Abstract: A power converter that can be used in a vehicle equipped with an electrical motor provides power to both the electrical motor and other, auxiliary loads, such as a headlamp, that require a different voltage. The power converter includes a first DC power supply that generates a first voltage equivalent to the voltage required by the auxiliary loads and a second DC power supply, connected in series with the first DC power supply, that generates a differential voltage, where the sum of the differential voltage and the first voltage is the voltage required to drive the electrical motor. A DC-DC converter is connected to the second power supply and converts the differential voltage to the voltage required to drive the auxiliary loads.

Abstract: A method for reducing particles from an electrostatic chuck, having the steps of: setting a wafer onto an attracting face of an electrostatic chuck, attracting the wafer onto the attracting face by applying a voltage to the electrostatic chuck, releasing stress due to a difference in heat expansion between the wafer and the electrostatic chuck by sliding the wafer relative to the attracting face before the wafer's temperature arrives at a saturated temperature, and increasing the wafer's temperature to a saturated temperature from its lower temperature than that of the attracting face.

Abstract: a voltage recovery device is configured to provide real and reactive power to a utility power network at a sufficient level and for a sufficient duration to recover the voltage on the utility power network within a predetermined proportion of the nominal voltage, following a fault condition detected on the utility power network. Moreover, the voltage recovery device reduces the overall transmission losses in a utility power system.

Abstract: A disk enclosure includes a first group of one or more power sources that powers a first group of elements in a first power domain and a second group of power sources that powers a second group of elements in a second domain. The disk enclosure also includes a first voltage circuit and a second voltage circuit that are each powered by the first group of power sources and the second group of power sources. The first voltage circuit powers a third group of elements while the second voltage circuit powers a fourth group of elements.

Abstract: An electric circuit for a vehicle electrical system powered by a voltage supply. The circuit includes a control stage having a switching device, a switching module, a signal output, and a connecting line connecting the signal output to the electrical system. The switching device includes a switching element switchable between two switching states for generating respective switching state output signals at the signal output to switch the electrical system between functional states. The switching module includes a non-volatile flip-flop formed by EEPROM cells which are operable for storing the switching state. The switching module maintains the switching state output signal to maintain the functional state of the electrical system until the switching element is switched to a different switching state, and maintains the switching state output signal to maintain the functional state of the electrical system during a voltage supply interruption.

Abstract: A vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a cranking motor, and a battery includes a double-layer capacitor characterized by a capacitance greater than 150 farads, and a low internal resistance. First and second electrical paths interconnect the capacitor with the cranking motor. A control circuit is coupled between the positive and negative terminals of the capacitor, and this control circuit includes a switch that applies a variable control voltage to a relay in response to the position of the switch. The relay is included in one of the electrical paths, and the relay isolates the capacitor from the cranking motor when switched to the open-circuit condition by the control voltage and enables the capacitor to supply cranking current to the cranking motor when the control voltage places the relay in the closed-circuit condition.

Abstract: A power supply device with n power supply units comprises main power supplies generating DC voltage supplies VDC1 to VDCn supplied to a load, respectively, unit side control sections each informing a main control section of the result of abnormality monitoring of each section, and control power supplies supplying DC voltage supplies VB1 to VBn to the unit side control sections, respectively. For example, the unit side control section is parallel connected to the control power supply units of other power supply units in addition to the control power supply.

Abstract: A fuse arrangement for use in a vehicle is provided having a configuration wherein a common bus terminal connected to a voltage supply is connected to terminals of one or more axial fuses. The other fuse terminals are, in turn, connected to a wiring harness that is located on an opposite side of the fuse box from the common bus terminal in a base of a fuse box. Additionally, the present invention includes a fuse array including a planar substrate with fuses constructed on the substrate by film metallization. Furthermore, the invention includes a carrier strip used for packaging automotive fuses that is made of a flexible material capable of being rolled into a package for shipping to an end user. The invention also includes a mini fuse having reduced terminal spacing for use in vehicles with mixed voltage systems wherein the reduced terminal spacing fuse is used for a particular voltage.

Abstract: A control circuit for driving a plurality of electrical loads, one at a time, has a converter circuit for receiving a DMX compatible digital control signal and extracting a plurality of address bits therefrom. A decoder circuit receives the digital address bits and generates a plurality of enable signals, each corresponding to a particular load. One of the load enable signals is in an active state and each other enable signal is in an inactive state at any one time. A relay circuit for receives the enable signals, and in response passes an electrical drive signal to the electrical load corresponding to the enable signal that is in the active state. The relay circuit preferably includes a plurality of relay devices each coupled to one of the enable signals and a plurality of discharge circuits for rapidly discharging each electrical load when the enable signal corresponding to that load changes from the active state to the inactive state.

Abstract: The method of a protection circuit includes a reference voltage source and at least one circuit which are connected together via a switch. A memory element is connected to the input of the circuit, downstream of the switch. The switch is temporarily opened by a control signal generated by a monostable circuit when detecting switching of power elements belonging to an electronic device embedding the protection circuit. When the switch is open, the memory element supplies the circuit with the reference voltage previously stored. In this way, switching of the power element that might cause noise on the reference voltage cannot disturb the circuit and thereby cannot cause a faulty operation of the latter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a module arrangement of safety switching devices. The arrangement comprises a plurality of input modules each for processing input signals from a safety transmitter and each for generating output signals. It further comprises at least two output modules each for driving an actuator responsive to the output signals. The input modules and the output modules are arranged in a series forming a series of modules. The input modules each are associated to one output module. According to one aspect of the invention, the association of the input modules to the first, the second or both output modules is achieved on the basis of the position of the input module within the series of modules.

