An overvoltage protector bridge circuit for protecting telecommunications
equipment against voltage surges on transmission lines utilizes an
overvoltage protection device in a bridge circuit having multiple diodes
arranged in series or in parallel on each leg of the circuit. The
overvoltage protection device conducts when it reaches a threshold voltage
potential. The overvoltage protection device is electrically connected
between a pair of connection nodes in the bridge circuit. The bridge
circuit is made up of multiple diodes arranged along each of the legs of
the circuit, which extend between the tip line and the ring line and the
connection nodes. At least two diodes are arranged in series or in
parallel along each leg of the bridge circuit to steer the excess voltage
on the tip line or the ring line, or both, through the overvoltage
protection device to ground. The use of multiple diodes on each leg of the
bridge circuit reduces the effective off-state capacitance of the
overvoltage protection device, thereby permitting the bridge circuit to be
utilized for high frequency transmission line applications, and increases
the overall surge current handling capability of the bridge circuit.