Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems and methods for controlling sub-system components during power disturbance events. More particularly, various embodiments provide systems and methods for preventing a controller (215) within a sub-system from turning OFF a switching device (220) during power disturbance events related to other sub-systems.

Abstract: An inverter device for feeding electrical energy from a DC-power source into a power grid includes a pair of bus lines to be connected to the DC-power source; a plurality of capacitors connected in series between the bus lines; a surveying topology surveying an integrity of the plurality of capacitors, and to provide a signal indicating a loss of integrity of one capacitor of the plurality of capacitors; a voltmeter measuring a voltage drop over the plurality of capacitors; a DC/AC-inverter; and a controller. in case of the signal indicating a loss of integrity of one capacitor of the plurality of capacitors, the controller compares the voltage drop over the plurality of capacitors to a lost integrity threshold voltage value, and reduces a current load to the plurality of capacitors by reducing the power uptake of the DC/AC-inverter, when the voltage drop exceeds the lost integrity threshold voltage value.

Abstract: An open circuit detecting system configured to connect to an object circuit for getting an electrical signal through a virtual ground induced by characteristic impedance of a parasitic capacitor and determining whether the object circuit is open according to the electrical signal.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that facilitate the measurement of the capacitance of high voltage devices while shielding an active device involved in the measurement from the high voltage. The systems and methods employ capacitors to store the high voltage such that the active device does not experience the high voltage. Placement of a reset device ensures that the active device is shielded from the high voltage.

Abstract: A multi purpose capacitive sensor suitable for indicating close proximity of a person to a surface along a large-size truck as well as along a medium-size painting or a pocket-size mobile phone is disclosed. The sensor comprises a voltage measuring device provided with a signal ground connected to a first pole of an oscillating voltage source that has a second pole connected to a signal input of the voltage measuring device. This input has a first capacitance to earth and a second capacitance to the signal ground. A third capacitance is exhibited to earth by the second pole of said voltage source. According to the invention, a prebias component is connected between the second pole of the voltage source and the signal input of the voltage measuring device.

Abstract: An electronic circuit with a plurality of connections for a plurality of sensor elements is provided, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to detect, with at least one multiplexing method, the presence of an object in at least one observation area of the sensor elements and to distinguish between the sensor elements. Also a method for determining the position of at least one object situated in at least one observation area of sensor elements relative to the sensor elements is provided, whereby with a multiplexing method an electric variable for each sensor element is detected, which is indicative for the presence of the object in the respective observation area.

Abstract: A timer circuit is provided with a comparator CMP1, a control unit and a comparator CMP2. The comparator CMP1 compares a potential of the capacitance element with the potential of a reference voltage VREF_H, and if the potential of the capacitance element reaches the potential of the reference voltage VREF_H, outputs a pre-specified time-up signal. The control unit performs control such that the potential of the capacitance element is higher than a potential of a reference voltage VREF_S, which is higher than the ground potential and lower than the potential of the reference voltage VREF_H. The comparator CMP2 compares the potential of the capacitance element with the potential of the reference voltage VREF_S, and if the potential of the capacitance element is lower than the potential of the reference voltage VREF_S, outputs a short circuit detection signal indicating that a short circuit state of the capacitance element has been detected.

Abstract: In a component-embedded circuit substrate having a plurality of capacitors embedded therein, the capacitors are connected in parallel, inspection electrodes are formed, and the inspection electrodes connect to respective terminal electrodes of the capacitor through via conductors. At the terminal electrodes of the capacitor, the connection position of the via conductors for connecting the inspection electrodes differs from the connection position of via conductors for connecting respective terminal electrodes of the capacitor.

Abstract: A capacitance sensing circuit comprises a capacitive device having a capacitance, the device initially being at a first voltage level. The capacitance sensing circuit is capable of applying one or more pull-up currents to the device during one or more corresponding pull-up periods of time, for changing the first voltage level into one or more corresponding pull-up voltage levels; applying a measurement current to the device; and measuring a measurement period of time, during which one of the pull-up voltage levels changes into a second voltage level. A method of sensing a capacitance of a capacitive device comprises applying a first voltage to the device; applying one or more pull-up currents during corresponding pull-up times, for changing the first voltage into corresponding pull-up voltages; applying a measurement current; and measuring a time, during which one pull-up voltage changes into a second voltage.

