spaced relationship.
The disclosed protector circuit comprises two bidirectional solid state voltage sensitive switch devices with an associated ground terminal, two variable resistance devices, and fail-safe protector means for protecting the solid state protector device from catastrophic high voltage transients and abnormal currents.
In the preferred embodiment disclosed, the cover member is provided with line-side test access holes.
Additionally, the line-side pins of the protector unit are constructed and arranged to permit the protector unit to be disconnected from the premises (either Central Office or station) equipment, while still maintaining contact with the line-side.
The protector unit of the present invention provides protection of electronic equipment from voltage surges by electronically switching the voltage surge from line to ground.
Additionally, the protector unit protects the electronic equipment and itself from high current surges on the line by increasing the impedance of the line thereby reducing the current to the equipment to a safe level.
Upon cessation of the high voltage or current surge, the activated protector device returns to the inactive or idle state, allowing the telephone loop to function in the usual manner