Abstract: Disclosed is a light generating device which comprises a first reflective semiconductor optical amplifier emitting a first light along a first direction, a second reflective semiconductor optical amplifier emitting the second light in a direction opposite to the first direction, an optical distributer reflecting a part of an incident light and to pass the remaining of the incident light, and an optical comb filter passing a wavelength component of a specific period.

Abstract: EUV mirror with a layer arrangement on a substrate. The layer arrangement includes a plurality of layer subsystems each consisting of a periodic sequence of at least one period of individual layers. The periods include two individual layers composed of different material for a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer and have within each subsystem a constant thickness that deviates from a period thickness of an adjacent layer subsystem. The subsystem most distant from the substrate has (i) a number of periods greater than the number of periods for the layer subsystem that is second most distant from the substrate and/or (ii) a thickness of the high refractive index layer that deviates by more than 0.1 nm from that of the high refractive index layer of the subsystem that is second most distant from the substrate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a projection objective, and a projection objective, such as a projection objective configured to be used in a microlithographic process. The method can include defining an initial design for the projection objective and optimizing the design using a merit function. The method can be used in the manufacturing of projection objectives which may be used in a microlithographic process of manufacturing miniaturized devices.

Abstract: A device for focusing a microscope objective on a sample accurately with a high spatial resolution. The device has a positioning unit having a main body, an objective holder movably supported on the main body and adapted to hold the microscope objective, and an actuator for moving the objective holder along the optical axis of the microscope objective. The objective holder holds the microscope objective only at a front portion of the microscope objective facing the sample. The positioning unit includes one or more lever arms, each of which coupled at its one end via a first flexure bearing to the main body and at its other end via a second flexure bearing to the objective holder. The main body of the positioning unit is attached to a stage that carries the sample.

Abstract: Wide-angle, deep-field, close-focusing optical systems are disclosed. According to one aspect, the optical system comprises a negative lens unit and a relay lens. The negative lens unit accepts radiation from an object in space. The relay lens is coupled to the negative lens unit. The negative lens unit and the relay lens are aligned on an optical axis in that order. The negative lens unit forms a first image on the relay lens to form a final image at a final image plane at a distance from the relay lens. The relay lens may comprise a zoom lens or zoom lens components, which may be movable.

Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosed technology provides a three dimension display device comprising a polarized light modulator and a display unit comprising a lighting display array and a transparent substrate, wherein a lens array comprises multiple converging lenses is further provided between the lighting display array and the polarized light modulator, each left eye image pixel and each right eye image pixel in the lighting display array are respectively aligned with at least one of the converging lenses.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a light source controlled to be turned on and off, a spatial light modulator that modulates light from the light source, and a controller that alternately switches an image to be displayed between an image for the left eye and an image for the right eye and turns on the light source so that the image for the left eye or the image for the right eye is displayed. When the image for the left eye is displayed, the controller starts opens a shutter for the left eye in eyeglasses before turning on the light source, whereas when the image for the right eye is displayed, the controller starts opening a shutter for the right eye in the eyeglasses before turning on the light source.

Abstract: An optical isolator 1 element comprises a Faraday rotator 11 that rotates a polarization plane of light; a first polarizer of optical absorption type 12 arranged on one surface side of the Faraday rotator 11, the first polarizer 12 having a layer in which metal particles are distributed; and a second polarizer of optical absorption type 13 arranged on another surface side of the Faraday rotator 11, the second polarizer 13 having a metal particle layer in which metal particles are distributed in a density higher than the density of metal particles distributed in the metal particle layer of the first polarizer 12. The optical isolator 1 makes it possible to reduce a deterioration of isolation caused by occurring a reflected light reflected between the second polarizer 13 and the first polarizer 12.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an optical signal bidirectional transmission system comprises a bi-directional port configured to receive and output optical beams, an input port configured to receive beams and an output port configured to output beams, and only one birefringent crystal. A first beam manipulation system configured to adjust polarization of the beams, and direct the beams from the bi-directional port to the birefringent crystal. A second beam manipulation system configured to adjust polarization of the beams, and direct the beams from the input port to the birefringent crystal. The birefringent crystal is configured to direct the beams received from the first beam manipulation system such that the beams may exit the second beam manipulation system through the output port and direct the beams received from the second beam manipulation system such that the beams may exit the first beam manipulation system through the bi-directional port.

