Abstract: An electrostatic chuck of the invention comprising; a first insulating member whose upper surface serves as a mounting surface on which a plate specimen is mounted, a second insulating member which is positioned facing a lower surface side of the first insulating member, and an internal electrode located between the first insulating member and the second insulating member, wherein the first insulating member is a composite ceramic having as its main constituents 1 wt % to 4 wt % of silicon carbide, and aluminum oxide, with a volume resistivity value in a temperature range of ?200° C. to 200° C., of 1×1014 ?cm to 1×1016 ?cm.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for routing signals in a microelectronic device are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of chip components, such as transient suppression regulators, that are configured to include a transmission path that is routed through the chip component for transmission of any signal, for example, a signal from a communication bus of the microelectronic device.

Abstract: An ESD-protecting circuit is connected between a terminal pad and an internal circuit formed in an LSI. The ESD-protecting circuit includes a conductive line connected to the terminal pad; first and second protecting elements, connected to the conductive line; and first and second resistive elements formed on the. The conductive line has a slit that divides the conductive line so that the first and second resistive elements have equal resistive values.

Abstract: An electrical system is described which comprises at least one function board and at least one voltage converter. The function board and the voltage converter are connected such that a voltage generated by the voltage converter is supplied to the function board. The electrical circuit comprises a power control circuit for controlling the voltage generated by the voltage converter wherein the power control circuit is clamped if the voltage converter is turned off.

Abstract: An intelligent power module includes semiconductor switching devices, drive circuits, a variety of detecting circuits and warning circuits for detecting a fatal abnormal condition and a precursory abnormal condition thereof in the switching devices, the drive circuits and so forth, abnormal condition detecting logic devices and drive circuits for protecting the switching devices when the detecting circuits and the warning circuits detect the abnormal condition, and control circuits and a transmission circuit for outputting a signal based on detection of the abnormal condition. The transmission circuit has an output terminal for outputting alarm signals when the fatal abnormal condition is detected, and an output terminal for outputting abnormality factor discrimination signals indicating abnormality factors contributing to the fatal abnormal condition and the precursory abnormal condition.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for preventing voltage spike feedback with switched inductive loads connected to isolated redundant power supplies. A voltage clamp circuit of the present invention may clamp the voltage spikes caused by inductive loads within a power supply system to a safe voltage level. When the common output voltage of the redundant power supplies becomes too large, the voltage clamp circuit of the present invention may clamp the common output voltage to a safe voltage level at or slightly above the higher voltage of the parallel connected power supplies.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device having a plurality of internal circuits connected to different power lines, and an inter-circuit signal wire or a branched wire along these internal circuits, wherein near an active element in a first connection configuration connected to the inter-circuit signal wire or the like, a plurality of active elements in a second connection configuration are arranged to sandwich or surround the active element in the first connection configuration. The active elements in the second connection configuration have the identical or similar structure to the active element in the first connection configuration, and are connected to power lines of an internal circuit associated therewith but not connected to signal wires and so on in the internal circuit.

Abstract: An auxiliary rotation-system starter includes a starter motor, a main circuit portion having a main contact portion, an auxiliary circuit portion having a driving coil portion for opening or closing the main contact portion, and a fuse for cutting the current flow to the driving coil portion by fusing at a predetermined temperature. The main circuit portion is connected between the starter motor and a power source. The auxiliary circuit portion is connected in parallel with the main contact portion. The fuse is provided in the auxiliary circuit portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and circuitry for protecting a circuit during hot-swap events. Hot swap protection circuitry includes as overcurrent detection circuit which decouples power from a load. Circuitry is provided to detect ground-fault conditions. Noise detection circuitry is provided to reduce noise in the power that is delivered to the load.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon fluid filter monitor cartridge having apparatus for neutralizing the electrostatic charge in the transient fluid including a mass of filter material, and electrical conductor having a main conductive path and a plurality of cooperating electrically conductive paths extending from the main conductive path, and means for directing the flow of hydrocarbon fluid to be treated through the mass of filter material and in contact with the conductor whereby the electrostatic charge in the transient fluid is neutralized by corona discharge.

Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit using a shunt resistor and the voltage drop across a switch to program a user-defined current limiting level. This protects the switch and the input power supply, as well as the load. The shunt resistor is connected to the input or output of the switch, and a temperature dependent current source, so that a voltage drop is generated across the shunt resistor. An amplifier is used to sense the voltage across the shunt resistor and the voltage drop across the switch. When the voltage drop across the switch exceeds the voltage drop across the shunt resistor, the amplifier will regulate the switch so that a voltage drop across the switch is equal to the voltage drop across the shunt resistor. In this way, a constant current through the switch can be achieved. A constant ratio between the current limiting level to the shunt resistor value can be achieved with this method, so the current limiting level is programmable by selecting the resistor value.

