Abstract: An assembly, comprising a heat-dissipating first resistor, control device for controlling the first resistor, as well as a grounded component, which lies on a potential without direct relation to a control voltage. The first resistor is arranged in spatial vicinity of the grounded component and comprising a first and a second connection. The control device comprises a first switching device and a second switching device. The first switching device, first resistor and second switching device form a series connection. A compensation device is configured such that in the On-state of the first resistor a voltage is applied between the first and second connection, wherein the resistor in the off-state is held on an in-between potential that lies between the first and the second potential and/or the control device is configured to trigger the first resistor in a pulse width modulated fashion, such that the first as well as the second switching device are switched synchronously.

Abstract: A switching power converter has an input voltage source. An output load is coupled to the input voltage source. An inductive element is coupled to the load. A switch is coupled to the inductive element. A control circuit is coupled to the switch and the inductive element for activating and deactivating the switch, the control circuit activating and deactivating the switch based on a negative voltage drop across a resistive element of the control circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alternator overvoltage protection circuit having a TRIAC and a MOSFET. The TRIAC is electrically connected to the MOSFET and the TRIAC is electrically connected to a magneto. The TRIAC is configured to ground the magneto when triggered by the MOSFET. The MOSFET is electrically connected to an alternator and configured to conduct when the alternator operates in an overvoltage condition. Also disclosed is a method of alternator overvoltage protection for a piece of outdoor power equipment, the method including providing a TRIAC and an alternator rotated by an engine having a magneto, wherein the alternator outputs a voltage when rotated by the engine. The method further includes configuring the TRIAC to ground the magneto when the alternator operates in an overvoltage condition, thereby disabling the magneto, which stops the rotation of the engine and stops the alternator from outputting voltage.

Abstract: Voltage adapter systems for use in an appliance are provided. An exemplary voltage adapter system can include a TRIAC. The exemplary voltage adapter system can include a voltage detection circuit configured to detect an input voltage of an alternating current power signal and connect the TRIAC in series with a load of the appliance when the input voltage is greater than a threshold voltage. The exemplary voltage adapter system can include a firing angle control circuit configured to provide a gate signal to a gate of the TRIAC when the alternating current power signal reaches a phase angle. An exemplary firing angle control circuit can include a resistor, a capacitor, and a DIAC.

Abstract: A low voltage AC power controller uses a line coupled capacitor AC to DC converter circuit to obtain energy from AC line power supplied to an AC load and may be used with an external high voltage AC switching device to control power supplied to the AC load. The line coupled capacitor AC to DC converter circuit provides a low power device that senses characteristics of the power supplied to the load and can communicate sensed information and/or receive control information related to the power supplied to load.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an electric motor (2) having a phase angle control with the following steps: Applying an AC voltage to a series connection of the electric motor (2) and a switching element (4), particularly a triac, wherein the switching element (4) connects through by applying an ignition signal and suppresses the flow of a current if the amount of current falls below a holding current; determining the time of a zero crossing of a virtual motor current that would flow if the switching element (4) were connected through; and turning on the switching element (4) at an activation time that is dependant on the time of the zero crossing of the virtual motor current.

Abstract: A power recovery system includes a transmission line that is coupled to transfer an RF signal received via an antenna. The RF signal generates a partial standing wave in the transmission line and the transmission line has at least one standing wave anti-node. A power recovery circuit converts an anti-node signal from the at least one standing wave anti-node to a power signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for monitoring the mode of operation of one or more load circuits, especially of a domestic appliance, which contains a controlled semiconductor switch, such as a triac, and an electric consumer. Said switches are supplied by at least one alternating voltage source that supplies an alternating voltage including positive and negative voltage half-waves. The invention is characterized in that the currents flowing through all controlled semiconductor switches (T1, T2) and the electric consumers (R1, R2) are guided through a common low-impedance precision resistor (Rm). The respective voltage drop occurring over the low-impedance precision resistor (Rm) is separately evaluated with respect to the amplitudes of the positive and negative voltage half-waves.

