Abstract: A power supply architecture provides for the efficient distribution and failsafe monitoring of power in a microcontroller system. The power supply architecture incorporates various components with high integrity and diverse monitoring schemes that allow the associated control processors to operate with high safety standards. The various embodiments provide an integrated method or apparatus for an electronic module safety architecture which includes diversity, time and space independence for power supplies for the various microprocessors and control communication buses.

Abstract: A charge/discharge control circuit includes: a first power supply terminal connected to a first electrode of a secondary battery; a second power supply terminal connected to a second electrode of the secondary battery; a charge control terminal connected to a discharge control switch and a charge control switch; a detection terminal; a control circuit; and an output circuit configured to output a charge control signal from the charge control terminal, and configured to output a first voltage when a charger is connected and the control circuit permits charging, and to output a voltage of the detection terminal which differs from the first voltage when the charger is connected and the control circuit prohibits charging. The output circuit is capable of outputting a voltage of the second power supply terminal which differs from the first voltage when the charger is not connected.

Abstract: Redundancy in over-voltage fault protection may be provided by controlling switches already present in a power path of a port for an information handling system. An external device coupled to a port may be decoupled from the system when an over-voltage condition is detected at another port of the information handling system. To decouple an external device upon detection of an over-voltage condition, a switch coupled to the port and the external device is turned off. A battery may also be decoupled from a port upon detection of an over-voltage condition at another port.

Abstract: An internal electric circuit device that is connected to a connector terminal at the time of being short-circuited can be protected, but a load connected to the connector terminal has not been able to be protected. When a voltage of a cathode of a diode becomes a voltage equal to or more that an output voltage of a power source circuit by a short circuit of a positive terminal, an output voltage of an amplifier changes from the output voltage of the power source circuit to a voltage of a point connected to a negative power terminal of the OP amplifier. When the output voltage of the amplifier becomes 0 V, a voltage difference between the gate and the source of a switching element becomes equal to or more than a predetermined voltage. Therefore, the drain and the source of the switching element enter an open state, and the current flowing a negative terminal is blocked. Therefore, it is possible to protect a load from overcurrent.

Abstract: A system, a switch assembly and an associated method. The system includes a number of switch assemblies, each including a switch module, isolation circuits, a detection unit, and a drive unit. The switch module includes power switch devices connected in parallel. The switch modules are connected in series. The isolation circuits each are connected in series to a gate terminal of at least one corresponding power switch device of the power switch devices. Each isolation circuit includes a capacitor or a controllable switch. The detection unit detects faults in at least one of the power switch devices. The drive unit is coupled to the switch module via the isolation circuits for driving the power switch devices of the corresponding switch module, and when the fault is detected, the drive unit is for turning on the power switch devices parallel connected to the at least one of faulty power switch devices.

Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis apparatus performs an abnormality diagnosis of a system equipped with a rotary electric machine (21). The abnormality diagnosis apparatus includes: an abnormality detection section that detects an abnormality of the system; a fail-safe processing section that, when the abnormality detection section detects an abnormality, performs a fail-safe process for controlling the rotary electric machine on a safe side; an abnormality signal generation section that, when the system is in a normal state, generates a false abnormality signal assuming that an abnormality that requires the fail-safe process has occurred; and an operation check section that performs, on the basis of the false abnormality signal generated by the abnormality signal generation section, an operation check for checking whether the fail-safe process operates normally.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection arrangement includes a signal lead, a switch, and a comparator. The signal lead has a device segment and a bus segment. The switch is connected in series between the device segment and the bus segment. The comparator is operably connected to the switch to open the switch in response to sustained application of overvoltage to the bus segment of the signal lead. Aircraft electrical systems and methods of controlling voltage applied to electrical devices in electrical systems are also described.

Abstract: Provided are an electronic device and control method therefor. The electronic device may include: a first electronic component; a second electronic component electrically connected to the first electronic component via a first line, where the second electronic component receives a data signal from the first electronic component via the first line; and a third electronic component electrically connected to the first electronic component via a second line and electrically connected to the second electronic component. At least a portion of the second line is substantially parallel to at least a portion of the first line. The third electronic component is configured to compare an electrical signal received via the second line to a reference signal and determine whether an electrostatic discharge (ESD) has occurred based on the comparison result, and the second electronic component is configured to control the first electronic component based on the determination result.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.

