Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode opposed to the emitter electrode, and a cooling means which condenses the water on the emitter electrode from within the surrounding air, and a high voltage source applying a high voltage across the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode to electrostatically charge the water for atomizing charged minute water particles from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The device further includes a controller for discharging the charged minute water particles in a stable manner. The controller monitors a discharge current flowing between the two electrodes to control the cooling means for keeping the discharge current at a predetermined level, thereby regulating the atomizing amount of the charged minute particles from the emitter electrode.

Abstract: An ion generator that can generate a controlled trace amount of ozone together with negative or positive ions. The ion generator includes an insulation substrate, a ground electrode and a high-voltage electrode on the insulation substrate, an insulating film formed on the ground electrode, and a wire electrode. The root of the wire electrode is soldered to the high-voltage electrode. The tip of the wire electrode is arranged so as to protrude in a recessed part. The ground electrode has a pair of legs disposed on the insulation substrate at the sides of the recessed part. The legs are parallel to the wire electrode on opposite sides of the wire electrode. The insulating film is provided on the surface of the ground electrode to cover the ground electrode except the high-voltage electrode contacting a first terminal, a contact portion contacting a second terminal and parts of the legs of tips of the ground electrode that face the tip of the wire electrode.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection device for use in power supply, especially low voltage systems, is described, with a housing (2), a first electrode (3), at least one second electrode (4), an arc chamber (5) within the housing (2) between the two electrodes (3, 4), and with a breakdown spark gap between the two electrodes (3, 4), an arc forming between the electrodes (3, 4) when the breakdown spark gap is ignited. In order to more reliably prevent the occurrence of a grid follow current and re-ignition of the breakdown spark gap in the overvoltage protection device, at least one outflow and cooling channel (6) is formed in the housing (2) through which the hot plasma from the arc chamber (5) can emerge, the outflow and cooling channel (6) extending in the lengthwise direction of the housing (2) and being helical.

Abstract: A method for controlling an SCR-type switch, comprising applying to the switch gate several periods of an unrectified high-frequency voltage, the power of one HF halfwave being insufficient to start the SCR-type switch.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing static electricity includes an ionizer that generates ions for neutralizing static electricity, a blower that produces a current of air for moving the ions to a desired location, and a motion detector operatively connected to the blower. Upon detecting motion, the motion detector activates the blower, which disperses ions to reduce static electricity at the desired location. The apparatus can include a heater for heating the current of ionized air. In addition, the motion detector can be operatively linked to the ionizer and heater so that they are also activated upon detection of motion. The blower can be linked to a timer such that it runs for a predetermined amount of time upon activation by the motion detector, or the blower can run continuously until the motion detector no longer detects any motion. The apparatus is particularly useful for reducing static electricity around fuel dispensers.

Abstract: Two devices for preventing internal combustion of equipment from spreading outwards includes a sampling circuit, a detecting and monitoring circuit, and a low-voltage datum power supply. The sampling circuit includes two thermal detectors. The detecting and monitoring circuit includes a first monitoring output end and a second monitoring output end. When two thermal detectors are both normal, the first monitoring output is inactive and the second monitoring output is inactive. When one of the thermal detectors is abnormal, the first monitoring output is inactive and the second monitoring output is active. When the two thermal detectors are both abnormal, the first monitoring output is active and the second monitoring output is active. The first monitoring output is configured to turn off the power supply of a fan and the second monitoring output is configured to drive an alarm unit.

Abstract: A power supply equipped with an independent overload protection mechanism includes a control circuit and a transformation circuit that form multiple sets of combination circuits for transforming AC power to DC power. Each control circuit is connected to a protection circuit which monitors overload operation conditions of an electronic device. In the event that an overload condition occurs, the protection circuit outputs an individual protection signal to the control circuit to stop or suspend power output on a DC power cord so that the electronic device at the rear end is not driven. Hence an independent overload protection can be achieved.

Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit for a power switching transistor wherein the power switching transistor has a control electrode and two main electrodes, the circuit comprising a circuit including a protection switch for sensing the rate of change of voltage with respect to time at one of the main electrodes of the power switching transistor and for controlling the protection switch to remove a control signal to the control electrode of the power switching transistor to turn off the power switching transistor if the rate of change exceeds a predefined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting overlay errors in a lithography system. During lithographic exposure, features being exposed on the wafer need to overlay existing features on the wafer. Overlay is a critical performance parameter of lithography tools. The wafer is locally heated during exposure. Thermal expansion causes stress between the wafer and the wafer table, which will cause the wafer to slip if it exceeds the local frictional force. To increase the amount of expansion allowed before slipping occurs, the wafer chuck is uniformly expanded after the wafer has been loaded. This creates an initial stress between the wafer and the wafer table. As the wafer expands due to heating during exposure, the expansion first acts to relieve the initial stress before causing an opposite stress from thermal expansion. The wafer may be also be heated prior to attachment to the wafer chuck, creating the initial stress as the wafer cools.