Abstract: Provided is a structure with an observation port. The structure with the observation port is provided with the observation port and an internal structure. The internal structure is located to the backside of the observation port and has a third reflection preventing film. The first reflection preventing film is a film that reduces reflected light by using light interference. Each of the second and third reflection preventing films has a surface comprising a plurality of convex portions, a distance between apexes of each adjacent two of which does not exceed the visible light wavelengths. Light obtained by combining light reflected by the surface of the first reflection preventing film, light reflected by the surface of the second reflection preventing film, and light reflected by the surface of the third reflection preventing film has a flat wavelength dispersion within the visible light range.

Abstract: A glass article including: at least one anti-glare surface having haze, distinctness-of-image, surface roughness, and uniformity properties, as defined herein. A method of making the glass article includes, for example: depositing deformable particles on at least a portion of a glass surface of the article; causing the deposited deformable particles on the surface to deform and adhere to the surface; and contacting the surface having the adhered particles with an etchant to form the anti-glare surface. A display system that incorporates the glass article, as defined herein, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A chemically-strengthened glass sheet including: a smooth first side; and a rough second side, wherein the compressive stress values of the smooth first-side and the rough second-side are substantially in equipoise. Methods of making and using the glass sheet, as defined herein, are disclosed. A display system that incorporates the glass sheet, as defined herein, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An acid and alkali resistant coating for an optical lens comprises: a silicon dioxide layer 1, an antireflection film layer 3, hardening layer 5 applied upon a lens blank 6. Optionally, nickel-chromium alloy layers 2 and 4 are added between the silicon dioxide layer 1 and antireflection film layer 3, between antireflection film layer 3 and hardening layer 5. A layer of nickel-chromium alloy may be added before vacuum coating the antireflection film layer. The layer of nickel-chromium alloy is added so that a hardening layer will be protected and to improve the connection or adhesion of the hardening layer and the antireflection film layer. In addition, a layer of nickel-chromium alloy may also added between the antireflection film layer and waterproof layer. The end product comprises protective antireflection or antiglare film improving acid and alkali resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a glass material for press forming providing an optical element having a sufficient optical performance without surface cracks, cloudiness, scratches, and the like even when the glass material contains a highly reactive component. Also disclosed are an optical element having a sufficient optical performance without surface cracks, cloudiness, scratches, and the like and a method for manufacturing the same. Specifically disclosed is a glass material for press forming which comprises a core portion composed of multicomponent optical glass and a surface glass layer covering at least a region serving as an optical functional surface of the core portion. The surface glass layer contains more than 90 mass % of SiO2, and the thickness of the layer is less than five nanometers. Also specifically disclosed is a method for manufacturing a glass optical element by heating the glass material and by press forming the softened glass material using a forming die.

Abstract: A sufficient light-shielding property is obtained by a wafer level lens having at least one lens module having a substrate and a plurality of lenses formed on the substrate in which the wafer level lens has a black resist layer formed on the surface of the lens module or on the surface of the substrate and the black resist layer is formed with a pattern having an opening at a part intersecting the optical axis of the lens, and generation of defects such as ghosts, flares and the like due to a reflected light can be prevented and an increase in the production cost can be suppressed.

Abstract: An eye simulation system for testing wavefront sensor systems, the eye stimulation system comprising a housing having a chamber with an opening for allowing light to enter said chamber, a fluid located in the chamber, said fluid having a known index of refraction, a lens positioned relative to said housing such that light entering the opening of the chamber passes through said lens, and a rotatable imaging surface positioned in said chamber such that light passing through said lens propagates through said fluid and is incident on said rotatable imaging surface.

