Abstract: Disclosed examples include an electrostatic discharge protection circuit including a shunt transistor coupled between first and second power supply nodes, a sensing circuit to deliver a control voltage signal to turn on the shunt transistor in response to a detected change in a voltage of the first power supply node resulting from an ESD stress event, and a charge pump circuit to boost the control voltage signal in response to the control voltage signal turning the shunt transistor on.

Abstract: A power transistor overcurrent protection circuit includes an overcurrent detection circuit, a timing control circuit, and an enable control circuit. The overcurrent detection circuit is configured to detect whether there is an overcurrent flowing in the controlled power transistor. The timing control circuit and the enable control circuit jointly control the controlled power transistor. The power transistor overcurrent protection circuit can turn off the controlled power transistor so as to protect the controlled power transistor when there is an overcurrent flowing in the controlled power transistor for controlling a load to work or not to work.

Abstract: An improved electric circuit structure for short circuit protection is applicable to examining a device under test, comprising a circuit breaking element, a thermistor, a filtering and rectifying module and a capacitor. A first end of the circuit breaking element is electrically connected to a power source. A first end of the thermistor is electrically connected to a ground. The filtering and rectifying module is connected between the second end of the circuit breaking element and the second end of the thermistor. The capacitor is connected to the filtering and rectifying module and in parallel with the device under test. The circuit breaking element disclosed in the present invention is a multi-protector fuse and forms an open circuit when the device under test forms a short circuit. Meanwhile, the multi-protector fuse is able to withstand voltage between its first and second end without generating any physical damage.

Abstract: A method for controlling multiple switching devices in an electrical power distribution network in response to detecting a fault. The method determines that a fault current is present, and opens a switch in each of the switching devices in response thereto. The method then initiates a current pulse in the switch in a farthest upstream switching device for a first pulse duration time, closes the switch in the farthest upstream recloser if no fault current is detected during the first pulse duration temporarily changes the TCC curve of the farthest upstream recloser to a second TCC curve that is an instantaneous or near instantaneous TCC curve, and initiates a current pulse in the switch in a next farthest upstream switching device that is downstream of the farthest upstream switching device after the switch in a farthest upstream switching device is closed.

Abstract: A Conductive Lightning Protective Screen (CLPS) and a method for fabricating the CLPS is provided, wherein the CLPS includes a screen structure having a structure thickness of between about 0.002 inches and about 0.006 inches, wherein the screen structure includes a plurality of openings. Each of the plurality of openings are defined by a plurality of sidewalls each having a sidewall width of between about 0.005 inches and 0.009 inches, wherein each of the plurality of openings shares at least one sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls of an adjacent opening. Moreover, each of the plurality of openings includes an opening width and an opening length of substantially equal size, and wherein each of the plurality of openings include a plurality of substantially equal internal angles.

Abstract: A circuit protection system includes a plurality of circuit protection devices and a central controller. Each circuit protection device includes a protection switch for connecting or disconnecting a corresponding protected circuit, and a sensing module for sensing electrical parameter data. The central controller is in communication with each of the circuit protection devices, and is constructed to receive the electrical parameter data; determine whether a fault condition has occurred based on the electrical parameter data; and send a signal to open the protection switch for each protected circuit experiencing a fault condition.

Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse.

Abstract: A system and method for feeder protection in an electrical power network nodal point including at least three feeders. In the system and the method it is executed in an intelligent electronic device reserved for the feeder, on the basis of the at least one measured electrical quantity actual in the respective feeder, at least one first protection function monitoring a power system related condition of the respective feeder, as well as in a central intelligent electronic device, for at least one feeder, at least one second protection function monitoring the same power system related condition of the feeder. Furthermore the central intelligent electronic device is configured to further execute for the at least one feeder, on the basis of the at least one measured electrical quantity actual in the other feeders connected to the same nodal point, at least one third protection function monitoring the same power system related condition of the feeder.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting resonant frequency of a corona igniter concurrent with operation of the corona igniter is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of pulses of energy to the corona igniter, each having a pulse duration and spaced from one another by a deadtime duration during which no energy is provided to the corona igniter. Each pulse duration is ceased before current flowing in the corona igniter crosses zero, and each zero crossing of the current occurs during one of the deadtime durations. The next pulse of energy is provided to the corona igniter in response to the zero crossing of the current. A resonant frequency value is then obtained based on a sum of the pulse and deadtime durations of two consecutive cycles, or the time between zero crossings. The resonant frequency values become more accurate over time, and the drive frequency is adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: A power distribution apparatus of a vehicle includes a power input terminal configured to receive power. A power output terminal is connected to a load and a main fuse is connected to the power input terminal and to the load through the power output terminal. A number of sub fuses are connected to the power input terminal and a switching circuit is provided between the plurality of sub fuses and the power output terminal. A controller is configured to supply power to the load through the main fuse in response to an operation signal of the load and control the switching circuit so that at least one of the plurality of sub fuses is selectively connected to the load.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device including one or more line terminals for connecting to an external power supply, one or more load terminals for connecting to an external load, one or more contacts electrically connecting one or more line terminals to one or more load terminals; and an auto-monitoring circuit. The auto-monitoring circuit continuously monitoring one or more signals to determine an operating state of said circuit interrupting device. Wherein if said auto-monitoring circuit determines that said circuit interrupting device has reached its end-of-life and it is determined that the contacts have not failed, then a signal is driven to a first level to actuate a switch and open the contacts. Wherein said signal is further driven to a second level to inhibit said circuit interrupting device from resetting when it is determined that contacts of said interrupting device have failed. Wherein the second level has a voltage greater than zero volts.