Abstract: A fault detection and positioning system for a cell panel in a large-scale photovoltaic array, includes a first photovoltaic panel fault detection and positioning system, a second photovoltaic panel fault detection and positioning system, and/or a third photovoltaic panel fault detection and positioning system. The detection and positioning system can detect faults of panels in the photovoltaic array in real time, especially accurately positioning a photovoltaic panel in which a fault occurs; the number of sensors can be minimized, so that the detection costs can be reduced; and the system can be easily implemented and mounted in existing power stations.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes: determining a power mode of a device; setting a first reference voltage level and a second reference voltage level based at least in part on the power mode; and using at least one of the first reference voltage level and the second reference voltage level for comparison against incoming data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a fault in an electrical network (1) through which an AC current flows, the method comprising a step of acquiring three samples (S1, S2, S3) of a sinusoidal signal (S) that is representative of the current flowing in the network (1), the acquisition of each sample being spaced apart by a fixed sampling time (T), a step of calculating an amplitude (A) of the signal (S), the calculation of the amplitude (A) depending solely on the three acquired samples (S1, S2, S3) and being independent of the sampling time (T), a step of determining a fault if the calculated amplitude (A) is above a first predetermined threshold or if the calculated amplitude (A) is below a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A movable cooking appliance comprises a structure which is adapted to be placed on a kitchen worktop appliance or inside a cooking oven appliance and includes a heating element and releasable connector assembly for making electrical connection with power supply connectors. The heating element is an induction heating element and an electronic driving unit is mounted on the appliance. The releasable connector assembly comprising a plug connector having a plurality of terminals designed in order to provide a disconnection signal to the electronic unit before the power supply connectors are fully extracted.

Abstract: A system for high-speed molecular diagnostics includes a self-resetting continuous-time integrator configured to integrate an input current on one of a plurality of integration capacitors to generate an integrated voltage. A self-resetting continuous-time differentiator is configured to differentiate the integrated voltage on one of a plurality of differentiating capacitors to generate an output voltage proportional to the input current. A fixed-threshold window comparator is configured to reset one of the plurality of integration capacitors, reset one of the plurality of differentiating capacitors, open a second one of the plurality of integration capacitors and open a second one of the plurality of differentiating capacitors in response to the integrated voltage exceeding a voltage range.

Abstract: A voltage of a first pin that is one of several pins of an external connector of a system is measured, while the first pin is un-driven except for being pulled to ground through a first resistance, and a second pin of the external connector is being used as a power supply rail of the system. The measured voltage is compared to a short circuit threshold and in response to that threshold being exceeded, the power supply voltage on the second pin is reduced. In such an embodiment, no test stimulus needs to be applied to any of the pins of the external connector. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems, circuits, and methods for detecting short circuit events during operation of an Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) from are provided. A short-circuit detection circuit is described is capable of creating an adaptive blanking time during which a short-circuit detector is blind to short-circuit events for the IGBT and after which the short-circuit detector is allowed to monitor and detect the short-circuit events for the IGBT.

Abstract: In a power management device, a hiccup mode is implemented by using, for example, a counter to count the number of cycles for which a current limiting event has occurred and forcing the power management device to hiccup when a certain number of current limiting events have been counted. A soft start circuit is typically employed to ramp up the output voltage when the power management device is turned back on. By resetting the soft start voltage to the feedback voltage of the load of the power management device upon the first detection of a current limiting event, hiccup can be avoided because resetting the soft start voltage to the feedback voltage will reduce the current in proceeding cycles thereby avoiding additional current limiting events.

Abstract: A switch box includes a relay transistor circuit connecting a pair of batteries in parallel, and an breaker circuit that breaks the relay transistor circuit when a sign of a potential difference between a potential of at least one of the pair of batteries connected to the relay transistor circuit and a predetermined reference potential is reversed with respect to the sign of the potential difference in which the batteries are correctly connected.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a current sense resistor configured to receive a supply current for one or more devices. The apparatus also includes a current sense amplifier configured to amplify a voltage across the current sense resistor. The apparatus further includes a comparator configured to compare the amplified voltage from the current sense amplifier to a reference voltage. In addition, the apparatus includes an octal driver configured to receive the supply current from the current sense resistor and to control one or more device outputs associated with the one or more devices. The apparatus may also include an optocoupler configured to receive an output from the comparator and, based on the output, control an output enable pin of the octal driver. There could be multiple resistors, amplifiers, comparators, drivers, and optocouplers arranged in multiple circuit branches, which could be configured to control multiple device outputs associated with different groups of devices.

