Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating a load, in which in normal operation control energy for activating the switching element or switching elements (T.sub.a, T.sub.b) is obtained from the energy content of the freewheeling current anti-parallel relative to this switching element, and the ON duration is determined by the time constants of control energy storage elements which are assigned to the switching elements, or by the storage time of bipolar transistors.

Abstract: A control device employing a remote switch, intended to ensure activation and de-activation of electrical devices in accordance with a plurality of pre-established control functions, from different control members. Each of the control members is constituted by a single electrical contactor adapted to produce, when acted on by the user, a train of electric pulses. The control device includes elements for counting the number of electric pulses produced. The number of pulses counted controls the electric devices depending on the control function which is associated with this number of pulses.

Abstract: The safety device of industrial robot of the invention is intended to assure safety of the operator for teaching operation of an industrial robot.In the safety device of the industrial robot of the invention, a switch having two contacts working simultaneously is used as the dead-man's switch provided in the teaching pendant, and by monitoring the open or closed state of the two contacts working simultaneously, fusion of contact is judged by miss-matching of the opening and closing action, and the operation of the robot is stopped immediately. Besides, as an over-travel switch for actuating when the robot main body gets out of the normal moving range, a switch having two contacts working simultaneously is used, and by monitoring the open or closed state of the two contacts working simultaneously, fusion of contact is judged by miss-matching-of the opening and closing state, and the operation of the robot is stopped immediately.

Abstract: An electronic relay for use with an ultrasonic transducer. The electronic relay selectively couples the ultrasonic transducer to an electronic circuit. The transducer includes an input/output port for receiving excitation signals from the circuit and for transmitting echo signals back to the circuit. The electronic relay comprises a solid state switch and a leakage control circuit. The solid state switch is connected between the transducer and the electronic circuit. The switch is responsive to an actuation signal from the circuit for opening and closing the switch. The leakage control circuit is coupled to the switch and functions to control leakage current when the switch is open so as to electrically isolate the transducer from the electronic control circuit.

Abstract: An electrical connection safety apparatus which eliminates the risk of fire or electric shock associated with current overload faults in electrical systems. The apparatus senses or detects the electrical current rating of electrical appliances or electrical cords or connectors which are plugged into electrical outlets, and disconnects power to the appliance or outlet and connector whenever the current rating is exceeded. Current rating is indicated by a preset current threshold for the appliance or by a detectable feature associated with an electrical connector. Circuitry monitors the load current delivered to the appliance or receptacle and connector and compares the load current to detected current rating. When a current overload occurs, power to the appliance or receptacle and connector is disconnected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery system, a device, and a method to allow multiple batteries with varying capacities and power capabilities to drive a common load. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for adjusting the output current of one or more of the batteries driving a common load to maximize the operational time of the load. The level of the current being supplied by the battery unit is monitored and compared to a desired current level. Upon detecting a change in the level of the current, the output voltage of one or more of the battery systems is modified to return the level of the battery current to the desired current level. This is accomplished by detecting the battery current (31) with a detector (66) and transforming the change in the battery current into an error signal (76) by comparing a voltage, representative of the battery current (31) with a reference value (72). The error signal (76) is then converted into an output adjust signal (62) by an adjuster (78).

Abstract: A rechargeable battery for a portable electric apparatus has at least one battery cell and a fuse device connected in series with the battery cell. Furthermore, the battery has a voltage-controlled active device, which is connected in parallel to the battery cell and which is arranged to assume a substantially non-conductive state and a conductive state, respectively, in response to the voltage at a control input, and a reference voltage device, which is connected to the control input of the active device. The active device is arranged to switch from the non-conductive state to the conductive state, when the voltage across the battery cell deviates, by a predetermined value, from a reference voltage supplied by the reference voltage device, thereby establishing a short circuit across the battery cell and release of the fuse device. The voltage-controlled active device, the reference voltage device and the fuse device form an integrated electronic component.

Abstract: A back-up device includes at least one back-up battery, in particular a rechargeable battery which can be charged via the power supply, and a control unit. The control unit connects the back-up battery when the actual value of the DC voltage is less than a predefined minimum value, generates a predefined back-up time period and disconnects the back-up battery again, cyclically, after this time period has elapsed. The device has the advantage that the return of the output DC voltage of the power supply can be identified effectively without major complexity. The loads continue to be supplied both in the event of a failure of the supplying input voltage and in the event of a failure of the power supply, since the output DC voltage, which is essential for the loads, of the power supply is monitored. The device can be connected additively downstream of a power supply, without any intervention in its design being necessary.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a probabilistic switch using multiplicative noise, which can be used in a probabilistic computer is disclosed. The probabilistic switch, in which the probability varies with the initial condition and multiplicative noise intensity, is realized by applying the multiplicative noise whose intensity varies with the state of a nonlinear device to the nonlinear device. When the switch is applied to a probabilistic computer, a complicated problem can be solved rapidly in shorter time.

Abstract: An apparatus contains a main electrical supply and an additional electrical supply for supplying additional electrical current in response to a change in an output load supplied by the main electrical supply. A differential measuring device senses a change in the load, or output of the main supply, and provides an indication to the additional electrical supply to supply additional current to the load. The additional electric supply contains a capacitor connected to a voltage source having a higher voltage output than the main electrical supply, and a current generator.

Abstract: A connection array for a chip provides a substantial increase in numbers of signal connection locations and a power distribution arrangement of improved robustness and noise immunity while accommodating multiple power supply voltages by providing pairs of sub-arrays aligned with chip edges and signal connection locations formed in columns orthogonal to a chip edge or segment of the chip perimeter. Signal connections in a column are spaced at a first pitch and columns of signal connections are spaced at a second pitch. Power connections corresponding to different power supply voltages are provided between columns of signal connections and along rows which are centered between rows of signal connections generally parallel to an edge of a chip. Power distribution layers may be formed as a mesh which extends in under the chip in alignment with power connections to the chip and beyond the perimeter of the chip, as well to provide multiple low-impedance power delivery paths to improve noise immunity.

