Abstract: The present application relates to a process for preparing guanidinoacetic acid comprising granulates, comprising the steps of a) providing a fermentation broth comprising guanidinoacetic acid and biomass, b) reducing the content of water in the fermentation broth provided in step a) to give a concentrated fermentation broth, and c) subjecting the concentrated fermentation broth of step b) to a wet granulation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an N-guanylamino acid, e.g., GAA, comprising the steps of a) providing a liquid and/or solid mixture comprising an N-guanylamino acid, e.g., GAA, biomass and/or DNA, b) treating the mixture of step a) with an acidic solution and/or acidic agent, and c) isolating the N-guanylamino acid, e.g., GAA, from the mixture obtained in step b), characterized in that the step b) is performed at a pH lower than the pKa of the N-guanylaminoacetic acid of the mixture provided in step a), measured by means of a pH-electrode.

Abstract: A current limitation concept for an intelligent semiconductor switch is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment, a method performed by the intelligent semiconductor switch comprises generating a gate current and switching on a power transistor by applying the gate current to the gate electrode of the power transistor. The method further comprises determining information regarding a load current passing through the power transistor and controlling—based on the information regarding the load current—the load current by reducing the gate current applied to the gate electrode of the power transistor. When the load current exceeds a first threshold value, the gate current is reduced by a specific amount, and when the load current exceeds a third threshold value, the gate current is further reduced by sinking a discharge current, which has a third current level, from the gate electrode of the power transistor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of free-flowing particles comprising or consisting of an N-guanylamino acid, wherein the process comprises the steps of a) providing an N-guanylamino acid comprising solution or suspension b) shifting the pH of the solution or suspension provided in step a) to a pH lower than the pKa value of the N-guanylamino acid, and c) shifting the pH of the solution or suspension obtained in step b) to a pH larger than the pKa value of the N-guanylamino acid and lower than the pKb value of the N-guanylamino acid, wherein the step c) further comprises the precipitation or crystallization of the particles comprising or consisting of the N-guanylamino acid, wherein the pH in each of the steps b) and c) is measured by means of a pH electrode.

Abstract: A circuit for a smart semiconductor switch includes an electronic switch electrically coupled between an output node and a supply node. An overcurrent protective circuit is configured to generate an overcurrent signal in response to a load current flowing through the electronic switch exceeding a first overcurrent threshold, and to cause the electronic switch to be tripped. A control circuit is configured to switch the electronic switch on and off based on an input signal in a first mode, and to drive a load connected to the output node by repeatedly switching the electronic switch on and off in a second mode, and to prevent the electronic switch from being permanently tripped by the overcurrent protective circuit.

Abstract: In general, the disclosure describes circuits and techniques to operate power switch driver circuits as well as techniques to dynamically change configuration parameters. The power switch driver circuit of this disclosure may be configured to received communication signals along the same signal paths as for pulse modulated switching control signals. In other words, the power switch driver circuit may receive a main function signaling, switching the power switches on and off, overlaid with a secondary function signaling, communication, which may include configuration parameters. In this manner the power switch driver circuit may receive both switching (commutation) function and communication function along the same signal path.

Abstract: In general, the disclosure describes circuits and techniques to operate power switch driver circuits as well as techniques to dynamically change configuration parameters. The power switch driver circuit of this disclosure may be configured to received communication signals along the same signal paths as for pulse modulated switching control signals. In other words, the power switch driver circuit may receive a main function signaling, switching the power switches on and off, overlaid with a secondary function signaling, communication, which may include configuration parameters. In this manner the power switch driver circuit may receive both switching (commutation) function and communication function along the same signal path.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a power transistor connected between a supply terminal and an output terminal; a control circuit coupled to a control electrode of the power transistor and configured to apply a control current to the control electrode to turn the power transistor on or off; and an overcurrent protection circuit connected to the power transistor. The circuit is configured to operate in a first mode, in which some functions of the circuit are inactive to reduce power consumption, and in a second mode, in which all functions of the circuit are active. The overcurrent protection circuit is configured to: in response to the circuit being in the first mode and a sense signal indicative of a load current passing through the power transistor reaching a first threshold, cause the circuit to change from the first mode to the second mode.

Abstract: An electronic device is described herein which may be used as an electronic fuse (smart fuse). The device includes an electronic switch having a load current path coupled between an output node and a supply node and configured to connect or disconnect the output node and the supply node in accordance with a control signal. The device further includes a control circuit configured to generate the control signal based on an input signal, a current sense circuit configured to provide a current sense signal that represents a load current passing through the electronic switch, and a monitoring circuit configured to generate an overcurrent signal based on the current sense signal. The overcurrent signal is indicative of whether, or not, to disconnect the output node from supply node. The control circuit is configured to operate in a normal mode, an idle mode, and in a diagnosis mode.

Abstract: A circuit may comprise an electronic switch with a load current path, which is switched between an output node and a supply node and is designed to connect or disconnect the output node to or from the supply node in accordance with a control signal. The circuit further comprises a control circuit which is designed to generate the control signal based on an input signal, and a current monitoring circuit which is designed to receive a current measurement signal that represents the load current flowing through the load current path, and to generate a protective signal, based on the current measurement signal, which indicates whether the output node should be disconnected from the supply node. The circuit further comprises a reverse current detection circuit, which is designed to detect that the load current is flowing in the reverse direction, namely from the output node to the supply node.

