Abstract: An arc fault circuit interrupter includes line and load terminals, separable contacts in series between the terminals, a neutral conductor, and an operating mechanism opening and closing the contacts and tripping open the contacts in response to a trip signal. A current transformer senses current flowing through the contacts. A voltage sensor detects voltage zero crossings between the load terminal and the neutral conductor. A processor detects a resistive series arc in series with the contacts. A processor routine determines, for each half cycle, samples of the sensed current, an offset value from an average of sensed current samples proximate the voltage zero crossings for the corresponding half cycle, adjusted sensed current samples as adjusted by the offset value, a profile corresponding to a resistive series arc as a function of the sensed current samples and the adjusted samples, and the trip signal in response to occurrences of the profile.

Abstract: In an off-road vehicle having a resistor grid network and a blower system as part of a braking system operable to determine at least one of a resistor failure and a blower failure, the system including a first series of resistors connected in series, a second series of resistors connected in series, a blower cross to at least one of the first series of resistors and the second series of resistors, a sensor proximate at least one of the first series of resistors, the second series of resistors, and the blower, wherein each individual resistor in the first series connected in parallel to an individual resistor in the second series, and wherein when at least one of a current value, blower speed, and voltage value changes, the grid network is disconnected.

Abstract: An adaptive current limiter is coupled to a power source and which comprises a variable reference voltage generator which provides a variable reference voltage which is inversely proportional to the input voltage from the power source, which in certain embodiments is representative of the maximum allowable current level that may flow through a connected load at the present voltage provided by the power source given a fixed power limit. The current flow to the load is interrupted when the power level provided to the load exceeds predefined constant power and/or constant current limits.

Abstract: A protection circuit includes an interruption device formed to interrupt a current path between a protection circuit input and a protection circuit output upon exceeding a predetermined temperature at a temperature measurement location, and a control device formed to generate a control signal depending on a current in the current path, wherein the protection circuit is formed to increase the temperature at the temperature measurement location or decrease the predetermined temperature, when the control signal indicates that the current in the current path is higher than a threshold value current.

Abstract: A circuit and method for limiting the power supplied to a load are provided. The circuit and method prevent power supplied to the load from exceeding a power threshold for a programmable amount of time specified in a timer. The circuit includes a voltage controlled current source coupled to the load. A current multiplier divider is coupled to the voltage controlled current source and a timer is coupled to the load. A comparator with an adaptive threshold is coupled to the current multiplier divider and the input for controlling the timer to limit the power supplied to the load.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel broadband power limiter having improved frequency characteristics and power capacity, suitable for use with GaAs low-noise amplifier circuits. The power limiter includes a shunt diode circuit and two impedance transformers. The first transformer is a step-down impedance transformer connected between the shunt diode circuit and the input to the limiter, and the second transformer is a step-up impedance transformer connected between the shunt diode circuit and the output of the limiter. The invention further provides a method for limiting the power of an input signal, comprising the steps of: transforming the input signal from the input impedance to an intermediate impedance; shunting a portion of the input signal to ground; and transforming a remaining portion of the input signal from the intermediate impedance to an output impedance.

Abstract: A disclosed overvoltage protection circuit includes a power source input terminal of an electronic device, the power source input terminal being configured to receive a power source voltage; an internal power source terminal configured to supply power to internal circuits of the electronic device; a voltage blocking circuit connected between the power source input terminal and the internal power source terminal, the voltage blocking circuit being configured to prevent the power source voltage received at the power source input terminal from being provided; and a constant voltage output unit connected in parallel with the voltage blocking circuit, the constant voltage output unit being configured to output a constant voltage. In the event that the power source voltage received at the power source input terminal is higher than or equal to a predetermined voltage, the voltage blocking circuit blocks the power source voltage received at the power source input terminal.

Abstract: A powered device includes a first supply terminal, a second supply terminal, and at least one input pin coupled to the first supply terminal. The powered device further includes an external capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the first supply terminal, a switch coupled to the second supply terminal and coupled to a second terminal of the external capacitor, and power surge detection logic coupled to the switch. The external capacitor is charged in response to a detected power surge that exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus for electrically isolating interconnecting station nozzle and vehicle receptacle components during the refueling of high pressure gas into a vehicle tank comprising an electrically isolated vehicle tank inlet receptacle engageable with a refueling nozzle wherein the receptacle includes an assembly of mutually engageable electrically insulating media in conjunction with the vehicle receptacle mount to prevent electrical contact from the refueling nozzle to the vehicle chassis and gas tank in the refueling gas flow conduit system.

