Abstract: Embodiments of an emergency evacuation system are disclosed which may be installed within the knockouts of a panel of a modular work space system. During normal operation a battery power source within the emergency evacuation system is charged by normal AC power supplied through the modular work space system. In the event of a power outage or fire, the battery power source serves to operate emergency lighting.

Abstract: A backup energy unit for an electrical device having a power source, an operational load, and containing a layered electrical device having a top exterior surface and a bottom exterior surface, such as an integrated chip or layered circuit board. The energy unit is made up of at least one energy storage device. This energy storage device is made up of a dielectric material and a first and a second electrical storage conducting layer. The dielectric material lies between the first and second electrical storage conducting layers. Further, the dielectric material exists between the top exterior surface and bottom exterior surface of the layered electrical device. The energy unit is further made up of a voltage detector to detect a potential level of the power source. When the voltage detector detects a power source disruption, that is when the potential level of the power source is below a first voltage state, it controls a switcher.

Abstract: An installation for the electrical connection between an assembly of items of electrical equipment which are affixed onto a common baseplate and a system for command and control of that assembly. The installation includes an electrical interface device which provides a connection of signals from the equipment in the assembly with the signal linkage connected to the system. The interface device can be mechanically dissociated from the base plate and is attached to it by a detachable fixing element. The device includes a casing which houses a printed circuit by which two connectors are located which respectively provide the electrical connection with the assembly and with the linkage and which are interconnected through a printed circuit. One of the connectors is specifically adapted to the type of linkage used.

Abstract: The invention concerns a back-up power supply of the type serving to compensate temporarily for an absence of a DC input voltage (Ve) from a main power supply (15) by delivering a voltage that is higher than a threshold value (Vmin) to a load (10). The main power supply (15) delivers the DC input voltage (Ve) to the load (10) under normal operating conditions, the DC input voltage (Ve) being higher than the threshold value (Vmin), and lying in the range defined by a minimum input voltage (Ve1) and by a maximum input voltage (Ve2). The back-up power supply includes a capacitor (13) charged by the DC input voltage (Ve). According to the invention, the back-up power supply includes means (20, 21) for limiting the charge on the capacitor (13) to a reference voltage (Vr) that is lower than the maximum input voltage (Ve2). The invention makes it possible to reduce the size and the cost of the capacitor (13) of the back-up power supply.

Abstract: Three switching units and three smoothing capacitors are disposed in parallel with each other in the x-direction on a substrate having an x-y plane. A surface conductor and a rear conductor, which include bases extending in the x-direction and three branches extending in the y-direction therefrom, are laminated to form a feeding bus bar 8 for connecting the respective units and the respective capacitors. The three branches have the same pattern and are distributed in the x-direction at the same pitch as the x-direction arrangement of the units 2-4. The connection patterns of the respective units and the respective branches are the same for the three pairs.

Abstract: A bidirectional current blocking switch is disclosed. The switch includes a four-terminal MOSFET in which there is no source-body short. The voltages applied to the source and drain terminals are both higher than the voltage applied to the body terminal (for an N-channel) device so that the source-body and drain-body junction of the MOSFET never become forward-biased. The switch of this invention is particularly useful for switching a cascaded set of batteries in a portable computer.

Abstract: An apparatus for interrupting the flow of current in a cable, which cable leads from the battery in a motor vehicle to a consumer, also located in the vehicle, such as the starter, engine or the like. A housing is provided, having two connection terminals, electrically insulated from one another, for the lines leading to the battery and to the consumer, and having a switch disposed in the interior of the housing, the switch being assigned a control device which can be tripped by a sensor and whose tripping actuates the switch.

Abstract: The present invention provides two or more output voltages from one input voltage and one inductor. Each output voltage is formed by a switch controlling the charge delivered to each of the corresponding output capacitors. Preferably, a diode is placed in series with each switch that controls the charging of the output capacitors to prevent any extraneous stray current from escaping while the switch is closed. The controller utilizes pulse width modulation to deliver the correct amount of energy to each load and to synchronize the order of energy delivery to each load. The use of one input voltage and one inductor for charging multiple output voltages simplifies the complexity of the circuit of the present invention and eliminates the need for a single inductor dedicated to each load. Further, the predetermined output voltage level for each load can be changed without modifying the passive elements in the circuit.

Abstract: An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) device with uninterrupted neutral from input to output utilizes the same converter for converting rectified AC power and battery power to positive and negative high voltage (HV) rails. A simple circuit is utilized for connecting the battery to the conversion components of the PFC circuit without adverse affect on the performance of the PFC circuit, and while holding the battery substantially connected to neutral. In a first embodiment, the circuit comprises a simple combination of four diodes and a pair of high pass capacitors arranged so that in both power line and battery supply modes the battery is balanced around neutral. In a second, preferred embodiment, one terminal of the battery is connected directly to neutral.

