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.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes: a live line between a live supply connecting terminal and a live load connecting terminal; a neutral line between a neutral supply connecting terminal and a neutral load connecting terminal; a processing unit; a mechanical switch located in the live line, which mechanical switch is controllable by the processing unit; a trigger for interrupting the live line and/or the neutral line; and an auxiliary line connecting the neutral line with the live line between the mechanical switch and the live load connecting terminal, the auxiliary line including serially a current limiting resistor and a control switch controllable by the processing unit. The processing unit controls the control switch and to open and close at least the mechanical switch for a removal of oxidation layers of mechanical contacts of at least the mechanical switch by controlled arcing.

Abstract: A power distribution apparatus includes a power source terminal, a power-distributing module, at least a power distribution module, an input detection unit, at least an output detection unit and a management unit. The power source terminal receives an input power. The power-distributing module converts the input power into an output power. Each of the power distribution modules includes a plurality of output ports. The power distribution module receives the output power to output the output power through the output ports. The input detection unit detects the input power to generate a set of input information. The output detection unit detects the output power to generate at least a set of output information correspondingly. According to the input information or the output information, the management unit controls the output ports to be turned on or off correspondingly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an improved electrostatic chuck for supporting a substrate. The electrostatic chuck comprises a chuck body coupled to a support stem, the chuck body having a substrate supporting surface, a plurality of tabs projecting from the substrate supporting surface of the chuck body, wherein the tabs are disposed around the circumference of the chuck body, an electrode embedded within the chuck body, the electrode extending radially from a center of the chuck body to a region beyond the plurality of tabs, and an RF power source coupled to the electrode through a first electrical connection.

Abstract: A hot plugging module power supply device, method and system are provided. When a hot plugging module is connected to a system in a hot plugging manner, a control unit transmits a first control signal to a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit forms a switch-on signal and transmits the switch-on signal to a switch unit, to gradually switch on the switch unit, to provide power to the hot plugging module. During the hot plugging module is supplied with power, when an overcurrent fault occurs in the hot plugging module, the control unit transmits a second control signal to the signal processing unit, and the signal processing unit forms a switch-off signal and transmits the switch-off signal to the switch unit, to immediately switch off the switch unit, to stop supplying power to the hot plugging module.

Abstract: A method of forming a protective shield to protect an aircraft component from EMI or energy bursts includes the steps of combining a carbon-based or silicon-based preceramic polymer precursor and a metallic precursor to form a dope, processing the dope to provide a deposit that includes nano-structures, post-processing the deposit to provide a nano-structure material with a uniformly distributed base metal or metal compound, and forming a protective shield using the nano-structure material.

Abstract: A half bridge circuit driver chip and the protection method thereof are provided. The high side voltage detecting circuit connects to a high side signal output terminal and detects the high side turn-on voltage of the high side transistor, so as to obtain a high side turn-on signal. The low side voltage detection circuit connects to a low side signal output terminal and detects a low side turn-on voltage of a low side transistor, so as to obtain a low side turn on signal. When the high side turn-on signal and the low side turn-on signal are received by a protection circuit, a reset signal is generated. The reset signal is sent to the high side driving circuit for turning off the high side transistor and to the low side driving circuit for turning off the low side transistor.

Abstract: A fault switch configuration and clearing method in a flexible DC converter station, the flexible DC converter station is configured with a grid side switch and a valve side phase-split switch in the converter station. When a fault occurs, a faulty phase and a non-faulty phase are detected and identified by means of differential protection or low voltage overcurrent. An alternating current zero crossing condition is created by means of firstly turn off the non-faulty phase valve side phase-split switch and the grid side switch, thereby cutting off the faulty phase, disconnecting the connection between a power supply and a fault point, and achieving the clearing for faults. The described fault-clearing method is simple and practical, highly reliable, and connection between the fault point and the power supply is quickly and effectively cut; converter station equipment is effectively protected, and further expansion of the fault is avoided.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes: monitoring a temperature difference between two double-side cooled (DSC) power modules of a plurality of DSC power modules arranged in stacks of DSC power modules; comparing the temperature difference with a first temperature threshold; detecting a cooling pipe system blockage when the temperature difference is above the first temperature threshold; and after detecting the cooling pipe system blockage, disabling gate driver circuits coupled to the plurality of DSC power modules or operating the DSC power modules in a low-power mode. Each stack includes a plurality of DSC power modules. Each DSC power module has a top surface and a bottom surface, which are each thermally coupled with one or more cooling channels of a cooling pipe system. The two DSC power modules are thermally coupled with a same cooling channel of the one or more cooling channels.

