Abstract: A system and method for protecting an output transistor in an audio amplifier output stage includes a protection circuit that protects the output transistor from excessive currents and voltages, and does not interfere with the normal operation of the output transistor. The protection circuit generates an estimate of the power dissipated by the output transistor, applies this estimate to an electrical analog of the thermal time constants of the transistor to obtain an estimate of the temperature differential between junction and case, compares this differential to a limit, which is a function of transistor case temperature.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has an electrostatic protection diode in a signal input portion thereof and is accompanied by a parasitic transistor between the diode and an output control transistor. The semiconductor device further has a dummy transistor that is formed closer than the output control transistor to the electrostatic protection diode, and an output logic determining circuit that keeps the output signal at a predetermined logic level so long as the parasitic transistor formed between the electrostatic protection diode and the dummy transistor is on. With this configuration, malfunctioning caused by a parasitic transistor can be prevented without the use of an externally fitted component.

Abstract: Method for supplying a circuit unit (201) which is to be supplied with different supply voltages, in which the circuit unit (201) to be supplied is protected against overvoltages, having the following steps: application of at least two supply voltages (203a, 203b) with respect to a ground potential (210) to the circuit unit (201) to be supplied; connection of signal connections (208, 209) of the circuit unit (201) to signal lines (206, 207) for transmission of signals between the circuit unit (201) and external circuit units; emission of a reference voltage (204) from a control connection (212) of the circuit unit (201) to an overvoltage protective device (205), in that a supply voltage (203a, 203b) is passed on to the control connection (212) by means of a switching module (211); and tripping of the overvoltage protective device (205) on detection of an overvoltage which occurs with respect to the reference voltage (204) on at least one of the two signal lines (206, 207).

Abstract: A cable device includes an integrated surge protection circuit. In the event that, communication signals conveyed by the cable include (potentially damaging) transient voltages, the surge protection circuit integrated in the cable suppresses the transient voltages at a distance from a corresponding electronic circuit to which the cable is attached. Consequently, potentially damaging voltage transients imparted on the communication signals are clamped before reaching potentially sensitive inputs of the electronic circuit.

Abstract: A power supply clamp circuit for preventing damage to an integrated circuit due to electrostatic discharge. The power supply clamp circuit includes a voltage generator electrically connected to a first node for generating a voltage; a first PMOS transistor having a source electrically connected to the first voltage source, a gate electrically connected to the first node, and a drain electrically connected to a second node; a first NMOS transistor having a drain electrically connected to the second node, a gate electrically connected to the first node, and a source connected to ground; a second NMOS transistor having a drain electrically connected to the first voltage source, a gate electrically connected to the second node, and a source connected to ground; and a second PMOS transistor having a source electrically connected to the second node, a gate and a drain commonly electrically connected to the first node.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-contact type relay in which power is supplied to a load through a BCM (Body Control Module) in accordance with a switching signal from an integration switch, and two coils provided in a relay are selectively activated in accordance with a switching signal from the BCM, so that a fixed contact unit operates based on various contact types in accordance with a movement of a switching part. Therefore, it is possible to fabricate a product as a module, thus resulting in cost reduction and a lightness of a product fabricated thereof.

Abstract: Conventionally, a non-conductive period is provided in a region in the vicinity of zero of an AC power voltage via a voltage detection circuit 14 to turn off reliably. The FET 17 maintains the ON state within several switching cycles after the non-conductive interval to rapidly restore the magnetizing coil current, so that the magnetizing coil current rapidly increases. An object is to suppress beat noise in the electromagnetic device. Within a prescribed interval following the non-conductive interval, a partial voltage at a resistor 19 of an output V2 of a mono-stable circuit 20 is added as a bias voltage to a detection voltage of a magnetizing coil current at a resistor 18, and is detected by the IC 11. The IC 11 drives a FET 17 with a constant switching period after the non-conductive interval, thereby preventing the increase in the magnetizing coil current and resolving the problem.

Abstract: An improvement for a self-balancing shielded bipolar ionizer (U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,573), which uses pressurized air or nitrogen to increase performance, extend the operating distance range, and reduce cleaning frequency. An air assist assembly is inserted into the ion generation cavity, which directs pressurized air or nitrogen past the electrodes. In applications where little natural airflow exists, air assist technology is particularly useful. Ions are blown toward the target. This directs the ions to where they are needed, and delivers ions faster. Useful operating distances are increased. Faster delivery minimizes ion losses due to recombination. Furthermore, pure pressurized air protects the electrodes from impurities in the environmental air. Less chemical growth affects electrode performance. Hence, the ionizer exhibits more stable performance, plus the need for electrode cleaning is minimized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gate drive for protecting a switching element (IGBT) used for an electrical inertial load controller. A high-voltage IGBT is used as the switching element and an hcp1316j is used as the gate drive of the IGBT, to restrict overvoltage and overcurrent generated in the event of inverter switching, preventing destruction of the IGBT in advance. Furthermore, an RC filter is formed in close proximity to the IGBT to minimize an erroneous switching operation due to harmonics generated caused by noise in case of inverter switching to improve the system reliability and block an increase in abnormal voltage applied across the switching element.

Abstract: An apparatus detects arcing faults at a first wavelength. A light source provides modulated light at a second different wavelength and a first frequency. An optical fiber receives the modulated light and gathers ambient light at both wavelengths. A splitter receives and splits the received light into first and second beams. A first filter extracts from the first beam a first filtered beam including the first wavelength. A first photodetector generates a first electrical signal from the first filtered beam. A second filter extracts from the second beam a second filtered beam excluding the first wavelength. A second photodetector generates a second electrical signal from the second filtered beam. A low pass filter extracts from the second electrical signal a third electrical signal representative of light at the second wavelength excluding the modulated light. A comparator generates an arcing signal when the first electrical signal exceeds the third electrical signal.

