Abstract: A sparkless socket including a socket, a sensing module, a controller, a switching module, a pressing stick and a mechanical switch is provided. The sensing module includes an emitter and a receiver. The receiver receives an infrared light emitted by the emitter through a light guide element module and holes on slots of the socket and generates a sensing result accordingly. The pressing stick is pressed by a plug if the plug is plugged into the socket. The mechanical switch is controlled by the pressing stick to generate a first signal. The switching module is controlled by the controller to transmit an AC power provided by a city power system from the controller to the socket. The controller determines whether the plug is plugged into the socket according to the sensing result and the first signal and thereby enables or disables the switching module.

Abstract: A portable exothermic welding ignition controller includes a housing configured to receive a first portion of a portable power tool battery with a second portion of the portable tool battery external to the housing. A circuit board is positioned within the housing and configured for electrical coupling to the portable power tool battery. An actuator is operatively engageable with the circuit board for selectively discharging power from the portable power tool battery to a connection terminal electrically coupled to the circuit board.

Abstract: A fault current limiter (FCL) includes at least one magnetisable core member and at least one AC magnetomotive force source configured to generate a varying magnetic flux in at least a portion of the at least one magnetisable core member. At least one static magnetomotive force source is positioned to provide a magnetic circuit within at least part of the at least one magnetisable core member and the AC magnetomotive force source and the static magnetomotive force source are relatively positioned to be orthogonal to each other. Typically the static magnetomotive force source may be a permanent magnet and the AC magnetomotive force source configured to generate a varying magnetic flux in both of first and second spaced core members.

Abstract: An electrical wiring device for vehicle includes a distribution module that is disposed between an auxiliary connector and optional devices. The distribution module includes: semiconductor relays connected to a power supply line; input/output interfaces; a control unit configured to control the semiconductor relays and the input/output interfaces on the basis of various kinds of signals acquired via a communication line; and a connecting terminal for connecting outputs of the semiconductor relays and outputs of the input/output interfaces to the optional devices. The control unit controls operations of the semiconductor relays and the input/output interfaces corresponding to the optional devices connected to the connecting terminal.

Abstract: Embodiments include a technique for eliminating secondary fuses in high power solid state power controllers, the technique includes controlling gate power provided to a field effect transistor array, and detecting a failure mode. The technique also includes disabling the gate power based at least in part on detecting the failure mode, and restoring the gate power responsive to resolving the failure mode.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting a defective amplifier. The device includes an electronic tripping unit which respectively carries out a check in order to determine whether the energy through the switch satisfies a condition and trips the switch if the condition has been satisfied; and an analog/digital converter respectively outputting the two differently amplified analog signals as digital values. In an embodiment of the method, a decision is made regarding which of the two digital values is used to check the condition. To detect defective amplifiers in the signal conditioning device of tripping units during ongoing operation, a check is carried out to determine whether at least one of the two digital values is in a predefined range; if so, whether the two digital values each belonging to the same time are in a predefined tolerance range. A fault is signaled if this is not the case.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a control circuit capable of generating and transmitting a test pulse through its attached circuit and any connected load while its contacts are open, with the breaker in the OFF, or TRIPPED, state, to determine if detrimental anomalies exist, such as a short circuit. In certain configurations, the control circuit can measure and store a circuit's parameters for a properly operating load when the breaker is in the OFF state, and subsequently with the breaker in the OFF, or TRIPPED, state, compare the stored parameters to determine if an alarm condition exists and thereby initiate appropriate alerts and actions. In an alternate configuration, the breaker can be commanded to the OFF position by the load sending a signal through the power connection, with the breaker then being able to store the load's reason for shut-down and report such information to a remote location.

Abstract: A fault current limiter, including: two inductors, a direct current circuit breaker, a shunt resistor, a first fixed resistor, and metal oxide arresters. The two inductors include wound superconducting wires. The inductors have identical number of windings and identical structure. Magnetic fluxes of the inductors are forward coupled, and the inductors are connected in parallel to form a superconducting inductor structure. The direct current circuit breaker and the superconducting inductor structure are connected in series to form a series branch. The shunt resistor is connected in parallel to the series branch. The first fixed resistor is connected in parallel to the direct current circuit breaker. The metal oxide arresters are two in number, and are connected to two ends of the inductors in parallel.

Abstract: A system for dynamically controlling the functionality of control channels in an electrical system includes a plurality of control channels, each operatively connected to at least one state change device connected to an electrical component. Each control channel is operatively connected to at least one adjacent control channel by a control channel communication line. Each control channel is configured to store grouping information of the state change device. A controller is operatively connected to each control channel such that each control channel can receive the grouping information from the controller. The controller is configured to selectively send grouping information to allow each control channel to directly communicate with adjacent control channels within their respective grouping such that each control channel in a grouping functions together in unison when the at least one state change device in a grouping changes state.

