Abstract: A station protector, particularly for telephone lines, has a housing with wells in which are positioned protector module assemblies, one for each line. Each line is connected to a basket member positioned in the bottom of a well and having cantilever legs extending upwards. A protector module assemlby is insertable in the top of each well and a bottom electrode of the protector module pushes down the basket member against a spring bias. If no protector module assembly, or if only a housing of such an assembly without a protector module, is inserted in a well, the basket member moves up and the legs move into contact with a metal collar at the top of the well, the collars connected to a ground terminal. The protector module assemblies connect to the metal collars, as by being screwed into position.

Abstract: A fault current interrupter is provided by the parallel combination of a positive temperature coefficient resistor and a voltage dependent resistor connected across a pair of separable contacts to permit the interruption of current without the occurrence of arcing between the contacts when the contacts first become separated. The positive temperature coefficient resistor is selected to have a relatively low resistance at room temperature and a substantially higher resistance at higher temperatures. This allows the current to transfer away from the contacts through the positive temperature coefficient resistor until the voltage across the voltage dependent resistor causes the voltage dependent resistor to become conductive and thereby transfer the current away from the positive temperature coefficient resistor.

Abstract: An ignition lock for a motor vehicle has a cylinder provided with a recess into which the plunger of an electromagnet can project in the absence of energization of the electromagnet when the ignition switch is in the off position. A remote control circuit for operating the doors of the vehicle is independent of a second circuit for responding to the presence of an appropriate key in the cylinder while a control circuit is responsive to both of these previously mentioned circuits for energizing the electromagnet only when the appropriate signal is received from the remote control unit and when the proper key is inserted in the cylinder so that in the absence of the first-mentioned signal even the proper key will not cause retraction of the plunger to permit the ignition lock to be operated.

Abstract: Overvoltage arrester having a gas-filled housing wherein, spaced from one another by a tubular insulator, cylindrical electrodes ending frustoconically are disposed opposite one another and are formed, in a region of active surfaces thereof, with walls that are thicker than conical side walls thereof located in a region of transition to the insulator, at least one line of electrically conductive material being disposed at the inner surface of the tubular insulator and extending as an ignition line in direction from the one cylindrical electrode to the other, the electrodes and the insulator being receivable in a metallic sleeve acting as a socket at ground potential and having a movable surrounding cage, including a metallic sleeve for receiving the electrodes and the insulator, the sleeve serving as a socket and having a movable cage substantially concentrically and closely surrounding the electrodes and the insulator, one of the electrodes being a wire or pin electrode and the other electrode being a hollow

Abstract: A control circuit for protecting a metal oxide semiconductor field-effect power transistor from current overloads is disclosed in one embodiment of the control circuit. A silicon controlled rectifier is used to remove the bias voltage from the MOSFET in the event of a current overload. In another embodiment of the invention a bipolar transistor in combination with a second MOSFET is used to turn off the power MOSFET in the event of a current overload. The voltage appearing across the power MOSFET is used as an indication of a current overload condition.

Abstract: A circuit for regulating the internal programming voltage (Vpp) supplied to an integrated circuit memory device. The invention limits the internal programming voltage to a maximum value no greater than the field assisted breakdown voltage of on-chip transistors and/or the field transistor threshold voltage. Representatives of the several different types of transistors provided on an integrated circuit substrate are incorporated into the voltage regulating circuit. The regulator transistors are placed in the circuit in such a way that they are designed to break down first in the event of an excessive internal programming voltage (Vpp). In this way, the regulator transistors limit the voltage sent to the operating circuitry of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An electrical interlock to prevent unauthorized access to potentially hazardous equipment and an associated detection circuit to detect if a safety shield or closure member is open, not securely closed or has been tampered with and to thereupon automatically de-energize the equipment. The detection circuit may comprise a balanced bridge incorporating the electrical interlock into a leg thereof and may also provide a visual or audible indication whenever the bridge is unbalanced thereby indicating an improperly closed safety shield.

Abstract: In an AC electric power system including a voltage source having a live conductor and a neutral, a grounding and ground fault detection circuit connected between the neutral and ground potential and comprising, in series, a current limiter, a rectifier, and a signal generator for providing a control signal in response to a ground fault current.

Abstract: The continuity of a ground strap (16) is tested by pushing down on a switch activating toggle lever (37). The toggle lever is conductive, is isolated from ground and is coupled to a signal input terminal of a test circuit module (14). Thus, when the hand of the operator touches the toggle lever to activate the test circuit module (14), the resistive path through the operator and the ground strap (16) is coupled into the test circuit as the input-terminal-to-ground resistor of a voltage divider circuit. A resulting voltage at the toggle lever causes an indication by lighting either indicator (33) or indicator (34) whether the operator is properly coupled to ground.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device controlling the electromagnet of a multiple operation electrical apparatus.The electromagnetic coil (14) is connected in series to a triac (25) regulated by a generator (32) associated with a monostable flip-flop (34) designed to supply a single pulse of time-length T at each order from a logic circuit (36). A selector (38) cooperates with each output S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3 . . . of the logic circuit (36) to choose a predetermined mode of operation of the apparatus (10), particularly remote-operated switch, contactor, or ON-OFF mode.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high-voltage DC circuit breaker apparatus with reverse current insertion system by line voltage charge, which comprises a commutation switch, a series circuit of a capacitor, a reactor and a switch connected in parallel with the commutation switch, a resistor connected so as to charge the capacitor by a line voltage. The charging time constant of the capacitor determined by the capacity of the capacitor and the resistor is used as a reference in a manner so that the rise time constant of the line voltage is smaller than the charging time constant of the capacitor, and the rise time constant of the line current is larger than the charging time constant of the capacitor, thereby interrupting the fault current without fail.

