Abstract: An apparatus for detecting overheating of a battery module includes a battery pack including a first battery module and a second battery module, a first temperature fuse arranged on the first battery module and having a first resistance value, a second temperature fuse arranged on the second battery module and having a second resistance value, and a controller that detects an overheated battery module based on a total resistance value of the first and second temperature fuses, which are connected in parallel to each other.

Abstract: A variable voltage phantom power supply assembly includes a phantom power supply unit having a power input, and one or more audio channels. The variable voltage phantom power supply assembly also includes a variable voltage phantom power supply module having a phantom power supply circuit with a variable voltage controller and a variable voltage phantom power output. A method of customizing at least one performance characteristic of a microphone includes: modifying a phantom power supply to provide a variable voltage phantom power output; connecting a microphone to an input of a variable voltage phantom power supply assembly; adjusting the voltage output of the variable voltage phantom power supply to the microphone; monitoring the performance characteristics of the microphone; and, readjusting the voltage output of the variable voltage phantom power supply to the microphone to obtain at least one desired performance characteristic of the microphone.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus capable of protecting a pre-charge circuit is provided. When a voltage has entered an operating voltage range, a microcomputer determines whether a preset period has elapsed from then. Upon determining that the preset period has elapsed, the microcomputer starts initial check. To carry out the initial check, the microcomputer starts charging a capacitor for power supply stabilization of a drive circuit by turning on the pre-charge circuit and, when the charging of the capacitor is completed, turns on a power supply relay provided on a power supply line that connects between a battery and the drive circuit.

Abstract: Solar energy detection module and solar panel are introduced. The solar energy detection module includes a backsheet, a first encapsulation layer, a first photovoltaic unit, a light source, a second encapsulation layer and a transparent layer. The first encapsulation layer is disposed above the backsheet. The first photovoltaic unit and the light source are disposed above the first encapsulation layer. The second encapsulation layer is disposed above the first photovoltaic unit and light source. The transparent layer is disposed above the second encapsulation layer. The light source is configured to emit light toward the transparent layer. The first photovoltaic unit is arranged to be able to receive light from the light source and generate an electrical signal indicating intensity of light that the first photovoltaic unit receives. The solar panel includes the solar energy detection module and a plurality of second photovoltaic units.

Abstract: An apparatus (21) is described for facilitating emulated current-mode control of a resonant converter (1). The apparatus (21) comprises: an input (21) a for a first signal suitable for use in determining a phase of a resonant current, wherein the resonant current corresponds to a current in a resonant network (3) of the converter (1); an input (21b) for a second signal suitable for use in determining a target phase difference between the resonant current and a driving voltage, wherein the driving voltage corresponds to a voltage provided by a switch network (2) of the converter (1) to the resonant network (3); one or more outputs (21c, 21d) for one or more control signals for controlling operation of the switch network (2); and circuitry (21e-i).

Abstract: Embodiments of information handling systems (IHSs) and methods are provided herein to automatically detect failure(s) on one or more power rails provided on a system motherboard of an IHS. One embodiment of such a method may include determining if a power rail test should be performed each time an information handling system (IHS) is powered on or rebooted. If a power rail test is performed, the method may perform a current measurement for each of the power rails separately to obtain actual current values for each power rail, compare the actual current values obtained for each power rail to expected current values stored for each power rail, and detect a failure on at least one of the power rails if the actual current value obtained for the at least one power rail differs from the expected current value stored for the at least one power rail by more than a predetermined percentage or amount.

Abstract: A power transistor overcurrent protection circuit includes an overcurrent detection circuit, a timing control circuit, and an enable control circuit. The overcurrent detection circuit is configured to detect whether there is an overcurrent flowing in the controlled power transistor. The timing control circuit and the enable control circuit jointly control the controlled power transistor. The power transistor overcurrent protection circuit can turn off the controlled power transistor so as to protect the controlled power transistor when there is an overcurrent flowing in the controlled power transistor for controlling a load to work or not to work.

Abstract: A circuitry for a battery management system of a vehicle for adapting at least one cell information item via at least one battery cell to a communication system of the vehicle, comprising: a first processing element for generating a message and a test information item in accordance with a first processing, the message being specific to the cell information; at least one second processing element for generating the same message (in accordance with at least one second processing; a communication system interface (for outputting an output instruction to the communication system, the output instruction being at least partially composed of the message in accordance with the second processing and of the test information, so that the output instruction is specific to the first and second processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery reverse voltage prevention system, and more particularly, to a battery reverse voltage prevention system, which prevents current of a battery from flowing to a resistor by connecting an additional P-type channel MOSFET to a P-type channel MOSFET gate terminal in the related art in order to prevent opening/closing of a P-type channel MOSFET from being delayed due to a resistor installed to limit capacitance and dark current generated by the P-type channel MOSFET in a battery reverse voltage prevention system in the related art, which includes the P-type channel MOSFET, thereby reducing an opening/closing delay time of the P-type channel MOSFET in the related art.