Abstract: A first embodiment is a lens system having a plurality of refractive and reflective spherical elements that work as a magnifier to produce a distortion free, less than 1%, image with optical correction over a wide field of view. The system has at least one concave reflecting surface, and at least three convex refracting surfaces with the sign of the radius of one of the convex refracting surfaces being opposite of the sign of the radius of remaining two convex refracting surfaces. A second embodiment is a lens having a concave reflecting element which is on a substrate that is a negative lens by transmission with an index of refraction between 1.6<nd>2.0 and a dispersion 49<?d>15. This is used in combination with at least 3 positive refracting surfaces with less dispersive power than the negative element and with the sign of the radius of one of the positive elements being opposite from the sign of the radius of the remaining positive elements.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power, a second lens unit having negative refractive power, a third lens unit having positive or negative refractive power, and a rear lens group including one or more lens units, an aperture stop is provided on the image side of the second lens unit. A sum of relative anomalous partial dispersion ??gF of materials of negative lenses included in the second lens unit, a sum of power of a negative lens formed of a material having relative anomalous partial dispersion that is equal to or more than an average value of relative anomalous partial dispersion of the materials of the negative lenses included in the second lens unit, and a refractive power of the second lens unit are appropriately set.

Abstract: An apparatus that transfers an optical element includes: a driving unit that generates a driving force in response to an external signal, a rotating plate that rotates due to the driving unit, a first deceleration unit that is rotatably in frictional contact with the rotating plate, a rotating shaft that has an outer screw surface and that rotates by being mated to the first deceleration unit, an intermediate plate that is rotatably in frictional contact with the first deceleration unit, a second deceleration unit that is rotatably in frictional contact with the intermediate plate, a transmission unit that transmits an external rotational force to the second deceleration unit, and a moving unit that supports the optical element and that is engaged with the outer screw surface of the rotating shaft and moves with the rotating shaft as the rotating shaft rotates.

Abstract: In a lens driving device, magnetic attraction plates that are magnetic bodies are disposed on a fixed frame at both ends of a movement region of a movable unit. Therefore, when the movable unit moves in the fixed frame to one side or to the other side in the fixed frame and reaches a position at either end of the fixed frame, magnets on the movable unit are magnetically attracted to the magnetic attraction plates on the fixed frame continuously. As a result, the movable unit can be retained at the position even when the coil becomes de-energized.

Abstract: An optical device may include a movable body holding a lens, a fixed body movably holding the movable body, a drive magnet and a drive coil for relatively moving the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a metal member fixed to the drive magnet. The drive magnet is fixed to one of the movable body and the fixed body and the drive coil is fixed to the other of the movable body and the fixed body. A nickel plating layer containing at least nickel is formed on a surface of the drive magnet and a surface of the metal member, and the drive magnet and the metal member are joined to each other by a joining layer which is made of tin-based metal containing at least tin and is disposed between the drive magnet and the metal member.

Abstract: It is important to eliminate or reduce dispersion in clutch torque of a clutch mechanism for each product to its required minimum. According to the present invention, a clutch member 25 that is manufactured separately from a gear member 33 of a clutch gear 32 is formed of a resin member. As a result, there is no need to apply a treatment of eliminating surface roughness or a surface hardening treatment in the clutch member 25, and therefore, no dispersion occurs in surface roughness or surface hardening of a clutch protrusive portion 40 of the clutch member 25 that is made of a resin member, and the dispersion in clutch torque can be eliminated or can be reduced to its required minimum.

Abstract: An asymmetrical mirror lens, usable on front fenders of school buses and similar vehicles, which has a plurality of mirror sections, each having a distinct constant radius of curvature to reduce image distortion. Optional sections located between sections of the constant radius of curvature have a step-wise changing radii of curvature to smooth the image sizes as an object moves across the mirror lens.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle mirror apparatus including: a mirror provided to a vehicle; a worm gear rotated by driving force from a base end side of the worm gear; a wheel gear engaged with the worm gear, the wheel gear adjusting a mirror-face angle of the mirror by being rotated due to the worm gear rotating; and a radial direction stopper portion that stops radial direction displacement of the worm gear towards the wheel gear radial direction outside by the leading end side of the worm gear making contact with the radial direction stopper portion.

Abstract: Suppressing liquid from seeping into an adjusting section through a discharge hole. In a vehicle door mirror device an opening hole in a holder portion of a mirror-surface adjustment-device is in communication with opening outlet of a mirror holder outer through an opening outlet in the mirror holder outer and a gap between the mirror and the mirror holder outer. Accordingly, even suppose water seeps into the mirror-surface adjustment-device through the opening hole in the holder portion, the water would be externally discharged outside the mirror holder outer through the opening hole, the opening outlet, the gap and the opening outlet. Furthermore, even suppose water at high pressure from outside the mirror holder outer is to reach the opening outlet, the water can be suppressed from seeping into the mirror-surface adjustment-device through the opening outlet and the opening hole due to the water pressure being reduced in the gap.

