Abstract: A method and an apparatus for use in an earth-fault protection in a three-phase electric network, the apparatus configured to detect a phase-to-earth fault in the three-phase electric network, to determine for each of the three phases of the three-phase electric network a phase current during the detected phase-to-earth fault or a change in the phase current due to the detected phase-to-earth fault, to determine an estimate of an earth-fault current on the basis of the determined phase currents or on the basis of the determined changes in the phase currents, to determine, if the estimate of the earth-fault current represents an actual earth-fault current or an apparent earth-fault current, and to determine, in response to determining that the estimate of the earth-fault current represents the actual earth-fault current, that the estimate of the earth-fault current is valid.

Abstract: A method for checking an output stage for controlling a load, wherein the output stage for controlling the load can be switched to a first switching state or to a second switching state. In the first switching state, a check for a first fault state may be carried out; in the second switching state, a check for a second fault state may be carried out; when the output stage is operated in the first switching state, the output stage is switched to the second switching state for a first control duration, the check for the second fault state is performed, and the output stage is switched back to the first switching state after the first control duration.

Abstract: An AC/DC leakage detection method, which supports the detection of DC leakage and AC leakage. A DC leakage current and a low-frequency leakage current are measured by means of magnetic modulation technology, an AC signal is measured in the form of pure induction, and two detection modes are performed in a time-sharing manner. A collected leakage signal is converted into a digital signal through an AD converter. By means of the method of the present invention, the processing of a leakage signal is divided into three channels for respectively processing DC leakage, low-frequency AC leakage, and high-frequency AC leakage. The overall effective value of residual current is calculated by integrating results of DC detection and AC detection. The method of the present invention supports the detection of a suddenly increased current; and when there is a suddenly increased current, detection mode switching is performed by detecting the current sudden change of the current.

Abstract: A method includes determining a first voltage that is in a high-side path of a circuit, the path including a high-side switch connected between a first potential connection of the circuit and a first connection of a load of the circuit; determining a second voltage that is in a low-side path of the circuit, the path including a low-side switch connected between a second potential connection of the circuit and a second connection of the load; responsive to a determination that one of the voltages exceeds a threshold for at least a duration of a predefined time interval, checking whether the other voltage currently exceeds the threshold; and determining that there is a short circuit across the load or in whichever of the paths has the voltage that exceeded the threshold for the duration, respectively, if the result of the check is positive or negative.

Abstract: A detection and protection circuit includes: a comparator, six resistors, and two diodes. A first resistor is connected to a second resistor. The second resistor (30) is grounded. A positive input end, a negative input end, a power supply end, a ground end, and an output end of the comparator are connected to a third resistor, a fourth resistor, a power management device power supply pin, the ground, and a main controller. The other end of the third resistor is connected between the first resistor and the second resistor. The other end of the fourth resistor is connected to the first resistor. A first power supply is connected between the fourth resistor and the first resistor. A fifth resistor is connected to a sixth resistor. The sixth resistor (70) is grounded. The other end of the fifth resistor is connected to the main controller.

Abstract: A method includes receiving an output signal from a conductive element configured within a dielectric material. The conductive element can have an input voltage applied thereto and the output signal can include a plurality of signal amplitudes indicative of electric charges discharged across a gap between the conductive element and the dielectric material in response to the applied input voltage. The method can also include determining charge characterization data and classifying a material and a geometry of the conductive element and/or the dielectric material. The classification can include an operational state of the conductive element and/or the dielectric material. Related systems, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer readable mediums are also described.

Abstract: A meter collar includes a connection path to form an electrical connection between a distributed energy resource (DER) meter and line voltage wirings of an electric distribution system and a second connection path to form an electrical connection between the DER meter and neutral wires of the electric distribution system, a DER device, and a load. Further, the meter collar includes a third connection path within the meter collar to form an electrical connection between the DER meter and output voltage wirings of the DER device. Furthermore, the meter collar includes mating connectors electrically connected to a first end of a corresponding connection path to accept mating connectors of the DER meter. The meter collar also includes mating connectors electrically connected to a second end of the corresponding connection path to mate with the line voltage wirings, the neutral wires, and the output voltage wirings.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a detector circuit, including: a voltage source configured to produce a first voltage on a first output, a second voltage on a second output, and third voltage on a third output, wherein the first voltage is greater than the second voltage and the second voltage is greater than the third voltage; a first switch connected to the second output; a sampling capacitor connected to the switch, wherein the sampling capacitor is charged by the voltage source when the switch is closed; a first comparator with one input connected to the first output and a second input connected to the sampling capacitor; a second comparator with one input connected to the third output and a second input connected to the sampling capacitor; a multiplexer with a plurality of inputs configured to be connected to a plurality of terminals of an external circuit and an output connected to the sampling capacitor, the first input of the first comparator, and the first input of the second comparator; and a controll

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fault detection circuit for detecting one or more column faults in a pixel array of an image sensor. The present invention further relates to a readout circuit for reading out a column line of an image sensor, and to an image sensor comprising the same. The fault detection circuit according to the invention comprises a signal unit for applying an electrical signal to a given column line of the pixel array, a determining unit for measuring a response to the applied electrical signal and for determining whether a fault exists for said given column line in dependence of the measured response, and a controller for controlling the signal unit and the determining unit, and for outputting a fault status for said given column line.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller with a floating ground architecture for fault detection is described. A USB-C controller includes a floating ground circuit and a fault detection circuit coupled to a power converter. The floating ground circuit provides a floating ground voltage based on a supply voltage of the power converter. The fault detection circuit includes a comparator with power rails coupled to the supply voltage and the floating ground voltage. The fault detection circuit measures a differential signal across a first terminal and a second terminal, the differential signal representing a current of the power converter. The fault detection circuit compares the differential signal against a threshold using the comparator and outputs an indication of a fault condition in response to the differential signal satisfying the threshold.

