A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING GROUND FAULT RISKS IN CABLED SIGNAL LINES

摘要

A method and apparatus for protecting a system from high current flows in its signal lines. A signal line (37, 38) expected to carry radio frequency signal is provided. A thin region (27, 28) is disposed in series with the signal line. The thin region is destroyed in the presence of current above a safety level. Additionally, the thin region is designed to maintain the impedance profile of the signal path at an approximately constant RF impedance or else the impedance discontinuity caused by the thin region is sufficiently narrow such that it falls within an exception window.