Abstract: A steering wheel assembly with a centralized control system including terminal component such as an input and output member disposed in a center pad of the steering wheel. In this assembly; the terminal component and a computer for controlling said terminal component are disposed in a center pad of the steering wheel, the terminal component being mounted to the center pad in a selectively exchangeable manner. The terminal component may be formed as an exchangable cassette unit. The terminal component is also provided with a variety of switches and/or accessory equipment to thereby permit the same to be readily replaced with another cassette unit in accordance with driver's demands. Therefore, the improved steering wheel assembly of this invention is convenient and it can promptly and easily respond to the user's demands.

Abstract: A device for supplying an electric receiver whose position is variable on a surface, comprises, on said surface, a network of parallel strips made of an electrically conducting material, of the same width and spaced apart from one another, these strips being imbricated alternately in one another. These strips form two assemblies respectively connected to the two poles of a source of electrical current. A current pick-up with variable position bears at least two sensors adapted to come into contact with the conducting strips, and connected to a switching circuit for supplying the receiver. The network of parallel conducting strips is covered with a layer of insulating material and the current sensors are made in the form of metal contact styluses of the same length passing through the layer of insulating material forming the upper covering applied on the conducting strips.

Abstract: A lightning protection circuit for a digital subscriber loop interface has a loop interface transformer primary, connected across the TIP and RING terminals of the DSL interface, with a split winding. The split primary windings are balanced to minimize induced secondary voltages in the event of common mode lightning signals. Matched TIP and RING resistors limit the lightning current flowing to lightning ground. Back-to-back zener diode pairs across each split winding, and a capacitor connecting the split windings, limit the voltage across the windings in the event of differential lightning signals. The capacitor absorbs most of the lightning energy, rather than the secondary windings or the resistors.Back-to-back zener diode pairs across each secondary winding provide further lightning protection by limiting the energy absorbed by the transmit and receive circuitry.

Abstract: In a high-voltage switching system, nodes (1, 2, . . . , 8) are connected in the form of a ring via switching points (12, 23, . . . , ) which in each case contain a circuit breaker. In this system, the breaking currents of the circuit breakers are to be limited and thus the breaking capacity of the circuit breakers provided in the system is to be reduced if a short-circuited part (for example node 1) is separated from a faultless part of the system. This is achieved by opening a switching point (for example 45) of the nodes connected in the form of a ring, between the contact feeders of which switching point and the non-available node (for example (1) in each case at least one available node (for example 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) is provided, via which a component short circuit is fed into the ring.

Abstract: A woven strap that may be comfortably worn on the wrist to drain or wick static electrical charges from the wearer. Conductive fibers on the inside surface of the strap contact the skin and conduct electrical charges to a grounding cord attached to the strap. Face yarns exposed on the outer surface may be woven to form designs. The woven fabric material of the strap is attached to a clasp allowing the strap to be adjustable in size. Because of the woven nature of the fabric material and the adjustable clasp, the strap is more comfortable than other conductive elastic wrist straps. The woven fabric material is particularly advantageous because it stretches easily, it is inexpensive, and it does not roll over onto itself as it is being drawn over the hand.

Abstract: In a machine implemented method and a system for protecting an electric power system, a differential equationv=L(di/dt)+Riis solved by using an approximation ##EQU1## to determine the inductance L and to measure or discriminate the distance from the determined inductance, wherev represents the voltage,i represents the current,R represents the resistance,t represents the time,t.sub.k and t.sub.k-1 represent time points,i.sub.k+p and i.sub.k-p-1 represent values of the current i for time points represented by t.sub.k+p and t.sub.k-p-1,p represents integers (0, 1, . . . N),N represents a natural number,K.sub.p (p=0, 1, . . . N) represents constants, with at least K.sub.0 and K.sub.1 being values other than zero and being so determined that the errors in the approximation for the inductance is zero for specified frequencies.

Abstract: An ignition distributor rotor electrode provided with a coating of polyester-polyamide-imide varnish suppresses the generation of electromagnetic radiation of radio frequency.

Abstract: A consumer electronics product such as a portable radio or combination radio/tape recorder having both primary and auxiliary loads is provided with power control apparatus for energizing both loads when connected to a source of a-c potential and energizing only the primary load when connected to a source of d-c potential. The control apparatus includes a solid state switching device in series with the auxiliary load, the switching device coupled to the output of the a-c source such that it is conductive only when a-c electric power is being supplied to drive the loads.

Abstract: A switching device comprises a movable member which makes the first switch turn to an opposite phase at the first thrust-in position and makes the second switch turn to an opposite phase at the second thrust-in position, a first locking means which locks the movable member at the first thrust-in position, a second locking means comprising a torsion coil spring engaging member and a heart type cam recess on which the engaging member slides, which locks the movable member at the second thrust-in position, and a reset member which releases the movable member from the locking state. The first and second switches are selectable to set and can be alternatively operated only by repeated thrust-operation.