Abstract: A power semiconductor module is provided in which power semiconductor chips with an aluminum-based chip metallization and power semiconductor chips with a copper-based chip metallization are included in the same module, and operated at different barrier-layer temperatures during use.

Abstract: There is provided a protection apparatus for a load circuit, capable of protecting the load circuit by simulating a fuse. A pseudo heat capacity Cth* smaller than a heat capacity of an electric wire used in the load circuit is set, and a temperature of the electric wire is calculated with reference to an arithmetic expression of heat generation amount of the electric wire, an arithmetic expression of heat radiation amount of the electric wire, a time counted by the count unit, and the pseudo heat capacity Cth*. Then, a semiconductor relay S1 is interrupted when the calculated temperature of the electric wire reaches an allowable temperature of the electric wire to protect the load circuit from heat generation.

Abstract: An electrical fuse apparatus comprises a conductor element defining an electrically conductive path between respective wire terminals for connecting the fuse apparatus to an electrical circuit. The conductor element includes a first reactive material and at least one ignition point for receiving external energy to initiate an exothermic reaction of the first reactive material with a second reactive material. The reaction generates a quantity of heat sufficient to melt the conductor and break the conductive path. The fuse can be an element in electrical circuits, including power controllers. A method for protecting a system using an exothermic fuse apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fault tolerant synchronous rectifier PWM regulator system and method are disclosed. In the system and method, a force commutated synchronous rectifier is operable to be coupled to an electrical bus, and a low side switch is operable to be coupled to a common ground. In addition, a first fuse is coupled to the force commutated synchronous rectifier and the low side switch, and is operable to open in response to a first fault. Furthermore, an inductor is coupled to the first fuse, the force commutated synchronous rectifier and the low side switch, and a second fuse is coupled to the inductor and is operable to be coupled to a current source and to open in response to a second fault.

Abstract: A protection element and a secondary battery device employing the protection element are provided for stably retaining a flux on a soluble conductor at a predetermined position, so as to enable appropriate blowout of the soluble conductor in the event of an abnormality. The protection element has a soluble conductor which is disposed on an insulation baseboard, and which is connected to a power supply path of a device targeted to be protected, and which causes a blowout when a predetermined abnormal electric power amount is supplied. A flux is coated on a surface of the soluble conductor, and an insulation cover member is mounted on the baseboard and covers the soluble conductor. The protection element also includes a stepped portion for retaining the flux at a predetermined position in contact with the flux, and the stepped portion is formed opposite to the soluble conductor on an interior face of the insulation cover member.

Abstract: A system is disclosed including a plurality of metal oxide varistors (MOVs) columns connected in parallel, and at least one fuse connected to an MOV column. The fuse(s) are configured to isolate the MOV column in the case that the fuse is activated.

Abstract: A protective device including a substrate, a conductive section and a first auxiliary medium is provided. The conductive section is supported by the substrate, wherein the conductive section comprises a metal element electrically connected between first and second electrodes. The metal element serves as a sacrificial structure having a melting point lower than that of the first and second electrodes. The first auxiliary medium is disposed between the metal element and the substrate, wherein the first auxiliary medium has a melting point lower than that of the metal element. The first auxiliary medium facilitates breaking of the metal element upon melting.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus that can prevent erroneous attachment of a fuse is provided. A PCU includes a housing having a surface. A fuse storage space is formed in the housing. The fuse storage space communicates with a region outside of the housing through an opening formed at the surface. The PCU further includes a cover member covering the opening, and an overcurrent-protection fuse located in the fuse storage space. The cover member includes a cover body closing the opening, and a projection section projecting inward of the fuse storage space relative to the cover body. The projection section interferes with the fuse when the fuse is attached erroneously in the fuse storage space.

