Abstract: A contact probe having a plunger; a top contacting member which is provided at a tip end of the plunger and is brought into contact with an electrode of a semiconductor device; a bottom contacting member which is brought into contact with an electrode of a testing board; and an elastic member for urging the top contacting member and the bottom contacting member in opposite directions away from each other. The plunger is formed into a cylindrical shape and includes a through-hole which penetrates through the plunger in an axial direction thereof. The top contacting member includes a plurality of mountain-shaped sharp portions at a tip end thereof, and each of the sharp portions is asymmetrical with respect to a straight line that passes through a peak of the sharp portion and extends along an axial direction of the plunger, and is bent toward a center line of the plunger.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a method of operating a UPS system having a first UPS and a second UPS, the method comprising coupling at least one control line between the first UPS and the second UPS to operate the first UPS and the second UPS in a parallel mode of operation, providing output power from each of the first UPS and the second UPS to a load, detecting a fault condition in the UPS system, decoupling the at least one control line, operating the first UPS in a diagnostic mode of operation, and determining if the fault condition is associated with the first UPS.

Abstract: A capacitor measurement circuit for measuring a capacitance of a test capacitor includes a first transistor with a first source-drain path coupled between a first capacitor plate of the test capacitor and a ground; a second transistor with a second source-drain path coupled between a second capacitor plate of the test capacitor and the ground; and a current-measuring device configured to measure a first charging current and a second charging current of the test capacitors. The first and the second charging currents flow to the test capacitor in opposite directions.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices with self-heating structures, methods of manufacture thereof, and testing methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a workpiece, an active electrical structure disposed over the workpiece, and at least one self-heating structure disposed proximate the active electrical structure. The active electrical structure may include a capacitor, a resistor, a conductive line, a segment of a conductive line, a transistor, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a relay module for a vehicle battery system. The relay module includes a movable unit configured to be moved by a magnetic field generated by a coil and a return spring within a relay. This movable unit controls a state of an electrical connection between relay electrodes. A microsensor installed between the movable unit and a fixed unit maintains a fixed location relative to the movable unit and is configured to induce a variation in an electrical physical quantity depending on a variation in a location of the movable unit relative to the fixed unit.

Abstract: An insulation resistance measurement circuit in which switching of first and second switches is controlled such that a leakage current may not be generated in measuring insulation resistance, and voltages output through first and second operational amplifiers are measured after opening the first and second switches and closing third and fourth switches for self-testing of the insulation resistance measurement circuit.

Abstract: Application of rechargeable battery charging voltage is determined by a signal applied to a battery-connect terminal (94) from external electrical equipment. In the case of a charging voltage application, the current detection section is judged as malfunctioning when the maximum battery cell voltage detected as a time series rises from a voltage below 3.8V (the second voltage) to a voltage above 4.1V (the first voltage) even though rechargeable battery charging and discharging current detected as a time series is greater than ?5 mA and less than 20 mA.

Abstract: Characteristics of partially assembled photovoltaic modules can be determined using electrical connection apparatuses and methods. By providing deformable electrical contacts against a partially assembled module on an assembly line, an electrical bias can be applied to the module before the module is completely assembled. An electrical connection apparatus for a photovoltaic module may include a first contact configured to engage a first lead on the photovoltaic module, a second contact configured to engage a second lead on the photovoltaic module, and an electrical power source configured to apply an electrical bias between the first contact and the second contact.

Abstract: Techniques for performing built-in self-test (BIST) of performance of an RF system are disclosed. The techniques may be used, for example, for measuring distortion generated by the RF system under test, detecting faults in the system, determining calibration of the system, and/or assisting in compensating analog circuitry that is sensitive to temperature, supply voltage, and/or process variations. Also, a BIST architecture for determining RF performance of an RF systems is disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetometer is described, having a substrate and a magnetic core, the substrate having an excitation coil for generating a magnetic flux in the magnetic core; and the excitation coil having a coil cross section, which is aligned generally perpendicular to a main plane of extension of the substrate. The magnetic core is situated outside the coil cross section.

Abstract: Provided is a circuit for measuring insulation resistance, including: a first operational amplifier that is connected with a positive terminal of a battery and a second operational amplifier; a second operational amplifier that is connected with a negative terminal of the battery and the first operational amplifier; a first switch that is connected between the positive terminal and a non-inverting terminal of the first operational amplifier; and a second switch that is connected between the negative terminal and an inverting terminal of the second operational amplifier, wherein the first operational amplifier and the second operational amplifier are connected with each other through a ground.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to detecting energy theft within an energy distribution system and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting energy discrepancies in voltages and/or currents reported by electric meters present in a distribution circuit, without requiring installation of additional hardware at the transformer. Typically, the location of each of at least two meters is determined with respect to a transformer. The line resistances within the distribution circuit are determined starting with a line resistance farthest from the transformer. Estimated line voltages are determined for at least one electric meter using the estimated line resistances, and the estimated voltages are compared to actual voltage readings for the at least one electric meter. The existence of line loss is determined based on this comparison.

