Abstract: An electromagnetic switch for a starter includes a coil that includes a first lead wire connected to a power supply side and a second lead wire connected to a ground side, the coil being supplied with an energization current through the first and second lead wires to form an electromagnet while a starter relay is on. The electromagnetic switch further includes a surge suppression device that absorbs part of energy emitted from the coil when the starter relay is turned from on to off so that a remaining part of the energy is applied to the starter relay to cause an arc current to flow between contacts of the starter relay.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for eliminating gate voltage oscillation without increasing switching power loss in paralleled power semiconductor switches at high current turn-off. The damping circuit includes a switch for driving voltage and multiple resistors and multiple inductors. The damping circuit includes multiple capacitors connected to the multiple inductors. The damping circuit includes multiple power semiconductor switches that are connected to the multiple inductors at gate terminals. The damping circuit includes multiple gate terminal resistors connected in parallel to the multiple power semiconductor switches at the gate terminals and multiple gate terminal switches connected to the multiple gate terminal resistors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a discharge device for discharging electrostatic charges from a shaft comprising a flexurally elastic conductor having a carbon fiber arrangement comprising at least two conductor portions (21, 22), which are arranged on a holder, extend transversely to a longitudinal axis of the shaft and are insulated from the holder and which can be connected to a ground conductor (42) via their portion ends (40, 41), which are accommodated in the holder, each of the conductor portions having a shaft contact portion (30, 31), and the shaft contact portions together forming a contact arrangement for making contact with two circumferential contact regions (33, 34) of a shaft circumference (32, 35) arranged opposite each other in a shaft contact plane W, such that the shaft contact portions are arranged tangentially to the shaft circumference when making contact with the shaft circumference.

Abstract: A high accuracy open phase detection system for power transformers that uses a combination of logic controllers and current transformers to recognize an open phase condition experienced by the power transformers under no load, light load, and full load conditions. A current to voltage and current to current transformer on each phase are employed to detect the excitation current and load current conditions. During an open phase condition, a microprocessor detecting device, connected to the current to voltage and current to current transformers, monitors the appropriate power system quantities to determine the existence of one or more open phase(s) with or without a ground or an open phase with line charging capacitance. Through the microprocessor monitor, the microprocessor detecting device can alert operators to the loss of phase or abnormal conditions in the power source.

Abstract: A GFCI circuit that includes an electronically controllable main switch that can turn on, and turn off, the delivery of electrical power from the GFCI circuit. The main switch is controlled and monitored by a microcontroller unit using at least digital input and digital output signals, and which includes analog to digital converter. The microcontroller unit may also use the on-off functionality of the main switch in connection with repeatable detection of miswiring of the GFCI circuit. The GFCI circuit can further be adapted to conduct a self-test that can temporarily disable the ability of a trip signal generated by a GFCI integrated circuit in response to a test fault to cause the tripping of the main switch. The microcontroller unit further monitors one or more characteristics of the GFCI circuit, including the main switch and trip signal(s), and can determine whether the GFCI circuit has reached its end-of-life stage.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a DC-DC voltage converter having a low voltage bi-directional MOSFET switch is provided. The low voltage bi-directional MOSFET switch has first and second nodes. The microcontroller samples a first voltage at the first node at a first sampling rate utilizing a first common channel in a first bank of channels to obtain a first predetermined number of voltage samples. The microcontroller determines a first number of voltage samples in the first predetermined number of voltage samples in which the first voltage is less than a first threshold voltage. The microcontroller sets a first voltage diagnostic flag equal to a first fault value if the first number of voltage samples is greater than a first threshold number of voltage samples indicating a voltage out of range low fault condition for the analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck is described with external flow adjustments for improved temperature distribution. In one example, a method for adjusting coolant flow in an electrostatic chuck includes heating a dielectric puck, the dielectric puck being for electrostatically gripping a silicon wafer. Heat is detected at a plurality of locations on a top surface of the dielectric puck, the locations each being thermally coupled to at least one of a plurality of coolant chambers of the electrostatic chuck. A plurality of valves are adjusted to control coolant flow into the coolant chambers based on the detected heat.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring equipment has first data processing means for executing a primary, critical task and second data processing means for executing a secondary, non-critical task. The second data processing means receives its power supply from the first data processing means via protective circuitry so as to prevent electrical failures in the second data processing means from affecting operation of the first data processing means.

Abstract: An electrical storage system includes an electrical storage device, a load, a positive electrode line, a negative electrode line, a first relay, a second relay, a third relay, a drive circuit and a controller. The drive circuit includes a coil, a first power line, a second power line, and a sensor. The first power line includes a first switch element and a second switch element connected in series with each other. The second power line includes a second resistive element and a third switch element connected in series with each other. The drive circuit is configured to cause both the second and third relays and the first relay to operate at different timings. The controller is configured to control operation of the drive circuit. The controller is configured to output a control signal for setting each switch element to the non-energized state, and determine whether any one of the switch elements has a failure in the energized state on the basis of the output signal of the sensor.