Abstract: A battery management device for preventing a battery from being damaged by a low voltage includes a storage configured to store a first protection voltage and a second protection voltage corresponding to a protection mode of the battery; a voltage detector configured to detect a voltage of the battery; a controller configured to confirm the detected voltage, to enter the protection mode when the detected voltage of the battery is the first protection voltage, to check a time point when the detected voltage of the battery is the second protection voltage, and to release the protection mode when a predetermined time elapses from the time point.

Abstract: A method monitors a circuit breaker in an electrical power supply network, in which one section of the electrical power supply network is monitored in respect of the occurrence of a fault. Upon detection of a fault in the monitored section, a trigger signal is output to a circuit breaker bordering the section, and a switch-fault signal indicating a fault upon opening the circuit breaker is generated if a continuous current flow through the circuit breaker is detected after the trigger signal is output. In order to provide for a preferably rapid and reliable detection of a continuous current flow or an interruption of the current flow during the monitoring of a circuit breaker, it is provided that a curve shape of the time curve of the instantaneous current flowing through the circuit breaker is investigated in order to detect a continuous current flow.

Abstract: The electric motor system of the present invention includes an electric motor and a driving device. The electric motor includes a grounded housing, and multi-phase stator windings and a neutral point, which are disposed in the housing and form a star connection. The driving device is connected with the multi-phase stator windings and includes a rectifying circuit, a voltage stabilizing capacitor and a high-frequency driving circuit. The voltage stabilizing capacitor is connected with an output end of the rectifying circuit to provide a direct-current power source to a direct-current power source circuit. The high-frequency driving circuit is connected with the direct-current power source circuit and the multi-phase stator windings, and generates multi-phase driving signals to drive the multi-phase stator windings. A high-frequency harmonic suppressing device is connected with the neutral point and the direct-current power source circuit.

Abstract: An alarm register stores therein failure information having a first size and related to a failure that has occurred in communication performed by each of the CPUs 103 and 104. A failure information transmitting unit reads, from the alarm register, failure information in units of a second size including a plurality of pieces of the failure information with the first size, and deletes the read failure information from the alarm register. An information acquiring unit 121 stores, in a failure information buffer 122, the failure information that has been read in units of the second size. An information notifying unit 123 reads failure information in units of the first size from the failure information buffer 122, and gives a notice of the read failure information to the CPU 103 or 104 corresponding to communication in which a failure indicated by the read failure information has occurred.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a solar light voltage, which is capable of decreasing an output stage voltage of an AC EMC filter by connecting a load to an output stage of the AC EMC filter. The apparatus includes: a DC filter configured to receive a DC voltage from a DC solar module and reduce a noise of the DC voltage; an inverter configured to convert the DC voltage with the reduced noise into an AC voltage; and an AC filter configured to reduce a noise of the AC voltage and output the AC voltage with the reduced noise to a power system through an output stage.

Abstract: A system for detecting a decrease in or loss of an input phase to a motor. A power rectifier rectifies and combines three input voltages to produce an output voltage to power the motor. A PFC circuit manages the power flowing to the motor. A sensing circuit located between the power rectifier and the PFC senses a voltage level of the power rectifier's output voltage. Alternatively, a sensing rectifier is connected before the power rectifier, and the sensing circuit senses the voltage level of the sensing rectifier's output voltage. A microprocessor compares the sensed voltage level to a threshold voltage level which is indicative of the decrease in or loss of one of the three input voltages, and if the former drops below the latter, then the microprocessor sends a signal to either shut off the motor or cause the PFC circuit to reduce the power flowing to the motor.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes main contacts movable between closed and open positions such that a line terminal and a load terminal are, respectively, in electrical communication or electrically isolated. A trip coil is connected to the contacts, causing the contacts to move from the closed position to the open position in response to a trip current, thereby tripping the circuit breaker. A normally closed relay having a relay activating circuit and a switching circuit is provided, with the switching circuit being electrically connected to the trip coil. A monitoring circuit is electrically connected to the relay activating circuit, supplying activating power to the relay activating circuit so long as a determination is made that the breaker is operating within acceptable parameters, and ceasing to supply activating power to the relay activating circuit upon a determination being made that the breaker is not operating within acceptable parameters, thereby tripping the breaker.

