Abstract: A semiconductor switch including a plurality of die assembled hybrid circuit packages. Each package includes a relatively large number of parallely connected semiconductor switch devices, more particularly metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). An active snubber circuit is connected to the MOSFETs in order to remove the requirement for current sharing during circuit interruption where the MOSFETs turn-off. Each MOSFET package furthermore includes metallic arc barriers between MOSFETs to prevent an arc from propagating from one failed MOSFET to neighboring MOSFETs. Also all of the MOSFETs are turned on momentarily to extinguish arcs whenever the semiconductor switch is in an open or non-conducting condition and a current flow is detected. Clamping of the gate electrode drive bus of the MOSFETs is additionally provided to ensure fusing of gate bonding wires coupling the gate electrodes of the respective MOSFETs to the gate drive bus.

Abstract: A supplementary DC power source is coupled to the DC link circuit of an active power line conditioner (APLC) for sustaining uninterrupted AC power to a load during the time interval needed for AC power restoration or for an alternate or a back-up AC source to be brought on line to power the load upon temporary or continued failure of an AC power source. The supplementary DC source is comprised of a rectifier circuit across which is connected a storage capacitor. A boost converter and an auctioneer diode are coupled between the storage capacitor and the DC link circuit so that when the DC link drops in voltage in response to a sag in the AC source voltage upon loss of the AC voltage source, the necessary power is provided by the storage capacitor and boost converter. A pair of fast acting switches are also coupled between the AC source and the power bus feeding the inverters to isolate the AC source from the APLC and the load upon loss of the AC source.

Abstract: The radioactivity of radioactive fluid is monitored, in the presence of background radiation, without interruption of radioactivity detection with two successive volumes of radioactive fluid, the background being eliminated by subtraction. Typically the intrinsic responses are in the ratio of two to one for such successive measurements, when the proper volumes have been selected.