Abstract: A method for performing a sequential diagnosis in a power network is presented. The method comprises: a) sending a diagnosis control signal from a controller to a power switch for starting the sequential diagnosis at an initial diagnosis state of the power switch and using timeouts of the diagnosis control signal for changing a present diagnosis state of the power switch; b) if a timeout matches a predetermined time interval, continuing the sequential diagnosis by going on to a subsequent diagnosis state of the present diagnosis state; and c) if a timeout exceeds a predetermined time threshold, resetting the sequential diagnosis by restarting at the initial diagnosis state. Further, a power switch is presented.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for driving a semiconductor switch includes an undervoltage detection circuit to indicate an undervoltage state when a supply voltage falls below a voltage threshold value. A temperature detection circuit indicates that a temperature of a semiconductor switch exceeds a temperature threshold value. A control circuit for driving the semiconductor switch deactivates the semiconductor switch when the undervoltage detection circuit indicates an undervoltage state, and to reactivate the semiconductor switch when the undervoltage detection circuit no longer indicates an undervoltage state. In this case, the reactivation is delayed by a defined delay time when the semiconductor switch was previously deactivated due to an undervoltage state and the temperature detection circuit indicates that the temperature of the semiconductor switch exceeds the temperature threshold value.

Abstract: A method of estimating a magnetic property of a downhole component includes measuring a magnetic field strength of the downhole component at a plurality of axial locations along the downhole component to generate a plurality of magnetic field strength measurements, each magnetic field strength measurement taken in a near field region of the downhole component, and analyzing the magnetic field measurements to estimate a magnetic signature of the downhole component. The method also includes estimating an expected maximum pole strength of the downhole component based on the magnetic signature, and configuring the downhole component in a borehole string based on the expected maximum pole strength.

Abstract: In general, the disclosure describes circuits and techniques to operate power switch driver circuits as well as techniques to dynamically change configuration parameters. The power switch driver circuit of this disclosure may be configured to received communication signals along the same signal paths as for pulse modulated switching control signals. In other words, the power switch driver circuit may receive a main function signaling, switching the power switches on and off, overlaid with a secondary function signaling, communication, which may include configuration parameters. In this manner the power switch driver circuit may receive both switching (commutation) function and communication function along the same signal path.

Abstract: In general, the disclosure describes circuits and techniques to operate power switch driver circuits as well as techniques to dynamically change configuration parameters. The power switch driver circuit of this disclosure may be configured to received communication signals along the same signal paths as for pulse modulated switching control signals. In other words, the power switch driver circuit may receive a main function signaling, switching the power switches on and off, overlaid with a secondary function signaling, communication, which may include configuration parameters. In this manner the power switch driver circuit may receive both switching (commutation) function and communication function along the same signal path.

Abstract: A circuit may include a load transistor and a current measuring circuit that is coupled to the load transistor. The load transistor has a main current path, which is connected between a first supply node and an output pin for connecting a load. The current measuring circuit has a sense transistor coupled to the load transistor. The current measuring circuit is designed to deliver a measuring current that represents a load current flowing through the load transistor. The circuit may also include an analog-to-digital converter with a current input, and a digital-to-analog converter. The analog-to-digital converter is designed to output a digital signal representing an input current of the analog-to-digital converter. The digital-to-analog converter is designed to output an output current that depends on the digital signal. A control circuit is designed to output the measuring current.

Abstract: A method of estimating a magnetic property of a downhole component includes measuring a magnetic field strength of the downhole component at a plurality of axial locations along the downhole component to generate a plurality of magnetic field strength measurements, each magnetic field strength measurement taken in a near field region of the downhole component, and analyzing the magnetic field measurements to estimate a magnetic signature of the downhole component. The method also includes estimating an expected maximum pole strength of the downhole component based on the magnetic signature, and configuring the downhole component in a borehole string based on the expected maximum pole strength.

Abstract: A current limitation concept for an intelligent semiconductor switch is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment, a method performed by the intelligent semiconductor switch comprises generating a gate current and switching on a power transistor by applying the gate current to the gate electrode of the power transistor. The method further comprises determining information regarding a load current passing through the power transistor and controlling—based on the information regarding the load current—the load current by reducing the gate current applied to the gate electrode of the power transistor. When the load current exceeds a first threshold value, the gate current is reduced by a specific amount, and when the load current exceeds a third threshold value, the gate current is further reduced by sinking a discharge current, which has a third current level, from the gate electrode of the power transistor.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for driving a semiconductor switch includes an undervoltage detection circuit to indicate an undervoltage state when a supply voltage falls below a voltage threshold value. A temperature detection circuit indicates that a temperature of a semiconductor switch exceeds a temperature threshold value. A control circuit for driving the semiconductor switch deactivates the semiconductor switch when the undervoltage detection circuit indicates an undervoltage state, and to reactivate the semiconductor switch when the undervoltage detection circuit no longer indicates an undervoltage state. In this case, the reactivation is delayed by a defined delay time when the semiconductor switch was previously deactivated due to an undervoltage state and the temperature detection circuit indicates that the temperature of the semiconductor switch exceeds the temperature threshold value.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate inter alia to a circuit comprising an electronic switch with a load current path, which is switched between an output node and a supply node and is designed to connect or disconnect the output node to or from the supply node in accordance with a control signal. The circuit further comprises a control circuit which is designed to generate the control signal based on an input signal, and a current monitoring circuit which is designed to receive a current measurement signal that represents the load current flowing through the load current path, and to generate a protective signal, based on the current measurement signal, which indicates whether the output node should be disconnected from the supply node. The circuit further comprises a reverse current detection circuit, which is designed to detect that the load current is flowing in the reverse direction, namely from the output node to the supply node.