Abstract: A comparator includes a first potential supply terminal, a second potential supply terminal supplying a different potential from that of the first potential supply terminal, a first transistor of a first conductivity type coupled between the first potential supply terminal and a first node, and including a control terminal coupled to a first terminal, a second transistor of the first conductivity type coupled between the first potential supply terminal and a second node, and including a control terminal coupled to a second terminal, a third transistor of a second conductivity type coupled between the first node and a third terminal, and including a control terminal coupled to the second node, and a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type coupled between the second node and the second potential supply terminal, and including a control terminal coupled to the second node.

Abstract: Integrated circuits, memories, protection circuits and methods for protecting against an over-limit electrical condition at a node of an integrated circuit. One such protection circuit includes a snapback circuit having at least a portion formed in an isolated doped well region and configured to switch to a low impedance state in response to an input exceeding a trigger condition and further having a control circuit electrically coupled to a reference voltage and further electrically coupled to the isolated doped well region and the portion of the snapback circuit formed in the doped well region. The control circuit includes an impedance adjustable in response to a control signal and configured to adjust an isolated doped well impedance in which at least a portion of the snapback circuit is formed relative to the reference voltage. A modulated trigger and hold condition for the snapback circuit can be set according to a control signal adjusting an electrical impedance of the control circuit.

Abstract: A photovoltaic inverter for coupling a direct current photovoltaic source to an alternating current energy grid and performing a low voltage ride through. The inverter includes a power bridge to convert direct current voltage to alternating current voltage. A switching crowbar is coupled to the photovoltaic energy source and the power bridge. The crowbar has a switching device having a closed position causing the switching crowbar to dissipate energy from the photovoltaic energy source and an open position to allow direct output from the photovoltaic source to the power bridge. A voltage sensor detects a low voltage condition on the grid. A controller is coupled to the voltage sensor and controls the switching crowbar when a low voltage condition is detected.

Abstract: An electronic circuit breaker of a power having dual output ports has an input port, two output ports, two field effect transistors, two current detection circuits and two control circuits. The control circuit has a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and an activation circuit detecting if a short circuit is present at one of the output ports through one of the current detection circuits, activating the SCR to turn off a corresponding FET after the occurrence of the short circuit, and disconnecting a corresponding output port from the input port. Due to the characteristics of the SCR, the SCR, once activated, stays in an on state between its anode and cathode. After the current of the output returns to its normal state, the FET is still turned off. Accordingly, high-frequency large current arising from alternately switching between the on and off states of the FET can be avoided.

Abstract: A lightning strike protection system for protecting composite structures, an improved lightning strike appliqué (LSA) for such a lightning strike protection system, and a method of protecting composite structures, such as an aircraft fuselage. The LSA is electrically connected to adjacent conductive surfaces, e.g., by a fuzz button or a wire bond inserted in the bottom of the LSA. An adjacent conductive surface may be another LSA, a lightning diverter overlay, or a current return network. Charge, e.g., from a lightning strike to the LSA, flows to the conductive layer through the electrical connector.

Abstract: An apparatus generally having a first circuit, a second circuit and a third circuit is disclosed. The first circuit may be configured to selectively switch a bonding pad to (i) a first rail of a power source and (ii) a discharge rail in response to an electrostatic discharge. The second circuit is generally configured to clamp the electrostatic discharge between the discharge rail and the first rail. The third circuit may be configured to bias the discharge rail to a second rail of the power source.

Abstract: By means of a series of parameters taken by the plurality of sensors, the system of the invention makes it possible, via a central control unit provided with complementary programming firmware, to activate an electric-field compensating device (7) whenever there is a risk of lightning discharging over the wind turbine, in such a manner that, in the contrary case, said device remains inoperative. The electric-field compensating device (7) is associated not only with the nacelle (2) but also with the tower (1) and the blades (4) in such a manner that, between the rotor (3) and the nacelle unit (2) there is a first pair of rings (14), which are conducting, concentric and the dielectric of which is air, whilst, in the lower zone of the nacelle unit (2) there is a second pair of conducting rings (15) with similar features.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device for eliminating current leakage, and a related method. In one embodiment, an ESD protection device includes: a resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit for receiving a power supply voltage; an ESD clamp including a plurality of n-type field-effect transistors (nFETs) for protecting the IC during an ESD event; a trigger circuit for receiving an output of the RC circuit and generating a trigger pulse to turn on the ESD clamp during the ESD event; and an nFET bias selection circuit connected to the trigger circuit, the nFET bias selection circuit for selecting one of: a low voltage supply or a negative bias voltage supply for the trigger circuit, such that the trigger circuit generates a trigger pulse, in response to selecting the negative bias voltage supply, to turn off the ESD clamp during normal operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for controlling energy consumption in a system having a battery and including a controller and one or more solenoids. In accordance with the disclosure, the controller provides a controlling mechanism, such as a control algorithm, that will provide the necessary power to operate the one or more solenoids throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that optimizes the voltage discharge from the battery and simultaneously maximizes battery life. Further power conservation measures are implemented by using a controller and an associated control algorithm to operate a solenoid throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that places the discharge of the battery in reduced power consumption operating modes as the capacity of the battery is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a circuit arrangement (1) for electrically coupling a direct-current source (2) to a direct-current load, including a first and a second current input node (11, 12) for receiving a direct current generated by the direct-current source, a first and a second current output node (21, 22) for the delivery of the generated direct current to the direct-current load, an isolating means (4) connected between the first current input node (11) and the first current output node (21) and/or the second current input node (12) and the second current output node (22) for interrupting the electrical connection between the respective nodes, and an auxiliary switching means (14) connected between the first current input node (11) and the second current input node (12) for short-circuiting of the first and second current input nodes (11, 12).