Abstract: A method for increasing a reliability of transducers having a first IC and a second IC, each has a sensor and a signal output and a signal input and a comparator, and a sensor signal generated as a function of the physical quantity sensed by the relevant sensor is applied to the respective signal outputs. The signal outputs are each connected to a first input of the comparator, and the signal inputs are each connected to a second input of the comparator. The two ICs can be integrated into a common IC package, and the signal output of the first IC is connected to the first input of the comparator on the first IC and to the signal input of the second IC and to a first contact area passing through the IC package.

Abstract: A system to provide a multi-function connection capability to contain and provide for stacking, mounting self-registering Multi-Function Junction (MF/J) boxes that contain a multiplicity of control electronics and can be stacked, removed, replaced, and/or upgraded with a minimal of steps or connection processes in order to simplify methods and conserve on or add value, capabilities to materials and electrical/mechanical equipment. The system can be engaged or utilized by any EMS/First Responder/Service Technician, authorized personnel in any field, Contractor, manufacturer, BOS integrator and any assembler of systems that require a multiplicity of interfacing devices to be in proximity, connection or contact to each other.

Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a power switch including a drain, a source, a control input, and a tap. The power switch includes a first transistor coupled to a second transistor, a drain of the first transistor is coupled to the drain of the power switch and the source of the first transistor is coupled to the tap. A tap sense circuit is coupled to the tap. A drive circuit is coupled to receive an indicator signal from the tap sense circuit. The indicator signal is indicative of a voltage at the tap or the current through the first transistor. The drive circuit is coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output quantity of the power converter. The drive circuit is coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of the power switch in response to the indicator signal and the feedback signal.

Abstract: Methods, structures, and apparatus that limit the amount of dendritic growth and metal migration between contacts in order to prevent an erroneous detection of a connection and/or functional failure. One example may reduce dendritic growth and metal migration by limiting an amount of time that a connection detection voltage is applied to CC contacts of a USB Type-C connector when an electronic device is detecting a connection. This and other examples may further limit dendritic growth by not applying the connection detection voltage to the CC contacts for a first duration following a detection of a disconnection.

Abstract: A wireless power transmission device comprises: a ground-side coil (13) for generating a magnetic field by current supplied from a power control device (7); a current transformer (23) for detecting the magnitude of an input from the power control device (7); a power supplying device-side control unit (6) for, based on a detection signal from the current transformer (23), controlling the current supplied from the power control device (7) to the ground-side coil (13); and a vehicle-side coil (15) for receiving power via the magnetic field coming from the ground-side coil (13). When detecting an input change having a predetermined value or more on the basis of the detection signal from the input detection unit (23), the power supplying device-side control unit (6) stops the current supplied to the ground-side coil (13).

Abstract: A voltage detecting device detects a differential voltage between two input nodes having a non-zero common mode voltage. A differential voltage detecting circuit 5 detects the differential voltage by sampling each voltage of the input nodes and outputs a detection voltage indicating a detection result. A leak canceling circuit generates a compensating current, which flows in opposition to a leak current flowing out from the input nodes in correspondence to an operation of the differential voltage detecting circuit. An operation control part controls the leak canceling circuit to perform or stop a canceling operation. A failure diagnosing part performs a failure diagnosis about the leak canceling circuit based on a first detection value and a second detection value of the detection voltages, which are detected during periods when the leak canceling circuit performs and stops the canceling operation.

Abstract: An assembly for electrical protecting a potential short-circuit path in a power network having an energy store and having a system-determined, variable source internal resistance. The assembly includes a separating element, the triggering characteristic of which is insufficiently sized for protecting a first and second conductor section of the potential short-circuit path in a first operating state of the energy store, and a second protection device, which is configured to protect the first and second conductor section against a load which occurs below the triggering limit of the separating element in the first operating state.