Abstract: Connectors for cables such as a 30-pin connector are provided. The connectors may have thermal protection circuits and may carry a power supply voltage and a ground voltage. The thermal protection circuits may disable the power supply voltage when the temperature of the connector exceeds a threshold value. The thermal protection circuits may disable the power supply voltage when liquid is detected in the connector. The thermal protection circuits may disable the power supply voltage permanently or temporarily. In one example, when a cable is reset, the thermal protection circuits may use a record of previous fault events and measurements from thermal and liquid sensors to determine whether to enable or disable the power supply voltage.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a connection system for an electronic device comprises an enclosure comprising sides, and an interior encompassed by the sides. The interior can comprise (1) an electronic device area configured to house the electronic device, (2) a first accessory area configured to house a first accessory of the electronic device (3) a second accessory area configured to house a second accessory of the electronic device and/or (4) one or more walls separating from each other at least two of the electronic device area, the first accessory area, or the second accessory area. When the electronic device is housed in the electronic device area, the first accessory is housed in the first accessory area, and the second accessory is housed in the second accessory area the one or more walls are configured to permit the first and second accessories to be connected to the electronic device. Other examples and related methods are described herein.

Abstract: An electronic circuit board includes a TMR element having two terminals connected to a power supply and a ground, respectively, at least through a lead. After a breakdown of a tunnel barrier film of the TMR element, at least a part of the lead breaks by an overcurrent due to a short circuit between the two terminals.

Abstract: A power control system/method implementing Internet based access to hybrid home automation networks is disclosed. The system utilizes a smart gateway power controller (SGPC) to selectively switch an AC power source to a load device under control of local or remote network commands that may be routed through a variety of network interfaces and protocols present within a home or other structure-local communications network. SGPC configurations may be nested within a home automation network to permit separation of control for load devices within a common home automation environment. Present invention methods may include routing protocols between disparate home automation networks as well as remote access protocols that permit control of disparate home automation networks via the Internet using a wide variety of remote access interfaces including mobile devices, tablet computers, laptops, desktop computers, and the like.

Abstract: A protective device including a substrate, a conductive section and a first auxiliary medium is provided. The conductive section is supported by the substrate, wherein the conductive section comprises a metal element electrically connected between first and second electrodes. The metal element serves as a sacrificial structure having a melting point lower than that of the first and second electrodes. The first auxiliary medium is disposed between the metal element and the substrate, wherein the first auxiliary medium has a melting point lower than that of the metal element. The first auxiliary medium facilitates breaking of the metal element upon melting.

Abstract: An over-current protection device includes a first conductive member, a second conductive member, a resistive device and a temperature sensing switch. The first conductive member includes a first electrode foil and a second electrode foil those are formed on a same plane. The resistive device is laminated between the first conductive member and the second conductive member and exhibits positive temperature coefficient or negative temperature coefficient behavior. The temperature sensing switch can switch the first electrode foil and the second electrode foil between electrically conductive status and current-restriction status, e.g., open circuit, according to temperature variation. The threshold temperature of the temperature sensing switch is lower than the trip temperature of the resistive device.

Abstract: A power safety system (PSS) includes a plurality of thermally-triggered electrical breaking arrangements (TTEBAs). The plurality of TTEBAs are associated with a plurality of electrical devices (EDs) disposed external to the PSS. The PSS further includes a plurality of electrical power connections (EPCs) associated with said plurality of TTEBAs that are configured to respectively electrically connect the PSS to the plurality of EDs. When at least one TTEBA in the plurality of TTEBAs is electrically operative and at least one thermal event occurs that is sufficient to thermally activate the at least one electrically operative TTEBA, at least the EPC associated with the at least one thermally activated TTEBA is electrically broken. A method to protect a human operator of the PSS from a thermal event is also presented. A PSS also extends to a primary and a secondary electrical charging system used to charge a battery of a vehicle.

Abstract: A circuit protection device includes a fuse element placed in parallel with a PTC thermistor layer. The element and PTC thermistor layer are provided on one or more insulating substrate, such as an FR-4 or polyimide substrate. First and second conductors connect the fuse element and PTC thermistor layer electrically in parallel, such that current (i) initially under normal flows mainly through the fuse element and PTC thermistor layer at a lower drop in voltage and (ii) after an opening of the fuse element flows under normal operation through the PTC thermistor layer at a higher drop in voltage.

