Abstract: A power-source protection circuit includes a power source including a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail, a pass switch connected across the first voltage rail and a third voltage rail, a control switch connected to the second voltage rail and a control terminal of the pass switch, such that the pass switch turns on in response to the control switch turning on and the pass switch turns off in response to the control switch turning off, and output terminals connected to the third voltage rail and the second voltage rail. The control switch is arranged to switch on when the power source is started and the control switch is arranged to switch off when the output terminals are short-circuited and to switch on when the short-circuit is removed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an excitation inrush current suppressing apparatus comprising: bus voltage measurement equipment which measures each phase voltage of the single-phase AC-side bus; transformer voltage measurement equipment which measures a single-phase-side voltage of the transformer; phase detector which detects a cutoff phase when opening the circuit breaker by monitoring each phase voltage measured by the bus voltage measurement equipment and the single-phase-side voltage measured by the transformer voltage measurement equipment, holds the detected cutoff phase, and outputs the same phase as the held cutoff phase; and close command output device which closes the circuit breaker by the same voltage phase as the cutoff phase output from the phase detector.

Abstract: A sample holder of the present invention includes a base body formed of ceramic substrates laminated to each other and having an upper surface functioning as a sample holding surface. In this sample holder, the base body includes a first ceramic substrate including a flow path for a heating medium and a second ceramic substrate which is laminated at an upper side than the first ceramic substrate, which has an upper surface functioning as the sample holding surface, and which is formed of the same material as that of the first ceramic substrate, and the average grain diameter of ceramic grains forming the second ceramic substrate is smaller than that of ceramic grains forming the first ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A dental scaler apparatus includes a low power transformer that is timed to the operating frequency of a detachable scaler insert connected to the handle of the scaler apparatus by selectively connecting corresponding banks of parallel adjustment capacitors by engaging corresponding switches coupled to each of the adjustment capacitors.

Abstract: A solar cell management system for increasing the efficiency and power output of a solar cell and methods for making and using the same. The management system provides an electric field across an individual solar cell, an array of solar cells configured as a panel, or a group of solar panels. The imposed electric field exerts a force on both the electrons and holes created by light incident on the solar cell and accelerates the electron-hole pairs towards the electrodes of the solar cell. Compared to conventional solar cells, these accelerated electron-hole pairs travel a shorter distance from creation (by incident optical radiation) and spend less time within the solar cell material, therefore the electron-hole pairs have a lower likelihood of recombining within the cells' semiconductor's material. This reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate results in an overall increase in the solar cells' efficiency and greater power output.

Abstract: An electronic operated safety switch has a switching device which houses a switch. The switch is operatively connected to a control or service circuit. The electronic operated safety switch also has an operating device configured for engaging the switch. The switching device comprises a head housing a sensor, and a case housing a lock. The operating device is adapted to send a signal to the sensor, thereby controlling the switch. The switch comprises an actuator housed in the case, the actuator configured to operate on the lock upon the receiving by the sensor of the signal.

Abstract: An over-voltage protection circuit for a transistor switch has an error detecting circuit, a dummy load circuit and a driving circuit. The error detecting circuit has a first input terminal; and a second input terminal configured to receive a reference signal. The dummy load circuit is configured to establish a conductive path between the output terminal of the transistor switch and ground. The driving circuit is configured to increase the on-resistance of the transistor switch if the voltage difference between the second terminal of the error detecting circuit and the first terminal of the error detecting circuit is smaller than a calculated value.

Abstract: A method and a controller for power state control of a device that is connected to two or more other devices are described. Also described are a method and a controller for configuring the power state control. Power states of related devices among the two or more other devices are monitored. In case all related devices among the two or more other devices are in a low power mode, the device is switched to a low power mode. Alternatively, in case all related devices among the two or more other devices are in a low power mode, the device is switched to a normal power mode. Which of the other devices are related devices is determined in a configuration procedure.

Abstract: An electronic system comprising: 1) an antenna; 2) a transmission line coupled to the antenna; 3) RF electronics circuitry coupled to the transmission line that is sensitive to a high frequency EMI/RF signal on the transmission line; and 4) a protection circuit comprising passive mode circuitry operational when the electronic system is powered off and active mode circuitry operational when the electronic system is powered on.

Abstract: A temperature stabilized device and method for temperature stabilization are provided. The temperature stabilized device comprises a substrate having a first surface, at least one component mounted on the first surface of the substrate, and a first conformal layer comprising a thermoelectric material, with the first conformal layer over the at least one component. A first temperature control circuit is electrically coupled to the first conformal layer. The first temperature control circuit is configured to control a current through the first conformal layer. The current through the first conformal layer is controlled to maintain the at least one component at a target operating temperature.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for protecting a MEMS switch is provided. The method and apparatus improve the integrity of MEMS switches by reducing their vulnerability to current flow through them during switching of the MEMS switch between on and off or vice versa. The protection circuit provides for a parallel path, known as a shunt, around the MEMS component. However, components within the shunt circuit can themselves be removed from the shunt when they are not required. This improves the electrical performance of the shunt when the switch is supposed to be in an off state.