Abstract: For protecting a power system, two or three of over current, thermal and under voltage protection circuits are integrated as one protection circuit but operate independently, and one or more protection points thereof are adjusted dynamically in response to detected condition of the power system. Specifically, using voltage and current conditions in the power system to modify the over current protection and the thermal protection maximizes the performance of the power system and covers the process bias in the circuits.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling circuit breakers in a multi-phase power system. The method includes (a) recognizing a concurrent presence of a first fault in a first phase of the power system and a second fault in a second phase of the power system, where the power system includes a first circuit breaker situated to conduct a fault current between the first and second phases, (b) controlling a second circuit breaker to open so that the fault current is interrupted, where the second circuit breaker, when closed, provides current to the first circuit breaker, and (c) controlling the first circuit breaker to remain closed until the second circuit breaker is opened.

Abstract: There is provided a method for protecting loads associated with power distribution system inductive signal couplers. The method includes (a) providing an inductive signal coupler having a first winding in series with a line conductor of a power distribution system, and a second winding having first and second connection terminals, (b) connecting a first terminal of a first fuse to the first connection terminal, and a first terminal of a second fuse to the second connection terminal, a second terminal of each fuse being connected to a communication device, and (c) connecting a first terminal of a first choke to the second terminal of the first fuse, and a first terminal of a second choke to the second of the second fuse, a second terminal of each choke being connected to an electrical ground.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ESD protection circuit, which includes: an ESD protection element, coupled to a pad; a transmitting gate circuit; an N MOSFET, for providing a first biasing voltage to the transmitting gate circuit according to the second voltage level; a first P MOSFET, for providing a second biasing voltage to the transmitting gate circuit according to the first voltage level; a delay circuit for determining the turning on and turning off time of the transmitting gate circuit; a first inversing logic circuit, for generating a first control signal according to the output of the delay circuit; and a second inversing logic circuit, for generating a second control signal according to the output of the first inversing logic circuit, wherein the transmitting gate circuit turns on or turns off according to the first control signal and the second control signal.

Abstract: A conductor element for a superconducting FCL has an elongate superconducting element 18 surrounded by bodies 26a, 26b, which form a thermal mass around the element 18. The thermal mass is in thermal connection with a cooling system, such as a cryogenic system. The bodies 26a, 26b are solid, for example copper. The thermal mass maintains even temperature along the element 18, to improve fault response and recovery. Cooling functions are provided externally of the conductor element and may be by means of conventional cryogenic cooling systems. The element is free of cryogens and robust.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a voltage regulator includes a switch configured to selectively conduct electrical energy according to a signal, and circuitry configured to provide the signal to implement a soft start procedure comprising varying frequency and duty cycle of the signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for safely disconnecting electric drives, wherein disturbances of the electric drive which are independent from the driving and lifting speed are recognized in a delay-free manner by retaining the safety function and are used for disconnecting the electric drive. The signals of the sensors (7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2) are detected in a redundant manner and are redundantly compared to preselected threshold values in evaluation devices (2.1, 2.2) such that the electric drive (12) is safely disconnected in a redundant manner without using mechanical position devices if the preselected threshold value of the electric drive (12) is exceeded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a magnetic actuator in a power switching device by transmitting at least two different electrical current waveforms to the actuator. Both waveforms are sent to the actuator from a controller in the same direction to move an actuator's armature from a first position to a second position. The first current waveform causes the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The second waveform is transmitted to the actuator to keep the armature moving towards the second position without overdriving the armature.

Abstract: A virtual ?T trip criterion is implemented in an electrical power distribution system to provide current-based tripping for a solid state power switching device. A first-order system model is implemented either by hardware or software to represent a rise in temperature of the electrical wire through which power is supplied. When the simulated temperature exceeds a threshold, the solid state power switching device may be tripped.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for applying a magnetic mark to a rotatable article (1) to be positioned, to a corresponding device and to a system (2) consisting of a device for applying a magnetic mark and a device (25) for determining the angle of rotation. In the region that comprises magnetizable material of the rotatable article to be positioned and is selected for determining the angle of rotation, a magnetic dipole is generated as a magnetic mark by a magnetic field, by means of the device for applying a magnetic mark. Said mark is used for determining the angle of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An overcurrent protecting device for protecting a semiconductor element from an overcurrent includes: the semiconductor element; a shunt resistor for detecting the overcurrent when the electric current in the semiconductor element exceeds a threshold value; a reference resistor for setting the threshold value; a constant electric current circuit for supplying a constant electric current to the reference resistor; and a comparator for comparing a terminal voltage of the shunt resistor and a terminal voltage of the reference resistor. The shunt resistor is made of a same kind of resistor as the reference resistor.