Abstract: Apparatus and methods for electronic circuit protection are disclosed. In one embodiment, an actively-controlled protection circuit includes a detector, a timer, a current source and a latch. The detector is configured to generate a detection signal when the detector determines that a transient signal satisfies a first signaling condition. The timer is configured to receive the detection signal, and to generate a current control signal. The current control signal is provided to a current source, which produces a trigger current at least partly in response to the control signal. The trigger current is provided to a node of the latch, thereby enhancing the conductivity modulation of the latch and selectively controlling the activation voltage of the latch.

Abstract: An electrical system includes a generator; a generator control unit connected to the generator; and a shunt regulator connected to an excitation output of the generator control unit, wherein the shunt regulator is configured to overload the excitation output of the generator control unit in the event of an overvoltage condition in the electrical system, such that an output voltage of the generator does not exceed a predetermined ceiling voltage during the overvoltage condition.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes a circuit breaker frame having an accessory compartment, a trip unit providing a zone selective interlocking function, and an accessory module. The accessory module includes a housing received by the accessory compartment of the circuit breaker frame, and a circuit housed by the housing. The circuit cooperates with the zone selective interlocking function of the trip unit to provide a zone selective interlocking interface external to the trip unit.

Abstract: A circuit board includes a controller, a first feedback pin, and a second feedback pin. The controller determines a first voltage measurement associated with the first feedback pin. The controller further determines whether the first feedback pin is disconnected from the controller based on the first voltage measurement. The controller determines a second voltage measurement associated with the second feedback pin when the first feedback pin is disconnected from the controller. The controller also adjusts an output voltage of the controller based on the second voltage measurement when the first feedback pin is disconnected from the controller.

Abstract: A system and method for conditioning an alternating current (“AC”) power transmission for supply to a load circuit.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit (40) is coupled across input-output (I/O) pads (21) and common terminals (24) of a core circuit (22) to protect it from ESD events. The circuit (40) comprises, a unidirectional ESD clamp (23) and two or more floating diodes (42, 44) arranged in parallel opposed configuration in series with the ESD clamp (23), the combination coupled between the I/O pads (21) and the reference terminals (24). In a preferred arrangement, the two strings of opposed parallel coupled diodes (42, 44) are used with different numbers of diodes in each string. These diodes (42, 44) operate in forward conduction (43, 45), so the energy dissipated therein during an ESD event is much reduced compared to a reverse biased diode and they can have smaller area. Signal clipping at the I/O pad (21) is reduced, less power is dissipated and less chip area is utilized.

Abstract: A fast-acting power protection system and a related method of power protection are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the fast-acting power protection system includes a current limiting block capable of reducing or shutting down an unwanted current or voltage surge at an input terminal of the fast-acting power protection system. The fast-acting power protection system also integrates an output voltage clamp and the current limiting block in one piece of monolithic semiconductor material, wherein the output voltage clamp protects an electrical device connected to an output terminal of the fast-acting power protection system from an unwanted voltage surge by rapidly clamping an output voltage to a clamp voltage. Furthermore, the fast-acting power protection system also protects from a reverse polarity input voltage and dielectrically isolates a MOSFET for reverse polarity protection from other current-limiting MOSFET's inside the current limiting block.

Abstract: A three phase transformer circuit is provided that includes a supply side, wherein the supply side is selectably configurable, via the use of sets of terminal boards, between a delta connection and a wye connection at a time of use and, a load side, wherein the load side is selectably configurable between a delta connection and a wye connection at the time of use. The three-phase transformer also provides for selecting an input voltage, from multiple input voltages, via the sets of terminal boards, at the time of use, and for selecting an output voltage for the supply side, from multiple output voltage, at the time of use.

Abstract: An electrostatic shield for an HVDC transmission component, the terminals of which lie at high potential relative to earth during operation, in particular for an HVDC transmission air-core coil, is distinguished by a sheathing, which is provided on at least one end with a collector electrode running substantially over its periphery for connection to one of the terminals of the HVDC transmission component, wherein the sheathing is made from a film composed of electrostatically dissipative material with a surface resistivity in the range of 109 to 1014 ohm/square.

Abstract: The present invention is provided with a composite electronic device comprising an inductor element and an ESD protection element formed between two magnetic substrates, wherein the inductor element includes insulation layers made of a resin, and spiral conductors formed on the insulation layers, the ESD protection element includes a base insulation layer, a pair of gap electrodes arranged via gap formed therebetween on the base insulation layer, and an ESD absorbing layer arranged at least between the gap electrodes, and a gap protection layer provided on at least one of the upper side and lower side of the gap, the ESD absorbing layer includes a composite material having an insulation inorganic material and a conductive inorganic material discontinuously dispersed in a matrix of the insulation inorganic material. The gap protection layer is made of resin including magnetic powder and carbon.

