Abstract: A fast industrial CT scanning system and a method are provided. The scanning system includes X-ray sources, detectors, a rotating table, control boxes, and a control unit. The X-ray sources, the detectors, the rotating table, and the control boxes are all connected to the control unit. The rotating table is used for placing a specimen detected. Three X-ray sources are annularly and uniformly arranged at an interval of 120° by taking an axis of the rotating table as a center. Distances from the three X-ray sources to the specimen detected are equal. Each X-ray source is mounted in a corresponding control box. Three detectors are annularly and uniformly arranged at an interval of 120° by taking the axis of the rotating table as a center. Distances from the three detectors to the specimen detected are equal.

Abstract: A fast industrial CT scanning system and a method are provided. The scanning system includes X-ray sources, detectors, a rotating table, control boxes, and a control unit. The X-ray sources, the detectors, the rotating table, and the control boxes are all connected to the control unit. The rotating table is used for placing a specimen detected. Three X-ray sources are annularly and uniformly arranged at an interval of 120° by taking an axis of the rotating table as a center. Distances from the three X-ray sources to the specimen detected are equal. Each X-ray source is mounted in a corresponding control box. Three detectors are annularly and uniformly arranged at an interval of 120° by taking the axis of the rotating table as a center. Distances from the three detectors to the specimen detected are equal.

Abstract: A miniature temperature-controlled triaxial tester for testing unsaturated soil suitable for micro-computer tomography (CT) scanning and a method thereby. The triaxial tester includes a device body, where the bottom of the device body is fixed on a base, and the top of the device body is provided with a strain control device. The device body includes a vertically arranged polymethyl methacrylate shell, a PMMA inner cover is nested inside the PMMA shell, and a vacuum gap is formed between the PMMA shell and the PMMA inner cover; a pressure cell is formed by a space defined by the PMMA inner cover, a sample accommodating area for accommodating a test sample is arranged in the pressure cell, a heating element is arranged below the sample accommodating area and connected to a temperature control device, and a temperature sensor is arranged inside the PMMA inner cover and connected to a receiver.

Abstract: A miniature temperature-controlled triaxial tester for testing unsaturated soil suitable for micro-computer tomography (CT) scanning and a method thereby. The triaxial tester includes a device body, where the bottom of the device body is fixed on a base, and the top of the device body is provided with a strain control device. The device body includes a vertically arranged polymethyl methacrylate shell, a PMMA inner cover is nested inside the PMMA shell, and a vacuum gap is formed between the PMMA shell and the PMMA inner cover; a pressure cell is formed by a space defined by the PMMA inner cover, a sample accommodating area for accommodating a test sample is arranged in the pressure cell, a heating element is arranged below the sample accommodating area and connected to a temperature control device, and a temperature sensor is arranged inside the PMMA inner cover and connected to a receiver.

Abstract: An input power conditioning circuit (PCC) for a switched-mode power converter includes a hybrid full wave rectifier. Hybrid rectification is provided by a main rectifier and a matched virtual junction (VJ) rectifier, both with four-transistor gate fully cross-coupled. The VJ rectifier includes a voltage divider (such as a resistive voltage divider) to generate a virtual junction reference voltage VJ_ref (which can be less than transistor Vth). A power conversion controller (such as a boost controller) includes circuitry (such as an error amplifier) to regulate the input voltage VIN (main rectifier) to be substantially equal to VJ_ref from the VJ rectifier. Hybrid rectification, with VIN regulation, can be used to eliminate reverse (flow back) current, improving power conversion efficiency.

Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a substrate having functional circuitry configured to realize and carry out at least one functionality. At least one guard feature is positioned between a first feature including a metal that is coupled to a node in the electronic circuit configured for being biased at a first voltage to operate as an anode and a second feature including the metal which is coupled to a node in the circuitry circuit configured for being biased at a second voltage<the first voltage to operate as a cathode to enable dendritic growth of the metal on the cathode. The functional circuitry includes a plurality of interconnected transistors, the anode, and the cathode which are configured for implementing the functionality, wherein the guard feature does not contribute to the functionality of the circuit.

Abstract: An input power conditioning circuit (PCC) for a switched-mode power converter includes a hybrid full wave rectifier. Hybrid rectification is provided by a main rectifier and a matched virtual junction (VJ) rectifier, both with four-transistor gate fully cross-coupled. The VJ rectifier includes a voltage divider (such as a resistive voltage divider) to generate a virtual junction reference voltage VJ_ref (which can be less than transistor Vth). A power conversion controller (such as a boost controller) includes circuitry (such as an error amplifier) to regulate the input voltage VIN (main rectifier) to be substantially equal to VJ_ref from the VJ rectifier. Hybrid rectification, with VIN regulation, can be used to eliminate reverse (flow back) current, improving power conversion efficiency.

Abstract: Relaxation oscillator circuitry is presented with low drift and native offset cancellation, including an amplifier amplifying a first current signal to provide a pulse amplifier output waveform, an integrator integrating a second current signal to provide a ramp output waveform, and a comparator comparing the integrator output waveform with a threshold set by the amplifier output waveform to generate an alternating oscillator output used to switch the polarities of the first and second current signals.

Abstract: Relaxation oscillator circuitry is presented with low drift and native offset cancellation, including an amplifier amplifying a first current signal to provide a pulse amplifier output waveform, an integrator integrating a second current signal to provide a ramp output waveform, and a comparator comparing the integrator output waveform with a threshold set by the amplifier output waveform to generate an alternating oscillator output used to switch the polarities of the first and second current signals.

Abstract: A method for protecting a circuit from a high energy pulse includes placing a PPTC resistive element in series with the circuit and placing an energy pulse clamping semiconductor diode in shunt across the circuit and further includes forming the diode to have: a substrate with carriers of a first type of conductivity in a first, high concentration level (e.g. n++), a first major face and a second major face opposite to the first major face; a layer of semiconductor material having carriers of the first type of conductivity in a second concentration level lower than the first level (e.g. n+), and an outer surface; a region formed at an outer surface having carriers of a second type of conductivity in a third concentration level (e.g. p+); at least one cell having carriers of the second type of conductivity in a fourth concentration level greater than the third concentration level (e.g. p++); and, a cathode electrode and an anode electrode.

Abstract: A method for protecting a circuit from a high energy pulse includes placing a PPTC resistive element in series with the circuit and placing an energy pulse clamping semiconductor diode in shunt across the circuit and further includes forming the diode to have: a substrate with carriers of a first type of conductivity in a first, high concentration level (e.g. n++), a first major face and a second major face opposite to the first major face; a layer of semiconductor material having carriers of the first type of conductivity in a second concentration level lower than the first level (e.g. n+), and an outer surface; a region formed at an outer surface having carriers of a second type of conductivity in a third concentration level (e.g. p+); at least one cell having carriers of the second type of conductivity in a fourth concentration level greater than the third concentration level (e.g. p++); and, a cathode electrode and an anode electrode.

Abstract: An energy pulse clamping semiconductor diode includes a substrate having carriers of a first type of conductivity in a first, high concentration level (e.g. n++), a first major face and a second major face opposite to the first major face; a layer of semiconductor material having carriers of the first type of conductivity in a second concentration level lower than the first level (e.g. n+), and having an outer surface; a region formed at an outer surface having carriers of a second type of conductivity in a third concentration level (e.g. p+); at least one cell having carriers of the second type of conductivity in a fourth concentration level greater than the third concentration level (e.g. p++); a cathode electrode and an anode electrode. The diode is most preferably included in an overvoltage protection circuit including a PPTC resistor in series with the cathode electrode and thermally coupled to the diode.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.