Abstract: An electric field measuring apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck with a through hole and holding a wafer, a lift pin picking up the wafer, a driver vertically moving the lift pin along the through hole, a probe in the lift pin and having a refractive index changed by an electric field of the wafer, the probe including an electro-optical crystal, an optical waveguide forming at least one internal path of light having a polarization characteristic changed by the changed refractive index between the probe and the wafer, and a control module controlling the lift pin and the driver. The lift pin moves to first and second positions. The control module calculates a strength of the electric field of the wafer, using electric field data measured using the probe at each of the first and second positions.

Abstract: A solenoid drive circuit includes a power source, a first solenoid control circuit connected to the power source, the first solenoid control circuit including a first solenoid coil and a first solenoid control switch that controls a flow current through the first solenoid coil and a first regenerative drive circuit connected to the first solenoid control circuit and that includes a first regenerative capacitor. The first regenerative drive circuit can include a first diode bridge formed of four diodes (D1, D2, D3 and D4) and that has a positive input, a negative input, a positive output and a negative output, wherein the first regenerative capacitor is connected between the positive and negative inputs.

Abstract: A surge suppressor is connected in parallel to a circuit breaker of an input path of a MVAC conversion circuit. The surge suppressor includes a plurality of surge suppression circuits, and each surge suppression circuit includes a rectification circuit, a switch, a controller, and a conversion circuit. The rectification circuit includes an AC terminal and a rectification terminal, and the AC terminals of the surge suppression circuits are coupled in series. The switch is coupled to the rectifier terminal, the controller receives a control command and provides a control signal according to the control command. The conversion circuit is coupled to the controller and the switch, and provides a control voltage modulated by the control signal. The control voltage adjusts an on-resistance of the switch to adjust a magnitude of a first current flowing through the switch.

Abstract: A body of an electrostatic chuck comprises mesas disposed on a polished surface of the body. Each of the mesas comprises an adhesion layer disposed on the polished surface of the body, a transition layer disposed over the adhesion layer, and a coating layer disposed over the transition layer. The coating layer has a hardness of at least 14 GPa. The body further comprises a sidewall coating disposed over a sidewall of the body. A method for preparing the body comprises polishing the surface of the body and cleaning the polished surface. The method further comprises depositing the mesas by depositing the adhesion layer on the body, the transition layer over the adhesion layer, and the coating layer over the transition layer. Further, the method includes, polishing the mesas.

Abstract: A grounding brush assembly including a grounding brush and a mounting plate configured to axially and radially retain the brush, the brush providing a support and a plurality of electrically conductive fibers mounted in the support. The mounting plate is at least partially coated with an electrically conductive coating.

Abstract: A base assembly for a portable lightning protection system.

Abstract: An electrical safety apparatus includes a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) module, a timer module and a housing without a display screen. The GFCI module includes a sensor configured to output a differential current signal according to a current flowing to and from an electrical load, a ground fault circuit interrupter circuit in electrical communication with the sensor, and one or more switches arranged on one or more communication paths for supplying power to the electrical load. The timer module is in electrical communication with the GFCI module and configured to generate a timer signal. Responsive to the differential current signal or the timer signal, the ground fault circuit interrupter circuit generates a driving signal to selectively open or close the one or more switches. The housing encloses the GFCI module and the timer module.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical power switching circuit. The electrical power switch circuit includes a first semiconductor switch having a first control input and a second semiconductor switch having a second control input. The first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch are connected in series. The electrical power switch circuit includes a comparator configured to compare a first voltage to a second voltage and to output a first electrical signal if the first voltage exceeds the second voltage by a first predetermined threshold and to output a second electrical signal if the second voltage exceeds the first voltage by a second predetermined threshold. The electrical power switch circuit includes a combiner configured to combine the first signal and the second signal and to feed a combined signal to the first and second control inputs of the first and second semiconductor switches.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a power distribution protection system and a method thereof. The system includes: a main input unit configured to receive an alternating current power input; a electronic switch; a isolating switch; a main output unit configured to output alternating current power; a main-circuit automatic detection unit configured to detect a parameter of output from the electronic switch in a disconnection state of the isolating switch; a main control unit configured to determine whether a state of the electronic switch is normal based on electrical parameter information detected by the main-circuit automatic detection unit; the main input unit, the electronic switch, the isolating switch and the main output unit are connected in series. When the state of the electronic switch is normal, the isolating switch is closed, and then the electronic switch is turned on. When the state of the electronic switch is abnormal, the isolating switch remains disconnected.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of controlling a solenoid including an armature and a coil includes initiating, by a control system in electrical communication with the coil, movement of the armature by applying a first commanded electrical current to the coil. The method also includes, after the initiating, generating, by the control system, current fluctuations to vary a rate of change of current through the coil. The method also includes estimating, by the control system, a position of the armature based on the rate of change of current through the coil.

Abstract: A generator circuit breaker includes a main current branch, a current-limiting transfer branch, a freewheeling branch and a fast switch. The main current branch includes a high-speed mechanical switch S1 and a high-speed mechanical switch S2 in parallel, wherein two ends of each of breaks of the high-speed mechanical switch S1 and the high-speed mechanical switch S2 are directly connected with wire outlet ends of the circuit breaker respectively. One end of the current-limiting transfer branch is connected in parallel to one end of the main current branch and the other end of the current-limiting transfer branch is connected with the other end of the main current branch via a fast switch S3, wherein the current-limiting transfer branch includes a transfer capacitor C, an inductor L, thyristor components T1 and T2, and a current-limiting resistor R.