Abstract: The present invention has: a first worm gear 29 that is rotatably borne on a gear case 11 and a bearing member 16, the first worm gear being coupled to an output shaft 24 of a motor 13; and a helical gear that is geared with the first worn gear 29. In the gear case 11 and the first worm gear 16, an engagement recessed portion 42 and an engagement protrusive portion 43 configured to engage with each other are provided. At the engagement protrusive portion 43 of the bearing member 16, a first press-in fixing protrusive portion 44 configured to be pressed-in and fixed to an engagement recessed portion 42 of the gear case 11 is provided. As a result, according to the present invention, a rotational center O1 of the first worm gear 29 is positioned at the normal rotational center.

Abstract: Motor bodies are housed between a case and a case-inner, with the whole of the outside-periphery surrounded by an outer peripheral wall. The upper-side-outer-peripheral face of the outer-peripheral wall slopes continuously downwards on progression from an uppermost portion of the outer-peripheral face towards a vehicle right side edge of the outer-peripheral face, and slopes continuously downwards from the uppermost portion towards the vehicle left side edge of the outer-peripheral face. Accordingly, even suppose water is to reach the upper side of the upper-side-outer-peripheral face, the upper-side-outer peripheral face of the outer-peripheral wall causes such water to always flow downwards towards the lower side of the outer-peripheral wall, and hence water can be suppressed or prevented from remaining standing on the upper-side-outer peripheral face of the outer-peripheral wall 46, enabling water to be suppressed or prevented from seeping in to the motor bodies.

Abstract: A plastic mirror mounting system is proposed with a substrate made of plastic material coated with at least one reflective layer on a first surface. The plastic material has means to be connected to a mounting structure on the second surface of the plastic glass mirror. The plastic substrate includes at least three plastic mirror clips having at least one shoulder of plastic mirror clip that has a distance from the second surface so that no or almost no stress disturbs the reflective surface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for determining head polarity. As an example, a head polarity detection circuit includes: a first computation circuit, a second computation circuit, and an inversion determination circuit. The first computation circuit is operable to sum an absolute value of each sample of a first subset of a series of data samples corresponding to a first phase of an analog input to yield a first sum, and the second computation circuit is operable to sum an absolute value of each sample of a second subset of the series of data samples corresponding to a second phase of the analog input to yield a second sum. The first phase is more than ninety degrees offset from the second phase.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for determining a location of a spiral pattern. As an example, a location detection circuits is discussed that includes: a pattern detection circuit, a computation circuit, and a center determination circuit. The pattern detection circuit is operable to identify a subset of a series of data samples corresponding to a defined pattern, and to indicate a location of the identified subset of the series of data samples. The series of data samples corresponds to a spiral pattern. The computation circuit operable to sum an absolute value of each sample of the subset of the series of data samples to yield a sum. The center determination circuit operable to identify a location of the spiral pattern using the sum.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a signal processing circuit processes a signal read from a magnetic disk including a servo region and a user data region, the servo region including a servo address mark, the user data region including a data sector, and includes a counter and a gate controller. The counter is configured to count a first clock when having detected the servo address mark based on the signal read from the magnetic disk. The gate controller is configured to generate a pulse for locating the data sector in synchronization with a second clock when the counter counts a first value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head of a disk drive includes a head slider including a disk-facing surface, and an inflow end surface and an outflow end surface extending across the disk-facing surface, a write element and a read element in an end portion of the head slider on the side of the outflow end surface, and an SiNx film formed on the outflow end surface of the head slider.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main pole configured to apply a recording magnetic field, a return pole opposed to a trailing side of the main pole across a write gap and configured to return magnetic flux from the main pole, a coil configured to excite magnetic flux in the main pole, a spin-torque oscillator located between respective facing surfaces of the return pole and an end portion of the main pole on the recording-medium side and configured to produce a high-frequency magnetic field, a current source configured to apply current to the spin-torque oscillator through the return and main poles, and a nonmagnetic layer provided in at least one of the poles and extending from a facing surface of the at least one of the poles, which faces the spin-torque oscillator, in a direction across the facing surface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a suspension, a head, and a conductor trace on the suspension, including one end portion electrically connected to the head and the other end portion includes a terminal area. The conductor trace includes a thin metal plate, a base insulating layer on the thin metal plate, a trace pattern on the base insulating layer, including a plurality of conductors and a plurality of first and second connection terminals continuous with the conductors, and a cover insulating layer on the base insulating layer, configured to cover the trace pattern. The terminal area includes an opening including two opposite side edges, the first connection terminals extend into the opening from one of the side edges thereof, and the second connection terminals extend into the opening from the other side edge thereof.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a spin torque oscillator includes a field generation layer, a spin injection layer including a first layer and a second layer, and an interlayer interposed between the field generation layer and the spin injection layer, wherein the first layer is interposed between the second layer and the interlayer and includes a (001)-oriented Heuslar magnetic alloy or a (001)-oriented magnetic material having a body-centered cubic lattice structure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, a soft magnetic layer, a multilayered underlayer formed on the soft magnetic layer, and a continuous film type magnetic recording layer formed on the multilayered underlayer. The multilayered underlayer includes a first underlayer made of copper and containing crystal grains having a (100)-oriented, face-centered cubic lattice structure, a second underlayer formed on the first underlayer and made of copper and nitrogen, and a third underlayer formed into islands on the second underlayer. The continuous film type magnetic recording layer contains at least one element selected from Fe and Co and at least one element selected from Pt and Pd, has the L10 structure, and mainly contains (001)-oriented magnetic crystal grains.

