Abstract: A voltage clamping circuit that protects integrated circuits having multiple separate power supply voltage terminals from damage when an ESD event causes excessive differential voltages between the multiple separate power supply voltage terminals. The voltage clamping circuit has two subgroups of Darlington connected clamping transistors. The first subgroup of Darlington connected clamping transistors is connected between the first power supply voltage terminal and the second power supply voltage terminal. If the differential voltage exceeds the first clamping voltage level, the first subgroup of Darlington connected clamping transistors turn on and restore the first differential voltage to a level less than the first clamping voltage level. The second subgroup of Darlington connected clamping transistors connected between the second power supply terminal and the first power supply terminal.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection technique protects a semiconductor device against electrostatic discharge events. The technique uses an ESD protection circuit that includes a two cascode-connected clamps between the protected pad and a reference voltage conductor and an level-shifting inverter amplifier for driving the clamps. A control signal used to control the amplifiers is derived from a nominal-voltage pad, but the voltage used to activate the transistor clamps is derived from the protected pad to achieve the greatest voltage drive on the cascoded clamps during ESD.

Abstract: An energy transmission device allows several consumers to be supplied with energy independent of one another and provides contactless transmission of energy from a primary current line, through which alternating current flows, to a number of secondary, resident load circuits with at least one coil, each of which draws energy from the electromagnetic field of the current lead. An auxiliary line runs parallel to the current lead and it is connected with the current lead via several connecting points in order to conduct current from a first connecting point via the auxiliary line to a second connecting point. In at least one section of the line, between two connecting points, an adjustable impedance is provided in the auxiliary line which is controlled by a monitoring device in order to prevent blocking of the line by a disconnected consumer.

Abstract: A wireless control system (30, 70) for distributing electrical control signals to a plurality of controlled devices (36a, 36b, 36c, 74a and 74b), including an electronic control unit (ECU) (32, 72) adapted to communicate with one or more controlled devices (36a, 36b, 36c, 74a and 74b) and an induction loop (34, 73) coupled to the ECU (32, 72) and adapted to provide a magnetic field within the range of the controlled devices (36a, 36b, 36c, 74a, and 74b). Each controlled device (36a, 36b, 36c, 74a and 74b) includes an induction coil (42a, 42b, 42c, 76a and 76b) tuned to couple signals modulated within the magnetic field of the induction loop (34, 74). The controlled devices (74a and 74b) may include a sensor (82a, 82b) and may be adapted to send a status signal (84) to the ECU (72) via the induction loop (73).

Abstract: A computer system fan circuit having a primary power voltage source and a standby power voltage source. A fan control circuit is coupled to the primary power voltage source, the standby power voltage source and a power supply fan. In this way, power may be provided to the power supply fan when a power supply is in either a fill power mode or a standby power mode. In another embodiment, a ripple filter circuit is coupled to a voltage source and a system fan. The ripple filter circuit may be, for example, an active suppression current limiter circuit that limits the current drawn by one or more system fans.

Abstract: An electrical device such as a pressure guide wire (700) which has a resistive pressure sensor, such as a piezoresistive sensor (208), uses a precision interconnect in order to provide proper pressure measurement readings. The precision interconnect helps avoid the effects of contact and line resistance on the measurement of the pressure sensor's resistors (402 and 404). The precision interconnect uses high input impedance device's such as differential operational amplifiers (902, 904) in order to overcome the effect of any changes in the contact resistance. Further, an interface switch (1110) which is responsive to a control signal (1106) automatically determines what type of pressure guide wire (10 or 700) is attached to the interface circuit (1200).

Abstract: A switch integrated controller capable of giving a wide variety of controllers at a reduced cost. The controller has a casing composed of a controller module and a terminal module which are separately formed from each other and detachably connected to each other. The controller module has an entry section for receiving a specific external condition and a signal generating section which generates a trigger signal when the specific condition is met by a predetermined reference. The terminal module includes at least one pair of terminals which are adapted to be connected through wires to the external electrical device and an associated external power source and further includes a relay switch which is connected between the terminals for selectively connecting and disconnecting the electric device to and from the electrical power source in response to the trigger signal.

Abstract: A battery unit includes a plurality of cells connected in parallel with one another, and a switch connected in series with at least one of the cells. The battery unit further includes a control circuit for controlling the on or off state of the switch, and a voltage detection terminal at which a voltage produced by a cell, to which the switch is connected, is developed. The switch can be turned off even with the battery unit connected to a load. A cell in series with which the switch is connected is disconnected from the load. In this state, the state of the cell can be detected through the voltage detection terminal. Even when a resistor is substituted for the switch, the same advantage can be provided. Moreover, the battery unit is freely detachably attached to a main unit of an information processing apparatus. The battery unit then supplies power to the main unit. A power supply control circuit for requesting notification of the state of each cell in the battery unit is incorporated in the main unit.

Abstract: An electrical trailer plug device for connecting a trailer electrical system to a tow vehicle electrical system. The trailer plug device includes a first electrical connector configured to connect an electrical current path of the vehicle electrical system to an electrical current path of the trailer electrical system to complete an electrical circuit supplying electricity from the vehicle electrical system to one or more trailer lamps supported on the trailer. The device also includes a current protection device configured to limit current in the circuit when current flow in the circuit exceeds a predetermined value. A first sensor light is connected in the circuit with a combination of circuit elements configured to illuminate the first sensor light when current is flowing in the circuit but has not exceeded the predetermined.