Abstract: Wall mountable touch panels are described. In one embodiment, a wall mountable touch panel for controlling a load device includes a touch sensor configured to receive a user touch input and to control the load device based on the user touch input and a power interface configured to receive a low-voltage direct current (DC) power signal for powering the touch sensor. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An electrical device protection circuit for a smart grid includes a detection unit for detecting whether or not the output power source of an electrical device short-circuits; a switch unit for connecting power, input to the electrical device, to the output power source of the electrical device or disconnect it therefrom; and a control unit for generating a control signal for making the switch unit disconnect the power input to the electrical device from the output power source of the electrical device. According to the electrical device protection circuit for a smart grid, a simply configured protection circuit, arranged in the electrical device, operates when the output power source of the electrical device short-circuits, whereby the electrical device may be prevented from being damaged.

Abstract: A common mode filter coupled to a protection device. In accordance with an embodiment, the common mode filter has first and second coils, each coil having a spiral shape, a central region, an exterior region, a first terminal, and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first coil is formed in a first portion of the central region, the first terminal of the second coil is formed in a second portion of the central region, and wherein the central region is laterally bounded by the first and second coils and the exterior region is not surrounded by the first and second coils. The protection device has a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first coil and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second coil.

Abstract: A fuel tank in which it is possible to reduce working hours or cost in a manufacturing process and prevent an increase in weight in, a main wing, an aircraft fuselage, an aircraft, and a mobile body. The fuel tank is provided with a structural member using carbon fiber reinforced plastic in which a reinforcing material includes carbon fibers and a matrix includes plastic, wherein the matrix has electrical conductivity applied thereto. Furthermore, a cut surface of the structural member, which is formed by cutting the structural member, may be exposed to the inside in which fuel is accommodated, of a fuel tank.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between an input terminal and an output terminal and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current. The electrical switching apparatus also includes a current sensor configured to sense an alternating current component of the direct current. The electrical switching apparatus further includes an alternating current electronic trip circuit including an arc fault detection circuit configured to detect an arc fault based on the sensed alternating current component. The alternating current electronic trip circuit is also configured to control pairs of separable contacts to trip open based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit or the detected arc fault. The electrical switching apparatus also includes a power supply structured to provide direct current power to the alternating current electronic trip circuit.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a system and method for preventing voltage sagging using an Oring-FET in a redundant power supply configuration. Each redundant power supply includes an Oring-FET and a voltage comparator. The voltage comparator receives and compares an input voltage and an output voltage of the Oring-FET during power up. In the event input voltage is less than the output voltage, the Oring-FET is deemed to be operating properly and provides output to a communicatively coupled system bus in response to the input voltage reaching a predetermined voltage threshold level. In the event the input voltage is approximately equal to the output voltage, the voltage comparator assists in preventing inrush current from flowing from the communicatively coupled system bus and prevents voltage sagging on the communicatively coupled system bus when another redundant power supply configuration is providing power to the communicatively coupled system bus.

Abstract: A switching system includes a control circuit that receives On-Off signals indicative of a desired operating state of a switch. The control circuit includes an oscillator that generates a first electrical pulse responsive having a first signal characteristic or a second signal characteristic that is determined by the received On-Off signal, which may be related to a frequency or duty cycle of the pulse. A pulse transformer connected to the oscillator receives the first electrical pulse and outputs a second electrical pulse having the same one of the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic as the first electrical pulse. A pulse detection circuit in the control circuit receives the second electrical pulse, determines whether the second electrical pulse has the first signal characteristic or the second signal characteristic, and controls transmission of power and control signals to the switch based on this determination.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes an internal circuit connected to a first power line to which a first power voltage is applied; a transistor including a first terminal, which is connected to a node to which an input voltage is applied, a second terminal connected to the internal circuit, and a control terminal to which a control voltage is applied; and a voltage control circuit, which is connected to the node, generating the control voltage. Further, the voltage control circuit includes a step-down circuit generating an internal voltage by lowering the input voltage applied to the node, and a switching circuit, which is connected to the first power line, generating the control voltage based on the first power voltage and the internal voltage.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an open-drain-type output circuit which outputs a signal of an internal circuit. The output circuit includes a first signal output terminal, a first signal line, a first floating line, a first rectifier element, and a first ESD protection circuit. The first signal line connects the first signal output terminal and the internal circuit. Potential of the first floating line is not fixed. The first rectifier element is connected between the first signal output terminal and the first floating line. The first ESD protection circuit is connected between the first floating line and ground potential.