Invention Application
- Patent Title: Zener Overvoltage Protection (OVP) with a Thermal Trigger
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Application No.: US15404510Application Date: 2017-01-12
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Publication No.: US20180198272A1Publication Date: 2018-07-12
- Inventor: Mark D. White, II
- Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Main IPC: H02H7/125
- IPC: H02H7/125 ; H02J50/10 ; A61N1/378

Abstract:
The present disclosure describes aspects of Zener overvoltage protection (OVP) with a thermal trigger for an implant. In some aspects, an apparatus comprises a rectifier disposed in a rectification circuit and configured to rectify alternating current (AC) power received at the rectification circuit to direct current (DC) power. The apparatus also includes a Zener diode and thermistor. The Zener diode is disposed in the rectification circuit between the rectifier and an output terminal, and is configured to clamp the DC power at a predefined voltage. The clamped DC power output at the output terminal is usable by the implant. The thermistor and Zener diode are disposed in temperature-measuring proximity. This enables the thermistor to measure a temperature of the Zener diode, which correlates to voltage at the Zener diode due to clamping. When the measured temperature exceeds a threshold temperature indicative of an OVP condition, remedial OVP actions are initiated.
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