Abstract: A beverage maker includes a container having a portion for receiving a beverage made by passing hot water over an ingredient and a basket for holding a beverage ingredient provided at an upper end of the container. When hot liquid is supplied into the basket, a hot liquid and beverage ingredient mixture exits from the basket into the receiver portion. In embodiments of the present invention, the receiver portion and a reservoir from which the hot liquid originates are disposed side-by-side. Embodiments of the present invention have elements that shield the beverage ingredient from microwave energy and/or an element or elements that insulate the hot liquid and beverage ingredient mixture.

Abstract: A resonant power circuit which supplies pulsed power to a load, such as a pulsed laser, from a d.c. supply by cyclically charging a capacitor. The capacitor is discharged through the load on closure of a switch which should then open to allow the capacitor to re-charge. Occasionally the switch fails to open and the circuit of the invention then develops and applies a reverse voltage to the switch to force it to become an open circuit.

Abstract: Where there is a relay controlling an AC power circuit to a load, the apparatus of this disclosure includes a sensor for observing arc at the relay contacts and a control circuit which controls the time of subsequent actuation or deactuation of the relay with respect to the alternating current power circuit so as to eliminate relay contact arcing.

Abstract: An abnormality in a rotatable heat roller is detected by measuring its temperature at a specified time after the heating of the roller is started. This specified time is not fixed but is variably set according to the length of time during which the roller is rotated.

Abstract: In the substrate (23) of an integrated circuit, around a pad area, a first region (24) of the first conductivity type having a high doping level in turn formed in a second region (25) of the second conductivity type and, beyond the first region with respect to the pad, a third region (26) of the second conductivity type at least partially in contact with the second region, are formed. The pad metallization (20) also establishes a contact with a portion (27) of the first region surface. A second metallization (30) connects the first region to the third one at such a location that the current path between, on the one hand, the contact area between the pad metallization and the first region and, on the other hand, the area where the third region forms a junction with the substrate (corresponding to an avalanche diode) follows a resistive path in at least one of the first or third regions.

Abstract: A portable electric hair dryer wherein the insulating carrier of electric contacts for a motor which drives an air impeller between the air-admitting inlet and the air-discharging outlet of the housing is separably coupled to a second insulating carrier which is provided with electric contacts for and supports an electric heater. The latter heats the flow of air between the inlet and the outlet of the housing. One of the carriers has male coupling elements, which can include or constitute the contacts on the one carrier, and the other carrier can have female coupling elements, which can include or constitute the contacts on the other carrier, capable of separably receiving and retaining the male coupling elements.

Abstract: A circuit for coupling transitional energy from the output of a transmitting circuit to the input of a receiving circuit in advance of the normal connective path, which contains an inherent circuit time delay. Feed forward compensation circuitry is incorporated into a logic driver having control circuitry for receiving an input bistate data bit and providing power at an output at first and second predetermined voltage levels when an input bistate data bit is respectively of first and second states. The feed forward compensation circuitry is included in the control circuitry for modifying the response time of the control circuitry for providing output power in response to the input bistake data bit. Sensing circuitry is coupled to the control circuitry for detecting the level of current at the output and providing a corresponding current level indication.

Abstract: A directional comparison relaying system includes forward looking pilot relays at each terminal of a protected line segment and monitors which detect predetermined incremental changes in line currents and voltages indicative of a fault. These predetermined incremental changes in current or voltages, which can be detected before the pilot relays respond, generate local blocking signals which are transmitted to the other terminal as remote blocking signals over a two-way communications channel. Trip signals for tripping circuit breakers at the associated terminals are generated from forward fault signals produced by the pilot relays but are blocked by the presence of either a local or remote blocking signal. However, the forward fault signal cancels the local blocking signal and the corresponding remote blocking signal at the other terminal so that when both pilot relays see an internal fault, the circuit breakers at the two terminals are tripped simultaneously.

Abstract: A first signal (V.sub.1) related to FET drain to source voltage and a second signal (V.sub.2) related to FET source current are compared and the FET (11) is turned off when the first signal exceeds the second signal by a predetermined amount. This corresponds to turning the FET off whe the drain to source on resistance of the FET exceeds a FET on resistance value corresponding to a maximum allowable FET die temperature. Thus the FET is turned off for excessive due temperatures to prevent damage to the FET. A start-up circuit (41, 42) is provided to insure proper initial turning on of the FET, and a short circuit protection circuit (30) is provided for turning the FET off it the source current exceeds some maximum current limit. Accurate, effective monitoring of the FET die temperature is provided without the use of an additional temperature sensing element provided adjacent the FET.

Abstract: The present protective/cooling system includes a housing which contains electronic circuitry and optics for a vision system typically operating in a high temperature, turbulent dust and debris environment. The vision system is located in an inner chamber which is sealed from the surrounding harsh environment. A cooling fluid flows through spiral passages around the inner chamber for drawing heat from the contained vision system. The cooling fluid exits across an optical interface in a spiral flow pattern which enhances both the cleaning ability and the cooling efficiency of the cooling system.

