Abstract: A surge protection circuit comprises a bridge rectifier having two input terminals coupled to an input source of electricity that may experience highly positively or negatively biased over-voltage and/or over-current, and two output terminals respectively coupled to a voltage surge blocking stage via a first bus line and to a return bus; a current surge protection stage that is series coupled in the first bus line between the voltage blocking stage and a voltage surge detection stage that is disposed between the first bus line and the return bus; two output terminals respectively coupled to the first bus line and the return bus, after the current surge protection stage. Embodiments can protect circuits or apparatus, such as DC-DC converters, that are sensitive to highly positively or negatively biased voltage/current surges by inverting negative pulses associated with a surge and outputting the inverted or rectified over-voltage/over-current to other protection circuitry.

Abstract: A hold-up converter or other electronic circuit comprises a first switch configured to perform a first switching function in a first operation mode and to act as a first diode in a second operation mode. The electronic circuit further comprises a second switch configured as a second diode in the first operation mode and that performs a second switching function in the second operation mode. A hold-up capacitor is electronically coupled to the first switch and the second switch such that the hold-up capacitor charges in the first operation mode based, at least in part, on the first switching function and discharges in the second operation mode based, at least in part, on the second switching function.

Abstract: A soldering fixture is disclosed having a unitary base member configured to maintain a printed circuit board and an electrical connector in a particular orientation during soldering. The unitary base member includes a lateral channel dimensioned to maintain a plurality of wire leads associated with the electrical connector in a spaced relationship with the printed circuit board. The unitary base member further includes a wire alignment tool configured to align the plurality of wire leads in the particular orientation such that the plurality of wire leads are in juxtaposition with a plurality of solder pads affixed to one or more surfaces of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A system for testing electrical devices under varying thermal conditions is disclosed. The system includes a fixture that comprises two vertically arranged rails, into which horizontally arranged electrical devices are inserted. The rails are in contact with two thermal plates whose temperatures are controlled by controller or controllers. Target temperatures for the two thermal plates are communicated to the controller or controllers, and the electrical output of the electrical devices under test are monitored under varying thermal conditions.

Abstract: A soldering fixture is disclosed having a unitary base member configured to maintain a printed circuit board and an electrical connector in a particular orientation during soldering. The unitary base member includes a lateral channel dimensioned to maintain a plurality of wire leads associated with the electrical connector in a spaced relationship with the printed circuit board. The unitary base member further includes a wire alignment tool configured to align the plurality of wire leads in the particular orientation such that the plurality of wire leads are in juxtaposition with a plurality of solder pads affixed to one or more surfaces of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The temperature dependence of an inrush current suppression circuit comprising a MOSFET having an input terminal coupled to a direct current input voltage can a transistor electrically coupled to the MOSFET can be reduced by matching the temperature coefficient of a transistor to a component electrically coupled to the transistor.

Abstract: The temperature dependence of an inrush current suppression circuit comprising a MOSFET having an input terminal coupled to a direct current input voltage can a transistor electrically coupled to the MOSFET can be reduced by matching the temperature coefficient of a transistor to a component electrically coupled to the transistor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a circuit for reversing the polarity of a high voltage power supply. Circuits according to embodiments of the invention may include four switches, one or more of which may be solid-state switches. The solid-state switches may include a transistor stack that is supplied a biasing voltage in response to the receipt or removal of a control signal. When the biasing voltage is supplied to one transistor in the stack to change it to the closed or “ON” state, the other transistors in the stack may also be changed to the closed state in a cascading process. The control signal may be a low voltage signal and may be isolated from the solid-state switch by a control switch, which may be an optocoupler.

Abstract: An integrated bobbin transformer assembly includes a first planar assembly, a second planar assembly, and a connecting assembly. The first planar assembly includes a first winding. In one embodiment of the invention, the second planar assembly includes an additional first winding. The connecting assembly is integrated into the first planar assembly and the second planar assembly. The connecting assembly includes a second winding. A magnetic core magnetically couples a voltage from the second winding to the first winding. In an embodiment of the invention, the magnetic core magnetically couples a voltage from the second winding to the first winding and the additional first winding.

Abstract: An integrated bobbin transformer assembly includes a first planar assembly, a second planar assembly, and a connecting assembly. The first planar assembly includes a first winding. In one embodiment of the invention, the second planar assembly includes an additional first winding. The connecting assembly is integrated into the first planar assembly and the second planar assembly. The connecting assembly includes a second winding. A magnetic core magnetically couples a voltage from the second winding to the first winding. In an embodiment of the invention, the magnetic core magnetically couples a voltage from the second winding to the first winding and the additional first winding.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a high voltage shunt regulator. The shunt regulator may receive input power of positive or negative polarity and may have two conduction paths. A conduction path may be engaged when the input power is of the proper polarity and the output voltage (or some other characteristic to be regulated) does not match a desired value. The conduction path may include a solid-state shunt in the form of a transistor stack. In embodiments of the invention, the transistor stack includes a number of serially-connected bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), one of which may be operated in the linear region and others of which may be either saturated or in the off state. Voltage regulators may be provided in each stage of the transistor stack to prevent excessive voltage from being applied across the terminals of a corresponding transistor and to provide a shunt path for current when the corresponding transistor is in the off state.

Abstract: A power supply for achieving high output power levels at a high efficiency from a compact profile. The power supply includes a current regulator which receives a source voltage and outputs a signal having a constant current. The signal output from the regulator is provided to a center tap of a primary winding of a transformer. The ends of the primary winding of the transformer are connected to switches which are controlled by a switch driver. The transformer, switches and switch driver form a resonant oscillator. The switch driver is connected to a zero voltage level detector which detects when the voltage of the signal output from the current regulator reaches a zero level. When such a detection is made, the zero voltage level detector provides an enable signal to the switch driver to operate the switches in a push-pull mode. By operating the switches in a push-pull mode, the energy balance and resonance of the transformer can be maintained.