Abstract: A protection apparatus of a load circuit, comprises: a temperature estimation unit configured to estimate a temperature of an electric wire based on a pseudo-temperature arithmetic expression; and a breaking control unit configured to break a switch portion when the temperature estimated by the temperature estimation unit has reached an allowed temperature of the electric wire. The pseudo-temperature arithmetic expression is set in such a manner that, in a temperature arithmetic expression of the electric wire, the temperature arithmetic expression using the elapsed time counted by the timer, the current detected by the current detection unit, and a heat capacity and conductor resistance of the electric wire, a pseudo-heat capacity smaller than the heat capacity of the electric wire is assigned to the heat capacity, and a pseudo-conductor resistance larger than the conductor resistance of the electric wire is assigned to the conductor resistance.

Abstract: A protection apparatus of a load circuit sets a threshold temperature at a lower temperature than an allowed temperature of an electric wire for use in the load circuit, and estimates a temperature of the electric wire based on an ambient temperature, a load current and a time while the load current is flowing through the electric wire. Then, in the case where the estimated temperature has reached the threshold temperature, a semiconductor relay (S1) is broken. As a result, in the case where such an electric wire temperature has risen owing to an occurrence of an overcurrent, and the like, the circuit is surely protected at the point of time before the electric wire temperature reaches the allowed temperature. Therefore, a fuse used in a conventional load circuit becomes unnecessary.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for protecting a power distribution unit from an electrical fault. A fuse interrupts a flow of electrical current in response to the electrical current rising above a current rating of the fuse. A current sensor measures the amplitude of the electrical current and outputs a current amplitude signal. A relay interrupts the flow of electrical current in response to an OFF signal. A fault module receives the current amplitude signal and sends the OFF signal to the relay in response to the amplitude of the electrical current exceeding a threshold value. The relay, the fuse, and the threshold value are selected so that a switching time of the relay is less than an opening time of the fuse for an amplitude of the electrical current between the threshold value and a maximum fault current value, so that the relay prevents the fuse from opening.

Abstract: A power distribution device may include an input port configured to receive power form a power source, a plurality of sockets arranged along a first plane to from a matrix, each of the plurality of sockets including first and second terminals, the first terminals coupled to the input port, the first and second terminals of each of the plurality of sockets configured to deliver the power therebetween upon coupling to a connection device, and a plurality of output ports aligned along a second plane, each of the plurality of output ports coupled to the second terminal of one of the plurality of sockets, the plurality of output ports configured to distribute the power to one or more power loads.

Abstract: A protective circuit capable of coping with broad voltage variations of a battery unit to interrupt its charging/discharging current path as damages to the heating unit are prevented from occurrence is disclosed. The protective circuit includes fuses, connected to a charging/discharging current path in series between a battery unit and a charging/discharging control circuit, and a heating unit composed by a series connection of resistors. One of two ends of the resistor which is not connected to the peer resistor is connected to a current path of the fuses. The ends of the resistors not connected to the fuses, are provided with a plurality of terminals selected for connection to a current control element that controls the current flowing through the heating unit, as a range of voltage variations of the battery unit is taken into account.

Abstract: A thermally-protected varistor (TPV) device that includes a voltage-sensitive body; a first conductive lead frame adjacent the voltage-sensitive body; a second conductive lead frame adjacent the voltage-sensitive body and including a raised pad; a first conducting terminal including an end portion for contacting the raised pad when the TPV device is in a first, conducting position; a fusible material releasably connecting the end portion to the raised pad of the second conductive lead frame when the TPV device is in a first, conducting position; and a biasing element biasing the end portion such that the end portion of the first conducting terminal is configured to move away from the raised pad of the second lead frame when the temperature-sensitive fusible material releases the end portion of the first conducting terminal from the raised pad in response to heat generated by the voltage-sensitive body.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a volume of an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed, by which a volume of an input signal can be controlled by using a non-linear gain curve and a target volume of the input signal. The present invention includes receiving an input signal and reference information controlling a volume of the input signal; and adjusting a volume of the input signal with the reference information, wherein the reference information comprises at least one of metadata indicating characteristics of the input signal, output environment information indicating characteristics of an environment in proximity to the apparatus and stored reference information being transmitted from memory. Therefore, the present invention is able to control a volume of an input signal adaptively by using reference information, for example metadata, outside environment information and stored reference information.