Abstract: A system for detecting miswiring in an AC power supply for an appliance may comprise a voltage sensor sensing the voltage of a first hot line of the power supply for powering light electrical loads, a phase sensor sensing the phase difference between the first and a second hot line powering heavy electrical loads therebetween, and a control module coupling to the phase and voltage sensors. The control module may identify a first fault condition indicating that the second hot line and a neutral line are reversed when the voltage of the first hot line exceeds a threshold, and may identify a second fault condition indicating that the first hot line and the neutral line are reversed when the phase signal is within a phase threshold measured from 0 degrees. The system may disconnect different electrical loads from the power supply in the first and the second fault conditions.

Abstract: Methods of controlling a contactor in a high voltage electrical circuit of a vehicle include delaying a contactor opening if a valid open command is not received, inhibiting closing of a contactor if a low voltage circuit voltage is not sufficient to close the contactor, and determining a fault in the opening of a contactor based on voltages sensed on the contacts of the contactor.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of this disclosure there is provided a voltage controlled current path. The voltage controlled current path comprises a first stage arranged to conduct current once the voltage at an input node of the first stage exceeds a threshold value. The amount of current that passes through the first stage is a function of the voltage at the input node. A second stage is arranged to pass a current that is a function of the current passing through the first stage.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) protects a device (80) which has a ferrous electromechanical component which saturates in a high magnetic field (40) and draws a dangerously high electric current. A current sensor (110) senses current in excess of safe operating conditions of the protected device (80) in or near the magnetic field (40). A current switch (120) is controlled by the current sensor (110) and interposed between a power supply (90) and the device (80) to interrupt the current flow to the protected device (80) when the current sensor (110) senses current flow above a threshold due to the saturation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a PoDL system includes a PSE that uses high side and low side circuit breakers that uncouple the PSE voltage source from the wire pair in the event that a fault is detected. Faults may include a temporary short to ground, or to a battery voltage, or between the wires. The breakers perform an automatic retry operation in the event the fault has been removed. The voltages on the wires in the wire pair may be monitored to determine whether the voltages are within a normal range or indicative of a fault condition. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a lightning protection circuit configured for use in a solid state power controller (SSPC) having at least one feed line and a plurality of load lines. The lightning protection circuit includes a shared transient voltage suppressor and a transient isolator communicatively coupled to the shared transient voltage suppressor. The transient isolator is configured to be communicatively coupled to the at least one feed line and the plurality of load lines. When the transient isolator is communicatively coupled to and shared by the at least one feed line and the plurality of load lines, energy above a threshold on any one of the at least one feed line and the plurality of load lines is dissipated through the shared transient voltage suppressor. A single built-in-test (BIT) circuit is provided to detect dormant failures of the shared transient voltage suppressor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a portable wireless electroshock device. The portable wireless electroshock device includes (A) a fluid reservoir containing a conductive fluid and (B) a pump in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and a terminal having an orifice. The orifice is operable to emit a fluid stream trajectory of the conductive fluid there-through, and the terminal is operable to deliver an electrical current through the fluid stream trajectory.

Abstract: A circuit protection assembly (CPA) is disposed between a source of power and a circuit to be protected. The CPA comprises a mounting block having a bore extending therethrough and a recess cavity on a first surface of the mounting block. A post having a first end is disposed within the recess cavity and a body portion extends through the bore. The body portion configured to receive a terminal and the second end configured to receive a securing mechanism. A fuse having a centrally disposed aperture is configured to receive the body portion of the post and to receive the terminal for connection to a circuit to be protected. An insulator disposed on the terminal and disposed beneath the securing mechanism. The insulator configured to isolate the post from the terminal and the fuse while allowing the securing mechanism to apply an amount of torque.

Abstract: A current source generating a charging current and a supply voltage by charging a capacitor with the charging current. The current source has a conversion circuit converting a line voltage into a second voltage, a current generation circuit generating the charging current based on the second voltage, and a control circuit controlling the current generation circuit based on the supply voltage. The charging current is controlled to be at a first current value when the supply voltage is lower than a first threshold voltage, the charging current is controlled to be at a second current value when the supply voltage is higher than a second threshold voltage. The first threshold voltage is lower than the second threshold voltage, and the first current value is lower than the second current value.

Abstract: An arrangement for protecting an electrical facility from overvoltages having an overcurrent protection facility arranged in a first series circuit and a shunt circuit arranged between the overcurrent protection facility and the electrical facility to be protected, the shunt series resulting in a second series circuit, wherein a diode for discharging transient overvoltages is arranged in the shunt circuit, which is conductive if a voltage threshold is exceeded, as a result of which the current resulting from the overvoltage can be passed through the shunt circuit to the facility to be protected into the second shunt circuit, where a first inductor is arranged in a series connection to the diode, the diode is connected here to a first diode terminal on the first series circuit and is connected to a second diode terminal on the first inductor, and where the overcurrent protection facility is not triggered prematurely by temporary overvoltages.

Abstract: An exemplary electrical network in form of a ring system includes a plurality of infeed transformers which are arranged in parallel between a sourcing busbar/cable system and a ring load busbar/cable system. A junction point connects each infeed transformer to the ring load busbar/cable system. The network includes a plurality of current limiters, where each current limiter is positioned between two junction points. Upon a fault event of an infeed transformer, two current limiters on both sides of a respective junction point of the faulted infeed transformer are simultaneously tripped in order to reduce current in the ring load busbar/cable system.