Abstract: As track densities increase, it becomes increasingly important, while writing in a given track, not to inadvertently write data in adjoining tracks. This problem has been overcome by limiting the width of material in the ABS plane to what it is at the write gap. The part of the lower pole that is wider than this is recessed back away from the ABS, thereby greatly reducing its magnetic influence on adjacent tracks. Four different embodiments of write heads that incorporate this notion are described together with a description of a general process for their manufacture.

Abstract: As track densities increase, it becomes increasingly important, while writing in a given track, not to inadvertently write data in adjoining tracks. This problem has been overcome by limiting the width of material in the ABS plane to what it is at the write gap. The part of the lower pole that is wider than this is recessed back away from the ABS, thereby greatly reducing its magnetic influence on adjacent tracks. Four different embodiments of write heads that incorporate this notion are described together with a description of a general process for their manufacture.

Abstract: As track densities increase, it becomes increasingly important, while writing in a given track, not to inadvertently write data in adjoining tracks. This problem has been overcome by limiting the width of material in the ABS plane to what it is at the write gap. The part of the lower pole that is wider than this is recessed back away from the ABS, thereby greatly reducing its magnetic influence on adjacent tracks. Four different embodiments of write heads that incorporate this notion are described together with a description of a general process for their manufacture.

Abstract: The magnetic signal reproduction system comprises a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder on a nonmagnetic support; and a reproduction head, wherein a number of protrusions equal to or greater than 10 nm in height on the magnetic layer surface, as measured by an atomic force microscope, ranges from 50 to 2500/10,000 ?m2, a quantity of lubricant on the magnetic layer surface, denoted as a surface lubricant index, ranges from 0.5 to 5.0, a surface abrasive occupancy of the magnetic layer ranges from 2 to 20 percent, and the reproduction head is a magnetoresistive magnetic head comprising a spin-valve layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole generating a recording magnetic field in a magnetic recording medium, a return yoke paired with the main magnetic pole and a spin torque oscillator interposed between the main magnetic pole and the return yoke and including a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer and a third magnetic layer of Fe4N, the second magnetic layer being interposed between the first magnetic layer and the third magnetic layer, wherein the magnetic recording head is configured to allow a current for oscillation to flow in a direction from the first magnetic layer to the third magnetic layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head includes a head slider including a bearing surface and configured to fly by an airflow between the recording medium surface and the bearing surface, and a recording element and a reproduction element arranged in an outflow end portion of the head slider with respect to the airflow. The bearing surface includes a first pressure generating portion on an inflow end portion of the head slider with respect to the airflow, configured to generate a pressure, a second pressure generating portion on the outflow end portion, configured to generate a pressure, and a third pressure generating portion between the first and second pressure generating portions at a transverse central part of the bearing surface, configured to generate a pressure higher than that generated by the first pressure generating portion and lower than that generated by the second pressure generating portion.

