(57) Electrical connector including surge protection for a plurality of circuits, this
connector (10) having a plurality of electrical contacts (300) extending through a
connector shell (100) and mounted by insulating members (210, 220) to the shell (100),
the insulating members (210, 220) defining a sealed chamber (500) within an intermediate
portion of the shell (100); a ground plane (400) is mounted to the shell (100) within
the sealed chamber (500) and includes a plurality of apertures (410), each aperture
(410) receiving a contact (300) Therethrough with the contact (300) being smaller
than the aperture (410) to provide a spacing (415) between the contact (300) and the
ground plane aperture (410), the spacing (415) and the sealed chamber (500) being
filled with a low pressure inert gas having a small amount of ionizable gas; in response
to an electrical potential surge on the contact (300) (e.g., from lightning), the
ionizable gas breaks down and allows a arc to pass between the contact (300) and the
ground plane (400) to thereby dissipate electrical energy of said electrical potential
surge.
|
|
