Abstract: A control method of the magnetic actuator system includes the following steps. A first initial orientation step is to move a magnetic actuator to a first position in accordance with a first position signal, and generate a first position sense signal by a position sensor. A second initial orientation step is to move the magnetic actuator to a second position in accordance with a second position signal, and generate a second position sense signal by the position sensor. An orientation step is to perform an interpolation in accordance with the above signals and a target position signal to obtain a target position sense signal. A moving step is to move the magnetic actuator to an actual position in accordance with the target position signal, and output an actual position sense signal by the position sensor. An adjustment step is to move the magnetic actuator to a target position in accordance with the target position sense signal and the actual position sense signal.

Abstract: A powered device includes an interface that is responsive to a powered network and an integrated circuit device that is coupled to the interface to receive power and data from the powered network. The integrated circuit device includes a power rectification and protection device to generate a rectified power supply related to the power received from the interface, a switching regulator to selectively activate a switched power supply to associated load circuitry, and a power over Ethernet (PoE) controller. The PoE controller controls the switching regulator to provide the switched power supply to the associated load circuit when the rectified power supply is within an operating range.

Abstract: A solid state power controller (SSPC) often contains electronic circuitry which could be damaged or upset by the excessive transient voltages induced by the lightning and SSPC could result in undesirable (or nuisance) trips due to lightning strikes. The present invention is intended to address the “nuisance trip” issue, by relying on the lightning indicative signals to distinguish between the transient current surge due to the lightning strike and that due to the circuit fault in the power distribution channel. The present invention utilizes either the break-down current in a transient voltage suppression (TVS) device, or a voltage signal at the output of the SSPC as the indication of lightning strike, to avoid nuisance trips.

Abstract: A switching power supply device includes: a switching element connected through a primary winding of a transformer to an output end of an input rectifying/smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothes an alternating current input voltage and outputs a direct current input voltage; an output rectifying/smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothes a voltage induced in a secondary winding of the transformer and outputs a direct current output voltage; and a control circuit that controls ON and OFF of the switching element.

Abstract: A system is presented. The system includes a micro-electromechanical system switch. Further, the system includes a balanced diode bridge configured to suppress arc formation between contacts of the micro-electromechanical system switch. A pulse circuit is coupled to the balanced diode bridge to form a pulse signal in response to a fault condition. An energy-absorbing circuitry is coupled in a parallel circuit with the pulse circuit and is adapted to absorb electrical energy resulting from the fault condition without affecting a pulse signal formation by the pulse circuit.

Abstract: A load driving and diagnosis system controls the feed and block of a load current flowing into an inductor such as a solenoid. The load driving and diagnosis system holds a counter-electromotive force, which is developed when the load current is blocked, at a voltage higher than a supply voltage so that the load current will decay for a short time. When an overcurrent condition is established in the load driving and diagnosis system because of a short circuit to a power supply, a malfunction of a circuit or destruction thereof may take place. In addition to a voltage holding means that holds a switching circuit output voltage at a predetermined voltage, a voltage holding means having a different predetermined voltage set therein is included. Moreover, a selection switch that switches the predetermined voltages according to a detected overcurrent condition is included.

Abstract: A plurality of DC power supply modules have track pins interconnected for tracking of output voltages of the modules during power-up and normal power-down. Each module pulls down its track pin voltage in response to any fault, and detects a track pin voltage below a threshold to detect a fault communicated from any other module, to facilitate fault power-down. The track pin voltage is initially raised above the threshold for power-up. One module can be designated a master for monitoring an input voltage to the modules and for determining the track pin voltage for normal power-up and power-down.

Abstract: A circuit breaker for a power controller integrated circuit is described where an analog timer and a digital timer are provided in parallel. The digital timer provides a fixed, on-chip maximum delay during an overcurrent condition to ensure the transistor will not be damaged. The analog timer allows the user to select an external capacitor or resistor to provide a delay time that is shorter than the time provided by the digital timer. Accordingly, the power controller retains all the flexibility of an analog timer but prevents the overcurrent exceeding a maximum time limit. An autoretry circuit is also included in the power controller which prevents the duty cycle from exceeding a maximum. The autoretry timer is a digital timer that uses the same oscillator as the digital timer for the circuit breaker so the ratio of the delay times is known and fixed.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection circuit comprises a comparator coupled between a power supply terminal and ground. The comparator responds to an electrostatic discharge event producing a trigger signal at a comparator output. The comparator comprises a first and second current mirror. The first and second current mirrors each comprise a sense device and a mirror device. The mirror devices are coupled in series between the power supply terminal and ground. The first mirror device produces an incident current and the second mirror device receives an absorption current. With a supply voltage on the power supply terminal equal to or greater than a trigger supply voltage, the absorption current exceeds the incident current and produces a trigger signal at the comparator output. The trigger signal activates a shunt device that shunts current from the power supply terminal to ground.

Abstract: A hybrid circuit (42) for use with communications transceivers. The hybrid circuit (42) combines the function of an ESD protection circuit (12) with the function of a TX/RX switch (10). The input node of the hybrid circuit (42) is connecting between the source of an ESD event (60) and a device to be protected (44). The hybrid circuit (42) includes an ESD protection element (50), which is triggered by a triggering transistor (52). The gate of the triggering transistor (52) is connected to a driver (54) for turning the triggering transistor (52) on during transmission and for turning the triggering transistor (52) off during reception.