Abstract: A driver circuit comprises a mains input and a switch mode power converter for delivering an output derived from the mains input by switching using a pulse width modulation signal. The switch mode power converter comprises a pulse width controller for controlling the pulse width of the pulse width modulation signal. A monitor is used for monitoring the pulse width of the pulse width modulation signal and for detecting a surge event from the pulse width, wherein the monitor is for detecting the surge event from changes in the pulse width and/or duty cycle over time, and comprises a monitor circuit for detecting a surge event based on the pulse width and/or duty cycle reducing to correspond to a first pulse from a second pulse, remaining at the first pulse for a time period falling within a first threshold range and then returning to the second pulse, wherein the width of the first pulse is narrower than the second pulse.

Abstract: A gate driver IC for driving an NMOS transistor having a drain coupled through a load to a power supply. A gate driver output drives the gate of the NMOS transistor. A comparator receives the drain voltage of the NMOS transistor and compares it to a reference voltage representative of a short circuit condition between the drain and the power supply. The comparator outputs a first value if the drain voltage is greater than the reference voltage and outputs a second value if the drain voltage is less than or equal to the reference voltage. Control circuitry receives the output of the first comparator and pulls the voltage of the gate driver output low if the comparator output is of the first value. Adaptive masking circuitry is operable, upon an application of an “on” signal to the gate driver output, to mask the output of the comparator such that a condition of the drain voltage being greater than the reference voltage does not cause the control circuitry to pull the voltage of the gate driver output low.

Abstract: Loads on a distribution circuit are operated, which causes the loads to consume electricity delivered to the loads via the distribution circuit. A circuit voltage of the distribution circuit is measured. An excursion of the measured circuit voltage outside of a normal operating voltage range is responded to by triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to increase or decrease their power draw to counter the excursion. For an overvoltage condition, the responding comprises triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to operate, or increase their power draw, in order to reduce the circuit voltage. For an undervoltage condition, the responding comprises triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to cease operating, or reduce their power draw, in order to increase the circuit voltage.

Abstract: An SRAM with a first bitcell array having a first density and a first access speed, and a second bitcell array having a second density larger than the first density and a second access speed less than the first access speed. The SRAM further includes a first set of wordline drivers coupled to the first bitcell array, a second set of wordline drivers coupled to the second bitcell array, and a row decoder coupled to both the first and second bitcell arrays.

Abstract: A safety switching device for an automated installation includes a power supply unit for providing at least one operating voltage for the device. The power supply unit receives an input voltage via a feed line and provides a defined output voltage on an output side. Electrical supply to the power supply unit is interrupted if an instantaneous output voltage is higher than the defined output voltage. The interruption is achieved by first and second switching elements arranged in series and connecting the input of the power supply unit to ground, and by an interrupter element in the feed line. The interrupter element triggers when both the first and the second switching elements are in a closed, low-impedance state.

Abstract: A short-circuit detecting device includes a coil and a processing circuit. The coil is configured to detect a variation of magnetic flux intensity generated by a current variation of a current flowing through a power semiconductor switch and to generate an induced electromotive force based on the variation of magnetic flux intensity. When the current variation rate of said current is greater than a predetermined value, the processing circuit is configured to generate a short-circuit signal based on the induced electromotive force so as to turn off the power semiconductor switch based on the short-circuit signal.

Abstract: A movable cooking appliance comprises a structure which is adapted to be placed on a kitchen worktop appliance or inside a cooking oven appliance and includes a heating element and releasable connector assembly for making electrical connection with power supply connectors. The heating element is an induction heating element and an electronic driving unit is mounted on the appliance. The releasable connector assembly comprising a plug connector having a plurality of terminals designed in order to provide a disconnection signal to the electronic unit before the power supply connectors are fully extracted.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a pixel compensation circuit, a display device and a driving method. The data signal loading module in the pixel compensation circuit loads the data signal to the gate of the driving transistor when the scanning signal is a turn-on signal. The voltage loading module loads the first voltage signal to the source of the driving transistor when the first luminescent signal and the scanning signal are both turn-on signals. The driving signal generation module is used for storing the signal of the source of the driving transistor, the signal of the gate of the driving transistor, the third voltage signal and the voltage signal inputted by the voltage loading module at that time; and is capable of generating a driving signal for driving the organic light-emitting diode to emit light.