Abstract: A vehicle alarm bypass module which may be used as a part of an installation module for a remote vehicle starter. The alarm bypass module includes a plurality of resistors and a first plurality of switches connected configured to respectively short out respective of the plurality of resistors. Further, a plurality of relays are configured to selectively connect the plurality of resistors into a circuit path. A variable resistance may further be provided in series with the plurality of resistors and a second plurality of switches may be provided to selectively connect the plurality of relays into and out of the circuit path. A multiturn coil may also be provided and may be configured to generate a magnetic field and to be selectively connected into and out of the circuit path based on the setting of the second plurality of switches. With such a structure, the alarm bypass module is flexible in the connection of its circuit components.

Abstract: A cooling fan controlling apparatus for a computer including a power management portion for managing a power management system (PMS) mode of the computer, and a switching portion having n parallel-connected resistors and n switches serially connected to the resistors and turned on/off according to the power management system mode managed by the power management portion, and serially connected to a power source for driving a cooling fan, for controlling a voltage supplied to the cooling fan, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. Since voltages for driving a switching mode power supply cooling fan and a central processing unit cooling fan can be controlled by power save mode steps of a system, noises generated when the cooling fans rotate can be properly managed.

Abstract: A protection device for vertically standing lamps devices is described. The protection device consists of a switch or other means of interrupting the electrical current in case of a fall. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a normally open switch installed at the base of the lamp. This switch is closed by the action of lamp's own weight.

Abstract: A switch operation processing apparatus for use with a manually operable switch and a controlled device, for controlling the controlled device depending on switch operation of the manually operable switch. The apparatus detects any occurrence of switch operation of the manually operable switch, determines when a predefined temporal pattern of switch operation of the manually operable switch occurs and controls the controlled device depending on the determination. The apparatus may reduce or eliminate any inconvenience which otherwise could be caused by an unintentional, inadvertent operation of the manually operable switch made by the operator, Also, the apparatus may achieve bidirectional adjustment of a controlled device through manual operation of a simple electric switch, such as a push button switch.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system and method has storage battery mechanism of very large equivalent capacitance providing excellent ripple filtering and an ideal path to ground, and filter capacitor mechanism of microfarad size providing DC blocking and limited AC path to ground. The storage battery entity is maintained as to its charge by DC supply, which provides regulated DC power in which switching regulation may be involved. The system and method provides dual voltage capability, both DC and AC, in which circuit breakers may be ganged for simultaneous tripping, and in which intrinsic DC circuit(s) may be looped to increase current-carrying capability. A DC isolation capacitor is connected to a common current path, such as to one of the busses, such as, for example, in series with the neutral circuit, as a means for avoiding undesirable DC current paths as may be encountered due to a multitude of established neutral-line connections to earthing grounds established throughout in AC power supply network.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for a direct-voltage power pack of an electronically controlled switching device, particularly of a small programmable control system, which is externally supplied with voltage, having an arithmetic-logic unit, signal inputs and signal outputs. This circuit has a back-up supplier for the backup supply of the supply voltage and a detector for detecting the input voltage which is not backed up, the detector interacting with the arithmetic-logic unit in such a way that, in response to any voltage failure, the signal inputs are reliably prevented from being read in.

Abstract: A method for reducing particles from an electrostatic chuck, having the steps of: setting a wafer onto an attracting face of an electrostatic chuck, attracting the wafer onto the attracting face by applying a voltage to the electrostatic chuck, releasing stress due to a difference in heat expansion between the wafer and the electrostatic chuck by sliding the wafer relative to the attracting face before the wafer's temperature arrives at a saturated temperature, and increasing the wafer's temperature to a saturated temperature from its lower temperature than that of the attracting face.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing electromagnetic interference in a microcomputing system. The apparatus and method of the present invention are based on the fundamental aspect of providing an EMI shield specifically dimensioned to receive a microprocessor within the microcomputing system. The apparatus and method of the present invention are further based on the aspect of providing at least one ferrite bead along a power delivery path to attenuate any high-frequency leakage current from the microprocessor that results at the resonant frequencies of the EMI shield.

Abstract: A junction box includes an array of conductive polymer positive temperature coefficient (PTC) devices formed from a laminate of a layer of conductive polymer PTC material between first and second metal foil layers. The first foil layer is divided, by conventional masking and etching techniques, into an array of discrete positive electrodes, each of which defines a single PTC over-current protection device having a predetermined trip current. The second foil layer is maintained intact and is shared by the PTC devices in the array as a common ground electrode. Each discrete positive electrode is contacted by a conductive spring contact finger. Two or more contact fingers can be formed as parts of single contact element or otherwise connected together to connect two or more devices in parallel, thereby providing a higher trip current than is provided by a single device.

Abstract: An ESD protection circuit is connected to an integrated circuit to dissipate an electrostatic charge from an ESD source placed in contact with two terminals of the integrated circuit to prevent damage to the integrated circuits. The ESD protection circuit has a ESD shunting circuit for shunting the electrostatic charge from integrated circuit. The ESD shunting circuit has a first port connected to one terminal of the integrated circuit, a second port connected to another terminal of the integrated circuit, and a third port. The ESD protection circuit additionally has an ESD detection circuit. The ESD detection circuit has a first input port connected to the one terminal of the integrated circuit, a second input port connected to the other terminal of the integrated circuit, and an output port connected to the third port of the ESD shunting circuit.

Abstract: A multiplexed system for a vehicle is disclosed for control of electrically operated components. The system includes an integrated power and communications bus for sending power and commands to vehicle components, multiplexing hardware to send multiple commands along two or more buses, control processor circuitry to control the process, wire harness with interface connections for electrically operated components, and selectable communication bandwidths for component to bandwidth matching.