Abstract: In order to be able to couple radio-frequency input signals into a transmission line with the aid of a GTL output amplifier, the GTL output amplifier provides a pull-up transistor circuit (MP1, MN2) in addition to a pull-down stage (MN1). With the aid of the pull-down stage (MN1), the output (A) is put at a first potential in the presence of an input signal (E) of the first value; with the aid of the pull-up transistor circuit (MP1, MN2), the output is put at a second potential during the transition of the input signal from the first to the second value. The pull-up transistor circuit is subsequently switched off and the potential at the output is determined by the potential on the line. When the input signal assumes the first value again, the pull-down stage is switched on again and applies the first potential again to the output.

Abstract: A programmable electronic current limiter for a winch includes a signal conditioning circuit monitoring a differential signal taken from a resistive element of the winch motor and providing a stable DC voltage signal representing in linear fashion motor load conditions. By setting a threshold within the range of the DC load signal, motor operation halts in response to load conditions exceeding the selected threshold. The threshold may be established explicitly by application or may be adopted as a function of actual load conditions during a programming step. Overall, the device is more accurate and more responsive than prior electronic current limiters thereby provides greater protection against damage or deterioration of a winch and its supporting structures.

Abstract: A voltage value of an impulse voltage repetitively applied on a test-piece coil is increased in accordance with time elapse. A terminal voltage applied on both ends of the test-piece coil is monitored to detect an electric breakdown of the test-piece coil. Upon detecting such a breakdown, application of the impulse voltage is immediately stopped to prevent the test-piece coil from being unnecessarily damaged. Meanwhile, a voltage value of the impulse voltage is measured quantitatively at the time the electric breakdown is detected and the measured data is stored in a memory, so that the memorized data can be used later as a breakdown voltage value.

Abstract: A lighting arrester in the form of a double-ended polymer enclosure contains one or more varistor discs in vertical alignment having terminals at the opposing ends for external electrical connection. The discs are formed from a zinc oxide composition with metal electrodes on opposing faces that are electrically connected with each other and with the end terminals by U-shaped metal straps.

Abstract: A temperature protection device determines the operating temperature of an integrated circuit chip. The temperature monitor includes a delay line made up of serially connected delay cells. The propagation time of a signal through the delay cells is determined and this value is correlated to chip temperature. The chip temperature is compared to an operating range for the chip, and if the value is outside a predetermined range, an alert signal is produced.

Abstract: A circuit for the avoidance of electrical shock and burns in an electrical appliance. Designed primarily for a two wire appliance, the device consists of a conditioning circuit at the load and a fault sensor/interrupter at the plug. The conditioning circuit halts the flow of current to the load for a portion of each cycle of an AC excitation. If current flow is detected at the plug during this time interval it is indicative of a fault condition and a circuit breaker at the plug is opened. A fault is detected if one of the following conditions occurs: 1) a resistive path is established between hot to ground; 2) a load other than the conditioned load is placed between hot and neutral; and 3) an overtemperature condition is detected at the load. The circuit is self-resetting so that in the absence of a hot to ground fault, hot to neutral fault, or overtemperature condition, electrical current is allowed to flow.

Abstract: Protection circuitry (10) for protecting an integrated circuit from an ESD pulse is provided. The protection circuitry (10) includes discharge circuitry (14) on a substrate (11) that discharges an ESD pulse to the integrated circuit to ground (18). The protection circuitry (10) also includes a substrate bias generator (25) that uses a portion of the ESD pulse's energy to bias the substrate (11) of the discharge circuitry (14).

Abstract: A circuit breaker responds to sputtering arc faults by counting the times that a bandwidth limited di/dt signal exceeds a threshold magnitude within a selected time interval. In the exemplary circuit breaker, if the threshold is exceeded twice within a one second interval, a trip solenoid is energized. The di/dt sensor can share a sensing coil with a ground fault detector. Alternatively, the resistance of the neutral lead within the circuit breaker is utilized to sense current which is converted to a bandwidth limited di/dt signal for level detection and counting of sputtering arc events.

Abstract: A break display apparatus for an intelligent power IC incorporating an overcurrent/overheating protection function. The break display apparatus includes a plurality of intelligent power ICs each incorporating an overcurrent/overheating protection function of detecting overcurrent/overheating for a load to break it, a pulse generating unit connected to the plurality of intelligent power ICs for generating a pulse signal having the number of pulses corresponding to a broken intelligent power IC as a signal for specifying the broken intelligent power IC on the basis of a break signal from the broken intelligent power IC, and a warning lamp for indicating the visual information of the broken intelligent power IC in response to the pulse signal generated by the pulse generating unit.

Abstract: Protection of a cable, its termination and other apparatus from lightning strikes on an overhead line is provided by housing a surge arrestor and a cable termination, which are connected in parallel in a common housing, but as separate components not sharing the same axial line. With this configuration, minimal lead length is provided without sacrificing serviceability.

Abstract: A novel gas tube assembly and a novel connector assembly using the novel gas tube assembly. The gas tube assembly includes an outer conductive electrode having a generally tubular construction, an inner conductive electrode also having a generally tubular construction, and a pair of insulating members. The outer and inner electrodes have first and second ends. The insulators are attached to the first and second ends of both the outer electrode and the inner electrode retaining the inner electrode inside and spaced away from the outer electrode. The first and second ends of the inner and outer electrodes are sealed by the respective insulator. A chamber is defined between an internal surface of the outer electrode, an external surface of the inner electrode, and corresponding surfaces of the insulators. The chamber defines a toroidal void within the gas tube assembly which retains an inert gas therein.

