Abstract: An apparatus for connecting power sources to a plug-in unit has a plug-in connector and a plurality of connection control circuits. Terminal pins of the plug-in connector are connected simultaneously to a negative power source, a GND and a positive power source. When the negative power source and the GND are connected, a first connection control circuit is turned ON and connects the negative power source to a first load circuit. A second connection control circuit is turned on in response to an input from the negative power source supplied to the first load circuit, and supplies a GND signal to a third connection control circuit. The third connection control circuit is turned ON when the GND signal is supplied to the positive power source, and connects the positive power source to a second load circuit.

Abstract: A hard diskdrive address adjusting device is provided which includes a plurality of rotary binary DIP switches respectively mounted on the hard diskdrives of an array hard diskdrive system. The rotary binary DIP switches adjust the address of each hard diskdrive. Each hard diskdrive of the array hard diskdrive system has a plurality of jumper terminals arranged in two rows, the jumper terminals of one row being connected in parallel with the contact C of the respective rotary binary DIP switch. The jumper terminals of the other row of each hard diskdrive being respectively connected to corresponding contacts of the respective rotary binary DIP switch.

Abstract: A power transfer control system for use in an AC electric power generation system comprises a generator control unit (GCU) which senses and controls the output of a generator, and a bus power control unit (BPCU) which communicates with the GCU to control and coordinate a power transfer between the generator and another source. Each unit communicates power transfer information, which eliminates the requirement of redundant sensing circuitry and wiring for the BPCU. The BPCU transmits master power control information and a synchronizing signal indicating a zero phase reference point of a control waveform to which the power transfer will take place. The GCU compares parameters of the output power of its respective source with the master power control information and the synchronizing signal.

Abstract: A plug-in module receives both primary and alternate power via mating connectors on the module and on the backplane. Multilevel connectors are used so that a module being inserted first receives alternate power and ground before primary power and signal connections are made. The initial connect to the alternate power supply directs the transient current to the alternate power supply through an isolating PN junction diode having a forward bias voltage drop of about 0.8 volts. When the module is fully inserted, the module is connected to both the primary and alternate power. Within each module the associated electrical load is now connected directly to the primary power bus. To prevent transient currents produced by the hot insertion of other plug-in modules from affecting the voltage level on the power bus, the primary voltage supply is connected to the primary power bus via a Schottky diode having a forward bias voltage of approximately 0.4 volts.

Abstract: Re-powering an electrical equipment after recovery of service interruption is prevented if the power switch of the electrical equipment stays in ON position. During a transit period of time just after recovery of service interruption, the detection voltage from a post-voltage detection circuit is set to exceed the detection voltage from a pre-voltage detection circuit. In this condition, a photo triac connected in series to the power switch is rendered non-conductive so that the electrical equipment will not be energized.

Abstract: A high-voltage switching circuit is formed of a series combination of switches, each of which is rated for use at a voltage lower than that of the power supply. The switches are connected in series with inductors, the inductors being magnetically coupled, in an anti-phase manner. A pair of capacitors, having substantially equal values of capacitance, are connected, respectively, in parallel with each series combination of a switch and inductor. The inductors and capacitors together insure that no more than one-half the total voltage of the power supply will ever appear across either switch. The series combination of switches can be used in place of a single switch, and permits the use of switches rated at low voltage to be combined to form an overall switch which works reliably at a higher voltage.

Abstract: An electrical power controller includes an input filter, a touch logic and a power conditioner combining to control a power device coupled to an electrical load which in turn is coupled to an AC main power source. The controller includes an overload or short circuit current sensor and apparatus for disabling the electrical power coupling to the load to protect both the load and the output power device against excessive current. A visual display indicating the level of voltage applied to the load is provided. In alternate embodiments, a timer having a preprogrammed power variation profiles imposes a predetermined variation of power to the load over time.

Abstract: A hot-plugging circuit for controlling the rate of application or withdrawal of both voltage and current to a user circuit to permit power up or down of the user circuit either to conserve energy usage in operation or to facilitate non-disruptive insertion or extraction of the user circuit from a larger, continually-powered, circuit. A semiconductor switch is used as the principle current and voltage control element. Current through the switch is monitored during transitions, and is converted to a voltage level. A voltage ramp relative to the voltage applied to the user circuit is generated and compared with the current representing voltage level to generate a control signal for controlling the rate of turn ON or turn OFF of the semiconductor switch. The voltage ramp generation is controlled by an ON/OFF control voltage level.

Abstract: A button interface for a state machine provides three signals, X, Y, or X and Y. The state machine further detects a single contact, a double contact, or a persistent contact to provide a matrix of nine separate states which control player functions. The cover of the button interface has two degrees of freedom, rotation and depression, which are achieved by various embodiments of leaf and coil springs.

Abstract: A starter comprising a contactor with an overcurrent relay provides an appropriate cooling interval for each of multiple classes of a load, such as a motor. An analog equivalent of a digital I.sup.2 t value calculated by a microcomputer in the overload relay is maintained by an external capacitor. When the microcomputer loses power following a trip, the capacitor discharges through a resistor at a rate selected to mimic cooling of the associated class of the load. Restart of the load is prevented until the appropriate interval, represented by the time required for the voltage on the capacitor to decay to a common reset value, has expired. The capacitor is charged to a voltage proportional to the I.sup.2 t trip value for the particular class of the load, which for all classes is below the forward drop of the clamping diodes on the microcomputer inputs to prevent discontinuities in the timing.