Abstract: A packaged current sensor integrated circuit includes a primary conductor having an input portion and an output portion configured to carry a current to be measured by a magnetic sensing element supported by a semiconductor die adjacent to the primary conductor. The primary current path contains a mechanical locking feature. The thickness of the molded body of the package is reduced to improve vibration immunity.

Abstract: A computer system that includes a processor device and a storage device is configured to determine a base load at a utility customer site using power usage data for the utility customer site, to determine a variable load at the utility customer site during a range of temperature independent days using the power usage data, and to determine a temperature dependent load at the utility customer site that exceeds the variable load and the base load using the power usage data. The computer system is further configured to assign a flag to each time interval that the temperature dependent load exceeds a power usage threshold and to determine if the utility customer site has an equipment malfunction based on a number of the flags assigned within a time period.

Abstract: A system for performing downhole logging operations includes a conductor coil configured to alternate between producing a magnetic field and measuring a magnetic field induced in a formation, a power supply couplable to the conductor coil for providing an electrical control current to conductor coil, and a signal acquisition system couplable to the conductor coil. The system further includes a permanent magnet coupled to the conductor coil, and a multi-state switch operable in a first state and a second state. In the first state, the conductor coil is coupled to an output of the power supply and decoupled from an input of the signal acquisition system. In the second state, the conductor coil is coupled to the input of acquisition electronics and decoupled from the output of the power supply.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing downhole power cables wherein such systems and methods utilize a mounting bracket having a PEEK insulator extending from a first face of said bracket and at least one flexible lead extending from a second face of said bracket. Such systems and methods may accommodate three such flexible leads that are configured to interface with power cables. A shunting block may be incorporated in a protective cap configured to fit over the PEEK insulator extension from said first face of said bracket.

Abstract: A method for detecting an isolation fault in an isolation resistance between a positive and negative high-voltage bus rail and a vehicle chassis on a high-voltage propulsion side of a high-voltage system of an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle. The high-voltage system is split into a battery side and propulsion side by means of two high-voltage contactors located in the positive and negative high-voltage bus rails. The propulsion side includes first and second capacitors connected in series across the positive and negative bus rails, a common junction of the first and second capacitors connected to the chassis. The method supplies a low-voltage output to the positive and negative bus rails to charge the capacitors; and determines, based on charging current, voltage level or energy level of the capacitors, whether an isolation fault is present between the positive and/or negative high-voltage bus rail and the vehicle chassis on the propulsion side.

Abstract: Portable microwave material gauge for determining the quality of a pavement material is provided. The gauge includes an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electric field mode that penetrates into the material wherein the material includes a heterogeneous material including at least one of a pavement material and a soil material, a calibration data set, a sensor of size and shape to support the electric field mode and to determine the response of the pavement material to the electric field wherein determining the response includes determining a change in the permittivity as a function of a change in the quality of the material; and an analyzer configured to correlate the sensor permittivity response to the calibration data set wherein correlating the response includes using stored relationships between the material quality and the sensor response using calibration samples having changes in permittivity as a function of quality.

Abstract: An electrical test device may include a power supply, a conductive probe element, and a spectral analysis block. The power supply may be connected to an external power source. The conductive probe element may be connected to the power supply and may be configured to be energized by the power supply. The probe element may be configured to be placed in contact with an electrical system under test and apply an input signal containing current for measuring at least one parameter of the electrical system. The spectral analysis block may be connected to the probe element and may be configured to receive an output signal from the electrical system in response to the application of the current to the electrical system. The spectral analysis block may be configured to analyze frequency spectra of the output signal and detect a broadband increase in energy of the frequency spectra above a predetermined energy threshold.

Abstract: The present invention performs a reference point detecting step (S20) to select a reference point by performing pattern analysis based on a characteristic pattern shown in a total leakage current (IT) when an applied voltage is 0V, a resistive leakage current calculating step (S30) to calculate a resistive leakage current by Fourier series-expanding the total leakage current (IT) starting at the reference point, and reference point verifying/correcting steps (S40 and S41) to correct the reference point until a characteristic pattern of the resistive leakage current (IR) according to non-linear resistance characteristics of the surge arrester (1) is shown so that the resistive leakage current (IR) is recalculated, and the present invention determines that the resistive leakage current (IR) calculated based on the completely corrected reference point is the resistive leakage current of the surge arrester (1).

Abstract: Collect a full band capture spectral reading from a plurality of cable/fiber broadband network customer units (e.g., cable modems or equivalent optical units); for each of the cable/fiber broadband network customer units, construct an ideal spectral reading. For each of the cable/fiber broadband network customer units, subtract the ideal spectral reading from the full band capture spectral reading to obtain a resultant spectrum. For at least one of the cable/fiber broadband network customer units, identify a persistent deviation from zero in the resultant spectrum that does not match a known impairment type. Identify at least one new impairment type corresponding to the persistent deviation from zero. Remediation of the new impairment type can be carried out as appropriate, and/or a detection pattern can be deployed to identify future occurrences of the new impairment type.