Abstract: The invention provides a switching device having a contact protection circuit for arcing suppression. The switching device comprises a main relay for interrupting a load path and a dual coil auxiliary having a high resistance coil and a low resistance coil that operate the switching of an auxiliary contact. The auxiliary contact is connected in series with a PTC device and the low resistance coil of the auxiliary relay in a series arrangement. The series arrangement is connected in parallel to the main contact. When the main relay opens, the auxiliary contact is maintained closed during a given time interval due to the magnetic flux generated by the low resistance coil. The given time interval depends on the transition of the PTC device to trip state. In another configuration, the dual coil relay is substituted by two auxiliary relays.

Abstract: The invention provides a switching device having a contact protection circuit for arcing suppression. The switching device comprises a main relay for interrupting a load path and a dual coil auxiliary having a high resistance coil and a low resistance coil that operate the switching of an auxiliary contact. The auxiliary contact is connected in series with a PTC device and the low resistance coil of the auxiliary relay in a series arrangement. The series arrangement is connected in parallel to the main contact. When the main relay opens, the auxiliary contact is maintained closed during a given time interval due to the magnetic flux generated by the low resistance coil. The given time interval depends on the transition of the PTC device to trip state. In another configuration, the dual coil relay is substituted by two auxiliary relays.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card contains a liquid crystal display for displaying at least a portion of the information stored therein. The displayed information is stored in a first, or reserved, memory. A second, or additional, memory is used to store further information. The use of a reserved memory for storing the displayed information permits the use of very low power electrical energy sources for driving the display and the electronics controlling the pixels of the display, such as piezoelectric sources, pyroelectric sources, photovoltaic cells, and very small batteries. The first and second memories may be integrated into a single IC chip, or they may be separate components.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card contains a liquid crystal display for displaying at least a portion of the information stored therein. The displayed information is stored in a first, or reserved, memory. A second, or additional, memory is used to store further information. The use of a reserved memory for storing the displayed information permits the use of very low power electrical energy sources for driving the display and the electronics controlling the pixels of the display, such as piezoelectric sources, pyroelectric sources, photovoltaic cells, and very small batteries. The first and second memories may be integrated into a single IC chip, or they may be separate components.