Abstract: A connection assembly for a photovoltaic module includes at least one cell assembly which is externally contactable to at least two contacts. The connection assembly includes at least one bypass diode, which is arranged externally of the at least one cell assembly and connected in parallel to the at least one cell assembly. The connection assembly is characterized in that the connection assembly has at least one plug receptacle into which the bypass diode can be plugged in with plug contacts. A photovoltaic module with such a connection assembly is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic control unit coupled to a transmission line of a differential signal includes: a first suppression circuit suppressing a ringing effect and decreasing an impedance of the line for a first time interval when a level of the differential signal changes; a second suppression circuits suppressing a ringing effect and decreasing the impedance of the line for a second time interval when the level of the differential signal changes; and a switching unit isolating the second suppression circuit from the line when the operation power source energizes the electronic control unit, and connecting the second suppression circuit to the line when the operation power source does not energize the electronic control unit.

Abstract: A power line communication control system for coupling between an power line and a load is disclosed. The exemplary system is capable of simultaneously distributing electrical power and transmitting communication signals with minimized interference there-between. The exemplary system includes an inductive coupling input terminal and an inductive coupling output terminal. Each of the input and the output terminals includes a pair of series-connected inductors having substantially identical inductance value. Accordingly, the system is capable of may deliver the household power signal under common mode transmission while transmitting the communication signal using differential mode transmission, thereby minimizing the interference between the power line AC current and the communication signal.

Abstract: A connection part for connecting an interconnector is separated from a region having a photoelectric conversion layer formed thereon to improve a strength of the connection pad, thereby provide a solar cell suppressing cracks, breaks, and the like. A solar cell includes a photoelectric conversion layer, an electrode pad formed on the photoelectric conversion layer, an interconnector connected to the electrode pad, a metal thin film formed under the photoelectric conversion layer, a relay terminal being spaced apart from the photoelectric conversion layer and the metal thin film and connected to the metal thin film by connection conductor, and a connection pad formed on the relay terminal.

Abstract: An energy supplying device for a load has a direct current source, a number of switching stages, and a control device. The switching stages are connected to the direct current source, the load, and the control device such that the control device can drive the switching stages to selectively connect the load to the direct current source. Each switching stage has a field effect transistor and a number of freewheeling diodes connected in opposition to the respective field effect transistor in parallel. The field effect transistors have a maximum operational threshold frequency. Each freewheeling diode has a recovery time. For each switching stage, the recovery times of the respective freewheeling diodes correspond with the reciprocal value of the threshold frequency of the respective field effect transistor. The control device controls the switching stages at least intermittently such that power is reflected back into the switching stages on the basis of a mismatch.

Abstract: A switching regulator for regulating an ac signal, and method of supplying power thereto wherein the regulator includes a positive half cycle part and a negative half-cycle part arranged to regulate the respective parts of an input ac signal. Each half-cycle part includes a modulating transistor, having an associated modulator diode, and a clamping diode arranged to protect the modulating transistor from reverse-bias voltages and having an associated clamp switch. The regulator further has a first switching controller operable to cause the modulating transistors to switch and a second, separate switching controller operable to cause the clamp switches to switch.

Abstract: A bus system is disclosed for use with switching devices, such as power electronic devices. The system includes generally parallel bus elements that define electrical reference planes, such as for a dc bus. The bus elements are separated from one another by insulative layers, with additional insulative layers being available for separating the system from other circuit components. Portions of the bus elements are extended or exposed to permit connection to the circuit elements, including packaged switching circuits and energy storage or filtering circuits. The bus system may be conformed to a variety of geometric configurations, and substantially reduces parasitic inductance and total loop inductance in the resulting circuitry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit assembly for operating a luminous signal, particularly an LED signal, comprising at least one light-emitting diode (D) to which a resistance (R) is serially connected and a control (St) is connected in parallel. In order to adjust the luminous power of the luminous signal to various degrees of brightness during the day and at night, the control (St) is provided with a controlled source of current so as to specify a parallel current (I_P) which reduces the current (I_D) flowing through the light-emitting diode (D).