Abstract: A connection arrangement for secondary distribution systems which effects a connection in the state free of short circuits, within permissible performance quantities, by means of at least one interrupter assembly. Besides current and voltage sensors with a processing module, a connection branch parallel to the load, and a bridge branch, along the lines of a voltage divider, are also used to safeguard against making operations in case of a short circuit. The interrupter assembly is bridged by the bridge branch which, according to the function, contains an ON switch. In the event of a short circuit, the voltage at the actuating element does not suffice to close the interrupter assembly.

Abstract: The invention concerns an integrated circuit comprising a resonant circuit (L,20) for receiving by electromagnetic induction an alternating voltage (V.sub.ac), the resonant circuit comprising at least one capacitance (C1-Ci) switchable by means of a programmed switch (11), the switch comprising a circuit breaker (7), a memory cell (6) and a circuit (31, 32, 33, 42) for controlling the circuit beaker (7), the control circuit being supplied by the alternating voltage (V.sub.ac) and arranged for opening or closing the circuit breaker (7) depending on the programming or the erasing status of the memory cell (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a load drive circuit wherein an emergency shutdown switch for forcible interruption and a normal shutdown switch for normal current control are disposed in series in a load power supply circuit. An emergency shutdown switch (SW.sub.A) and a normal shutdown switch (SW.sub.B) are disposed in series in a load power supply circuit. The normal shutdown switch (SW.sub.B) is periodically driven off for a short time by means of a control signal (X) from a normal shutdown switch control circuit (30), and the fact that this is off is monitored by an output signal (AC) from a monitoring circuit (40). If the output signal (AC) is not generated for an off-delay time or more of an off-delay circuit (21), then a control signal (Z) for an emergency shutdown switch control circuit (20) is stopped thereby forcibly switching off the emergency shutdown switch (SW.sub.A).

Abstract: An improved battery management circuit and system are disclosed. The improved battery management system relates to the type having at least one battery cell that is connected in a circuit with battery powered components, a current sensing resistance that is located in series within the circuit, voltage measurement circuitry that measures the voltage that develops across the current sensing resistance in proportion to the current flowing through the resistance, a cutout switch that is located in series within the circuit, and means for opening the cutout switch when the measured voltage is too high. The improvement is a single circuit element which functions as the current sensing resistance and as the cutout switch, the single circuit element having first and second electrodes and a control electrode that turns the first and second electrodes "on" and "off" and wherein the current sensing resistance is an on-resistance between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: To eliminate interference with digital broadband service created by bridge tapped connections in local loop distribution cables, a switch is associated with each broadband customer drop cable connection in the terminals along the length of each distribution cable. In one position, a switch connects the upstream portion of a metallic circuit to the downstream portion of the circuit. The switch also may connect the metallic circuit to an associated one of the connectors. This bridge tapped connection enables use of the metallic circuit for a subscriber drop connection through a downstream terminal. In a second position, a switch connects the upstream portion of the metallic circuit only to the connector associated with the switch in the local terminal. A drop cable for broadband service runs from the connector in the local terminal to a nearby subscriber premises.

Abstract: A 2N redundant power system and method is disclosed that uses cross-coupled AC power transfer. Two cross-coupled AC Transfer switches always connect power converting hardware to an active AC source so that the 2N redundant power system prevents changes in the operating conditions when the loss of one AC source occurs. The system includes a first power source for providing power to a load through a first branch, a second power source for providing power to the load through a second branch and a pair of AC transfer switches cross-coupling the first power source to the second branch when a failure to the second power source is detected, and vice versa. A first and second contactor arrangement each include a first contactor and a second contactor connected in series. A control circuit includes a first coil system for controlling the first contactor arrangement, a second coil system for controlling the second contactor arrangement, and a coil system selection circuit.

Abstract: Printed circuit board comprising two power supplies V.sub.1 and V.sub.2 and a ground (GND), and a plurality of modules among which at least one module supplied by one of the power supplies can be replaced by another pin-compatible module supplied by the other power supply, each power supply being supplied in each case by a circuit including a ferrite connected to the power supply and a capacitor connected to the ground in order to filter the high frequency signals due to the switching operations in the modules. The board comprises a first area (24 or 24') having a first and a second terminals which is dedicated to a first ferrite to be connected to one power supply by means of its first terminal, and a second area (26 or 26') having a first and a second terminals and being dedicated to a second ferrite to be connected to the other power supply by means of its first terminal, each area including a connecting means for connecting the second terminal associated with the area to the footprints of the module.

Abstract: A power supply system and method provides for smooth transitions between a utility power, transitory instantaneous power, and backup power in the event of a utility power failure of a utility supplying power to a load. As the utility power weakens due to a failure of the normal utility power supply, a synchronous machine becomes immediately a generator and supplies the required instantaneous power to the load. In order to maintain a constant speed on the synchronous machine, a high speed flywheel rotating faster than the synchronous machine provide kinetic energy that is magnetically coupled to the synchronous machine through an electromagnetic clutch to provide the synchronous machine with the required energy until the utility recovers from its failure. The control means enable smooth transitions by phase synchronization when transiting between utility power, instantaneous power and backup power.

Abstract: An battery-driven electronic apparatus incorporating battery has a source battery, a driven circuit driven by the battery, a pair of external terminals connected to the both ends of the source battery and a capacitor provided between the source battery and the external terminals.