Abstract: A solid state power controller (SSPC) (100) includes a power switching controller (30) and power switching devices (PSDs) (20A, 20B, 20C) for controlling each phase of a multiple-phase load to switch-on or -off at a zero-crossing point of a corresponding phase of a multiple-phase power source. The power switching controller (30) may include an ASIC (25A, 25B, 25C) for controlling each PSD (20A, 20B, 20C) to switch the corresponding load phase on or off. The ASIC (25A, 25B, 25C) may be configured to control the PSD (20A, 20B, 20C) to switch-on the load phase at a detected zero-crossing point of the voltage supplied by the corresponding phase of the power source, and to switch-off the load phase at a detected zero-crossing point of the load current supplied by the corresponding phase of the power source.

Abstract: A bidirectional switch, including a first bidirectional switch between two power terminals of the switch, a low-voltage storage element between a first power terminal and a control terminal of the switch, and a control stage adapted to cause, upon each halfwave beginning of an A.C. supply voltage applied between the power terminals and when the switch is on, the charge of the storage element with a biasing depending on the sign of the halfwave.

Abstract: A high-voltage bidirectional switch, including a high-voltage bidirectional switching element, and circuitry for making the switching element bistable and controllable by, at most, two low-voltage pulse signals.

Abstract: A zero crossing control circuit of a bidirectional switch including two transistors of complementary types connected in parallel between the gate of the bidirectional switch and the main reference terminal of the bidirectional switch, the gate of the bidirectional switch being connected to a control source via a first resistor, and each of the control terminals of the transistors being connected to the second main terminal of the bidirectional switch via a second resistor of high value, a zener diode being interposed between the second resistor and each of the control terminals according to a biasing adapted to turning on each of the transistors when the zener threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for controlling the output of electrical consumers connected to ac line voltage, especially of electric motors and the like, in which the output is changed by changing the phase control of the electric alternating magnitude supplied to the consumer. The extent of the firing angle determining the extent of the phase control is varied toward larger or smaller values around the given reference value of the firing angle, which reference value corresponds to the desired power consumption, so that asymmetry of the firing angle is produced with respect to time between two successive full waves, whereby odd-numbered harmonics are sharply reduced as even-numbered harmonics slowly increase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit for controlling a triac at the voltage zero. Two transistors of complementary types are connected in parallel between the gate and the main reference terminal of the triac. The control terminals of the transistors are interconnected and connected to the second main terminal of the triac via a resistor of high value. The gate of the triac is connected to a control potential source via a second resistor.

Abstract: A triac (100) utilizes an FET (107) to inhibit firing of a transistor (112) that forms a portion of the SCR of the triac (100). A DMOS transistor (106) is used to supply a substantially constant bias current to the transistor (107) in order to facilitate rapid turn-on of the transistor (107) around the zero-crossing of the voltage applied to the triac (100).

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for limiting the current to be switched of an electrical load, with the power input of the electrical load being controlled by means of a Triac, said Triac being connected in series with the electrical load, with a Diac being connected to the gate terminal of the Triac, said Diac being connected in series with a resistor arrangement whose resistance value is variable for the purpose of controlling the Triac, said Triac being disconnectible from the power supply by means of a first switch, wherein a second switch is provided by means of which the series arrangement comprised of the resistor arrangement and the Diac is disconnectible from the power supply, and wherein, on turning the electrical load on, the first switch is closed first, while the second switch is closed with a time delay. Advantageously, on turning the electrical load off, the second switch is opened first, while opening of the first switch occurs with a time delay.

Abstract: A common and inexpensive integrated 555 timing circuit is used to vary the timing of triac firing pulses in response to a control voltage. A trigger pulse generator generates a pulse at each zero cross-over of an AC line. This pulse initiates a variable, one shot pulse generator which generates a rectangular pulse. The rectangular pulse terminates following a time interval which is controlled by the magnitude of a control input signal. A pulse forming circuit generates a triac firing pulse at the termination of the rectangular pulse from the one shot pulse generator.

Abstract: An improved temperature control circuit having a controller portion with an inhibit input and a temperature responsive circuit portion that includes a resistive portion connected in series with a sensor portion which establishes the control point for the control circuit, the improvement including a semiconductor switch in series with the sensor portion, the semiconductor switch having two electrodes between which a resistor is connected. The resistor is also connected to the inhibit input of the controller to present a signal to inhibit operation of the temperature control circuit when the sensor portion and semiconductor switch is not conducting.