Abstract: A fault tolerant synchronous rectifier regulator system and method are disclosed. In the system and method, a high side switch is operable to be coupled to an electrical bus, and a low side switch is coupled to a common ground. In addition, a first fuse is coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch, and operable to open in response to a first fault. Furthermore, a second fuse is coupled to the high side switch and the first fuse, and operable to be coupled to a current source and to open in response to a second fault.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a battery pack includes a fuse and a sense resistor, connected on a circuit path along which a charging or discharging current flows, and a fuse control switch for controlling the fuse. Also, the apparatus further includes a Schottky diode having one end connected to the sense resistor and the other end connected to the fuse control switch. Thus, destruction of a sense resistor serving an important role in the battery pack protecting apparatus is detected to melt and cut the fuse, thereby preventing any element from being damaged due to overcurrent and thus improving the safety of a battery pack at a low cost.

Abstract: An overcurrent protective wire wound resistor has a core, a second contact cap and a resistance wire. A first contact cap and a resistor connection seat are respectively mounted on two ends of a rod of the core. A low melting-point conductive layer is mounted around the rod and connected with the first contact cap and the resistor connection seat. A high-temperature contractive insulation layer is mounted around the low melting-point conductive layer and the first contact cap. The second contact cap is mounted around the contractive insulation layer. The resistance wire is connected to the resistor connection seat and the second contact cap. When current through the resistance wire abnormally increases, high temperature of the resistance wire melts the low melting point conductive layer to shrink the contractive insulation layer and open the low melting-point conductive layer and the resistor, thereby protecting the circuit connected to the resistor.

Abstract: A power supply protection device for an electric appliance includes a switching circuit for establishing an electrical connection to receive an external voltage from the external power supply and output the external voltage to the electric appliance, a detecting circuit for disabling the switch circuit to break the electrical connection when determining the external voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and an alert circuit for generating an alert signal when the electrical connection is broken and outputting the alert signal to a user.

Abstract: A circuit protection device includes a reflowable thermal fuse that shuts off current to a field-effect transistor if the field-effect transistor is overheating. In particular, the reflowable thermal fuse is integrated with the field-effect transistor to provide greater proximity between the field-effect transistor and the reflowable thermal fuse, thus providing efficient and accurate detection of an overtemperature condition in the field-effect transistor.

Abstract: A surge protection system including a pluggable surge protection cartridge and its corresponding base is disclosed. The cartridge includes a housing, a surge protection assembly situated within the housing containing a surge protection element and a plurality of cartridge contacts in electrical contact with the surge protection assembly. The cartridge contacts are configured to engage a base within an electrical load center to carry a surge current from the load center across an electrical path of the surge protection assembly through the surge protection element. The cartridge is configured to be situated within the base such that the cartridge is removable from the base while the base remains in electrical contact with the load center.

Abstract: An electronic control device includes a substrate, a plurality of component-mounted wires, a plurality of electronic components, a common wire, an interrupt wire and a protective layer. The component-mounted wires and the common wire are disposed on the substrate. The electronic components are mounted on the respective component-mounted wires and are coupled with the common wire. The interrupt wire is coupled between one component-mounted wire and the common wire, and is configured to melt in accordance with heat generated by an overcurrent to interrupt a coupling between the component-mounted wire and the common wire. The protective layer covers a surface of the substrate including the interrupt wire and defines an opening portion so that at least a portion of the interrupt wire is exposed.

Abstract: An electronic control device includes a substrate, component-mounted wires disposed on the substrate, electronic components mounted on the respective component-mounted wires, a common wire disposed on the substrate and coupled with each of the electronic components, and an interrupt wire coupled between one of the component-mounted wires and the common wire. The interrupt wire melts in accordance with heat generated by an overcurrent. The interrupt wire includes a first wire section and a second wire section shorter than the first wire section. The first wire section and the second wire section is coupled with each other at a predetermined angle that is determined so that one of the wire sections is coupled with the common wire and the other is coupled with the one of the component-mounted wires.