Abstract: A hybrid switch circuit includes a hybrid switch that couples an input conductor connected to an AC power supply to an output conductor connected to a load. The hybrid switch includes a power semiconductor in parallel with an electromagnetic relay. A control circuit turns on the hybrid switch by turning on the power semiconductor at a zero-voltage crossing of the AC voltage to provide a conductive path and then closing the relay to provide a conductive bypass path that bypasses the power semiconductor. The control circuit turns off the hybrid switch by opening the relay and subsequently turning off the power semiconductor at a zero crossing of the load current. The control circuit operates in response to at least one switch control signal that indicates whether an operating fault condition exists.

Abstract: In a switching regulator, a low voltage malfunction prevention circuit controls operations of a PWM comparator and a output buffer circuit, such that when a power source voltage is lower than a predetermined value, a switching transistor is forcibly turned off, and when the power source voltage is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the switching transistor is turned on/off in accordance with pulse signals from the PWM comparator. Furthermore, the low voltage malfunction prevention circuit generates a second reference voltage that is lower than a first reference voltage and that rises quickly in accordance with the rise of the power source voltage. The state of the power source voltage inside an IC is detected by comparing the first reference voltage with the second reference voltage.

Abstract: An in-rush current limiting system has a fast response time so that it can be used with power supplies that turn on and off rapidly. The system dissipates very little power during the normal mode of operation. This is achieved, in various embodiments, by connecting a regulator in series with a load capacitance and in parallel with the system load.

Abstract: This document discusses methods and apparatus for preventing or reducing sub-threshold pass gate leakage. In an example, an apparatus can include a pass gate configured to electrically couple a first node with a second node in a first state and to electrically isolate the first node from the second node in a second state, control logic configured to control the pass gate, wherein the control logic includes a supply rail, and an over-voltage circuit configured to compare voltages received at a plurality of input nodes and to couple an output to an input node a highest voltage. In an example, the output of over-voltage circuit can be selectively coupled to the supply rail.

Abstract: A circuit configuration is provided for switching valves with joint pulse width modulation and quenching, having a first switch to which a pulse width modulation is applied for controlling magnetic fields of a plurality of valve inductors connected to the circuit configuration; a plurality of second switches by which the circuit configuration is able to be switched between a slow and a rapid quenching of the magnetic fields of the inductors; and a diode which is in the conducting state when the second switches are in a switching state for a slow quenching of the magnetic fields of the inductors, and which is no longer parallel to the inductors when the second switches are in a switching state for a rapid quenching of the magnetic fields of the inductors.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided for controlling a current. The electronic device includes a first MOS transistor coupled with a gate to a common gate node, with a source to ground and with a drain to a pin so as to receive from the pin a current to be controlled. There is a second MOS transistor coupled with a gate to the common gate node, with a source to ground and with a drain so as to receive a reference current controlled by a control loop. There is a first resistor coupled between the common gate node and ground.

Abstract: A device for controlling an electrical current includes control circuitry, a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch in communication with the control circuitry, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current, a Hybrid Arcless Limiting Technology (HALT) arc suppression circuit disposed in electrical communication with the MEMS switch to receive a transfer of electrical energy from the MEMS switch in response to the MEMS switch changing state from closed to open, the HALT arc suppression circuit including a capacitive portion, and a variable resistance arranged in parallel electrical communication with the capacitive portion of the HALT arc suppression circuit, the variable resistance to dissipate a portion of the transferred electrical energy.

Abstract: A method, system, and related apparatus for performing time-divided communications in a metering environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, an endpoint (e.g., ERT) is provided that implements a method for communicating messages with a remote device. Generally, the method includes causing the endpoint to transmit a standard meter reading message within a predefined frequency band. Then, after waiting a predetermined amount of time, a receiver on the endpoint is activated to listen for a message transmitted by the remote device. While the receiver on the endpoint is activated, the endpoint may receive a command from the remote device without being required to transmit an additional standard meter reading message.

Abstract: A hybrid surge protection device (SPD) having a clamping voltage that is controlled by precisely limiting the overshoot voltage of a gas discharge tube (GDT) in a hybrid suppression network. The suppression network is conventionally connected between a protected line carrying current from a power source to a load and a return connection. The network includes a main surge suppression varistor (VR1) connected in series with the GDT. A clamping control circuit in parallel with the network includes a voltage limiting device (VR2) in parallel with the GDT for preventing voltage overshoot by the GDT above a limiting voltage responsive to an occurrence on the protected line of a surge combination wave. The clamping control circuit also includes a capacitor (C1) connected in parallel with the VR1 providing a bypass path for electrical current and voltage potential to the GDT.

Abstract: Administering offset voltage error in a current sensing circuit including recording by a power supply management module a current sensing voltage for a power supply when no operating load is drawn from the power supply and dynamically calculating by the power supply management module output current of the power supply with an active load in dependence upon the recorded current sensing voltage.