Abstract: A system for, and method of, assessing a capacity and/or age of a battery. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a voltage sensor, coupled to the battery, that develops a signal indicative of a parameter of a coup de fouet effect experienced by the battery as the battery is discharged and (2) a controller, coupled to the voltage sensor, that receives the signal and determines the capacity and/or age as a function thereof.

Abstract: The relay comprises a first housing part in which a coil having a U-shaped core is embedded, as well as a second housing part in which at least one spring support as well as at least one mating contact element are anchored. A contact spring with a flat armature is attached to the spring support. The relay is adjusted and additionally sealed by joining the two half-shells.

Abstract: A system and method for determining an output current of a power converter having an output capacitor and a component coupled thereto. In one embodiment, the system includes (1) an observer circuit, parallel-coupled to the output capacitor, that senses a voltage across the output capacitor and develops therefrom a capacitor signal representing a current through the output capacitor, (2) a sensor circuit, coupled to the component, that senses a characteristic of the component and develops therefrom a component signal representing a current through the component and (3) a summer circuit, coupled to the observer and sensor circuits, that derives an output signal representing the output current from the capacitor signal and the component signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a heat sink that, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, includes a heat sink body with a spine configured to be oriented parallel with the direction of air flow when the heat sink is coupled to a substrate. The heat sink further includes a first set of cooling fins that are coupled to and extend from the spine along a first common longitudinal axis. At least two of the first set of cooling fins laterally extend from the first common longitudinal axis in a common direction and in an offset relationship to each other.

Abstract: A reduced-noise relay has an inside housing and an outside housing. Inside terminals are connected to outside terminals via stranded conductors. An additional intermediate cap of elastomer is plugged over the inside housing with the stranded conductors in the interspace between the inside housing and the outside housing. Together with a damping frame and a damping plate, the intermediate cap effects a sound decoupling of the relay from the outside.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved field effect transistor (FET) employing both a metal-semiconductor (MES) gate and a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) gate, which FET is particularly useful to provide amplification at microwave frequencies. The use of the MIS gate with appropriate biasing allows the carrier density within a selected portion of the device's channel region to be controlled. The carrier density control increases the breakdown voltage of the FET and enables the FET to be operated with higher maximum channel current and a higher drain to source voltage. As a result, higher output power is provided as compared to prior art MESFET devices of a similar size. Also disclosed is an amplifier circuit including the MES/MIS FET of the preset invention, which amplifier circuit further includes means coupled to the MES/MIS FET for dividing a high frequency input signal to provide a first divided portion and a second divided portion.

Abstract: Hybrid circuit arrangement having a resistance layer applied at least on one side of a plate-shaped substrate of glass or ceramic and having at least one overload protection arranged on the substrate that is electrically connected to the resistance layer, whereby the protection is formed by a PTC resistor. As a result thereof, the hybrid circuit arrangement is re-employable with the self-restoring fuse even after an overload malfunction.

Abstract: A contact spring includes a bottom spring having a centrally disposed spring arm base formed by a rectangular frame. A connection part is formed onto one end of the spring arm base, for electrical conductors. Two spring arms are each formed onto broad sides of the spring arm base on the opposite end. The spring arms converge in a wedge-like manner toward a free end and after that widen into a plug-in funnel. The spring arms are each kept spaced apart in the region of the contact zone by respective indentations oriented toward one another and disposed on long edges. A detent sleeve surrounds the spring arm base and the spring arms formed thereon. An opening angle of the plug-in funnel, over its entire length, is &agr;≦30. The spring arms are shaped spherically in the vicinity of the contact zone and each form a respective contact dome.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plug-in contact (10) configured as a single-piece and made from a metal strip, comprising a pin-shaped contact part (12) and a connecting part (16) for connecting an electric line (18). A guide part (14) is arranged between the contact part (12) and the connecting part (16). The guide part (14) is configured in the shape of a box with a triangular cross-section and a flat side of said guide part (14) is arranged at a distance parallel to the original level of the metal strip.

Abstract: A card reading device is characterized thereby that it is constructed for reading laterally offset cards lying one above the other. This enables a simple and compact structure to be achieved for the card reading device.

Abstract: The PCB zero-insertion-force connector has a housing and two connector halves inside the housing. The connector halves can be swiveled toward each other and away from each other. In a mounting position, in which they are swiveled away from each other, the connector halves allow the insertion of a PCB which is to be brought connected with the PCB upon which the housing is mounted. In a connecting position, the connector halves are swiveled toward each other. The connector halves of the PCB zero-insertion-force connector are formed of a plurality of connector-half modules which are arranged in series alongside one another.