Abstract: Method and system for monitoring the condition of the capacitor arrangement (14-16) of the DC-voltage intermediate circuit of a power electronics appliance, such as of a frequency converter, at the place of usage, in which method the discharge voltage over the capacitor arrangement as a function of time is measured, and in which method the intermediate circuit is pre-charged with a pre-determined DC voltage, the pre-charging is removed from the intermediate circuit, the voltage of the intermediate circuit is measured by sampling at regular intervals, the voltage drop as a function of time is determined on the basis of the measured voltage of the intermediate circuit, the capacitance or the relative change in it is determined on the basis of the voltage drop, the value of the determined capacitance or of the relative change in it is compared to a pre-determined limit value on the basis of the voltage drop, and the necessary condition monitoring procedure is performed when the value determined with the measurem

Abstract: A processing system configured for capacitive sensing comprises transmitter circuitry, a first internal diagnostic mechanism, and a determination module. The transmitter circuitry is coupled with a first transmitter path of a plurality of transmitter paths and configured to transmit a first transmitter signal with the first transmitter path, wherein each transmitter path of the plurality of transmitter paths is configured for capacitive sensing. The first internal diagnostic mechanism is coupled to a second transmitter path of the plurality of transmitter paths. The first internal diagnostic mechanism is configured to acquire a first resulting signal while the transmitter circuitry transmits the first transmitter signal with the first transmitter path, wherein the first internal diagnostic mechanism comprises a selectable leakage path coupled to the transmitter circuitry.

Abstract: Provided is a circuit simulation model that can suitably represent capacitor characteristics, thereby realizing accurate circuit design and circuit analysis. A SPICE model is constituted of a capacitor unit in which a capacitor is replaced with a linear voltage dependent current source, a low-pass filter unit that has a function of extracting a DC bias voltage, a calculation circuit unit that is configured by combining an adder, a multiplier, and the like to perform a calculation of a circuit equation derived from an equivalent circuit for a capacitor such as an idealized C circuit model, an RC circuit model, or the like, and a linear voltage dependent voltage source that applies a total voltage applied across the capacitor to the calculation circuit.

Abstract: The invention provides operational monitoring for electrochemical capacitors and, more specifically, the monitoring of operational performance characteristics of electrochemical capacitors using electrochemical impedance measurement in an application system in the field. The apparatus and methods of the present invention monitor the operational characteristics of a plurality of electrochemical capacitors in an application system with the goal of providing state of health information to the application system or through another monitoring or alert system. By generating an input monitoring signal to query each cell in the pack and calculating the impedance measurement signal from the resulting output signal, the real-time impedance measurements can be compared against a stored electrochemical impedance model to provide state of health information. Real-time monitoring data based on the state of health information can then be output to the application system or through another monitoring or alert system.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices which utilize Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR) techniques to measure degradation of electronic components are provided. Such measurements may be implemented while the components “live” or otherwise functioning within an overall system. In one embodiment, monitoring a power converter in a high power system is accomplished. In this embodiment, degradation of components within the power converter (e.g. metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), capacitors, insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), and the like) may be monitored by processing data from reflections of an SSTDR signal to determine changes in impedance, capacitance, or any other changes that may be characteristic of components degrading. For example, an aging MOSFET may experience an increase of drain to source resistance which adds additional resistance to a current path within a power converter.

Abstract: A DC capacitor degradation alarm circuit is a capacitor degradation detection device including two filter circuits and a degradation detection element. The two filter circuits, which receive a rectified voltage and perform filtering operation, are coupled in parallel and include a plurality of capacitor modules coupled in series. Each capacitor module can be a single capacitor or includes a plurality of capacitors coupled in series or parallel to allow users to arrange construction thereof to receive required capacitance. The degradation detection element electrically bridges the two filter circuits with connection nodes located between the capacitor modules to instantly detect a voltage difference value of the two filter circuits online and perform operation by incorporating with total output voltage to get voltage difference value percentage.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus for measuring the leakage current of capacitive components is taught. One embodiment includes a first stage amplifier configured to receive an input from a serially-connected capacitive component at an inverting input and a feedback resistor in a feedback path of the first stage amplifier. A resistance value of the feedback resistor is programmable based on an expected value of the leakage current and a corresponding voltage output.

