Abstract: An ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) protection circuit includes a detection unit for detecting a rising time of a signal flowing into a first and a second power lines; a pre-driver for buffering an output signal of the detection unit; and a power clamp which operates in response to an output signal of the pre-driver and connects the first and the second power lines each other. The detection unit includes: an RC filter connected in series between the first and the second power lines; a first inverter for inverting an output of the RC filter; and a first capacitor, connected between the first power line and a source end of a first transistor of the first inverter, for preventing a leakage current from flowing through the first transistor and a second transistor of the first inverter when a power noise is applied to the first and the second power lines.

Abstract: In driving a movable body in a target direction, a force in another direction, which may act on the movable body, is reduced. A system includes a current amplifier, which drives X1 and X2 electromagnets (a first actuator) for aligning the movable body in the X direction, a system including a current amplifier, which drives Y1 and Y2 electromagnets (a second actuator) for aligning the movable body in the Y direction, a subordinate direction component correction unit, which reduces a force in the Y direction acting on the movable body when driving the movable body in the X direction by the first actuator, and a subordinate direction component correction unit, which reduces a force in the X direction acting on the movable body when driving the movable body in the Y direction by the second actuator.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a firing element of an occupant protection system comprises first and second supply potential terminals and first and second firing element terminals. A first semiconductor switching element is integrated in a first semiconductor body and has a first load terminal coupled to the first supply potential terminal and a second load terminal coupled to the first firing element terminal. A second semiconductor switching element is integrated in a second semiconductor body and has a first load terminal coupled to the second firing element terminal and a second load terminal coupled to the second supply potential terminal. The first and second semiconductor bodies are applied to a thermally conductive carrier element and commonly housed. A temperature detector is integrated in the second semiconductor body and provides an overtemperature signal at an output of the drive circuit upon detection of an overtemperature of the first semiconductor switching element.

Abstract: An arc suppression circuit in a protection relay having trip contacts is used to turn off a battery-powered solenoid and trip an AC power circuit breaker. The arc suppression circuit uses a switch-control circuit to control the turning off of a semi-conductor switch so that the semi-conductor switch provides a current path around the trip contacts, and is carrying all, or substantially all, of the load current, before the trip contacts are opened. When the trip contacts begin to open, the switch-control circuit holds the semi-conductor switch on for a sufficient time to prevent an arc from becoming established before turning the semi-conductor switch off. In a second embodiment, the arc suppression circuit provides a second switch-control circuit. This second switch-control circuit is configured to accept control signals from a microprocessor within a protection relay.

Abstract: A relay controller for connecting a power source includes at least one relay having at least two contacts. The relay controller includes a processing device operable to selectively switch the relay contacts, and a feedback circuit adapted to identify an actual state of the relay contacts. The processing device is configured to recognize a fault contact condition of a disparity between an expected state of the relay contacts and the actual state of the relay contacts. The processing device is also configured to responsively communicate information relating to the relay fault condition.

Abstract: Devices, such as mobile devices, may be exposed to short circuit and output overload events. To protect against such events, mobile devices typically include circuitry to limit currents so as not to exceed a pre-programmed current limit. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for detecting pre-programmed current limits and for limiting currents in response to such detection. In some embodiments, both the current limit detector and the current limit controller circuitry include scaled current switches. The scaling may be substantially similar between the programmed-current limit detector and the current limit controller circuitry.

Abstract: An alternating current system 10 has a primary circuit 11 which forms a primary winding 18 on a core 16. A secondary winding 24 is connected with a current source 26 or, alternatively, with an impedance 60. The core 16 is threaded by a superconducting coil 20 having a current source 22. In normal use, current in the coil 20 provides a DC bias level of flux in the core 16, and the source 26 is varied to maintain substantially constant flux, thereby minimizing losses in the primary circuit 11. In fault conditions, current in the coil 20 is reduced or removed to increase voltage losses across the coil 18, thereby limiting fault current. The impedance 60 can also be switched into circuit, creating further current limiting by virtue of the transformer effect of the windings 18, 24.