Abstract: A charging facility collects DC power supplied from a plurality of power supply devices in a DC bus, and then uses the DC power to charge an on-board rechargeable battery for an electric vehicle. In an energy management method for a charging facility, each power supply device operates under independent automatic control according to a change in voltage in the DC bus. An upper-level control unit which collectively controls a plurality of power supply sources is not required, and a plurality of power supply devices can be combined with a simple configuration achieved by merely connecting respective output terminals to the DC bus. In addition, the entire charging facility can be operated flexibly. Thus, it is possible to achieve a simple configuration and to allow flexible operation while a plurality of power converters are combined with a system power supply.

Abstract: An electronic device and an operating method thereof for monitoring, identifying and controlling an application and a component which excessively consume battery power are provided. The electronic device monitors an operation of an application installed therein or an operation of a component embedded therein. The electronic device checks the amount of power consumed for the operation of the application or the operation of the component at regular intervals, and based on the checked amount of power, determines whether the operation of the application or the operation of the component is an abnormal operation. If the operation of the application or the operation of the component is an abnormal operation, the electronic device identifies a policy corresponding to the abnormal operation and based on the identified policy, controls the operation of the application or the operation of the component to eliminate the abnormal operation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and a method for using a plurality of external USB power sources. The electronic apparatus comprises a plurality of USB jacks, a plurality of first diodes, at least one external power source jack, a second diode and a first voltage converter, a processing unit, a main memory, a network interface, at least one SIM card slot, a RF transceiver and a secondary storage. Further when voltage supplied via one or more of the external USB power sources is below a first reference voltage, a first action is performed.

Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates an under voltage lockout circuit in which a band gap circuit includes two current input terminals for generating a first current associated with band gap, an amplifier includes two inputs terminal coupled to the two current input terminal, and an output terminal configured to output an error-amplified signal, a terminal of a control device is coupled with a voltage source, and a control terminal of the control device receives the error-amplified signal, a voltage divider is coupled between current input terminals and other terminal of the control device, a comparator receiving a lockout voltage and outputting an under voltage lockout signal, a current mirror circuit is coupled to the first input terminal of the comparator and the band gap circuit, and configured to generate a second current mirroring from the first current.

Abstract: A charging facility collects DC power supplied from a plurality of power supply devices in a DC bus, and then uses the DC power to charge an on-board rechargeable battery for an electric vehicle. In an energy management method for a charging facility, each power supply device operates under independent automatic control according to a change in voltage in the DC bus. An upper-level control unit which collectively controls a plurality of power supply sources is not required, and a plurality of power supply devices can be combined with a simple configuration achieved by merely connecting respective output terminals to the DC bus. In addition, the entire charging facility can be operated flexibly. Thus, it is possible to achieve a simple configuration and to allow flexible operation while a plurality of power converters are combined with a system power supply.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop method for use in utility electricity parallel-connection system is introduced. The phase-locked loop method comprises a conversion signal generating step, an error calculating step, a frequency correction signal obtaining step, an angle signal obtaining step, and a synchronous signal generating step to not only calculate an error value by detecting a utility electricity voltage, but also reduce or return-to-zero the error value by proportional integral adjustment. With the steps, the phase-locked loop method achieves synchrony precisely by eliminating input utility electricity voltage distortion and frequency variation. Furthermore, the phase-locked loop method advantageously features quick response and a wide frequency range and therefore is effective in tracking power generation facilities, such as a diesel generator, and expanding inverters.

Abstract: An electromechanical assembly is provided controlled by voltage across a motor or with an electronic system. The electromechanical assembly includes a control circuit coupled to sense voltage at the motor or within the electronic system, and an electromechanical actuator energized by the voltage sensed by the control circuit. A movable element is movable by the electromechanical actuator from an operational position to a quiesced position when the voltage sensed by the control circuit falls below a quiesced threshold. In certain embodiments, the voltage being sensed is across a motor of an air-moving assembly, which resides within a support structure, or the voltage being sensed is within the electronic system, which resides within the support structure, and the movable element is an interlock element which interlocks to the support structure to prevent removal of one or more components from the structure when sensed voltage is above the quiesced threshold.