Abstract: A surge protection device detects whether a surge voltage occurs at a power input port by using a first Zener diode and a second Zener diode. When the power input port receives a normal voltage, the surge protection device turns on a first transistor to transmit the normal voltage to a load. Otherwise, when the power input port receives the surge voltage, the surge protection device prohibits the first transistor from conducting so as to protect the load from being damaged by the surge voltage. The surge protection device protects the load by controlling conducting or not of the first transistor and is manufactured without a surge protection unit. Therefore, manufacturing cost of the surge protection can be decreased.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for saving power and electricity in a charging device including external power supplies and battery chargers having a primary circuit and a secondary circuit where a switch is located in the primary circuit and a current sensing device in the secondary circuit to sense when there is a drop in current in the secondary circuit or no current in the secondary circuit because the load such as a cell phone or tablet is charged and when this occurs the switch in the primary circuit is opened and the primary circuit no longer draws power from the source of power until the switch in the primary circuit is closed by activation of a user of the charging device.

Abstract: An uneven return current is prevented and increase in a loss is suppressed in a power conversion apparatus at the time of inverter operation. The invention includes first and second transistor switch groups in each of which arms are connected in parallel, and sense resistors for detecting a drain current are connected to the first and second transistor switch groups, and a first drive circuit group and the second drive circuit group include means for monitoring a sense current flowing through the sense resistors and a plurality of delay circuits. Further, rising of the plurality of transistor switch groups is controlled by controlling activation and non-activation of the plurality of delay circuits on the basis of a magnitude of the sense current.

Abstract: A semiconductor drive apparatus includes a first control unit configured, when an overcurrent is detected flowing between a first main electrode and a second main electrode of a switching element, to make a gate of the switching element conductive with a predetermined reference potential, to make a control voltage applied between the gate and the first main electrode lower, and to turn off the switching element; a detection unit configured to detect a current generated accompanying charge or discharge of a feedback capacitance between the gate and the second main electrode; and a second control unit configured, when the overcurrent and the current generated accompanying the charge or discharge of the feedback capacitance are detected, to make a resistance between the gate and the reference potential lower.

Abstract: A tapered trunking bus for carrying electricity from a row of solar panel arrays to a safety switch. The trunking bus includes a number of combiner and junction boxes connected in series. Each successive combiner and junction box combines the output of the previous combiner and junction box, received on a conductor of a first cross-sectional area, with electrical current received from a pair of solar panel arrays and outputs a higher current on a conductor of higher cross-sectional area. The cross-sectional area of each conductor is chosen to match the current to be carried and to account for the distance to the next combiner and junction box. For lower current segments of the trunking bus, cables or wires in conduits, of increasing gauges, can be used between combiner and junction boxes. For higher-current segments, metal bus bars of increasing cross-sectional area can be used between combiner and junction boxes.

Abstract: A transmission output restricting method and apparatus of a portable terminal includes a radio frequency (RF) unit to detect a transmission power reflected based on a degree of mismatching of an antenna when a transmission power is emitted via the antenna, and to measure a transmission power increased due to the reflected transmission power caused by a human contact to the antenna, and a controller to control an output of the transmission power by restricting the output of the transmission power when the transmission power measured by the RF unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A capsulorhexis apparatus includes a capsulorhexis probe configured for insertion into an eye through an incision and a pulse generator configured to deliver at least one radio-frequency (RF) pulse to the capsulorhexis probe. The delivered RF pulse has a pre-determined attenuation profile such that the power level of the delivered RF pulse is substantially attenuated over the RF pulse's duration. In some embodiments, the pulse generator is configured to deliver a series of two or more RF pulses to the eye, such that the energy of each of the second and subsequent pulses of the series is substantially attenuated relative to the energy of the immediately preceding pulse.

Abstract: A charger in one aspect of the present invention includes: a connecting portion, two protection devices, a charging device, a control device, and a voltage detection device. A first protection device is configured such that its power consumption in a charging inhibited state is lower than that in a charging permitted state. A second protection device is configured such that its power consumption in the permitted state is lower than that in the inhibited state. The control device is configured to respectively set, when the battery is not connected to the connecting portion, the first protection device to the inhibited state and the second protection device to the permitted state, and thereafter switch, when the voltage value of the charging path detected by the voltage detection device is equal to or greater than a predetermined specified voltage value, the second protection device to the inhibited state.