Abstract: A current sensor which constitutes an overload protection apparatus and senses a current supplied from a power source to a load is constituted by providing a magnetic sensor having the effect of magnetic impedance (MI), an AC supply means which impresses AC on this sensor, a bias current supply means which supplies a bias current to a bias coil, a peak sensing means which senses the peak or a change in impedance of the magnetic sensor as a change in voltage, and a switch which selects the output of the peak sensing means in accordance with each phase. A holding means which holds switch outputs one after another and an amplification means are provided in common to enable current sensing for each phase. Thus, a range of current sensing is enlarged to reduce power consumption and cost.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing electric arcs in connectors feeding power loads and connector used, Comprising several connectors (11) interspersed in an electric power distribution network, integrating first and second releasable socket coupling supports (1, 2) bearing at least one pair of terminals (3, 4) which, in a first coupling position A, are electrically coupled, forming a channel (5, 6) to a load (10), which terminals (3, 4), in another decoupling position C of the supports (1, 2), are separated, it being possible to generate an electric arc, each connector (11) comprising a pair of electroconductive elements (12, 13) which, in said position A or in intermediate decoupling position B, and before the terminals (3, 4) reach said position C, form an auxiliary electric circuit (14, 15) through which an electric warning signal is generated during a transition towards decoupling, there being a device (7) connected to the auxiliary circuit (14, 15) which, upon receiving said warning signal, interrupts th

Abstract: The invention discloses a method applicable to an electric assembly of an automotive vehicle, comprising a current acquisition step for acquiring the current circulating through at least one load and a step for processing and acting, by means of an electronic system based on one or more microprocessors, which provides the disconnection of the feed from said load and alarm signals, and which also comprises carrying out, by means of said electronic system, with a determined number of instantaneous current values or samples acquired by means of said acquisition step, the calculation of the average value thereof, the update of said average value for each new sample acquired and the calculation of a variable indicating an arc limit through the calculated average current value, the method thus being adapted proportionally to the load variations.

Abstract: A ceramic multi-layer wiring substrate includes a line-shaped insulation pattern arranged to extend over a plurality of surface wiring patterns and to intersect the respective surface wiring patterns, in which soldering land electrodes are defined by the insulation patterns.

Abstract: An activation control apparatus of an air bag system of a motor vehicle includes a first sensor disposed at a predetermined position within a vehicle body, for generating a signal indicative of an impact applied to the vehicle, and at least one second sensor disposed frontwardly of the position of the first sensor, for generating a signal indicative of an impact applied to the vehicle. The control apparatus is operable to activate an air bag device when a parameter determined based on the output signal of the first sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold pattern that is determined based on the output signal of the second sensor. When the predetermined threshold pattern is changed from a reference pattern to a desired threshold pattern that provides lower threshold values, the pattern is changed step by step at predetermined time intervals, without skipping an intermediate pattern or patterns between the reference pattern and the desired pattern.

Abstract: An optical transceiver module characterized by reduced electromagnetic interference (“EMI”) emissions for improved operation is disclosed. The transceiver includes a housing formed by top and bottom housing portions that are joined to define a cavity. A printed circuit board (“PCB”) is positioned within the cavity and includes an edge connector extending from one housing end. The PCB also includes two holes defined near the edge connector and lined with electrically conductive material. Conductive plates located on both the top and bottom housing portions electrically connect with the conductive holes to electrically interconnect the top and bottom housing portions. Two posts on the top housing portion are received into the conductive holes to align the PCB with the housing portions. A chassis ground from one or both of the housing portions extends through the plates and holes to create a “chassis ground fence,” preventing EMI emission from within the transceiver cavity.

Abstract: A VDD-to-VSS clamp shunts current from a power node to a ground node within an integrated circuit chip when an electro-static-discharges (ESD) event occurs. A resistor and capacitor in series between power and ground generates a low voltage on a trigger node between the resistor and capacitor when an ESD event occurs. A p-channel transistor with its gate driven by the trigger node turns on, driving a gate node high. The gate node is the gate of an n-channel shunt transistor that shunts ESD current from power to ground. A p-channel feedback transistor terminates the ESD shunt current. The p-channel feedback transistor is connected between power and the trigger node, in parallel with the resistor, and has the gate node as its gate. When a latch up trigger occurs, such as electron injection, voltage drops across an N-well of the resistor is prevented by the parallel p-channel feed-back transistor.

Abstract: Two sets of disk drives are mounted in a grid arrangement onto a backplane to form a removable multi-disk drive unit for a high capacity disk storage system. The removable units may be mounted into an enclosure that contains a RAID controller. The disk drives are mounted such that the longest edge of the disk drive is perpendicular to the plane of the backplane.

Abstract: A cam groove provided in a chassis is furnished with a first cam portion permitting an eject button to move only forward from being depressed, and a second cam portion permitting the button to shift between its depressed and protruding states. A slide unit interlocks with a switching lever spring-urged toward a push-out plate and moves away from a recording-medium travel path by being pushed by a recording medium when plugged into the chassis. In standby, the switching lever interlocks with the first cam portion, advancing into the travel path. With a recording medium bieng plugged into the chassis, by the eject button being pushed a first time the switching lever withdraws from the travel path and shifts into the second cam portion, permitting the eject button to protrude backward. By the eject button being pushed a second time, the push-out plate and slide unit are put into cooperation.

Abstract: A card guide is used in guiding a circuit board with respect to a chassis. The card guide includes a guide rail extending along the card guide in a first direction, an end portion configured for removably attaching the card guide to the chassis, and a finger extending in a second direction. The finger has a shape and size to allow interconnection with an adjacent card guide. The finger defines an endpoint of a space allowing airflow in a third direction past the card guide.