Abstract: A method of constructing a superconducting coil. The method includes embedding a plurality of heater elements throughout a superconducting coil. The heater elements are positioned according to a predetermined distribution and substantially in thermal contact with the coil for heating the coil in response to a quench condition. Other aspects of the invention involve an active protection circuit and a high temperature superconductor magnet that includes such an active protection circuit for internally dissipating stored magnetic energy in the event of a quench.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing transient event effects, such as radiation effects, in an electrostatic discharge (ESD) power clamp is provided. The ESD power clamp includes triggering circuitry to determine the on-time of the power clamp during an ESD event, and drive circuits driving pull down devices to carry the ESD current. Two separate driver circuits are used to control the pull down circuits separately to guard against a single event effect (SEE). The ESD power clamp operates when both drive circuits are operated simultaneously to shunt the ESD to ground.

Abstract: An electrical relay circuit, comprising a load circuit with a series connection of a first generator (G1), a load component (R load) and a relay switch (S1) of a relay (RL1), wherein the relay switch (S1) has a closed position in which the load circuit is closed, and wherein the relay switch (S1) hat a magnetized position in which the load circuit is broken, further comprising an auxiliary circuit with a second generator (G2) for providing a control signal, wherein by means of the control signal the relay switch (S1) can be switched into the magnetised position, and wherein the auxiliary circuit keeps the relay switch (S1) in the magnetized position after the control signal is over, is characterized in that the first generator (G1) is connected to a series connection of the relay (RL1) and a constant current source (CCS) in both positions of the relay switch (S1), that the constant current source (CCS) is connected to an activation circuit (A) comprising the second generator (G2), wherein the constant current

Abstract: An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack includes an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of parallel ultracapacitors and balancing resistors in series; an enclosure for the ultracapacitor assembly; a controller; one or more temperature sensors; a pack voltage sensor; a GFI sensor; one or more cooling fans carried by the enclosure; an on/off relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, the on/off relay activated by the controller during normal operation of the ultracapacitor assembly and deactivated by the controller when the GFI sensor detects a ground fault interrupt condition, the one or more temperature sensors detect an over-temperature condition, or the pack voltage sensor detects an over-voltage condition; and a pre-charge resistor and a pre-charge relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, and activated by the controller to cause the pre-charge resistor to limit pack charge current until the ultracapacitor assembly reaches a minimum voltage.

Abstract: The provided is an electrostatic discharging (ESD) inducing apparatus in a mobile communication terminal with a fingerprint recognition function. The ESD inducing apparatus includes: a fingerprint recognizing unit for obtaining fingerprint information by contacting with a fingerprint of a human finger, which is provided to one side of the mobile communication terminal; a printed circuit board provided with a mounting unit contacting with the fingerprint recognizing unit for receiving the fingerprint information from the fingerprint recognizing unit; and a ground unit for inducing a static electricity caused by contacting with the fingerprint, which is provided to the printed circuit board adjacent to the mounting unit.

Abstract: A control circuit of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), includes a load connection circuit used to connect power end and load end while transferring AC thereof, a creepage detection circuit, a trip control circuit and a trip circuit, and further includes a self-diagnosis current generation circuit, a self-diagnosis display circuit and a first switch duct. When the input AC in positive half-cycle, one of the said trip circuit and the self-diagnosis display circuit is electrically connected, while another should be electrically connected while the input AC in negative half-cycle, so without manpower-provided simulated signal, the control circuit of GFCI can be self diagnosed of creepage protection function, for the feedback of the stand or fall circs in time.

Abstract: A leakage current interrupter is provided. The leakage current interrupter includes: a leakage current detector having resistors connected to the external metal cover of the power cable, and generating a voltage corresponding to a leakage current through the resistors when the leakage current flows through the external metal cover of the power cable; a power source connected to the power line and the neutral line to generate DC power when AC power is applied through the power line and the neutral line; a power interrupter opening the power line and the neutral line when the DC power is applied; and a controller applying the DC power to the power interrupter when the leakage current detector generates a voltage. Therefore, it is possible to reduce manufacturing cost, and to provide a self-test function to the leakage current interrupter to increase the operation reliability of the leakage current interrupter.