Abstract: A method for a collaborative protection mask in a wide-area protection system is disclosed. The method comprises determining, in a first zone, whether a first pair of protection relays (R5, R6) detects a fault occurrence on a first line (L3) from a first activation mask (DI) based on a first weighting factor. The method comprises determining, in the first zone, whether the first pair of protection relays detects the fault from a second activation mask (DII) based on a second weighting factor, and determining, in a second zone, whether a second pair of protection relays (R3, R8) detects the fault from the second activation mask based on the second weighting factor. The method comprises determining detections from a third activation mask (DIII) using the first, second, and third pairs of relays (R1, R10), and performing one or more operations on the first pair of relays based on the collaborative determinations.

Abstract: A hybrid fault protection circuit (HFPC) includes an input, an output, a resistor-fuse circuit, an electrically-controlled safety switching device (ESSD) and an overload protection module (OPM). The input receives power from a power source. The output outputs power to a high-power cyclical load. The resistor-fuse circuit includes a resistor and one or more fuses collectively being connected in series with the resistor. The ESSD includes a coil and contacts. The contacts are connected in parallel with the resistor-fuse circuit. The OPM: arms the HFPC by energizing the coil and closing the contacts to supply load current from the input to the output via the contacts when a fault downstream from the HFPC does not exist; detects a fault downstream from the HFPC; and, in response to detecting the fault, opens the contacts to cause fault current to pass through the one or more fuses and not across the contacts.

Abstract: Electrical circuits and methods for protecting a semiconductor switch in response to detecting a short-circuit condition of the semiconductor switch are presented. An electrical circuit includes a latch-reset portion that disables or enables the semiconductor switch by connecting or disconnecting, respectively, a gate of the semiconductor switch to a source of the semiconductor switch. The circuit also includes a power source portion that is energized by a voltage pulse that drives the gate of the semiconductor switch. The power source portion provides voltage and current to other parts of the circuit so that no external voltage source is needed to operate the circuit. The semiconductor switch may be a silicon carbide MOSFET, which may have a threshold voltage that changes with temperature and age. The circuit can account for such changes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fail-safe protection of circuitry from electrostatic discharge due through input and output connections. The power circuitry may include a string of diodes, connections to power lines, and particular diodes for voltage pull-up and pull-down clamping. There may be both a pull-up third diode in the diode string for connection between I/O and VDD and a pull-down third diode between I/O and VSS. During an ESD event the ESD device is configured to hold voltage from exceeding a threshold voltage and damaging internal circuitry. During operational mode the ESD device is turned off and does not interfere with circuit operations.

Abstract: A method of operating a solenoid valve can include applying power to a coil of the solenoid valve, interrupting power to the coil upon a first increase in power consumption of the coil, detecting a first on-time when power is applied to the coil, re-applying power to the coil upon a first condition becoming satisfied, interrupting power to the coil upon a second increase in power consumption of the coil, detecting a second on-time when power is re-applied to the coil, comparing the first on-time with the second on-time, and detecting when an armature of the solenoid valve has physically shifted based at least in part on the comparing. Detecting when the armature of the solenoid valve has physically shifted can include determining that the second on-time is greater than the first on-time.

Abstract: Systems and devices for providing fault current limiting protection in a power circuit may include a solid-state switching device (SSSD) including at least one switch device including a semiconductor device, a voltage clamping circuit connected in parallel with the at least one switch device, and one or more circuit breakers connected in series with the SSSD. The at least one switch device may include a second semiconductor device. The at least one switch device may include a first switch device and a second switch device. The fault current limiting protection includes, to enable clearing the fault, opening one of the switch devices to maintain the electric current at a threshold for a defined period of time, and opening, in response to failing to clear the fault, the other switch device to interrupt the electric current between a power source and electrical load(s) connected to the power circuit.

Abstract: A power electronics device includes first and second semiconductor dies. The first die includes: a main GaN power transistor; a first GaN current sense transistor having a source electrically connected to a second current sense terminal; a second GaN current sense transistor; a diode device electrically connected in series between the drains of the main GaN power transistor and second GaN current sense transistor; and a voltage protection device electrically connecting the drain of the second GaN current sense transistor to a first current sense terminal. The second die includes current sense and short circuit detection circuits electrically connected to the current sense terminals. The short circuit detection circuit detects when the drain current of the main GaN power transistor exceeds a predetermined value and when the main GaN power transistor is in saturation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power-taking circuit suitable for use in conjunction with a bypass circuit of a photovoltaic component, a parallel-type photovoltaic component control device, and a photovoltaic string power distribution system. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the power-taking circuit includes a pump-type voltage clamped circuit configured to release and output energy to generate a first internal voltage in a case that the bypass circuit is turned on, and generate the first internal voltage according to an output voltage of the photovoltaic component and store the energy in a case that the bypass circuit is turned off; and a comparison circuit configured to generate a first control signal according to the first internal voltage so that the bypass circuit is controlled to be turned off or turned on according to the first control signal.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a mechanically driven circuit breaker that includes fixed and moveable contacts, and a main actuator, wherein the moveable contact is selectively spaced from the fixed contact, and wherein the main actuator transitions the circuit breaker between states, the monitoring system comprising an actuation device; a sensor; and a processing unit. The actuation device applies a micro-motion to the actuator without the circuit breaker transitioning states; wherein the sensor acquires sensor data associated with the application of the micro-motion; wherein the sensor provides sensor data to the processing unit; and wherein the processing unit determines whether the circuit breaker has a fault using the sensor data.