Abstract: An electronic control device includes a substrate, a plurality of component-mounted wires disposed on the substrate, a plurality of electronic components mounted on the respective component-mounted wires, a common wire coupled with each of the electronic components, an interrupt wire coupled between one of the component-mounted wires and the common wire, and a heat release portion. The interrupt wire melts in accordance with heat generated by an overcurrent. The heat release portion is attached to the common wire and is disposed at a position where a wiring distance from the interrupt wire is shorter than a wiring distance between the interrupt wire and any of the electronic components except for one of the electronic components mounted on the one of the component-mounted wires.

Abstract: A double-sided printed circuit board may include: electrical conductor tracks fitted thereon and serving for electrically connecting components mounted on the printed circuit board, which has at least one conductor track fuse in the form of a conductor track with a fusible link part, wherein, upon the occurrence of an abnormal operating state, in particular an electrical short circuit, the electric circuit is interrupted by melting and evaporation of the fusible link part and plasma arises upon the evaporation of the fusible link part, wherein the fusible link part lies on the other side of the printed circuit board with respect to the supply line.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an overcurrent protecting device to branch lines branched from a trunk line and to make it easy to check the overcurrent protecting device. A solar power generation system includes an electric power extracting trunk line having a plurality of solar cell strings interconnected in parallel; a plurality of branch lines that connect the solar cell strings to the trunk line, and an overcurrent protecting device connected between the branch line and the solar cell string.

Abstract: A battery pack includes at least one secondary battery, a fuse, and a control section. The fuse is configured to cut off charge or discharge current of the secondary battery upon detection of an abnormality of the secondary battery. The control section is configured to detect the abnormality of the secondary battery, and to perform a fusion-cutting process of fusion-cutting the fuse in accordance with the result of the detection. Upon detection of the abnormality, the control section measures a first potential being the potential of a subsequent stage of the fuse and a second potential being the potential of the secondary battery. If it is found from the result of the measurement that the first potential and the second potential are equal, the control section determines that the fuse has not been fusion-cut by the fusion-cutting process, and stops the fusion-cutting process.

Abstract: A fault tolerant synchronous rectifier regulator system and method are disclosed. In the system and method, a high side switch is operable to be coupled to an electrical bus, and a low side switch is coupled to a common ground. In addition, a first fuse is coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch, and operable to open in response to a first fault. Furthermore, a second fuse is coupled to the high side switch and the first fuse, and operable to be coupled to a current source and to open in response to a second fault.

Abstract: An intrinsically safe energy limited circuit for space-restricted applications includes a fuse and resistor in series with a protected circuit or component wherein the fuse dissipates most of the power when the protected circuit or component is short circuited.

Abstract: A fuse system for a hyperthermia apparatus may include a disposable reservoir cartridge configured to be used with a hyperthermia apparatus. The disposable reservoir cartridge may include at least a first lockout circuit and a second lockout circuit. The first lockout circuit may include a first fuse link, and the second lockout circuit may include a second fuse link. The fuse system may include a computing device in communication with the first lockout circuit and the second lockout circuit, and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for deactivating the first fuse link at a first time, and deactivating the second fuse link at a second time.

Abstract: This invention provides a poly fuse burning system comprising a poly fuse, a controllable power source supplying power for burning the poly fuse, and a monitor circuit monitoring the burning state of the poly fuse, wherein when a targeted burning state is reached, a control signal is output to shut down the controllable power source to stop the burning.

Abstract: A voltage suppressor component including a semiconductor layer; a first port mounted on the semiconductor layer and configured to receive electrical power; a second port mounted on the semiconductor layer and configured to provide the electrical power, and a fuse in electrical series between the first port and the second port and mounted on the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A medium voltage variable frequency drive having a 2-high controller configuration with a dual bus system is described. The drive control system includes at least one motor control cabinet housing a fused medium voltage bypass controller, a non-fused transfer controller positioned above the fused medium voltage bypass controller, an extendable output bus coupled to the non-fused medium voltage transfer controller, and an extendable supply bus coupled to the fused medium voltage bypass controller. The drive control system further includes a variable frequency drive cabinet housing a variable frequency drive. The variable frequency drive is coupled to the extendable output bus and a power supply line. The power supply line may be further coupled to the extendable supply bus. The drive control system includes at least one cabling transition cabinet housing cabling between the at least one motor control cabinet, the power supply line, and the variable frequency drive.

