Protective meander structures against pulse interference: systematization, classification, theory, and future directions

Abstract: This paper provides a systematization and classification of pro-tective meander structures based on key features: the type of dielectric filling, cross-sectional geometry, topology, and meth-od of combination. The study demonstrates that progressively increasing structural complexity, from simple symmetric turns to complex hybrid systems, enhances protective performance, achieving an attenuation of ultrashort pulses by up to 143 times. To quantify this potential, formulas for estimating the number of output pulses are proposed. Based on this analysis, a com-prehensive decomposition theory and a synthesis methodology are developed for designing meander structures to meet target specifications. The methodology is demonstrated through the synthesis and investigation of a new structure that achieves an attenuation of 17.6 times for ultrashort pulses and 2.5 times for electrostatic discharges. Finally, promising directions for future research and improvement are outlined.

Keywords: hybrid device, passive protection device, pulse decomposition, coupled transmission lines, modal filtering, electrostatic discharge, ultrashort pulse, pule protection, electromagnetic compatibility, meander line