Abstract: Adaptive protection methods and systems for protecting agains) extreme fault currents in a power system are provided. Communication capabilities and protocols defined in IEC 61850 can be used to provide smart cascading switching actions for removing the fault from the power system. A supervisory protection algorithm can be used, and the protection can be activated if the fault current is higher than a breaking capacity of the circuit breakers of the power system.

Abstract: A location of a broken electrical conductor of an electric power delivery system may be detected by monitoring a rate of change of phase voltage and/or a rate of change of zero-sequence voltage at various points on the conductor. Intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) such as phasor measurement units may be used to obtain measurements and calculate synchrophasors. The synchrophasors may be used by a central controller to determine which two continuous IEDs measure rates of change of voltages of opposite polarities, where the broken conductor is between the two continuous IEDs. The synchrophasors may be used by a central controller to determine which two continuous IEDs where one exhibits a zero-sequence voltage magnitude that exceeds a predetermined threshold for a predetermined time, wherein the zero-sequence voltage magnitude of the other of the continuous IEDs does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a switching power supply, an over-temperature control and protection method, and a power control method. The switching power supply includes: a converter module including at least one main power switch; a direction detection module configured to obtain installation direction information of the switching power supply; and a process module configured to perform a preset operation in accordance with the installation direction information of the switching power supply. The present disclosure may realize power control of the switching power supply and meet over-temperature protection requirements under various installation directions.

Abstract: Some features pertain to a device package that includes a die and a package substrate. The die includes a first switch. The package substrate is coupled to the die. The package substrate includes at least one dielectric layer, a primary inductor, and a first secondary inductor coupled to the first switch of the die. The first secondary inductor and the first switch are coupled to a plurality of interconnects configured to provide an electrical path for a reference ground signal. The primary inductor is configurable to have different inductances by opening and closing the first switch coupled to the first secondary inductor. In some implementations, the primary inductor is configurable in real time while the die is operational. In some implementations, the die further includes a second switch, and the package substrate further includes a second secondary inductor coupled to the second switch of the die.

Abstract: In electronic devices, as a result of miniaturization, the distance between a mounting board and an upper board or a shield case and the like, or the distance between the mounting board and other electronic components mounted adjacent thereto has become smaller. An electronic component is provided with: an element body internally containing a circuit element; and a terminal formed on the element body. The terminal is formed over an end surface of the element body and a surface adjacent to the end surface. An insulating film covering the terminal is formed on the element body. The terminal is exposed from the insulating film at least at a mounting surface of the element body, and a plating film containing tin is formed on a portion of the terminal exposed from the insulating film.

Abstract: This application relates to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit, includes: a first switch, electrically coupled to a first node through a control end, electrically coupled to a ground node through a first end, and electrically coupled to a signal input node through a second end; a capacitor electrically coupled between the first node and the signal input node; a second switch, electrically coupled to a low level line through a control end and a first end, and electrically coupled to the signal input node through a second end; and a third switch, electrically coupled to a high level line through a control end, and electrically coupled to the first node through a first end, being electrically coupled to the low level line through a second end.

Abstract: An ionic wind delivery device includes a first discharge electrode; a reference electrode arranged separate from the first discharge electrode; a first power supply circuit configured to output a voltage to induce a corona discharge between the first discharge electrode and the reference electrode; a control electrode arranged on a delivery path of an ionic wind of ions that are generated by the corona discharge induced between the first discharge electrode and the reference electrode; a second discharge electrode arranged between the reference electrode and the control electrode; and a second power supply circuit configured to output a voltage to accelerate the ions generated by the corona discharge induced between the first discharge electrode and the reference electrode and to induce a corona discharge between the second discharge electrode and the control electrode.

Abstract: A safety shutoff system for protecting a photovoltaic system. The safety shutoff system includes a control signal generator and a switching modules. The control signal generator includes an oscillator for generating a time-varying control signal and a DC-signal separator for transmitting the time-varying control signal via a DC power line. Each switching module includes a DC-signal separator for receiving the time-varying control signal; a rectifier and power storage block configured to store power of the control signal and to supply the stored power to other components of the switching module; a control signal detector for determining a presence of the time-varying control signal; and a switch connectable between terminals of the PV module, wherein the switch is a normally-open switch. The control signal detector, when powered by the power storage block, is configured to close the switch upon detecting an absence of the time-varying control signal.