Abstract: In a power supplying apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus, when a first transistor is switched on, a first photo-triac coupler and a first triac switch on so that a fixing heater is powered on. After a predetermined time, a second transistor is switched on. A second photo-triac coupler and a second triac are thereby switched on so that the fixing heater is powered on. The first triac is then switched off. The first triac is connected in series to a resistor, so that when the first triac is switched on but the second triac remains off, the voltage applied to the fixing heater is sufficiently low in comparison with the voltage applied thereto when the second triac is switched on. Therefore, when the fixing heater is powered on by switching on the first transistor to switch on the first triac, a large power surge does not occur. When the second triac is switched on, a large power surge does not occur either since the fixing heater has already been powered on.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply unit for coupling between an adapter with an adapter connector and an electronic device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a self-contained housing, a backup power supply, and an output switch system. The self-contained housing has an input port for coupling with the adapter connector from the adapter and an output connector extending from the housing for coupling with the electronic device. The backup power supply is located in the housing and provides the backup power. The output switch system is also located in the housing. The output switch system is coupled between the output connector and the input port and the backup power supply and couples the backup power from the backup power supply to the electronic device when incoming power from the adapter fails.

Abstract: A switch network comprises N input ports and T output ports for mutually and individually connecting any P (P.ltoreq.N and P.ltoreq.T) inputs and any P outputs. Each switch has four poles and is capable of connecting the first pole to a second, a third or a fourth and correspondingly connecting the third pole to the fourth, first or second poles. The network includes switches disposed in a matrix network including internal switches each connected by its four poles to four adjacent switches and peripheral switches each located on the periphery of the matrix network. At least some of the peripheral switches are connected by at least one pole to an input or an output and by at least two other poles to two switches of the network.

Abstract: An electrical switch has an evacuated housing with input and output terminals each connected to a respective group of metal tracks extending parallel and insulated from one another. A second silicon plate is cut to form several bridging elements, each having a metal layer on its upper and lower surface. Each bridging element extends transversely above tracks connected to different ones of the terminals. The housing is closed by a silicon cap having actuating tracks extending above the bridging elements, which form an electrostatic actuator with the metal layer on the upper surface of the bridging elements. When a voltage is applied to the electrostatic actuator, the bridging elements are driven down so that they contact tracks connected to different ones of the terminals and allow current to flow between them.

Abstract: A power pack for providing power electronics at high temperature with high dI/dt, current, and voltage capability. The power pack having three layers. A top layer for providing: a matching composite Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) between power device materials and power electrodes, thermal cooling, and electrical conduction paths. The top layer may have interface circuitry for driving and controlling on-board power semiconductor devices. The top layer may also include traces and pads for the attachment of a gate, a gate return, and terminals. A middle layer may be a power semiconductor device providing control of the current flow. The bottom layer may be a rigid base plate for providing structural rigidity or may provide an electric and thermal path for the power semiconductor device. The power pack also includes a thermal shim which provides a thermal path to dissipate heat generated by the interface circuitry. The power pack may also include a snubber circuit.

Abstract: The invention concerns a protective circuit for monitoring an object which can move between two end positions, for example a displaceable safety door (1) of an electric machine. This type of protective circuit has a very simple and distinct design and can consequently be produced economically. In particular, the monitoring system is designed so as to be independent of the start command. According to the invention, at least two end switches (4, 5) are provided for monitoring the end position of the object, at least one switch (18) is provided for activating a first reservoir for a first charge potential, and a multivibrator (8) is provided which is connected to a known driver bridge (9) which has relay outputs and is connected to a consumer, for example an electric machine. The multivibrator (8) is connected to a second reservoir for a second charge potential which keeps the multivibrator (8) activated for a predetermined period of time when the end switches (4, 5) are not in the "off" position.

Abstract: A circuit, for detecting a junction temperature of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) which is alternately biased on and off in response to a gate signal, includes a differentiator circuit operable to receive a collector to emitter voltage of the IGBT and produce an output voltage proportional to a rate at which the collector to emitter voltage changes; and a feedback circuit operable to receive the output voltage and alter the gate signal when the output voltage indicates that the rate at which the collector to emitter voltage changes is outside a predetermined limit.

Abstract: An electronic switch has an input terminal, an output terminal and an electronic switch unit between the input terminal and the output terminal controlled by a control circuit which extends from its anode to its trigger and is under the control of an actuator which the user can operate directly or indirectly. There is a current limiter resistor in series with said control circuit. The value of the current limiter resistor is less than the value of the voltage on triggering of the electronic switch unit divided by the minimal trigger current needed by the electronic switch unit for such triggering. It is in the order of 40 ohms at most, for example. Applications include controlling a load without generating spurious harmonics which are a problem on the mains supply.

Abstract: An ultra-compact Marx-type high-voltage generator includes individual high-performance components that are closely coupled and integrated into an extremely compact assembly.

Abstract: A solar array switching (SASU) unit (22) according to the present invention includes a control system (24), a solar cell array (26) and switch circuits (28). The SASU unit (22) is associated with a power card (30) for receiving an output from the array (26). The array (26) has a number (0.5Y) of rows (38) each of which includes a pair of cell strings (42) separated by one of the switch circuits (28). Each of the strings (42) includes a number (X) of cells in electrical series. The SASU (22) switches the array (26) between a short string configuration where the array (26) effectively includes Y strings of X length, and a long string configuration where the array (26) effectively includes 0.5Y strings of 2X length. The SASU (22) thereby facilitates the use of solar power for space missions where solar intensity, operating temperature or other factors vary significantly.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating a load, in which in normal operation control energy for activating the switching element or switching elements (T.sub.a, T.sub.b) is obtained from the energy content of the freewheeling current anti-parallel relative to this switching element, and the ON duration is determined by the time constants of control energy storage elements which are assigned to the switching elements, or by the storage time of bipolar transistors.