Abstract: A wind power generation system according to an embodiment includes a blade; a lightning protection device; an electric device; a voltage application mechanism; a first lightning arrester element; and a second lightning arrester element. The lightning protection device includes a receptor provided at the blade and guides a current of lightning to the ground from the receptor via a lightning conductor. The electric device is installed at the blade and includes a first electric conductor and a second electric conductor provided apart from each other. The voltage application mechanism applies a voltage between the first electric conductor and the second electric conductor. The first lightning arrester element has one end thereof electrically connected to the first electric conductor and has the other end thereof grounded. The second lightning arrester element has one end thereof electrically connected to the second electric conductor and has the other end thereof grounded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply unit for the provision of at least one switchable power output, having at least one power input UIN, at least one voltage measuring device that monitors the voltage at the at least one power input UIN, wherein, if the input voltage falls below a defined threshold Uthres or if the change in the input voltage UIN per unit of time rises above a defined threshold ?Uthres/?t, the power output/power outputs is/are switched off and the input voltage is then measured at a first timepoint t1, and, after a first predetermined time (td1) (S240), the input voltage U is measured again at a second timepoint t2, and if the input voltage at the second timepoint is greater than the input voltage at the first timepoint, it is assumed that a short circuit is present at at least one power output.

Abstract: An auxiliary circuit for providing current to an external device includes a first switch disposed between a first node and a second node. The first switch is configured to electrically couple the first node to the second node when a first voltage exceeds a first threshold. A comparison circuit has an input coupled to the second node and is configured to compare a second voltage at the input to a second threshold. A second switch has a control terminal coupled to an output of the comparison circuit, a first terminal coupled to a source, and a second terminal for coupling to the external device. The comparison circuit is configured to provide a third voltage at control terminal when the second voltage exceeds the second threshold. The second switch is configured to provide the current from the source to the external device when the third voltage exceeds a threshold of the second switch.

Abstract: A battery energy storage system is disclosed, the battery energy storage system comprising a rechargeable battery assembly for storing and providing energy and a protection system including an arc flash protection device to protect against risks due to arc flashes. The arc flash protection device comprises an overcurrent protection unit which detects overcurrent conditions indicating arc flash conditions in case of a low impedance of the battery assembly and an undervoltage protection unit which detects undervoltage conditions indicating arc flash conditions in case of a low impedance of the battery assembly, wherein upon detecting the overcurrent conditions and/or the undervoltage conditions for a predetermined minimum time period, the arc flash protection device initiates protective measures to prevent further operation of the battery assembly.

Abstract: In various embodiments, apparatuses and methods are disclosed that may be able to implement a multi-layer, three dimensional routing between a decoupling component and an input port for a SoC or MCM. A three dimensional (3D) structure may provide a defined current return path from the decoupling component to the input port. The current return path may be constrained by design to provide an equal and opposite electromagnetic flux to the input port thereby reducing series inductance between the input port and the decoupling component.

Abstract: A novel system is offered for supplying power from an input node to a load coupled to an output node. The system may have multiple switches coupled between the input node and the output node. One or more limiting circuits may be configured for controlling the switches so as to limit outputs of the switches. For example, the limiting circuits may limit current through the respective switches. One or more timers may set a delay period for indicating a fault condition after the limiting is initiated.

Abstract: A resettable solid state fuse that automatically restores an interrupted circuit after an overcurrent event is cleared. The resettable solid state fuse can include one or more switching devices, such as, for example, a normally-on power semiconductor, and one or more positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistive elements. The switching device is structured to extend the voltage rating of the resettable fuse, allowing the solid state resettable fuse to attain both a relatively elevated voltage rating and a relatively elevated electrical current rating while using a PTC resistive element. According to certain embodiments, the solid state resettable fuse can be tripped by a cascaded PTC resistive element, thereby providing a passive electronic device that can operate in the absence of electronic sensing, detection, and tripping, as well as without reliance on an auxiliary power supply.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a relay having a relay contact, having an electrical connection terminal at which an electrical variable can be tapped off, a control connection for receiving a control signal for opening the relay contact, and a controller. The controller is configured to respond to the reception of the control signal by sensing a change of amplitude of the electrical variable and to open the electrical relay contact with a time delay when a rising amplitude of the electrical variable is sensed, in order to reduce an electrical loading on the relay contact. The controller is further configured to respond to the reception of the control signal by opening in a first disconnection process, to sense the amplitude of the electrical variable, to close the relay contact when the rising amplitude is sensed and to open it again, with a time delay, in a second disconnection process.

Abstract: An electronic device includes first and second terminals with an electronic circuit coupled there between. The electronic circuit includes a protection circuit and a resistive-capacitive circuit. The resistive-capacitive circuit triggers the protection circuit to protect against electrostatic discharges in the presence of a current pulse between the first and second terminals. A control circuit is configured to slow down a discharge from the resistive-capacitive circuit when the protection circuit is triggered.