Abstract: A circuit for measuring a capacitance value of a touch screen includes: a target capacitor unit having a target capacitor charged with a target charging voltage; a target voltage control unit to charge the target capacitor; a reference capacitor unit having a reference capacitor charged with a charging reference voltage; a reference voltage control unit to charge the reference capacitor; a comparator to compare the target charging voltage and the charging reference voltage and output a transition signal at a moment when the target charging voltage becomes higher than the charging reference voltage; and a controller to receive an output signal of the comparator and a clock signal and generate a digital output signal and a control signal, wherein a capacitance value of the target capacitor is measured using a time elapsed from a time when the target capacitor is initialized to a time when the transition signal is outputted.

Abstract: The present techniques include methods and systems for detecting a failure in a capacitor bank of an electrical drive system. Embodiments include using discharge resistors to discharge capacitors in the capacitor bank, forming a neutral node of the capacitor bank. In different capacitor configurations, the neutral node is measured, and the voltage is analyzed to determine whether a capacitor bank unbalance has occurred. In some embodiments, the node is a neutral-to-neutral node between the discharged side of the discharge resistors and a neutral side of the capacitor bank, or between the discharged side of the discharge resistors and a discharged side of a second set of discharge resistors. In some embodiments, the node is a neutral-to-ground node between the discharged side of the discharge resistors and a ground potential.

Abstract: A method of testing a capacitive transducer circuit, for example a MEMS capacitive transducer, by applying a test signal via one or more capacitors provided in the transducer circuit.

Abstract: A system for acquiring multiple images of objects, the system includes: a lateral transferor that comprises multiple lateral transferor portions adapted to transfer the objects to a lateral imaging area in a lateral manner; wherein each lateral transferor portion comprises a object receiver and a transfer element; wherein the transfer element moves the object receiver towards an imaging area unless encountering a resistance that is above a predefined resistance; and an imager that is configured to obtain images of two opposite sides of the object when the objects are positioned at the lateral imaging area.

Abstract: A measurement circuit includes an instruction input unit, a charging circuit to charge a capacitor, a charging and discharging circuit to control the capacitor to leakage discharge, a control circuit, a first amplifying circuit, and a display unit. The control circuit receives a measurement instruction through the instruction input unit to control the charging circuit to charge the capacitor, and receives a stop charging signal from the charging circuit when a voltage of the capacitor reaches a saturation voltage for controlling the charging circuit to stop charging the capacitor. The first amplifying circuit measures a leakage voltage of the capacitor, amplifies the measured leakage voltage, and outputs the amplified leakage voltage to the control circuit. The display unit displays the leakage voltage of the capacitor.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes a detection circuit, a filter circuit, an amplifying circuit, a regulation circuit, a delay and charging circuit, and a driving circuit. The detection circuit receives a video signal, and performs an operation to obtain an image signal from the video signal. The filter circuit obtains an average intensity of a luminance signal corresponding to the image signal. The delay and charging circuit charges an input capacitor when receiving a low level regulated signal from the amplifying circuit. The driving circuit activates an alarm when a charging voltage of the chargeable capacitor exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for diagnosing a DC link capacitor. A DC voltage provided from a power supplier to a motor is controlled to have a predetermined level (or magnitude). When a voltage of the DC link reaches a predetermined voltage, the ratio of change of capacitance values of the DC link capacitor is estimated, by considering power consumption of a resistor of the motor (i.e., power consumption of a load), power consumption of the power supplier and a switching loss of an inverter part, and a deteriorated level of the DC link capacitor is diagnosed using the estimated ratio.

Abstract: Electronic device (101) comprising a power source (110), a power management unit (102) coupled to the power source, and a set of loads (103a, 103b, 103c, 103d), the power management unit comprising a set of voltage regulators blocks (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d), each voltage regulator block being respectively coupled to an associated load of the set of loads for allowing power transfer from the power source to the load. The electronic device comprises a spike detector block (106), coupled to each of the voltage regulator blocks, and configured to detect a spike in a voltage signal from a voltage regulator block for testing the presence and the operability of a decoupling capacitor (Ca, Cb, Cc, Cd) between an output of the voltage regulator block and an input of the associated load.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for determining a capacitance of a capacitive sensor element (C1) includes a square-wave voltage source (10) which is designed to output a square-wave voltage (UR) at an output connection (11), a sensor branch via which the square-wave voltage is applied to the sensor element, and an amplifier branch including a negative feedback resistor (R1), a transistor (T1) and an evaluation capacitor (C2), the negative feedback resistor, the transistor and the evaluation capacitor being looped-in in series between the output connection of the square-wave voltage source and a reference potential (GND), and a voltage (UOUT), which is a measure of the capacitance of the sensor element, being applied to the evaluation capacitor.