Abstract: A protection cell for a cell library. The protection cell defines a protection circuit for an IC having a driving device with a first supply voltage Vdd1 and an output, and a driven device having an input and a second supply voltage Vdd2. The protection circuit includes a first device from the group consisting of a P-diode and a gate-Vdd PMOS. The first device is coupled between a first power bus connected to Vdd2 and the input of the driven device. The input of the driven device is coupled by way of a resistor to the output of the driving device. A second device corresponding to the first device is provided, from the group consisting of an N-diode and a grounded gate NMOS. The second device is coupled between the input of the driven device and a ground bus.

Abstract: Power converters, protection systems and methods to protect a precharge circuit in which a precharge resistor voltage is indirectly monitored during a normal operating mode, and a rectifier and an inverter are selectively disabled in response to the indirectly measured precharge resistor voltage indicating a fault in a precharge circuit SCR.

Abstract: Techniques of drawing ESD current away from an image sensor device of a CMOS image sensor die include using a light shield configured to block light from an image sensor device. The light shield may be used to draw the ESD current away when it has an electrical connection to an ESD ground bus and/or to a bond pad of the CMOS image sensor die. Advantageously, the light shield has a low resistance due to its large surface area. Accordingly, parallel connections to the bond pads and/or ESD bus have a resistance close to the low resistance of the light shield without altering the size of the die.

Abstract: The present invention relates to current measurement apparatus. The current measurement apparatus comprises first and second measurement devices with each of the first and second measurement devices being operative to measure current in a respective one of a live conductor and a neutral conductor substantially simultaneously. The current measurement apparatus is operative to make plural different determinations in dependence on the substantially simultaneous current measurements.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic control unit capable of detecting an abnormality of a dark current while suppressing increase in the size of a circuit. The electronic control unit includes a control unit that operates with a current supplied via a power-supply input terminal from a battery, and a diode arranged on a power supply path connecting the power-supply input terminal with the control unit and serving as a reverse connection protection element that prevents a reverse current when the battery is reversely connected to the power-supply input terminal, and detects an abnormality of a dark current flowing through the diode based on a voltage difference between a voltage on the power-supply input terminal side of the diode and a voltage on the control unit side.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an electronic switch, a drive unit for driving the electronic switch, a diagnosis unit for determining a current through the electronic switch, a memory for storing a protection profile. The drive unit is configured such that the electronic switch is driven on the basis of the current through the electronic switch determined by the diagnosis unit and on the basis of the protection profile. Furthermore, a method is specified for driving an electronic switch.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) clamp and, more particularly, to an ESD clamp with reduced off-state power consumption. The structure includes: one or more inverters connected to a timing circuit; a first transistor receiving an output signal from a last of the one or more inverters and an output signal from the timing circuit; a second transistor with its gate connected to the first transistor, in series; and a voltage node providing a separate voltage to a gate of the second transistor.

Abstract: A circuit including a source, a load, and an isolation circuit for controllably isolating the load from the source. The isolation circuit is disposed between the source and the load. The isolation circuit includes at least one insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and at least one gate turn-off thyristor (GTO) in parallel with the insulated-gate bipolar transistor. When no fault condition exists, the GTO is configured to be ON to couple the load to the source. When a fault condition exists, the at least one IGBT is configured to turn ON. After the at least one IGBT turns ON, the at least one GTO is configured to turn OFF. After a predetermined amount of time, reflecting the post fabrication alteration to the GTO's minority carrier lifetime (e.g. electron irradiation), after the at least one GTO turns OFF, the at least one IGBT is configured to turn OFF.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of sag in a power line. In an embodiment, a monitoring device may include a distance sensor and an operating parameter sensor. A processor of the monitoring device may acquire, via the distance sensor, a first distance measurement. The processor may acquire, via the operating parameter sensor, a first operating parameter measurement. The processor may provide an output signal indicating that the power line is sagging when a combination of the first distance measurement and the first operating parameter measurement exceed a first combined distance-operating parameter threshold.