Abstract: A flexure includes a metal base and a wiring portion. The wiring portion is constituted of an insulating layer, a conductor group, and others. A tongue portion is formed to a main portion of the metal base. A slider including an attached electronic unit is disposed to the tongue portion. The conductor group includes conductors electrically connected to the slider and conductors electrically connected to the attached electronic unit. Island-shaped electrical circuit portions are formed on the metal base. The electrical circuit portions are electrically independent from the main portion of the metal base. The conductors for the attached electronic unit are electrically conductive with respect to the electrical circuit portions through conductor coupling portions piercing the insulating layer. The electrical circuit portions are connected to terminal portions of the attached electronic unit.

Abstract: A magnetic element capable of detecting changes in magnetic states, such as for use as a read sensor in a data transducing head or as a solid-state non-volatile memory element. In accordance with various embodiments, the magnetic element includes a magnetically responsive stack or lamination with a first areal extent. The stack includes a spacer layer positioned between first and second ferromagnetic free layers. At least one antiferromagnetic (AFM) tab is connected to the first free layer on a surface thereof opposite the spacer layer, the AFM tab having a second areal extent that is less than the first areal extent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting arcs in a direct-current path of a photovoltaic system, wherein values of a current (IDC) of the direct-current path are detected during a repeating time frame (7) and a mean value (8) is generated, and such a photovoltaic system. In order to reliably detect arcs by means of a component of the photovoltaic system, values of a voltage (UDC), of the direct-current path are detected during the time frame (7) and a mean value (8, 8?) is generated, and at least one detection signal (9) and at least one detection threshold (10) are continuously calculated based on the mean values (8, 8?) for the current (IDC) and the voltage (UDC) by means of a calculation method.

Abstract: An ESD protection device includes a ceramic base material, a pair of opposed electrodes provided on a surface of or in the ceramic base material, and a discharge auxiliary electrode film arranged to connect the pair of opposed electrodes, wherein the discharge auxiliary electrode film is composed of a material containing, as its main constituents, metallic particles and glass covering the metallic particles. The discharge auxiliary electrode film is formed by providing an electrode paste containing glass-coated metallic particles that have an approximately 15% rate of increase in weight at about 400° C. for about 2 hours in air, a resin binder, and a solvent so as to connect the pair of opposed electrodes to each other, and then firing at a temperature of about 600° C. or more, higher than a softening point of glass of the glass-coated metallic particles, and not +200° C. higher than the softening point.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises an application circuit; a first supply rail having a first electric potential; a second supply rail having a second electric potential different from the first electric potential; at least one terminal having a third electric potential, connected to the application circuit; and a protection circuit for protecting the application circuit from an injected current. The protection circuit comprises a first conductive line connected between the at least one terminal and the first supply rail, the first conductive line comprising a first switch having a first control input; and a first voltage amplifier circuit having a first input connected to the at least one terminal, a second input connected to the second supply rail and a first output connected to the first control input.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device having a slow speed communications link creates one or more virtual communications channels using unused or dedicated bits from a primary real-time communications channel. The virtual communications channels are used to transport low-speed information, such as fault location information, device configuration information, device revision information, and date/time information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for reliably securing an electric line with a controllable switching element, wherein the device and the method can be easily adapted to the properties of an electric line. The device comprises a controllable switching element (110, 610) than is designed to take on at least two states, specifically a first state with a first resistance and a second state with a second resistance that is lower than the first resistance.

Abstract: A relocatable power tap that includes a surge protector. The surge protector provides three modes of transient voltage surge protection while limiting leakage current caused by the relocatable power tap to less than a current limit value (e.g., 100 micro-amperes [“?A”]). The surge protector includes a first transient voltage clamp connected between a line conductor and a neutral conductor, a second transient voltage clamp connected between the line conductor and a ground conductor, and a third transient voltage clamp connected between the neutral conductor and the ground conductor. The transient voltage clamps are, for example, varistors having non-linear current-voltage characteristics. In the presence of voltages that exceed the clamping threshold voltages of the transient voltage clamps, the transient voltage clamps are configured to conduct the current associated with the transient voltage.