Abstract: A capacitor for use in sensors includes opposed first and second capacitor plates, wherein the second capacitor plate is mounted to the first capacitor plate by a flexible attachment. The flexible attachment is configured and adapted so that flexure of the attachment causes a change in the spacing between the first and second capacitor plates to cause a change in the capacitance thereacross.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a capacitor abnormality detection method and detection apparatus for accurately detecting an abnormality of an individual capacitor in a circuit in which two or more capacitors are connected in series at a low cost, and the capacitor abnormality detection apparatus includes: a measuring unit configured to measure capacitance of the circuit from both ends of the circuit; a storage unit configured to store the measured capacitance of the circuit and hours of use of the circuit during the measurement; and a determining unit configured to determine whether an abnormality is generated in at least one capacitor configuring the circuit by comparing the measured capacitance of the circuit and predetermined expected capacitance.

Abstract: A dynamic quantity detection device includes a detection portion, a signal process portion, and an operation mode switch portion. The detection portion detects a dynamic quantity applied from an outside and generates a sensor signal in accordance with the dynamic quantity. The signal process portion processes the sensor signal from the detection portion to have a property suitable for an external device. When the sensor signal output from the detection portion is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the operation mode switch portion sets an operation mode to a power save mode by stopping an operation of the signal process portion. When the sensor signal output from the detection portion is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the operation mode switch portion switches the operation mode to a normal mode by activating the signal process portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capacitor bank monitoring system for monitoring the status of a capacitor bank in a power distribution system. The capacitor bank monitoring system includes a current transformer, a metering connection, and a housing for an electric utility meter. The current transformer is in electrical communication with a neutral terminal of the distribution system and can measure the current carried by the neutral terminal. The meter connection subsystem can provide electrical communication between the electric utility meter and the current transformer, such that the electric utility meter communicates the status of the capacitor bank.

Abstract: A method for screening electrolytic capacitors places a capacitor in series with a resistor, applying a test voltage and following the charge curve for the capacitor. A high voltage drop across the capacitor indicates high reliability and a low voltage drop is used to reject the piece. The leakage current is not adversely affected during the test.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the electric performances of an FDSOI transistor, including the steps of: measuring capacitance and/or conductance of the FDSOI transistor, by applying a voltage VBG>0 on a substrate composed of semiconductor of the FDSOI transistor when the FDSOI transistor is NMOS or a voltage VBG<0 on the substrate composed of semiconductor of the FDSOI transistor when the FDSOI transistor is PMOS, depending on a voltage VFG applied between a gate and source and drain regions of the FDSOI transistor.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring one or more capacitor banks are presented herein. One concept of the present disclosure is directed to a method of monitoring at least one capacitor bank having a plurality of steps. The method includes: receiving measurements indicative of voltages and/or currents on electrical lines coupled to the steps of the capacitor bank by corresponding contactors; receiving information indicative of the respective statuses of the contactors; timestamping the measurements and contactor status information; storing the timestamped measurements with corresponding timestamped contactor status information; determining a rate of change of a parameter indicative of or derived from at least the measurements associated with at least one of the steps in the capacitor bank; comparing the determined rate of change with a baseline rate of change to produce a deviation; determining if the deviation satisfies a criterion; and, if so, indicating the deviation satisfied the criterion.