Abstract: Provided are a self-pinned spin valve magnetoresistance effect film, a magnetic sensor using the same, and a rotation angle detection device. The self-pinned spin valve magnetoresistance effect film has a strong coupling magnetic field in a pinned layer, a small reduction in the change in resistance, and superior resistance to magnetic fields without reducing the coercive force in a first ferromagnetic layer, which is a pinned layer in the film, even when exposed to a strong external magnetic field. By inserting a non-magnetic layer between a ground layer and a pinned layer to form the spin valve magnetoresistance effect film, the self-pinned spin valve magnetoresistance effect film having superior resistance to magnetic fields, a magnetic sensor using the same, and a rotation angle detection device are obtained.

Abstract: An active matrix electrowetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device includes a plurality of array elements configured to manipulate one or more droplets of fluid on an array, each of the array elements including a corresponding array element circuit. Each array element circuit includes a top substrate electrode and a drive electrode between which the one or more droplets may be positioned, with an insulator layer being interposed between the one or more droplets and the drive electrode; and write circuitry configured to write data to the array element. At least some of the array element circuits include measure circuitry configured to detect a pinhole defect in the insulator layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a dielectric property of a capacitor arrangement, having an alternating signal generator for applying an electric alternating signal to the capacitor arrangement. It further contains an evaluation circuit for evaluating at least one electric measuring quantity of an electric signal tapped from the capacitor arrangement. It further comprises balancing means which are arranged in an electric path between the alternating signal generator and the capacitor arrangement and by means of which a parameter of the electric alternating signal can be changed in such a way that an output signal of the evaluation circuit assumes a specific value, preferably zero, under defined constant conditions. Control means are provided for emitting an electric control signal to the balancing means, by means of which the change of the at least one parameter can be controlled. The apparatus can thus be balanced in a simple, rapid, cost-effective and especially automatic way.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improved current shunt sensing in an electrical system, such as a renewable energy electrical system, is disclosed. A current shunt according to aspects of the present disclosure includes a conductive portion that is placed in series with an electrical system The current shunt includes a sensing element that is used to measure the voltage across the conductive portion of the current shunt. The sensing element has an increased width relative to the width of the conductive portion of the shunt. The increased width of the sensing element provides for improved current shunt sensing that results in more accurate voltage (and thus current) measurements across a wide range of frequencies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro contact probe used for a probe card. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a micro contact probe including a coating layer of a nanostructure such as carbon nanotubes formed on a surface thereof to reduce contact resistance when contacting a semiconductor chip. According to the micro contact probe of which the surface is coated with the nanostructure, contact resistance between the probe and the semiconductor chip is lowered and the high frequency characteristics are improved, such that a more accurate measurement can be obtained.

Abstract: A current detection busbar has a penetrating portion that penetrates a hole portion of a magnetic core and two flat plate-like terminal portions that are respectively continuous with opposite sides of the penetrating portion. The terminal portions have a larger width and a smaller thickness than the penetrating portion. An insulating casing has busbar holes that are penetrated by the respective terminal portions of the current detection busbar. An edge portion of each busbar hole is constituted by flat surfaces that face the terminal portion with a gap left between each flat surface and the terminal portion, a plurality of projecting portions that sandwich the terminal portion while coming into contact with the front and back surfaces of the terminal portion, and curved surfaces that face respective corner portions of the terminal portion with a gap left between each curved surface and the corresponding corner portion.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for calibrating a magnetometer of a mobile device. The method comprises displaying a visual indication of a gestural path on a display of the portable electronic device, monitoring for changes in orientation of the portable electronic device, changing the visual indication in response to the monitored changes in the orientation of the portable electronic device, measuring a magnetic field with the magnetometer, and calibrating the magnetometer in accordance with measurements of the magnetic field acquired at different points along the gestural path.

Abstract: A device is provided for protecting an electronic payment terminal, which includes at least one printed circuit and one casing. The device includes at least one capacitive detector having a first part electrically connected to the printed circuit and a second part mounted within the casing of the electronic payment terminal without being electrically connected to the first part. The at least one capacitive detector is configured to deliver a reference capacitance when it is mounted in the electronic payment terminal. The device also includes a capacitive measurement microprocessor electrically connected to the at least one capacitive detector and configured to detect a variation in capacitance of the at least one capacitive detector. The device includes a transmitter for transmitting a piece of information representing the variation in capacitance when an absolute value of a difference between the measured capacitance and the reference capacitance exceeds a predetermined threshold.