Abstract: A magnetic levitation device includes a pair of magnets, a displacement detection means, and a control means. The pair of magnets generate magnetic force for supporting a ferromagnet in a noncontact manner. The displacement detection means detect the displacement of the ferromagnet in a lateral shift direction. The control means suppresses the vibration of the ferromagnet in a lateral shift direction. The control means controls the pair of magnets so that a stronger magnetic force acts on the ferromagnet that is displaced in a direction departing from the center of the vibration than when the ferromagnet is displaced in a direction returning to the center of the vibration.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for providing ESD protection to an ESD protected circuit. The protection circuit comprises a signal pad and a crossover network for separating wanted electrical data signals and ESD signals according to their frequency. The protection circuit further comprises a first branch configured to transmit at least a spectral part of the wanted electrical data signals between the signal pad and the ESD protected circuit and a second branch configured to receive the ESD signals from the signal pad. Additionally there is provided a corresponding method, a corresponding integrated circuit chip and a corresponding design structure.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first electronic circuitry portion configured to connect a VCONN supply terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller to a first configuration channel (CC) terminal of a plurality of CC terminals of the USB-C controller. The first CC terminal of the USB-C controller is to be directly connected to a first CC terminal of a plurality of CC terminals of a USB-C receptacle. The electronic device further includes a second electronic circuitry portion electrically coupled to the first electronic circuitry portion and configured to detect a voltage across the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller and the VCONN supply terminal. The second electronic circuitry portion is to decouple the VCONN supply terminal from the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller when the voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A resettable switching apparatus, useful in a GFCI receptacle, has an auto-monitoring circuit for automatically testing various functions and structures of the device. The auto-monitoring circuit initiates an auto-monitoring routine which, among other things, establishes a test fault situation on either the positive or negative half-wave of the power cycle and determines whether the detection mechanisms within the device appropriately detect the test fault and whether the device would trip in the event of an actual fault. Additional functionality of the auto-monitoring circuit permits automatic verification that the device is properly wired, that is, not miswired, and determines whether the device has reached the end of its useful life.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for preventing a maloperation of differential protection of an optical fiber caused by saturation of a single Current Transformer (CT) of 3/2 connection. By applying a combination of the differential judgment and the sub-CT current judgment, reliable identification of internal and external faults is ensured, and the problem of misjudging of the internal fault as the external fault can be prevented as well.

Abstract: An inrush current limiting method not requiring the use of a sense resistor, the method constituted of: generating a ramped voltage; comparing a first function of a voltage across a port capacitor with the generated ramp voltage; responsive to the outcome of the comparison of the voltage first function with the ramp voltage, controlling an electronically controlled switch coupled to the port capacitor such that the voltage across the port capacitor is a linear function of the generated ramped voltage; comparing a second function of the voltage at a terminal of the electronically controlled switch with a predetermined reference voltage; and responsive to the outcome of the comparison indicating that the second function of the terminal voltage is greater than the predetermined reference voltage, pulling the generated ramp voltage towards a predetermined shutoff voltage.

Abstract: High temperature protection system includes a thermal detection and control circuit, a pulse width modulation signal output circuit, a driving circuit, and a coil module. The thermal detection and control circuit is used for detecting a temperature and outputting at least one corresponding control signal. The pulse width modulation signal output circuit is coupled to the thermal detection and control circuit for generating a pulse width modulation signal according to the at least one control signal. The driving circuit is coupled to the pulse width modulation signal for generating at least one driving voltage. The coil module is coupled to the driving circuit and is operated according to the at least one driving voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a conduction path circuit coupled between the first and second terminals. The conduction path circuit includes an input terminal to receive an enable signal which, when activated, allows the conduction path circuit to conduct electrical current between the first and second terminal. A control circuit coupled to the input terminal of the conduction path circuit is configured to selectively activate the enable signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device and a method for operating an ESD protection device are described. In one embodiment, an ESD protection device includes a first bipolar device connected to a first node, a second bipolar device connected to the first bipolar device and to a second node, and a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device connected to the first and second nodes and to the first and second bipolar devices and configured to shunt current in response to an ESD pulse received between the first and second nodes. The first bipolar device, the second bipolar device, and the MOS device are formed on a deep well structure. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A transmission circuit including four transmission component sets for an Ethernet device is provided. Each transmission component set are coupled between an Ethernet connector and an Ethernet chip. Each transmission component set includes a transformer, two capacitors, and four transmission lines (TLs). The transformer includes four terminals and two center taps. Two diagonal terminals of the four terminals are coupled to a ground. The other two diagonal terminals of the four terminals are coupled to the Ethernet connector and, through one of the two capacitors, to the Ethernet chip via two of the four TLs, respectively. The two center taps are coupled to the Ethernet connector and, through the other one of the two capacitors, to the Ethernet chip via the other two of the four TLs, respectively.

Abstract: A method for managing an electronic circuit (2) including a thermal protection device (12) interrupting the operation of the electronic circuit when a measured temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, includes counting the electronic circuit operation interruptions and interrupting the operation of the electronic circuit when the number of counted interruptions reaches a predetermined value and when no reset has taken place. The corresponding circuit includes: a counter (16); linking elements between the counter and the thermal protection device such that the counter can indicate the number of operation interruptions caused by the thermal protection device; and elements for resetting the counter.