Abstract: A manual override circuit for use in commercial and household electronic devices. The override circuit may employ as little as a single integrated-circuit operational amplifier, two capacitors, which are charged and discharged in appropriate sequence in response to toggling of the power supply, and several resistors. In one embodiment the manual override circuitry includes an integrated-circuit operational amplifier, which provides a high signal at its output for triggering switching circuitry to energize a load. An RC network couples low-voltage a power supply to the inverting input of the op amp. The inverting and noninverting inputs of the op amp are coupled together through a resistive network, which may be provided by single resistor. A second resistive network, which may also be provided by single resistor couples the inverting input to ground.

Abstract: A semiconductor power switch system having a control portion and at least one semiconductor power switch unit (PSU) having a self-diagnosis function to simplify the connection lines between the control portion and the PSU. In the PSU, a diagnosing terminal for transmitting an abnormality signal is, by a connection line in the outer portion, connected to an input terminal for receiving a control signal so that the control signal from the control portion to the PSU and the abnormality signal from the PSU to the control portion are communicated through one bidirectional signal transmission line. That is, if an abnormality has taken place, a transistor is turned on so that the level of the bidirectional signal transmission line is fixed to the level of the abnormality signal through the diagnosing terminal and the connection line.

Abstract: A "blink" technique, analogous to a person blinking at a flash of bright light, is provided for mitigating the effects of single event current latchup and prompt pulse destructive radiation on a micro-electronic circuit. The system includes event detection circuitry, power dump logic circuitry, and energy limiting measures with autonomous recovery. The event detection circuitry includes ionizing radiation pulse detection means for detecting a pulse of ionizing radiation and for providing at an output terminal thereof a detection signal indicative of the detection of a pulse of ionizing radiation. The current sensing circuitry is coupled to the power bus for determining an occurrence of excess current through the power bus caused by ionizing radiation or by ion-induced destructive latchup of a semiconductor device.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power system having a main power path between input and output terminals monitors the phase of the voltages at the input and output terminals while power is applied to the input terminals from an AC power source. The phase difference between the voltages at the input and output terminals is determined and, upon occurrence of a fault in the power supplied to the input terminals, an inverter is turned on to provide power to the load at a frequency which matches the frequency of the input voltage before the fault and at a phase which is the phase of the voltage at the input terminals before the fault corrected in accordance with the phase difference determined before the fault. Prior to transfer of the supply of power back to the main AC power source when the fault ends, the phase and frequency of the voltage at the input terminals is again measured.

Abstract: A power loss detection system for a power supply including a main converter for providing regulated power, an activation circuit for mining on and off the main converter based on an active low activation signal, a standby power circuit for providing a standby power signal, and an internal pullup resistor coupled between the standby power and activation signals. The power supply asserts a power status signal indicative of the status of regulated power. Alternatively, an external detection circuit monitors the regulated power from the power supply and asserts a power loss signal indicative thereof. The control circuit asserts the activation signal low to turn on the main converter or floats the activation signal to turn off the main converter. If the power good or power loss signal indicates loss of regulated power, the control circuit floats the activation signal. If the activation signal goes or remains low after the activation signal is floated, then the power source has failed.

Abstract: A reconfigurable connector for a peripheral device, which has a first standard configuration in which data is sent and received, and which has a second configuration in which data is sent and received, and in which power is supplied to an interfaced device through a predefined signal pin on the reconfigurable connector. Included in the reconfigurable connector are a controller and a sensor which senses a predetermined signal. In response to the predetermined signal, the controller alters a configuration of the reconfigurable connector from the first standard configuration to the second configuration. In the first standard configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to provide to the interfaced device a signal which indicates that the peripheral device is supplied with power. In the second configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to supply power to the interfaced device.

Abstract: An electrical switching assembly which is formed by a base unit (10) and a control unit (11) having respective bodies which are releasibly engageable together through mechanical connection. The base unit (10) includes two supply terminals (20 & 21) for electrical connection to a power supply, two load terminals (22 & 23) for electrical connection to a load, and a built-in electrical switch (31) having an exposed operating member for manual operation. The electrical switch (31) is connected electrically in series between the power supply and the load terminals (20/21 & 22/23) in order to manually control the electrical connection of the load to the power supply.

Abstract: A battery pack (4) comprises a stack of lithium solid state cells (1) and a DC/DC converter (2) in a housing (3), for use in supplying current to an electronic apparatus, e.g. a portable telephone. This provides a stable voltage for operating the electronic apparatus as the cells become progressively more discharged without having to include a DC/DC converter in the apparatus itself. The battery pack (4) can be arranged to supply current directly from the cells (1) as well as via the DC/DC converter (2), and the DC/DC converter (2) can be made voltage controllable to supply different voltages depending upon requirements. Conductive screening around the battery pack can be provided to prevent electromagnetic interference from the DC/DC converter (2).

Abstract: This device is for the creation of independance from human instruction using a self-contained, wearable electronic device and automatic presentations of prerecorded audio and, or audiovisual information at predesignated, beneficial times. Messages can be presented in easily understood parts and at a rate comfortable to the user. The simulating messages containing any useful combinations of human voice, visual imagery, musical tones, ect., can be automatically presented an appropriate number of times for the given user. The device also concerns power savings in multiple circuit systems such that circuits of varying power requirements, as defined by their functionality, are able to deactivate each other for the express purpose of power conservation. In the case of separate batteries per circuit, low power circuits do not drain power away from the batteries of other circuits that require their batteries to provide high bursts of power for short intervals of time.

Abstract: An inside case made of rubber is mounted in an outside case, a substrate integrally provided with an engine stop switch circuit and a switch electrode of an engine stop switch unit is assembled in the inside case, and its lower side is filled with curable insulating base material to be sealed. Further, a switch contact opposed to the switch electrode is formed of pressure sensitive conductive rubber, and a reversal spring is further interposed on the pressure sensitive conductive rubber. As a result, wirings are eliminated, a decrease in the size of the entire apparatus and simplification can be realized, and a metal contact is eliminated to improve durability.