Abstract: A variable trip limit transient blocking unit (TBU) is provided. The variable trip limit transient blocking unit circuit includes a transient blocking unit and a low-pass filter, such as an RC circuit having an RC time constant. The RC circuit is disposed to approximate an integrator operating over periods of time that are short compared to the RC time constant. The RC circuit integrates a signal representing an approximated current flowing through the transient blocking unit and triggers a disconnect threshold in the transient blocking unit when a voltage stored across a capacitor of the RC circuit reaches a predefined limit.

Abstract: In a plasma processing apparatus having an electrostatic chuck for holding a semiconductor wafer by an electrostatic adsorption force and a DC power supply for applying an electrostatic adsorption voltage to the electrostatic chuck, abnormal discharge in plasma is suppressed by providing the apparatus with a signal detector that detects a foresee signal that foresees occurrence of abnormal discharge in plasma, and a controller that controls ESC leakage current based upon the foresee signal. If the foresee signal is outside a prescribed range, control is exercised so as to reduce the absolute value of the electrostatic adsorption voltage, thereby suppressing the occurrence of an abnormal discharge.

Abstract: A new method for three-phase reclosing of transmission lines is disclosed. According this method, after the type of fault is identified and the faulted line is opened for all three phases from both ends, fault extinction is recognized by comparison of amplitudes and angles of voltages induced at opened phases with predetermined settings. The transmission line is reclosed after the fault is found to be extinguished.

Abstract: A chip includes a core circuit, a main electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit, and a secondary electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit. The secondary electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit is disposed beneath a core power ring formed between the core circuit and the main electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit for reaching the aim of protecting the core circuit from damage by electrostatic discharges without area penalty of the chip. Both the main electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit and the secondary electrostatic discharge immunizing circuit include a power clamp and a plurality of current limiters, and keep electrostatic currents from reaching the core circuit with the aid of the power clamp.

Abstract: An automated AC line filter and surge suppression apparatus 100 having an inductive current sense loop (ICSL) circuit 10 for sensing inductive current at a load and controlling the application of AC line filter 112 to an AC power line to the load. Current sensor 12 in series with the input line senses inductive load current. A first bridge rectifier 14 rectifies the sensed load current to a proportionate DC voltage, which triggers a switch 24. The output of switch 24 is fed into an opto-isolator 26, which in turn controls second switch 28. Switch 28 connects or disconnects AC line filter 112 from the system according to a predetermined sensed inductive current at the load. MOVs 102 and capacitive elements 104 provide continuous surge suppression protection to the load.

Abstract: A safety switching apparatus for failsafe disconnection of an electrical load has a first and a second connecting terminal for connecting a first signaling switch and a third and a fourth connecting terminal for connecting a second signaling switch. It also has a first and a second output switching element, which are designed to produce a redundant output switching signal. The first connecting terminal is connected to a first potential and the third connecting terminal is connected to a second potential. The potentials differ from one another. In addition, the second connecting terminal is coupled to the first switching element in such a way that the first switching element receives the first potential via the first signaling switch. Likewise, the fourth connecting terminal is coupled to the second switching element in such a way that the second switching element receives the second potential via the second signaling switch.

Abstract: A power plug having leakage current protection function is disclosed. The power plug includes a changeover mechanism for making and breaking electrical connection between the input (line) and output (load) side of the plug, and a control circuit for detecting a leakage current and a short circuit. A reset button and a test button are provided. When the reset button is pressed, a reset shaft operates the changeover mechanism to achieve electrical connection between the input and output sides. When there is a current leakage, a short circuit or other abnormal conditions at the output side of the plug (or the input side of the appliance connected to the plug), the control circuit generates a signal to operate the changeover mechanism to electrically disconnect the input and output sides. The test button can simulate a short circuit to electrically disconnect the input and output sides.

Abstract: An electronic blasting system (1) comprising a control unit (3), a surface harness and electronic detonators (4) connected to the surface harness by a 2-wire lead, the detonators (4) being adapted to provide information to the control unit (3) in response to command signals transmitted by the control unit (3) along the surface harness; wherein the surface harness comprises a primary line (2) with trunk lines (5) connect to it, wherein each trunk line (5) has connected to it individual detonators (4) making up the same row, wherein each trunk line (5) is connected to the primary line (2) by an actuator (6), and wherein each trunk line (5) includes an actuator (7) between adjacent detonators (4).

Abstract: An inverter detects whether a fault that an over current is supplied to a load is generated when the inverter supplies AC power and operates the load, and uses a voltage between a collector and an emitter of a switching element for detecting whether an over current is supplied to the load. The inverter cuts off a switching control signal, switches DC power by a plurality of switching elements supplying AC power to the load, detects the generation of the fault by a plurality of fault detecting units using the voltage of both ends of the collector and the emitter of a plurality of switching elements, generates the switching control signal by a controlling unit that outputs the switching control signal to a switching operation unit, and detects the generation of a fault by any of the plurality of fault detecting units.

Abstract: A leakage current detection interrupter with fire protection means, comprising: (i) a leakage current protection circuit, (ii) an electrical cord with metallic fire shields, and (iii) a fire protection circuit, wherein, in operation, the leakage current protection circuit and the fire protection circuit detect a fault condition including a leakage current, a ground fault and a fire hazard, and disconnect the source of electricity from the at least one user accessible load when leakage current, ground fault or fire hazard is detected. The electrical cord with metallic fire shields, the fire protection circuit, and the indicator circuit can be combined with any ground fault circuit interrupter, arc fault circuit interrupter, immerse detection circuit interrupter, appliance leakage current interrupter and electronic leakage current interrupter.