Abstract: A circuit is provided that provides for the same power characteristics to an assembly of electrical resistive elements wired in parallel as to the assembly as wired in series. An input power source provides electrical resistive power to a plurality of load elements, wherein the plurality of load elements are connected in parallel to each other. A plurality of power splitters divide the power source into separate and equal power subsources such that there is one power splitter and one power subsource for each load element, wherein the power provided to each of the plurality of load elements is equal to the power of the electrical power source. Redundancy and fault tolerance is provided to the circuitry by permitting remaining load elements to continue to operate should one or more load elements fail.

Abstract: A method and device for connecting a load to an AC power source is arranged to ensure that the volt-second ratings of magnetic devices in the load are not exceeded, in order to limit in-rush currents resulting from saturation of the magnetic devices. In the case where the load is being disconnected from a first AC source and connected to a second AC source, the volt-seconds of the load can be measured and/or calculated during disconnect, in order to delay connection of the load to the second AC source by an amount sufficient to prevent saturation of magnetic devices and thereby ensure volt-second synchronization of the sources.

Abstract: The surge arrester contains a tubular encapsulation (1) of electrically conductive material that is filled with an insulating gas, an insulator (17) that is held on the encapsulation (1) and serves for supporting a current conductor (R) that is connected to a high voltage, an active part (2R) that is arranged in the encapsulation (1) and comprises at least one varistor column (3) that is aligned along the encapsulation axis (A) and a field control element (6). In order to maintain the manufacturing costs of this arrester at a low level, the field control element (6) and a first plug-type contact (16) of a plug connection (15) are held on the current conductor (R) of the insulator (17), and a high-voltage electrode (4) of the varistor column (3) that is connected in an electrically conductive fashion to the current conductor (R) via the plug connection (15) contains the second plug-type contact (14) of the plug connection (15).

Abstract: Described herein is an electronic protection device for automatic circuit-breakers comprising: a control unit; a warning interface; a supply system comprising a main supply system and a first back-up supply system; an interface for connection between said supply system and said control unit, said connection interface comprising an automatic device for passage from the main supply to the back-up supply in the event of interruption of said main supply.

Abstract: A surge protective circuit and a noise filter circuit are provided in a power-supplying line, the surge protective circuit is adapted for protecting a switching device from surge voltage generated during operation of an electric motor and the noise filter circuit is adapted for absorbing noise generated during operation of the switching device, each of the surge protective circuit and the noise filter circuit include a plurality of elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of the elements constructing the surge protective circuit is used as at least one of the plurality of the elements constructing the noise filter circuit in common with each other.

Abstract: To reduce the electric power wasted in an overvoltage protection circuit, a regulator IC 100 incorporates an overvoltage protection circuit 105 that stops the output operation of the regulator when the output voltage Vo becomes higher than a predetermined threshold voltage Vth1. The overvoltage protection circuit 105 includes switch means FET3 that turns on and off the overvoltage protection operation thereof according to a predetermined control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing and controlling remote load voltages, the apparatus includes a power converter, a plurality of remote loads, each remote load located in a loop connected to the power converter, and a feed back loop connected to the power converter, and physically adjacent to the power converter, wherein the feed back loop further comprises a first path and a second path, with the first path and the second path in parallel.

Abstract: A combination of a current limiting resistor and a clamping Schottky diode prevent substantial forward biasing of a pn junction associated with a pad in a snapback device during normal operation, but do not substantially affect triggering of the device during an unbiased electrostatic discharge event. Minority carrier injection from n+ devices is substantially reduced, and the circuit may also be used to clamp an oxide voltage in a thin oxide semiconductor device.

Abstract: Switching losses and conduction losses are isolated by networks which are partially cryogenic and partially at room temperature. Switching losses are independent of temperature. Advantageously the switching losses are taken in a snubber network at room temperature and conduction losses are incurred at cryogenic temperatures, where majority carrier devices like MOSFETs operate with ultra low on-state resistance and corresponding low conduction losses. Low loss leads carry current efficiently from the cryogenic environment to room temperature without adversely affecting refrigeration. Switch and snubber network may both operate cryogenically.

Abstract: A protective circuit (1), particularly for overvoltage-protecting an electronic motor control unit, comprises a signal connection receiving and/or emitting an electrical signal, a switching element (4) which activates or deactivates a protective interrupter and is controllable via a control input, and a control circuit (5), the input side of which is connected to the signal connection while the output side thereof is connected to the control input of the switching element (4) in order to activate or deactivate the protective interrupter according to the electrical state at the signal connection. The control circuit (5) has a hysteresis characteristic regarding the electrical state at the signal connection.

Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement includes connection terminals, an undervoltage detector, and at least one circuit unit. The connection terminals are configured to receive a supply voltage. The undervoltage detector is coupled between the connection terminals and is configured to compare the supply voltage with a select reference value selected from a first reference value and a second reference value. The second reference value is less than the first reference value. The undervoltage detector is further operable to produce a detector signal on the basis of a result of the comparison. The circuit unit is coupled between the connection terminals, and includes a first operating state with a first drawn current and a second operating state with a second drawn current. The second drawn current exceeds the first drawn current. The select reference value corresponds to an operating state of the at least one circuit unit.

Abstract: An overload current limiting circuit includes an output control circuit responsive to a logic input signal for generating a control signal for driving an output device to produce at an output terminal a signal representative of the logic input signal; and a sense circuit for sensing voltage at the output terminal indicative of a current overload and diverting a portion of that current to change the control signal to the output device to limit the overload current.

Abstract: A passive noise reduction apparatus has a headset with at least one ear cup attached to the headset, the ear cup having an ear side and a shell side. An inner shell, having a cup side and an outer side, is mounted to and substantially covers the shell side of the ear cup wherein the cup side of the inner shell faces the shell side of the ear cup. An outer shell, having an inner side and a distal side, is mounted to and substantially covers the inner shell, wherein the inner side of the outer shell is in substantially contiguous contact with the outer side of the inner shell.

Abstract: A power source outlet device which can detect a spark discharge which causes occurrence of tracking using a simple circuit and can further break a cable run using a simple circuit. The device includes receiving blades connected with plug blades, a sensor detecting a spark discharge occurring between the connected plug blades, a tracking detecting circuit receiving a spark discharge detecting behavior of the sensor and outputting a tracking occurrence signal, an LED and a buzzer actuated according to the tracking occurrence signal provided thereto, the tracking detecting circuit is constituted of a circuit connected with the sensor and a circuit producing a tracking occurrence signal connected via a first photo-coupler.

Abstract: A polyphase power distribution and monitoring apparatus having sets of outputs for each phase of power and monitors for each phase of power disposed in the housing. Each monitor provides a visible display of current for an associated phase of power and an audible alarm for each phase of power if the current exceeds a predetermined value or falls below a predetermined value. In three-phase wye power systems, the apparatus preferably includes a neutral line monitor, including a neutral line current display and audio alarm, for the neutral line of the wye power circuit. The apparatus preferably is lightweight, elongated, portable, and mountable to the side of an electronic equipment rack. It may also include additional power monitoring systems such as network power monitoring tools for remotely monitoring the apparatus.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck for supporting a semiconductor wafer, including: a chuck body having a dielectric region and an insulating region, the insulating region having a higher electrical resistivity than the dielectric region, an electrode embedded in the chuck body, and a barrier layer provided between dielectric region and the insulating region.

Abstract: The battery pack according to the present invention is to avoid any trouble or the like of the primary or secondary battery inside the battery pack with a simple mechanical construction when a load is intermittently connected between the external terminals of the battery pack. For this end, the battery pack includes at least the battery cell and a protection circuit for shutting off overcurrent discharge and features in the provision of shut-off holding means and releasing means. The shut-off holding means maintains discharge shut-off condition after abnormal discharge shut-off by shorting or connecting a low resistance between the external plus terminal and the external minus terminal from outside of the battery pack. The releasing means releases the shut-off condition of the shut-off holding means when a predetermined voltage is applied between the external plus terminal and the external minus terminal.

Abstract: An enhanced power switch device is provided for enabling modular USB PC cards. The enhanced power switch may include a card sense circuit for sensing the type of card present, a card power switching circuit for supplying power to a modular USB card, and isolation circuit for isolating conventional PC Card control signals from the modular USB card and a connection circuit for connecting USB signals to the USB Card. The system of the present invention can modified for other bus technologies, in addition to USB bus devices.

Abstract: A plasma is generated inside a barrier enclosure made specifically of N-Type semiconductive material, said plasma thus generating a thermal gradient across said barrier which drives electrons through said barrier via the thermoelectric power of said N-Type semiconductor, said electrons thus being liberated on the opposing side of said barrier where they interact with oxygen in the air to form the superoxide ion, O2?, and a second electrode on said opposing being at a critical minimum negative bias potential to quench collateral production of positive ions and ensuring production only of negative, O2?, ions.

Abstract: A protected power device includes a power transistor with an internal control line to receive a control line current and a fault detector, coupled to the internal control line. A power device protection circuit includes a power device driver, coupled to the control line to drive the protected power device, a current sensor, coupled to the control line to sense a fault of the protected power device by monitoring the control line current and to generate a fault-sensing signal, and control logic, coupled to the current sensor and to the power device driver to respond to the fault-sensing signal of the current sensor. The fault detector modifies the control line current upon detecting a fault and the current sensor senses the fault by sensing the modified control line current. The control logic responds to the sensed fault by limiting or shutting down the current of the protected power device.