Abstract: A power supply controller having final test and trim circuitry. In one embodiment, a power supply controller for switched mode power supply includes a selector circuit, a trim circuit, a shutdown circuit and a disable circuit. The trim circuit includes a programmable circuit connection that can be selected by the selector circuit by toggling a voltage on an external terminal such as for example a power supply terminal, a control terminal or a function terminal of the power supply controller. The programmable circuit connection in the trim circuit can be programmed by applying a programming voltage to the external terminal. The shutdown circuit shuts down the power supply controller if the temperature rises above an over temperature threshold voltage. The shutdown circuit includes adjustment circuitry that can be used to test the shutdown circuit. The adjustment circuitry can adjust and reduce the over temperature threshold of the power supply controller.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit having overshoot and undershoot voltage protection during a power supply ramp-up of the circuit. In a specific embodiment, the ESD protection circuit of the present invention includes an ESD discharge circuit coupled between a power supply node and a ground supply node, a trigger circuit coupled to the ESD discharge circuit, the trigger circuit to turn the ESD discharge circuit on in the presence of a voltage spike during the power supply ramp-up and to turn the ESD discharge circuit off in the absence of a voltage spike during the power supply ramp-up, and a delay circuit coupled between the discharge circuit and the trigger circuit, the delay circuit to slow down the turn-off of the discharge circuit to prevent an overshoot or undershoot voltage condition during the power supply ramp-up of the circuit.

Abstract: At least one orifice is added to an AC ionizer with nozzles and ionizing electrodes that are used to remove static charge. The orifice is placed in a location where electrostatic forces are weak and where gas ions can be easily extracted from the ionizer. Ionizer effectiveness is enhanced by recovering gas ions that are normally trapped between the nozzles and under a portion of the ionizer from which the nozzles project. Without the orifice properly positioned, the trapped gas ions are lost by recombination or grounding. With the orifice positioned in an area of weak electrostatic forces, more gas ions are available for discharging the charged object. The combined air consumption of nozzles plus at least one orifice is the same or less than nozzles alone would consume for a given discharge time.

Abstract: A control logic detects voltage regulator failure in a power supply. The control logic comprises first and second lines configured for respective connection to a controller node and a phase node of a voltage regulator, a delay element coupled to the first line configured to delay signals at the controller node into alignment with signals at the phase node, and a level detector coupled to the second line configured to convert the signals at the phase node into at least two digital representations indicative of respective signal thresholds. A logic compares timing of the delayed signals with the digital representations and detects occurrence of a voltage regulator fault based on the timing comparison.

Abstract: A power distribution system (300) is disclosed having a power source (302) with at least one circuit associated with a power line (310). The power line (310) is connected to an incoming power cable (312), which is further connected to a cable or conduit assembly (316) having at least one junction block. A surge protector (324) is pluggable into the junction block of the cable or conduit assembly (316). The surge protector (324) includes at least one male connector set (326) and an LED indicator (338).

Abstract: A circuit element for protecting a load circuit includes a signal input for applying a signal, a signal output, a signal path connecting the signal input to the signal output, and an interruption means for irreversibly interrupting the signal path upon the reception of a control signal at the same.

Abstract: A device for detecting an abnormal connection status of a load connected between a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal is disclosed. An abnormal connection detecting circuit includes a first transistor configured to receive a predetermined first bias voltage, and output a current according to a voltage of the second connection terminal; and an abnormality detector configured to detect the current output from the first transistor, and detect the abnormal connection status based on the detected current.

Abstract: There is described an electrical system including a device which features a load current circuit and connection terminals for connection of the load current circuit. In the supply line to the connection terminals, separation contacts are present for separating the load current circuit during operation of the device. Means for explosion protection are provided in connection with the separation contacts.

Abstract: A collector voltage of a power management semiconductor device is detected by a first comparator, and when the detected collector voltage exceeds a first reference voltage, the first comparator outputs a first detection signal. Furthermore, a gate voltage of the power management semiconductor device is detected by a second comparator, and when the detected gate voltage exceeds a second reference voltage, the second comparator outputs a second detection signal. The second reference voltage is a minimum gate voltage for feeding a rated power to the power management semiconductor device or over, and less than a line power voltage of a drive circuit of the power management semiconductor device. When both the first detection signal and second detection signal are being outputted, the gate voltage is reduced by a gate voltage reduction means so as to protect the power management semiconductor device from overcurrent and overvoltage.

Abstract: A miniature circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a microprocessor including a thermal overload predictive function, and a shunt wire in series with the separable contacts. The shunt wire is structured to measure current flowing through the separable contacts for the thermal overload predictive function and an arc fault protective function.

Abstract: A power plug includes a base, an upper cover attached to the base, a base-side cover adjacent the base and removeably attached to the upper cover, an output cord, a leakage current detection and protection circuit for detecting a leakage current in the output cord, and an electrical connection mechanism for electrically connecting and disconnecting an input side and an output of the power plug. The leakage current detection and protection circuit and the electrical connection mechanism are attached to the base and disposed substantially within a space enclosed by the base and the upper cover. A plurality of connecting ends of the circuit extend from the space enclosed by the base and the upper cover into a space enclosed by the base-side cover and the upper cover. Wires of the output cord are connected to the connecting ends, respectively.