Abstract: A sharp control voltage switch utilizing a plurality of field effect transistors (FETs) and a bypass resistance topology to sharpen the control voltage. Utilizing a total of six FETs allows the switch to operate at a low control voltage without the need to increase device periphery or die size. Feed-forward capacitors connected between the gate and source of an uppermost FET and the gate and drain of a lowermost FET are used to reduce signal distortion and improve the linearity and harmonic noise rejection characteristics of the FETs within the switch and thus lower the harmonics of the switch.

Abstract: A power supply system has redundant regulated power supplies, whose output ports are diode-ORed to an output node. One of the power supplies outputs a regulated output voltage that is sufficient to meet current demand of a load coupled to the output node. Each power supply has an associated monitoring circuit that monitors the voltage drop across its OR-ing diode. The monitoring circuit for a non-dominant power supply controls its operation so that the non-dominant supply provides a reduced current through its diode to the output node that is less than the current demand of the load, but sufficient to forward bias the diode, and thereby enable the non-dominant supply to immediately respond to a load change, such as an interruption in the operation of the dominant power supply.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and method for providing a switchover from the primary power source to the secondary power source to prevent a volatile element from losing stored data. The integrated circuit includes a forced power source switchover circuit for detecting that the supply level of the primary power source drops below a predefined threshold level. A switchover circuit on the integrated circuit initiates a switchover operation based upon the forced power source switchover circuit detecting that the supply level being received from the primary power source drops below the predefined threshold level. The detection by the forced power source switchover circuitry may occur on a signal level that transitions faster than a predetermined negative rate of change. The integrated circuit may be incorporated in any system having volatile elements, such as memory or a clock.

Abstract: A management apparatus for allowing a parent to limit the amount of time a specific user is allowed access to an electronic device. The management apparatus includes an enclosure that has an interior space. A controller for processing a plurality of electronic operations is positioned in the interior space. An alphanumeric display displays information and is attached to the front side of the enclosure. A keypad for inputting numerical data is attached to the front side of the enclosure. A modem positioned in the interior space of the enclosure. A phone jack is attached to the second side of the enclosure. A power cord is attached to the second side of the enclosure. A plurality of receptacles allows coupling of electrical cords from electrical devices. A cover member covers the first end of the enclosure and is releasably attachable to the first end by a plurality of fasteners.

Abstract: The inventive vehicle switch assembly includes a switch for producing a signal to control a vehicle accessory, a light for illuminating the assembly, and a sensor for actuating the light in response to detecting an object in proximity to the switch. Preferably, the switch is illuminated only when a hand of a vehicle occupant is placed within a predetermined distance of the switch.

Abstract: A motor vehicle engine is under control of an engine control system (18) that performs an idle shutdown function to shut down the engine via a programmable output (50) of an electronic module of the control system after the engine has been idling for some amount of time. An ignition switch (14) is turned on and off for signaling the engine control system to turn the engine on and off. Relays (30, 40) are connected between the ignition switch and load circuits of the vehicle electrical system and to the programmable output of the module to allow the load circuits to be fed when the ignition switch is on and the programmable output of the module is not signaling an idle shutdown and to disallow feeding when the programmable output of the module is signaling an idle shutdown.

Abstract: A measuring circuit capable of performing a high-accuracy measurement by eliminating inductive influence from an ambient noise voltage source. An electric circuit including a signal circuit of high impedance, a wiring conductor and a meter is provided with a shielding resistance member having a significantly lower resistance than that of the signal circuit in dependence on an inter-terminal voltage of the high impedance signal circuit and a shield formed of an electrically conductive material disposed in association with the wiring conductor. A voltage distribution function of the shielding resistance member is matched equally to that of an inter-terminal voltage distribution function of the signal circuit. By measuring a line voltage through the medium of the high impedance signal circuit shielded by the shielding resistor, high accuracy measurement can be realized without undergoing adverse influences of parasitic capacitance and induction.

Abstract: A remote locking apparatus for a cabinless, light vehicle is disclosed having an infrared receiver. Even if only one infrared receiver is used for the vehicle in order to reduce the burden to a battery, a desirable range of directivity of the infrared receiver is maintained without being influenced by a vehicle seat or other portions of a vehicle body. A single infrared receiver (R) is disposed at an uppermost portion of a vehicle body in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A system and method for delaying power to a computer system. The method includes providing a standby signal. The method further includes receiving a power up signal. The method also includes delaying the power up signal. The method further includes passing the power up signal to the computer system after delaying the power up signal. The system includes a detection circuit and a delay circuit. The detection circuit is configured to receive a standby signal from a power supply. The detection circuit is also configured to output a control signal. The delay circuit is coupled to receive the control signal. The delay circuit is configured to output a delayed control signal for the power supply in response to the control signal after a predetermined period of time.