Abstract: A Medium Voltage Circuit Breaker that has at least a pair of contact mutually coupleable and uncoupleable to carry out an opening/closing operation, a magnetic actuator operatively connected to at least one of the contacts, and a capacitor bank that has one or more capacitors that deliver power to the magnetic actuator for carrying out the opening/closing operation and a control device. The Medium Voltage Circuit Breaker further has a supervisor device of the capacitor bank which measures the Equivalent Series Resistance and/or the Capacitance of the capacitor bank system.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement of measuring inverter current, where the inverter is connected to and supplied by a DC intermediate circuit having two or more parallel capacitor branches connected between the positive and negative rail of the DC intermediate circuit, and the capacitance of the capacitor branches being known. The method comprises the steps of measuring the current of one of the parallel capacitor branches, and determining from the measured current the magnitude of the inverter current.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for diagnosing a state of a capacitive sensor is provided. The apparatus includes a control unit for being operably coupled to a decoupling device that exhibits a drift condition and to the capacitive sensor. The control unit being configured to determine an impedance of the capacitive sensor and to determine a characteristic of the capacitive sensor based on at least the impedance. The control unit being further configured to determine a characteristic of the decoupling device based on the characteristic of the capacitive sensor and to provide an estimated capacitance based on the characteristic of the decoupling device, the estimated capacitance being indicative of the state of the capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A modularized capacitor array includes a plurality of capacitor modules. Each capacitor module includes a capacitor and a switching device that is configured to electrically disconnect the capacitor. The switching device includes a sensing unit configured to detect the level of leakage of the capacitor so that the switching device disconnects the capacitor electrically if the leakage current exceeds a predetermined level. Each capacitor module can include a single capacitor plate, two capacitor plates, or more than two capacitor plates. The leakage sensors and switching devices are employed to electrically disconnect any capacitor module of the capacitor array that becomes leaky, thereby protecting the capacitor array from excessive electrical leakage.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a capacitor bank comprising a plurality of capacitor strings connected in parallel, each capacitor string comprising a plurality of capacitors connected in series is provided. The method includes energizing the capacitor bank. The method includes determining dissipation factors of each of the plurality of the capacitor strings. The method further includes comparing each of the determined dissipation factors with an expected dissipation factor and estimating a health state of the plurality of the capacitor strings based, at least in part, on the comparison of the determined and expected dissipation factors.

Abstract: A plurality of capacitors is subjected to a test cycle of charging, soaking and discharging. While in the soaking cycle, a plurality of measurements of current is obtained. The data is used to train a predictive function. Then, a test capacitor is charged and soaked for a shorter period than the plurality of capacitors. The current through the test capacitor is measured more than once during its soak period, and the measured current values are applied to the predictive function to predict whether the current through the test capacitor at the end of the soak time period would be higher than a predetermined value, thus indicating failure of a leakage test by test capacitor.

Abstract: A switched capacitor type D/A converter receives m-bit (m represents an integer) input data, and outputs an analog signal that corresponds to the input data value. Switch circuits are provided to respective bits of the input data, and are classified into two groups: a first group configured to turn on when the corresponding input data bit is 1, and to turn off when the corresponding input data bit is 0; and a second group configured to turn on when the corresponding input data bit is 0, and to turn off when the corresponding input data bit is 1. Each switch of the first and second switch groups is configured as a P-channel MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor). The ground voltage 0 V is applied to the lower power supply terminal of each of the first and second inverters configured to supply a gate signal to each switch.

Abstract: A measurement circuit includes a switch unit with a number of keys selectively pressed to output different resistance regulating signals. A resistance setting circuit receives the resistance regulating signals and connects different resistances to a voltage circuit and a current circuit. The voltage circuit outputs different voltages. The current voltage receives a voltage from the voltage circuit and outputs a current to a capacitor. A detecting circuit measures a temperature of the capacitor and outputs the temperature to the resistance setting circuit. The resistance setting circuit compares the received temperature with a preset temperature. If the received temperature is equal to or greater than the preset temperature, the resistance setting circuit outputs short-circuit information of the capacitor. If the received temperature is less than the preset temperature, the resistance setting circuit outputs normal information of the capacitor. A display unit displays the information of the capacitor.

Abstract: A method for screening electrolytic capacitors places a capacitor in series with a resistor, applying a test voltage and following the charge curve for the capacitor. A high voltage drop across the capacitor indicates high reliability and a low voltage drop is used to reject the piece. The leakage current is not adversely affected during the test.