Abstract: A pulse generator having a gear and an actuating member. The actuating member is made from insulating material. It is movable sideways and is forced against the gear by a compression spring, which also serves as a detent spring. This forces a projection into engagement with a tooth space in the rest position. The pulse generator is especially suited for producing current and voltage pulses for digital tuners.

Abstract: An electric storage heater which is heated from a source of electricity made available only over an off-peak (low tariff) period. The heater includes an air flow control mechanism comprising a damper in the form of a flap (10) controlled by bimetallic elements that can be set at any stage during an on-peak period (such as a manually operative boost switch to increase the heat output of the heater) and automatically reset during the next subsequent off-peak period.

Abstract: An electrical discharge wire cutting machine (EDWC) includes an apparatus for controlling the flow of electrical energy between an electrically conductive piece part and a wire electrode of the EDWC machine. A pulse type power supply has first and second leads of opposite polarity with the first lead being electrically connected to the piece part and the second lead having first and second portions connected to the wire electrode at two separate, spaced-apart locations. Diodes electrically isolate the first and second portions of the second lead line whereby the first and second portions of the second lead line are electrically independent from one another. Further, first and second independently controllable arrays of capacitors are connected between the first lead line and the first and second portions of the second lead line respectively. The capacitance of these arrays is controllably adjustable to a range of values suitable for the instantaneous cutting conditions.

Abstract: A field coil is divided into the plural number, and each of these field coils is connected in parallel in relation to a battery at the time of engine starting, and in series during the generation of the electric current after engine starting, so that sufficient field electromotive force can be maintained in the event of a battery voltage drop during engine starting, and also a necessary, sufficient field electromotive force can be produced with little current at the time of voltage recovery during generator operation. Consequently, the amount of copper to be used for the field coils and a winding space can be decreased; therefore the present invention is effective to provide a light-weight, small and unexpensive engine starting and charging device.

Abstract: A gas discharge over-voltage arrestor having a narrow tolerance range of response voltages due to the quality of a line or lines of ignition. A gas discharge over-voltage arrestor has one or more lines of ignition without additives and impurities and has a relatively narrow resistance tolerance given a defined nominal value of resistance whose tolerance range amounts to 1/2 a power of 10 in a logarithmic scale. Every line of ignition is produced by a non-contacting sputtering of carbon particles and is connected to the electrodes over its full width. A reduction in the variation of the response voltage is thereby achieved. The invention is particularly suitable for gas discharge over-voltage arrestors in a glass housing.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated-circuit apparatus includes a electro-conductive layer formed on a substrate, a plurality of internal cells formed on the electro-conductive layer, a plurality of bonding pads arranged around the internal cells, and a plurality of bias cells which are common to the plurality of internal cells and which generate a predetermined voltage. A plurality of bias buffer circuits supply the predetermined voltage generated in the bias cells to the internal cells.

Abstract: In the past, a power fuse need be replaced after the current limiting operation and cannot be repeatedly used. To solve this problem, there has been proposed a permanent fuse or the like which uses an alkaline metal having a low melting point such as Hg, K, Na, etc.These are harmful to human body, and since they are completely vaporized, an insulated layer of a vessel cannot be removed, thus giving rise to a difficulty toward higher voltage.The present invention makes best use of characteristic of carbon which sublimates. A plurality of boundary layers of carbon lumps are disposed in series or in series and parallel, and electrode potential drops at the time of large current and potential drops of arc column under high atmosphere presssure which produces for a short period of time are utilized to effect current limiting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting cutoff and short circuit defects in at least one electrical circuit portion. The detecting device (10) is intended to verify a circuit portion (11) connected to the terminals of a source of direct current (T1) and including a passive element (E, r) interposed between two switch devices (P, Q) comprises on the one hand four differential amplifiers (AD1, AD2, AD3 and AD4) each having one of their inputs connected to the common terminal (F) of the passive element (E, r) and to the first switch device (P) and their other input connected to a reference potential (V3 or V.sub.

Abstract: A circuit for protecting a switching transistor connected between a direct-current voltage source and an inductive load has a voltage-limiting element connected between the source and the transistor for switching the transistor when the voltage of the source exceeds a predetermined limit, elements for deriving from the voltage-limiting element a control signal when the source voltage exceeds the predetermined limit, and a variable pulse-width modulator connected to a control input of the transistor and receiving the signal from the means. The modulator decreases pulse width when the source voltage exceeds the limit.

Abstract: A circuit and apparatus are provided for the protected supply of a load using static and electromechanical switches. A switch apparatus having current limiting properties is opened by remote control means after a very short delay, following disabling of a static switch system placed in series therewith and connected in parallel across a voltage limiting component.