Abstract: In a utility power distribution system having at least one primary electric power source and at least one secondary electric power source, each of said primary and secondary sources being connected to the distribution system through respective controllable circuit breakers, the improvement comprising communication signal generating apparatus arranged for introducing a communication signal into the power distribution system from the connection of the primary power source, communication signal receiving apparatus arranged for receiving the communication signal via the power distribution system at the secondary power source, and apparatus responsive to the interruption of receipt of the communication signal at the receiving apparatus for operating the circuit breakers at the secondary power source for disconnecting the secondary power source from the power distribution system.

Abstract: A suppression and protection circuit is used in conjunction with a circuit interrupter. In one configuration, a voltage clamping device such as a metal oxide varistor is utilized in a ground fault circuit interrupter product for handling transient surges and overvoltage conditions and is placed in series with a solenoid coil. The suppression and protection circuit includes a crowbar device across the line such as a header spark gap to prevent overvoltages, and a low pass filter such as an LC filter for suppressing transient surges.

Abstract: An exciter for an electrical power generator includes a shaft, an armature connected to the shaft, a field surrounding the armature to cause the armature to generate an alternating current, and a rectifying wheel The rectifying wheel includes a plurality of semiconductor switching devices connected to the rectifying wheel and arranged in a bridge configuration for rectifying the alternating current from the field. A respective non-linear protection device is connected in parallel with each of the semiconductor switching devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for protecting high frequency RF integrated circuits from ESD damage. The device comprises at least one varactor-LC circuit tank stacked to avoid the power gain loss by the parasitic capacitance of ESD circuit. The varactor-LC tank could be designed to resonate at the RF operating frequency to avoid the power gain loss from the parasitic capacitance of ESD circuit. Multiple LC-tanks could be stacked for further reduction in the power gain loss. A reverse-biased diode is used as the varactor for both purposes of impedance matching and effective ESD current discharging. Because the inductor is made of metal, both the inductor and the varactor can discharge ESD current when ESD condition happens. It has a high enough ESD level to prevent ESD discharge.

Abstract: A power limiting circuit for power supply that is controlled by a power supply control module includes a shunt regulator having a reference input operatively connected to a voltage input that receives a voltage representative of the power supply control module connected thereto. The shunt regulator is biased on when the voltage at the reference input increases above a reference voltage established at the voltage input. A transistor is operatively connected to the shunt regulator and to an output operatively connected to the power supply control module and has a voltage that is representative of voltage operating the power supply control module. The transistor is biased on from the shunt regulator such that the shunt regulator and transistor form a latch when the voltage at the output reduces below an off voltage level to turn off the power supply, dropping the input voltage, and restarting the power supply in a restart cycle.

Abstract: An electromagnetic protection ASIC that includes a high transconductance FET switch array operatively arranged to momentarily short all lines of ingress/egress to ground when triggered by a nuclear event detector.

Abstract: An electronic leakage current device a low-voltage power line, comprising: a moving contact and a fixed contact which can be mutually coupled/uncoupled; first sensor means for detecting a earth leakage current and for generating an electric signal which is indicative of the value of the earth leakage current; first electronic means which are electrically connected to the first sensor means in order to generate an electric tripping signal depending on the electric signal which is indicative of the value of the earth leakage current, said first electronic means generating the electric tripping signal after a preset minimum time interval; and actuation means, operatively connected to the moving contact, in order to perform, in response to the electric tripping signal: the separation of the moving contact from the fixed contact.

Abstract: A system and methods that enable a restoration scheme for power distribution systems that is independent of power distribution system component configuration, the number of power distribution system components, and component settings are provided. In a power distribution system, a number of intelligent reclosers having restoration control modules are deployed that execute a restoration scheme. The intelligent reclosers constantly poll cooperating power distribution lines to determine changes in current or voltage provided by the power distribution lines. In the event of a power distribution system fault, the reclosers act in accordance to a predefined restoration scheme to reanimate the unaffected portions of the failing power distribution system.

Abstract: A GFCI mis-wiring detector includes a set of input terminals for an AC source, and a set of output terminals for an AC load. The set of output terminals are conductively connected to the set of input terminals. A GFCI circuit has one or more switches that selectively interrupt the connection between the set of input terminals and the set of output terminals when a ground fault occurs. A mis-wiring detection circuit causes the one or more switches of the GFCI circuit to open when the AC source is electrically coupled to the set of output terminals for a first time interval, even if there is no imbalance in the current flow. Additionally, a suppression circuit suppresses operation of the mis-wiring detection circuit when the AC source is electrically coupled to the input terminals for a second time interval. The second time interval is less than the first time interval.