Abstract: A circuit for indicating operating status of a plurality of hardware devices of a computer includes a detecting module, a decoding module, and an indicating module. The indicating module includes a dual color indicator and two electronic switches connected to a first input and a second input of the dual color indicator respectively. The detecting module detects an operating status of the plurality of hardware devices, and outputs state signals of each hardware device during power on self test of the computer. The decoding module decodes the state signals, and outputs level control signals to turn on or off the two electronic switches. The dual color indicator indicates operating status of the plurality of hardware devices by shifted to be at different indicating states by the two electronic switches correspondingly.

Abstract: An isolating device for a power semiconductor comprising n power terminals for a power grid comprises n module terminals, n grid terminals, n connecting lines which connect the module terminals and grid terminals and have overcurrent fuses, and a tripping controller. The tripping controller includes a detector for detecting the rupture of an overcurrent fuse and a tripping unit for tripping an overcurrent fuse. A power module contains a power semiconductor and an isolating device. A system installation contains at least two power modules connected in parallel. In a method for operating an isolating device, at least one of the overcurrent fuses is tripped upon a predetermined tripping criterion being met.

Abstract: An electronic device which comprises a lead frame comprising at least one clip, a capacitor comprising at least one terminal, the at least one terminal being received in the at least one clip, and a semiconductor chip attached to the lead frame.

Abstract: Provided is a technology for monitoring the electrical resistance of an element such as a fuse whose resistance is changed due to the electrical stress among internal circuits included in a semiconductor device. The present invention provides a monitoring circuit to monitor the change in the device specification during the device is being programmed and after the device is programmed. The present invention enables the verification of an optimized condition to let the device have a certain electrical resistance, by comparing the load voltage and the fuse voltage with the reference voltage that can sense the range of resistance variation more precisely. Also, it can guarantee device reliability since it is still possible to sense electrical resistance after the electrical stress is being given. Also, the present invention can increase the utility of the fuse by possessing an output to monitor electrical resistance sensed inside of the semiconductor.

Abstract: A safety circuit includes a thermal fuse electrically connected in a main current path so that an electric current flowing in the main current path flows, through the thermal fuse; a switching element electrically connected to the thermal fuse to cause the thermal fuse to open and interrupt the electric current flowing in the main current path when the switching element is turned on; a microcontroller electrically connected to the switching element and the main current path to turn on the switching element when an overcurrent flows in the main current path; and a noise removing unit electrically connecting the microcontroller to the switching element.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module (10) with a plurality of solar cells (20) interconnected in serial and/or parallel arrangement within the module (10) is equipped with an overheat protection system (30) for suppressing damages of the photovoltaic module (10) due to defects of the solar cells (20). The overheat protection system (30) comprises a heat sensor (32) which is thermally coupled to a solar cell (20). The heat sensor (32) is physically integrated into an electrical switch (34, 36, 38) which is electrically connected to said solar cell (20).

Abstract: A surge suppression or surge protection device for affording enhanced safety by disconnecting a protected device should a fault occur, and which is preferably formed as part of an electrical power strip, preferably includes a plurality of fuses with at least one fuse being a thermal fuse and a heating element in proximity to the thermal fuse for opening the thermal fuse, when heated. The heating element may preferably be a positive coefficient self-regulating heating element.

Abstract: An integral circuit protection device includes a substrate disposed between first and second terminals. The substrate is composed of a resistive material. A first conductive layer is disposed on a first surface of the substrate and in electrical contact with the first terminal. A second conductive layer is disposed on a second surface of the substrate. A first electrically insulating layer is disposed on the second conductive layer and substantially covers the second conductive layer. The first electrically insulating layer includes an aperture. A fuse element is disposed on the first electrically insulating layer and is in electrical contact with the second conductive layer through the aperture and in electrical contact with the second terminal. The fuse element is in electrical series with the resistive material. A second electrically insulating layer is disposed over the fuse element.

Abstract: A battery protection module has a battery protection IC that is formed on a substrate, switching elements that are formed on the substrate and controlled by the battery protection IC, battery connecting terminals that are formed on the substrate, and a wire fuse that is disposed on a path on the substrate. In the path, the same current as the current flowing in the battery connecting terminals flows.