Abstract: A grid-connected inverter apparatus includes: an inverter 50 for converting a DC output based on power generated from a power generation equipment 100 into an AC; a DC voltage measuring unit 40 for measuring a DC voltage on a DC input side of the inverter 50; a grid interconnection switch 70 having two independent relay switches 71, 72 each corresponding to phases of a grid power system 110 to which the inverter 50 is connected; and a control unit 90 for controlling the two relay switches 71, 72, such that the control unit 90, after opening the two relay switches 71, 72, changes the relay switch 71 such that the opening control is changes to closing control and, based on a change in the DC voltage measured by the DC voltage measuring unit 40 before and after the changing control, determines whether the relay switch 72 is faulty.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a RMS detector for directly computing a signal detected through an analog circuit to measure its RMS value, and a circuit breaker using the same. For this purpose, a RMS detector according to the present disclosure may include a plurality of voltage/current sensing units configured to detect a voltage or current shaped analog signal for an arbitrary load; a plurality of square circuit units configured to compute square function units, respectively, based on a voltage output from the plurality of voltage/current sensing units; a summing circuit unit configured to sum a plurality of output voltages output from the plurality of square circuit units, respectively; and a root circuit unit configured to compute a RMS value based on a voltage output from the summing circuit unit.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an operational amplifier circuit, in which a power supply of an amplifying circuit is coupled to a first voltage clamping circuit, and the first voltage clamping circuit clamps a supply voltage of the amplifying circuit when the supply voltage exceeds a normal-operation allowable voltage of the amplifying circuit. The disclosure also provides a method for implementing the operational amplifier circuit. According to the disclosure, the operational circuit may be avoided from subject to an excessive supply voltage, which may damage devices in the amplifying circuit of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: An output stage with short-circuit protection includes a power transistor, a detecting module, a disable module, and a driving module. The power transistor is electrically connected between a voltage source and an output node. A gate end of the power transistor is configured to receive a driving signal. The detecting module is configured to detect an output voltage on the output node to determine whether a short-circuit condition occurs, and to provide a detecting signal according to the output voltage on the output node in the short-circuit condition. The disable module is configured to provide a disable signal according to the detecting signal in the short-circuit condition, and operatively stop the disable signal in each cycle period of a clock signal. The driving module is configured to determine whether to generate the driving signal according to the disable signal and the clock signal.

Abstract: A voltage drop protection apparatus is provided. The voltage drop protection apparatus includes a power source, a controller electrically connected with the power source and configured to control electronic device by using a power supplied from the power source, a transmission capacitor electrically connected with the power source and configured to accumulate a transmission power to be used when transmitting either one of an electromagnetic wave and a sound wave, and a voltage detector configured to detect a value of voltage applied from the power source toward the electronic device. When the voltage value detected by the voltage detector is lower than a predetermined threshold, the transmission capacitor applies the voltage at least to the controller.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may be protected from over-voltages via a comparator-controlled, high-current FET coupled to the semiconductor device output and between circuit devices that carry high voltages. A three-terminal, N-channel field effect transistor (FET) may have its source coupled to the output of the semiconductor device to be protected from over voltage. The FET drain may be connected to the load to be driven by the semiconductor device. A transistor, or other voltage comparator, may be configured and connected in order to compare the voltage on the FET drain to a Vmax reference voltage. When a voltage on the FET drain exceeds Vmax, the comparator output may shut down the FET, thereby isolating the semiconductor device, which is connected to the FET source, from the overvoltage on the FET drain.

Abstract: A system is described that includes a first portion including one or more components configured to implement one or more safety functions of an application. The system further includes, a second, different portion comprising one or more different components configured to activate a safety path in response to a detection of a voltage overstress in the first portion. The system further includes a third, different portion comprising one or more different components configured to electrically couple the first portion to the second portion and to prevent the voltage overstress from propagating from the first portion to the second portion.

Abstract: A subsystem is configured to apply a voltage source to a gated circuit domain in a manner that limits in-rush current and affords minimal time delay. A control signal turns on a wake-up switch that connects the voltage source to the domain. The equivalent series resistance of the wake-up switch has a magnitude that limits the transient charge current to the gated domain. A digital control circuit monitors the resulting rising domain voltage and determines when the domain voltage reaches operating level, at which point additional transient current will be minimal. The control circuit then activates a primary switch that connects the voltage source to the domain through a series resistance of negligible magnitude. An adjustment element provides the option to permanently set a control signal that marginally reduces the time at which the control circuit activates the primary switch to compensate for variations in circuit parameters.