Abstract: A circuit for lowering the effective voltage drop of a semi-conductor diode. The circuit includes a first Metal Oxide Semi-conductor (MOS) device connected in parallel with the diode. A bias voltage which is close to but lower than the threshold voltage is applied to the MOS device. When a forward voltage is applied to the diode, this voltage is added to the source to drain voltage of the MOS device which turns it on. The MOS device then bypasses the diode to effectively overcome the inherent forward voltage drop of the diode. The circuit is advantageously applied to a rectifier circuit to reduce input voltage requirements and improve the efficiency of the rectifier.

Abstract: A controller for reducing acoustic noise produced during use of a leading edge dimmer, includes a leading edge controller responsive to an input voltage fed thereto for producing a control signal upon detection of a leading edge, and a linear switch coupled to the leading edge controller and responsive to the control signal for linearly switching the input voltage so that a rate of rise of the leading edge is decreased. A trailing-edge controller may be coupled to a leading-trailing edge detector and responsive to detection of a trailing edge dimmer for disabling the leading edge controller and decreasing a rate of decline of the trailing edge of the input voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for power generation with solar cells (10 to 32). The solar cells are connected in series and in strings (34 to 44) each of several cells. A bypass diode (50 to 60) is connected in parallel to each string (34 to 44). Further diodes (64 to 70) are connected in parallel to two and/or more bypass diodes of series-connected strings. With this arrangement, the number of current-carrying diodes is considerably reduced when any strings are in shade.

Abstract: A battery load leveling arrangement for an electrically powered system in which battery loading is subject to intermittent high current loading utilizes a passive energy storage device and a diode connected in series with the storage device to conduct current from the storage device to the load when current demand forces a drop in battery voltage. A current limiting circuit is connected in parallel with the diode for recharging the passive energy storage device. The current limiting circuit functions to limit the average magnitude of recharge current supplied to the storage device. Various forms of current limiting circuits are disclosed, including a PTC resistor coupled in parallel with a fixed resistor. The current limit circuit may also include an SCR for switching regenerative braking current to the device when the system is connected to power an electric motor.

Abstract: Voltage drop developed across a transformer primary winding coupled in series with a primary a.c. power circuit including an a.c. power source and an a.c. load is utilized to provide a secondary source of a.c. power having secondary voltage level stability which is substantially independent from otherwise influential changes in primary power circuit levels. Secondary power stabilization is mainly established by constant voltage limiting of the primary winding excitation by the forward voltage drop developed across an arrangement of semiconductor junctions coupled in parallel with the primary winding. The transformer may be used to change the source level of the secondary a.c. power which is produced, and to obtain electrical isolation between the primary power circuit and any ancillary circuits coupled with the secondary a.c. power source.

Abstract: A transformerless power unit for an electronic apparatus, preferably a horological instrument, including a fluorescent display, with a compensating resistor network which is connected with one pole of the supply voltage, preferably of a series circuit constituted of an ohmic impedance and a capacitor, with a rectifier diode, with a stabilizer for the stabilization of the output direct voltage, and with a charging capacitor which is connected in parallel with the output.

Abstract: An AC power line transient suppression circuit comprises a bi-directional series breakdown element in combination with a series inductor and a shunt capacitor.

Abstract: Spikes occurring on an AC line and coupled through an AC to DC converter are substantially decoupled from a DC load of the converter even though the converter includes a supply transformer and a shunt electrolytic filter capacitor, by a circuit comprising a shunt network including a bidirectional breakdown means having a predetermined threshold conduction level with a dead band series connected with a capacitor. The capacitor is a low impedance capacitive reactance to high frequency components in pulses developed by the converter in response to the spikes, and a high impedance to ripple of the line derived by the converter. The high frequency components are supplied by the breakdown means to and through the capacitor to momentarily interrupt the flow of current from the converter to the load when the pulses are derived. A low pass filter connected in series with the shunt network and the load has a cut-off frequency lower than the ripple frequency.

Abstract: A low pass filter circuit for substantially preventing pulse transients from being coupled between a power source and a load includes a series branch containing an inductor and a shunt branch containing in series a capacitor, a bi-directional breakdown device having a predetermined threshold conduction level with a dead band, and a magnetic core, preferably a toroid, inductively coupled to the branch.

Abstract: A protection circuit for a semiconductor substrate comprises a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a first region of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor substrate, a second region of the first conductivity type formed in the first region, a means for applying a reverse bias to a PN junction formed between the semiconductor substrate and the first region and a PN junction formed to the first and second regions, and a wiring for electrically connecting the second region to the semiconductor device to be protected.