Abstract: Circuit arrangement for protecting a subscriber circuit of a telecommunication system for the balanced-to-ground connection of a subscriber line to which a ringing voltage source is connected unbalanced to ground via an electromechanical or electronic switch upon simultaneous disconnection from the subscriber circuit for call signalling against inductive over-voltages that occur upon reconnection to the subscriber line, characterized by a two-way threshold circuit (D) with symmetrical pass/stop characteristic whose threshold voltage is higher than the peak voltage of the ringing voltage source (UGR) that is connected between the leads (a, b) of the subscriber line.

Abstract: An overheating protection system for a switching module prevents thermal breakdown of switching devices for passing currents through a load, for example an electric motor, while making it possible for the switching module to provide as much required current to the load as possible. The system comprises a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of a switching module, a temperature estimator for calculating a temperature change rate of a switching device inside the switching module corresponding to a current passed through the load and calculating an estimated value of the internal temperature of the switching module on the basis of the calculated temperature change rate and the detected temperature and a current limiter for on the basis of the estimated value correcting a target current value of a current controller controlling a current passed by the switching device.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes separable contacts for movement between a closed position and an open position, and an operating mechanism for moving the separable contacts between the closed and open positions. Current transformers and potential transformers sense current, voltage and frequency conditions of the separable contacts and produce signals corresponding to those electrical conditions. A trip unit employs those signals corresponding to the electrical conditions to produce a trip signal. A trip coil employs the trip signal to actuate the operating mechanism to move the separable contacts to the open position. A closing mechanism produces a close signal, and a close actuator mechanism employs the close signal to actuate the operating mechanism to move the separable contacts to the closed position. The trip unit includes a microprocessor-based firmware routine for selectively enabling and disabling the close actuator mechanism as a function of the signals corresponding to the electrical conditions.

Abstract: An electronic module tester measures the difference between the voltage provided by the tester during testing and the voltage actually delivered to an electronic device. The difference corresponds to a voltage drop associated with the contamination contact resistance. This resistance builds up on contact surfaces of the tester as many modules are inserted and extracted. One power line and one ground line from the electronic module are isolated and connected to a voltmeter for a direct measurement of voltage on the device. A comparison is made with the power supply voltage provided by the tester to the device under test. A voltage difference exceeding a predetermined value initiates further action prior to continued testing, such as contact cleaning.

Abstract: An overvoltage and surge protection circuit for a hard disk drive is provided. The overvoltage and surge protection circuit is intended for protecting an interior circuit part from a surge voltage caused by an overvoltage generated due to wrong insertion of first and second power supply voltages, and an external condition, in a hard disk drive which receive the first power supply voltage as an operational voltage of an interior circuit device and the second power supply voltage as a device driving voltage. The overvoltage and surge protection circuit includes an overvoltage protection circuit having a first and second power supply input terminals for receiving the first and second power supply voltages, respectively, and a surge protection circuit.

Abstract: Bias circuits which define control terminal voltages in a cascoded nMOS ESD protection circuit, such that the circuit is in high impedance state (OFF) during normal operation, and low impedance (ON) during an ESD event. G1 and G2 are the driver circuits which define V3 and V4 during an ESD event at the pad. During normal operation, V3 and/or V4 are high and no current flows between the pad and V.sub.SS. During an ESD event, V3 and V4 are high and both devices conduct MOS current as the lateral NPNs turn on. Diode D1 conducts current to charge C.sub.c, the chip capacitance, raising V.sub.DD, enabling G1 and G2 to turn on and raise V3 and V4 to levels greater than the nMOS threshold voltage.

Abstract: Interchip and intrachip electrical discharge suppression connections or networks are disclosed for three-dimensional multichip semiconductor structures. The interchip suppression networks electrically intercouple the power planes of the semiconductor device chips in the structure. This, in combination with conventional intrachip suppression networks present on the external connects or input/output pins of the individual chips in the structure, provides complete power plane-to-power plane, external connect-to-power plane and external connect-to-external connect protection against electrical discharge events, such as an electrostatic discharge occurring during handling and testing of the structure. The interchip electrical discharge suppression networks can be placed on an end layer or end semiconductor chip of the three-dimensional multichip semiconductor structure and connect to individual chips in the structure via an edge surface metallization.

Abstract: A protection apparatus includes a relay being switchable between a protected state and an operating state, and a controller for permitting a user to switch the relay to the operating state, and for switching the relay to the protected state responsive to a disturbance. Accordingly, the apparatus protects the electrical equipment from disturbances carried by the external electrical conductors. The apparatus preferably includes a housing which also serves to mount a plurality of electrical connectors for interfacing between the electrical equipment and the external electrical conductors. In one embodiment, the apparatus also preferably includes a lightning sensor for switching the relay to the protected state responsive to sensing of lightning. Alternately, or in addition, the apparatus may also include a power loss sensor for sensing a loss of power from the power source to the electrical equipment and for switching the relay immediately to the protected state responsive to sensing a loss of power.

Abstract: A snubber device for a power switch comprising a sensing device coupled in the output circuit of the power switch, the sensing device having a reference input and providing an output indicating if a transient pulse of a magnitude greater than a preset range occurs in the output circuit of the power switch. A further electronic switch is provided having an input coupled to an output of the sensing device and coupled across the power switch, the further electronic switch being turned on by the sensing device in the event the sensing device detects a transient pulse beyond the preset range, thereby completing a shunt circuit across the electronic switch and dissipating the transient pulse.