Abstract: A current controller for a device is provided. The current controller includes power and ground inputs for connecting to a source of energization, and power and ground outputs for connecting to the device. A variable impedance is coupled in series between the power input and the power output and has an impedance control input. The impedance control input controls the variable impedance between a high impedance, OFF state and a low impedance, ON state. An impedance control circuit is coupled to the impedance control input, which biases the variable impedance in the high impedance, OFF state when at least one of the following conditions occur: the resistance between the power and ground outputs is less than a threshold resistance, and current drawn by the current controller through the power input exceeds a threshold current level.

Abstract: An electrostatic protection circuit being an integrated circuit on a semiconductor substrate and including a first power supply terminal having a predetermined potential VDD, a second power supply terminal having a lower potential VSS than the predetermined potential, and an input/output terminal for a signal, the electrostatic protection circuit including: a first and second diodes having the respective cathode electrodes thereof connected in series at a first common connection point between the first power supply terminal and input/output terminal; a third and fourth diodes having the respective anode electrodes thereof connected in series at a second common connection point between the second power supply terminal and input/output terminal; a first discharge element, connected between the first and second common connection points, for discharging excessive static electricity; and a second discharge element, connected between the first and second power supply terminals, for discharging excessive static elec

Abstract: An overcurrent detection circuit for detecting an overcurrent condition in an output transistor connected in series with an electrical load includes a pair of transistors having input terminals connected together. The pair of transistors is interposed between a current mirror circuit and a resistor and between the current mirror circuit and a detection transistor capable of being turned on at the same time as the output transistor. When a voltage is applied to the input terminals of the pair of the transistors, output terminals of the current mirror circuit are fixed at the same potential. Thus, even when an early effect occurs in the current mirror circuit, an electric current flowing through the resistor becomes equal to that flowing through the detection transistor. The overcurrent detection circuit can accurately detect the overcurrent condition based on a voltage drop across the resistor.

Abstract: A method for detecting actuation of an armature associated with a solenoid includes providing a voltage potential to a solenoid coil associated with the solenoid. The method also includes measuring a current flowing through the solenoid coil. The method further includes switching the voltage potential off when the measured current reaches a predetermined maximum value. The method also includes switching the voltage potential on when the measured current reaches a predetermined minimum value. The method further includes measuring a time period between pulses associated with the switching on and off of the voltage potential. The method also includes comparing the measured time period between pulses with predetermined data indicative of an inductance growth level associated with the coil. The method further includes determining, based on the comparison, a pull-in time of an armature associated with the solenoid.

Abstract: A protection and voltage monitoring circuit that may provide the functionality of a diode without the typical large voltage drop and power dissipation. The protection and voltage monitoring circuit may include a first MOSFET, a second MOSFET, a first resistor, an input terminal, an output terminal, a diode, a BJT current source, and a voltage monitoring circuit. The BJT current source may limit a gate-to-source voltage of the two MOSFETs to a predetermined voltage that is less than a maximum allowed voltage by controlling a current flow through the first resistor to prevent damage to the MOSFETs. The voltage monitoring circuit may determine whether an external voltage is within an allowable range of voltages. If the external voltage is outside the predetermined voltage range, the voltage monitoring circuit turns off the BJT current source to block the external voltage from the output terminal of the protection and voltage monitoring circuit.

Abstract: A circuit and method for controlling a MOSFET based switch that includes two back-to-back FET to block current flow in the OFF state irrespective of the polarity of the voltage differential across the switch. The MOSFET based switch further has a built-in current limit function by sensing the current flow through one of the two MOSFET switches. Furthermore, the bilateral current-limited switch further includes circuitry required for controlling both P type and N type FET in either common drain or common source configuration.