Abstract: A method of protecting from over-temperature a device associated with an electronic converter including a feedback path for regulating the output signal of said electronic converter may include providing a thermal sensitive component sensitive to the temperature of said device, and including said thermal sensitive component in said feedback path of said electronic converter, whereby said output signal of said electronic converter is reduced as a function of the temperature of said device as sensed by said thermal sensitive component.

Abstract: An overcurrent detection circuit in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a detection transistor, a potential difference setting unit, and a first transistor whose current value is controlled by the potential difference setting unit. Further, the potential difference setting unit includes a first depletion type transistor, a power-supply voltage being supplied to the drain of the first depletion type transistor, and the gate and source of the first depletion type transistor being connected to the gate of the first transistor, a second transistor, the drain and gate of the second transistor being connected to the gate of the first transistor, and a second depletion type transistor provided on the current path between the sources of the first transistor and the second transistor, the gate and drain of the second depletion type transistor being connected to the source of the detection transistor.

Abstract: A coil-driving apparatus of an electro magnetic contactor is disclosed, which replaces the main units in an analog scheme with those in a digital scheme using a PWM controller of low power consumption to reduce the number of the analog components, minimize power consumption, and controls a constant voltage that flows on the coil by receiving the feedback current flowing on the coil, whereby error and defect generation rates are reduced, and deterioration and burning of components are prevented.

Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement on a common chip or chip support, for safety critical applications, in particular for use in control and regulation units for a motor vehicle braking system, including at least one microprocessor system module, which has at least one core processor, provided with at least one ROM and at least one RAM, at least one power module for controlling external users and at least one monitoring module for monitoring at least parts and/or part systems of the circuit arrangement, the circuit arrangement including at least one temperature sensor for recording a chip temperature.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit may include a reference voltage generator, a trigger circuit, and a clamping device. The reference voltage generator is for providing a reference voltage that is relatively constant during a powered EOS/ESD event. The trigger circuit is coupled to receive the reference voltage and a power supply voltage. The trigger circuit is for comparing the reference voltage to the power supply voltage. In response to detecting that the power supply voltage is above the reference voltage, the trigger circuit provides a trigger signal having a voltage proportional to a voltage level of the overvoltage event. The clamping device is coupled between a first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal. The clamping device is for providing a current path between the first and second power supply terminals in response to the trigger signal.

Abstract: In an active clamp implemented in a 5V complementary BiCMOS process, the footprint of the active clamp, which includes at least one NMOS clamp stack, is reduced by introducing a BJT into the circuit to allow the number of NMOS clamp stacks to be reduced.

Abstract: A protection circuit employing a pair of SCR devices connected respectfully from telephone line tip conductor and ring conductors to ground. The SCR devices are of the type providing internal semiconductor resistors between the gate and cathode terminals for sensing overcurrents in the telephone line conductors, and providing voltage sensitive semiconductor regions so that the SCR devices are sensitive to overvoltages on the telephone line conductors. A pair of diodes are connected across the cathode-anode terminals of the SCR devices to provide overvoltage protection for positive polarity overvoltages on the telephone line.

Abstract: Provided is a power supply integrated circuit including an overheat protection circuit with high detection accuracy. The overheat protection circuit includes: a current generation circuit including: a first metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor including a gate terminal and a drain terminal that are connected to each other, the first MOS transistor operating in a weak inversion region; a second MOS transistor including a gate terminal connected to the gate terminal of the first MOS transistor, the second MOS transistor having the same conductivity type as the first MOS transistor and operating in a weak inversion region; and a first resistive element connected to a source terminal of the second MOS transistor; and a comparator for comparing a reference voltage having positive temperature characteristics and a temperature voltage having negative temperature characteristics, which are obtained based on a current generated by the current generation circuit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a residual current device which is able to safely and reliably operate when a line voltage is present (voltage dependent mode) and when the line voltage is not present or falls below a predetermined threshold level (voltage independent mode). The present invention is implemented as a residual current device having a trip mechanism for isolating an electric supply to an electrical installation upon detection of a predetermined current imbalance between the line and neutral conductors of said electric supply. The present invention comprises a current transformer having a secondary winding responsive to any current imbalance on said electrical installation, and a circuit protection winding being connectable to a processing means.

Abstract: A quench propagation arrangement for a superconducting magnet comprising a plurality of series-connected superconducting coils, the arrangement comprising: a positive supply line connected to cathodes of first diodes, of which respective anodes are connected to each respective node of the series connection of superconducting coils; a negative supply line connected to anodes of second diodes, of which respective cathodes are connected to each respective node of the series connection of superconducting coils; a number of heaters, respectively thermally connected to each of the superconducting coils and electrically connected between the positive supply line and the negative supply line; and a voltage limiter connected between the positive supply line and the negative supply line, in parallel with the heaters.