Abstract: A device (1) monitors and/or balances an ultracapacitor (3) and/or a module (4) comprising a plurality of ultracapacitors (3) connected in series, the module (4) being connectable in series or in parallel with other modules (4). The device comprises an electronic board (2) comprising digital control and/or command means, such as a microcontroller (5), executing a program for monitoring and balancing the ultracapacitor (3) and/or the module (4). The relative capacitances of the capacitors are measured, and this information is employed to determine when to carry out a controlled discharge of particular capacitors. Temperature information is also employed to determine when to carry out a controlled discharge of particular capacitors. In this way the lifetime of any particular capacitor is, desirably, extended to be no shorter than the lifetime of other longer- lived capacitors in the module.

Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit and method are provided. A storage capacitor is pre-charged. Charge transfer is performed between an under-test capacitor and the storage capacitor. The storage capacitor is discharged and charged according to a relationship between a voltage of the storage capacitor and a reference voltage. The capacitance of the under-test capacitor is measured according to the voltage on the storage capacitor.

Abstract: Methods and related systems are described for determining the casing attenuation factor for various frequencies from measurements of the impedance of the transmitting or receiving coil of wire of. The compensation is based on two relationships. The first relationship is between one or more measured impedance parameters and the product of casing conductivity, casing thickness and electromagnetic frequency. The second relationship is between the casing correction factor and the product of casing conductivity, casing thickness and electromagnetic frequency.

Abstract: Power converters and control techniques are presented in which capacitor degradation is detected according to negative sequence current by computing an uncompensated negative sequence current and a negative sequence voltage, compensating the negative sequence current based on the negative sequence voltage, comparing the compensated or uncompensated negative sequence current with an automatically calculated threshold and selectively identifying suspected degradation of one or more capacitors if the compensated negative sequence current exceeds the threshold value. The method can be used for power converters, control devices or protection relays for shunt capacitors or filters used in power systems.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a fault of a flying capacitor of an insulated condition detecting unit measures (step S1), at the start of discharge of the flying capacitor, a discharge voltage of the flying capacitor according to a charge voltage of a read capacitor. After a period from the start of discharge, the apparatus measures (step S3) a discharge voltage of the flying capacitor according to a charge voltage of the read capacitor. According to a difference between the measured discharge voltages, the apparatus obtains (step S5) a discharge amount of the flying capacitor, compares the discharge amount with a reference threshold, and diagnoses (step S7) an open fault of four capacitors that constitute the flying capacitor.

Abstract: The degradation of an electrical storage device 30 such as a capacitor can be determined by a system which is not an external device but is installed in hybrid construction equipment 1 in a state that the electrical storage device 30 such as a capacitor is mounted. To achieve this objective, it is at least checked that the working machine has stopped. Next, when it has been checked that the working machine has stopped, a degradation state determination time control mode is entered, a motor-generator is driven at the prescribed rotational speed and the prescribed torque, and the electrical storage device rises from the prescribed start charging voltage to the prescribed end charging voltage (Step 102).

Abstract: A capacitor capacitance diagnosis device includes a power supply which is for charging a capacitor, a discharge circuit which is connected to the capacitor in parallel to discharge energy of the capacitor, a resistance dividing circuit which is for measuring voltage drop value during discharging, a measurement circuit which measures divided voltage, and a diagnosis circuit which determines adequacy of capacitor capacitance from a time change in voltage due to the discharge. This makes it possible to diagnose adequacy of capacitor capacitance of an electric power apparatus during operation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a well of a second conductive type formed on or above a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type; a first diffusion layer of the second conductive type formed in a surface portion of the well; a second diffusion layer of the first conductive type formed separately from the first diffusion layer in the surface portion of the well; first to third first-layer conductive layers formed above the well; and first to third second-layer conductive layers formed above the first to third first-layer conductive layers. The first second-layer conductive layer, the first first-layer conductive layer, the first diffusion layer and the well are conductively connected as a first conductive path. The second second-layer conductive layer, the second first-layer conductive layer, and the second diffusion layer are conductively connected as a second conductive path.

Abstract: A high-density deep trench capacitor array with a plurality of leakage sensors and switch devices. Each capacitor array further comprises a plurality of sub-arrays, wherein the leakage in each sub-array is independently controlled by a sensor and switch unit. The leakage sensor comprises a current mirror, a transimpedance amplifier, a voltage comparator, and a timer. If excessive leakage current is detected, the switch unit will automatically disconnect the leaky capacitor module to reduce stand-by power and improve yield. An optional solid-state resistor can be formed on top of the deep trench capacitor array to increase the temperature and speed up the leakage screening process.