Abstract: A wafer grounding apparatus and method adaptable to a charged particle beam apparatus is disclosed. A wafer substrate is supported by a wafer mount. A pulse current pin is arranged to be in contact with a backside film formed on a backside of the wafer substrate. A grounding pulse generator provides at least one pulse to drive the pulse current pin such that dielectric breakdown occurring at the backside film leads to establishment of a current path through the backside films. Accordingly, a current flows in the wafer substrate through this current path and then flows out of the wafer substrate via at least one current return path formed from capacitive coupling between the wafer substrate and the wafer mount.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an electrically conductive coil which produces a magnetic field when an electrical current passes therethrough; a selectively activated persistent current switch connected across the electrically conductive coil; a cryostat having the electrically conductive coil and the persistent current switch disposed therein; an energy dump; at least one sensor which detects an operating parameter of the apparatus and outputs at least one sensor signal in response thereto; and a magnet controller. The magnet controller receives the sensor signal(s) and in response thereto detects whether an operating fault (e.g. a power loss to the compressor of a cryocooler) exists in the apparatus, and when an operating fault is detected, connects the energy dump unit across the electrically conductive coil to transfer energy from the electrically conductive coil to the energy dump unit. The energy dump unit disperses the energy outside of the cryostat.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a puck having a support surface to support a substrate when disposed thereon and an opposing second surface, wherein one or more chucking electrodes are embedded in the puck, a body having a support surface coupled to the second surface of the puck to support the puck, a DC voltage sensing circuit disposed on support surface of the puck, and an inductor disposed in the body and proximate the support surface of the body, wherein the inductor is electrically coupled to DC voltage sensing circuit, and wherein the inductor is configured to filter high frequency current flow in order to accurately measure DC potential on the substrate.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit is disclosed. The overvoltage protection circuit includes an input voltage port, an output voltage port, a low pass filter coupled to the input voltage port and a voltage regulator coupled to the low pass filter. The overvoltage protection circuit also includes a transistor having a gate, a drain and a source. The transistor is coupled to the input voltage port and the output voltage port and the gate is coupled to the voltage regulator.

Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed that includes an output device and a detection circuit. The output device is coupled to an output pad, and is turned on according to a protection signal. The detection circuit is configured to detect a voltage level of a control node, to generate the protection signal based on the detected voltage level, and to switch the voltage level to a predetermined voltage level according to the detected voltage level.

Abstract: A first static electricity protection circuit is provided with a first n-type transistor and a first p-type transistor, a second static electricity protection circuit is provided with at least one of a second n-type transistor and a second p-type transistor, a source is connected with a gate in these transistors, a gate of the first n-type transistor is electrically connected with a low potential power wiring VSS, a drain of the first n-type transistor is electrically connected with a signal wiring SL, a gate of the first p-type transistor is electrically connected with a high potential power wiring VDD, a drain of the first p-type transistor is electrically connected with the signal wiring SL, and a drain of at least one of the second n-type transistor and the second p-type transistor is electrically connected with the low potential power wiring VSS or the high potential power wiring VDD.

Abstract: Carrier wafers are used to hold thin and ultra-thin substrates such as semiconductor components, for example. The carrier wafer of the invention has a plurality of electrodes insulated on all sides (floating electrodes). This plurality of floating electrodes, but at least 50 floating electrodes, are located next to one another with reference to the plane of the first surface of the carrier wafer. Each of these floating electrodes can be charged, for example by means of Fowler-Nordheim tunnels or by the injection of hot charge carriers, in particular of hot electrons or hot holes. Also provided are a method for holding a flexible substrate by means of a carrier wafer of this type and a method for the manufacture of a carrier wafer of this type.

Abstract: An electronic device has an I/O port, a bus connector and a transistor that is connected between the I/O port and a communications contact of the bus connector. A control circuit is connected to the transistor to maintain a gate voltage of the transistor independent of power supply voltage on a power supply contact of the connector. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus which comprises a pass-gate; and a control unit to control gate terminal of the pass-gate according to first availability of first or second power supplies, the control unit including: a voltage detector to detect the second power supply; and a supply switching circuit to generate a local supply for controlling the gate terminal of the pass-gate according to an output of the voltage detector.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is disclosed. In this regard, an ESD protection circuit is provided to protect an integrated circuit (IC) from an ESD event. In one aspect, an ESD voltage detection circuitry activates an ESD clamping circuitry when an ESD voltage associated with faster voltage rise time is detected between a supply rail and a ground rail. In another aspect, an operation voltage detection circuitry deactivates the ESD clamping circuitry when an operation voltage associated with slower voltage rise time is detected between the supply rail and the ground rail. By differentiating the ESD voltage from the operation voltage based on respective voltage rise times, it is possible to prevent the ESD clamping circuitry from missing the ESD voltage associated with the faster voltage rise time or being falsely activated by the operation voltage associated with the slower voltage rise time.

Abstract: A switching device (28) comprising a primary switching block (30) including at least one semiconductor switch (34); and a switching control unit (32) to control the switching of the or each semiconductor switch (34). The switching device further includes a crowbar circuit (46) comprising a crowbar switch (56) switchable to selectively allow current to flow through the crowbar switch (56) in order to bypass the or each switching module; and a secondary switching block including a switching element (58) connected across a control electrode and a cathode of the crowbar switch (56). The switching element (58) is in communication with the switching control unit (32) to receive, in use, a control signal (66) generated by the switching control unit (32) when the primary switching block (30) is operating within predefined operating parameters.