Abstract: In a power amplifier comprising a plurality of cascaded field effect transistors (FETs), a power sensing circuit for sensing the output power of the power amplifier comprising a FET device operative in a first linear mode and second saturated mode of operation, the FET having source, gate and drain electrodes; and a low value resistor connected between the source electrode and a reference potential for generating a voltage drop between the source and the reference potential such that when the FET operates in the saturation mode, the voltage drop is indicative of the output power of the power amplifier.

Abstract: A suspension clamp for suspending and clamping an elongate flexible member, the clamp having: (i) a saddle in which the elongate flexible member may sit, ii) a mounting to support the saddle with respect to a fixture, (iii) a closure latch to restrain the elongate flexible member in the saddle, and (iv) a resilient member mounted to the closure latch and having a bottom face adapted to clamp an elongate flexible member positioned within the saddle when the closure latch is closed.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier circuit comprising an RF gain stage formed on an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising at least one field effect transistor configured for amplifying an RF signal to provide an amplified RF signal to an antenna at a given RF power level; a compensation circuit formed on the IC chip for generating a first voltage VS+ and a second voltage VS− at respective first and second output terminals, the voltage difference therebetween corresponding to a level of temperature or process fluctuation from a given level associated with the RF gain stage; and a control circuit comprising an operational amplifier coupled to the output terminals of the compensation circuit for receiving the first and second voltages VS+, VS− and outputting a control signal to the gate of the at least one FET of the RF gain stage to compensate the RF gain stage for the fluctuation, whereby a substantially constant power output to the antenna is maintained.

Abstract: The printed circuit board zero-force plug connector has a mechanism whose operation causes the plug connector to move between a fitting position (open) and a connected position (closed). The fitting position allows the insertion or removal of a printed circuit board, which makes contact correctly with the printed circuit board. The mechanism of the zero-force plug connector assembly is operated by a rotary movement of an operating member, and/or the mechanism is configured such that it starts to move the printed circuit board zero-force plug connector to the connected position only after it has locked the printed circuit board in its correct position. The printed circuit board is released from the lock only after the mechanism has caused the printed circuit board zero-force plug connector to assume its fitting position.

Abstract: An RF plug connection system includes a contact part which can preferably be crimped to an RF conductor in an RF cable, an insulating part that holds the contact part, at least one insulation-piercing terminal contact holder which can be disposed on the RF cable and an intermediate housing which holds and preferably guides the insulation-piercing terminal contact holder. The insulation-piercing terminal contact holder has at least one blade which makes contact with an outer conductor of the RF cable when the insulation-piercing terminal contact holder is pressed against the RF cable. An outer housing is fitted over the intermediate housing.

Abstract: A press-in pin includes an elastic, cross sectionally bow-shaped press-in region having a bow section, two longitudinal sides and lateral flares at opposing locations on the two longitudinal sides. In a pressed-in condition, the press-in region rests against a bore wall only with the flares, but not with the bow section. Such a press-in pin has a very favorable resilience behavior and practically speaking, is only elastically deformed.

Abstract: A dual band power amplifier circuit comprising first and second power amplifiers each operative to amplify an RF signal of a particular frequency range at an output terminal thereof, wherein the output terminals of the amplifiers are coupled at a common node, and wherein the amplifiers are operative in a first saturation mode and a second linear mode; a control circuit for providing a first control signal to the first power amplifier and a second control signal to the second power amplifier for controlling the mode of operation of each amplifier; and a switching device having a first terminal coupled to the outputs of the first and second power amplifiers at the common node and to a power source at a second terminal, the switching device responsive to a third control signal from the control circuit for providing a high output impedance to the amplifiers for limiting leakage current when the first and second amplifiers are in the saturation mode, and for enabling current to be drawn from the power source to a

Abstract: The relay has, one after the other on an elongate, narrow base body, a magnetic system and a contact arrangement having at least one fixed contact carrier and at least one movable contact spring. The contact carriers are in this case each embedded by a middle section into the plastic of a base body in such a way that their connecting lugs lie in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the relay, while their contact-making end sections, which emerge on the upper side of the base body, lie in planes which are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the plane of the connecting lugs. This enables dimensionally accurate embedding of the contact carriers with good insulation with respect to the magnetic system and with easy processing from a sheet-metal plate.

Abstract: A contact member includes a double insulation displacement terminal with two parallel insulation displacement terminal contact limbs which are connected to one another through a central part. The central part is provided with apertures and cutouts which are matched to the geometry of plug-in blade contacts.