Abstract: Micro-scale devices, such as transformers and capacitors, having a floating conductive layer are disclosed. A floating conductive layer may be disposed in an insulator layer and can reduce a maximum electric field between a first planar conductor and a second planar conductor of a micro-scale passive device. Reduction of a maximum electric field between a first planar conductor and a second planar conductor can reduce undesirable effects on electrical components.

Abstract: A method includes providing a first electrically conductive element over a top surface of a substrate. The method includes measuring at least one parameter indicative of the shape or dimensions of the first electrically conductive element. The method includes simulating the first electrically conductive element and a dielectric wall surrounding the first electrically conductive element for a plurality of wall heights by using the at least one parameter as an input. The method includes for each wall height, computing the maximum current density present at a surface of the first electrically conductive element. The method includes determining, from the maximum current densities, wall height(s) for which the maximum current density is below a threshold. Furthermore, the method includes providing a second electrically conductive element, identical to the first electrically conductive element, surrounded by a wall having a wall height of the determined wall height(s).

Abstract: Example embodiments describe a method for estimating a number of persons present in a room including i) obtaining measurements of electromagnetic sounding signals transmitted within the room; ii) determining at least one reverberation time from the measurements; iii) determining the number of people in the room based on the at least one reverberation time, on a room parameter indicative for a capacity of the room for absorbing the signals and a person parameter indicative for an average capacity of a person for absorbing the signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a comfort management system (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, said system being designed to diffuse, into a passenger compartment, a volatile substance designed to neutralize or attenuate an existing olfactory perception that a person could have in this passenger compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods to operate the same to provide fast fault-detection on power semiconductor devices such as power transistors are disclosed. In some embodiment, a desaturation based fault-detection circuit for a power transistor is provided. The fault-detection circuit has an adaptable blanking time and a disconnect switch in the blanking mechanism that allow for quick enabling of fault-detection mechanisms to achieve fast fault detection times on power semiconductor devices.

Abstract: An electric radiator is described, having a housing, delimiting an upper compartment and a lower compartment, at least one heating member installed in the upper compartment and capable of emitting thermal radiation when it is supplied with electrical power, at least one electrical energy storage device, an attachment device enabling the removable installation of the electrical energy storage device in the lower compartment, in such a way that the electrical energy storage device is capable of varying between a connection configuration and a disconnection configuration, and a heat protection shield located between the heating member and the electrical energy storage device and blocking infrared rays while allowing the movement of air by convection, which are emitted in the direction of the electrical energy storage device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating structure (30) which is intended in particular to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the heating structure (30) comprising at least one resistive layer arranged to release heat when an electric current passes through this layer (36), this panel further comprising art electrode array comprising a plurality of contact electrodes (34) arranged to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer in order to Sallow electric current to flow through this resistive layer.

Abstract: Isolators having a back-to-back configuration for providing electrical isolation between two circuits are described, in which multiple isolators formed on a single monolithic substrate are connect in series to achieve a higher amount of electrical isolation for a single substrate than for one of the isolators alone. A pair of isolators in the back-to-back configuration have top and bottom isolator components where the top isolator components are connected together and electrically isolated from the underlying substrate, resulting in floating top isolator components. The back-to-back isolator may provide one or more communication channels for transfer of information and/or power between different circuits.

Abstract: A circuit to control a switching characteristic of a switching device. The circuit includes a driver circuit comprising an output port, where the driver circuit is configured to generate, at the output port, a control signal to actuate the switching device within a first time period. The control signal comprising at least one electrical pulse, where a pulse width of the at least one electrical pulse being shorter than the first time period. The circuit also includes a coupling circuit that is configured to use the control signal to actuate the switching device to establish a target switching characteristic of the switching device according to a modulation of the at least one electrical pulse. The control circuit is also configured to provide a greater impedance to the control signal than an impedance of the output terminal of the driver circuit.

Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises a power switch and a fault detection circuit. The power switch circuit includes a power switch transistor. The fault detection circuit includes a comparator circuit configured to monitor a voltage across the power switch transistor and compare the voltage to a varying threshold voltage that decreases with time, and produce an indication of a circuit fault when the voltage of the power switch transistor is greater than the time varying threshold voltage.

Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises a power switch circuit and a fault detection circuit. The power switch circuit includes a transistor. The fault detection circuit includes a first comparator circuit configured to compare a monitored voltage of the transistor to a detection threshold voltage and produce an indication of a circuit fault according to the comparing, and a delay circuit configured to delay the comparing by the first comparator circuit according to slew rate of the monitored voltage.

Abstract: The subject technology provides for an architecture that isolates two interfaces of a circuit with an isolating communication element while also protecting against overstress transients such as electro-static discharge (ESD) and other electrical overstress (EOS) transients across the isolating communication element that can be significantly larger than the ESD rating of the isolating communication element, and/or that may be repeated in succession. The subject technology provides isolation using a two die implementation with an isolation interface including an isolation tub in each die, or a single die containing both isolation tubs in the die. The two dice include respective substrates that are connected together and float with respect to any signal or ground. The isolation enables a large offset voltage on the order of hundreds of volts to exist between the sides. Being relatively large, each isolation tub can handle a significant amount of energy.

Abstract: Micro-scale devices, such as transformers and capacitors, having a floating conductive layer are disclosed. A floating conductive layer may be disposed in an insulator layer and can reduce a maximum electric field between a first planar conductor and a second planar conductor of a micro-scale passive device. Reduction of a maximum electric field between a first planar conductor and a second planar conductor can reduce undesirable effects on electrical components.

Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises a power switch circuit and a fault detection circuit. The power switch circuit includes a transistor. The fault detection circuit includes a first comparator circuit configured to compare a monitored voltage of the transistor to a detection threshold voltage and produce an indication of a circuit fault according to the comparing, and a delay circuit configured to delay the comparing by the first comparator circuit according to slew rate of the monitored voltage.

Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises a power switch and a fault detection circuit. The power switch circuit includes a power switch transistor. The fault detection circuit includes a comparator circuit configured to monitor a voltage across the power switch transistor and compare the voltage to a varying threshold voltage that decreases with time, and produce an indication of a circuit fault when the voltage of the power switch transistor is greater than the time varying threshold voltage.

Abstract: Isolators having a back-to-back configuration for providing electrical isolation between two circuits are described, in which multiple isolators formed on a single monolithic substrate are connect in series to achieve a higher amount of electrical isolation for a single substrate than for one of the isolators alone. A pair of isolators in the back-to-back configuration have top and bottom isolator components where the top isolator components are connected together and electrically isolated from the underlying substrate, resulting in floating top isolator components. The back-to-back isolator may provide one or more communication channels for transfer of information and/or power between different circuits.

Abstract: A circuit to control a switching characteristic of a switching device. The circuit includes a driver circuit comprising an output port, where the driver circuit is configured to generate, at the output port, a control signal to actuate the switching device within a first time period. The control signal comprising at least one electrical pulse, where a pulse width of the at least one electrical pulse being shorter than the first time period. The circuit also includes a coupling circuit that is configured to use the control signal to actuate the switching device to establish a target switching characteristic of the switching device according to a modulation of the at least one electrical pulse. The control circuit is also configured to provide a greater impedance to the control signal than an impedance of the output terminal of the driver circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods to operate the same to provide fast fault-detection on power semiconductor devices such as power transistors are disclosed. In some embodiment, a desaturation based fault-detection circuit for a power transistor is provided. The fault-detection circuit has an adaptable blanking time and a disconnect switch in the blanking mechanism that allow for quick enabling of fault-detection mechanisms to achieve fast fault detection times on power semiconductor devices.