Abstract: A load-driving circuit for receiving a supply of power from a power source and driving a load, wherein the load-driving circuit is provided with: a high-side switching element; a low-side switching element; a high-side current detection circuit connected in parallel to the high-side switching element, the high-side current detection circuit detecting a high-side driving current; and a fault detection circuit for detecting the fault state of the load-driving circuit from the output result of the high-side current detection circuit. The high-side current detection circuit is provided with a high-side sense switching circuit operating in response to a gate signal that is different from the high-side switching element, the high-side sense switching circuit comprising a device of the same type as the high-side switching element.

Abstract: Examples include techniques to power down output power rails for a storage device. In some examples, energy discharged from output capacitors for output power rails and energy discharged from input capacitors may be used to facilitate power down of power rails for the storage device.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a plurality of light emitting modules connected in series; a constant current source; and a fault detection circuit for detecting that the plurality of light emitting modules have at least one thereof with a short circuit fault. The light emitting module includes: an organic EL panel; a threshold value detection circuit configured to output a constant voltage when the organic EL panel between its anode and cathode has a potential difference equal to or larger than a threshold value; and a VI conversion circuit receiving the constant voltage from the threshold value detection circuit, converting the constant voltage into a constant current, and outputting the constant current. The fault detection circuit detects whether the plurality of light emitting modules have a short circuit fault based on a total value of the constant current output from each light emitting module.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and a method for using a plurality of external USB power sources. The electronic apparatus comprises a plurality of USB jacks, a plurality of first diodes, at least one external power source jack, a second diode and a first voltage converter, a processing unit, a main memory, a network interface, at least one SIM card slot, a RF transceiver and a secondary storage. Further when voltage supplied via one or more of the external USB power sources is below a first reference voltage, a first action is performed.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, an uninterruptable power supply is provided. In one example, the uninterruptable power supply comprises a controller configured to provide a first current reference signal, the first current reference signal having a periodic waveform including a first half period and a second half period, each half period having a period end, the waveform comprising a substantially rectified sine wave modified such that a value of the rectified sine wave is equal to zero for a predetermined period of time prior to the period end of the second half period, a positive current loop control circuit configured to receive the first current reference signal and provide an output signal to the positive boost circuit, and a negative current loop control circuit configured to provide an output signal to a negative boost circuit.

Abstract: A current sensing circuit comprises a first input terminal and a second input terminal for introducing a subject current from a device coupled between the first and second input terminals; a first amplifier having a first input node coupled to the first input terminal via a protection resistor, a second input node coupled to the second input terminal, and a first output node coupled to the first input node via a capacitor, wherein the first amplifier has a current sensing path for sensing the subject current and converting the subject current into an output voltage that changes with the subject current; and a protection circuit coupled between the first and second input nodes of the first amplifier, wherein the protection circuit is configured to draw a protection current from the first input terminal through the protection resistor to at least partially offset the subject current.

Abstract: Embodiments of the inventive subject matter include receiving, from an interface module, status data for a memory module, wherein the memory module includes a plurality of status indicators. Embodiments further include determining, based on the status data, a set of the plurality of status indicators to illuminate. Embodiments further includes generating, in accordance with the determining the set of the plurality of status indicators based on the status data, a plurality of commands for controlling illumination of the set of the plurality of status indicators. Embodiments further include transmitting the plurality of commands to circuitry of the memory module that controls the plurality of status indicators.

Abstract: A switching element (A) is connected in parallel to a load (L). A switching element (B) is connected between the switching element (A) and a grounding point. The drive circuit (1) drives the switching element (A). The drive circuit (2) drives the switching element (B). Upon detecting a load short circuit, a load short circuit detection circuit (3) outputs a first signal. A timer (6) outputs a second signal after a lapse of a predetermined time after inputting the first signal. Upon receiving the first signal, the drive circuit (1) turns ON the switching element (A). Upon receiving the second signal, the drive circuit (2) turns OFF the switching element (B).

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) work light and associated method of controlling the LED work light. The LED work light includes a power source, a casing including a handle section, at least one LED mounted to illuminate light from the casing, at least one lens forward of the LEDs to focus light from the LEDs, a control switch designated to at least turn on and turn off the LEDs, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, in response to activation of the control switch, provide control of the power source to the LEDs to transition from a first illumination state to a second illumination state of the illumination of the LEDs, the transition being illumination defined by a specified function over time defined to slow a transition time of the transition.

Abstract: The inventive technology, in certain embodiments, may be generally described as a solar power generation system with a converter, which may potentially include two or more sub-converters, established intermediately of one or more strings of solar panels. Particular embodiments may involve sweet spot operation in order to achieve improvements in efficiency, and bucking of open circuit voltages by the converter in order that more panels may be placed on an individual string or substring, reducing the number of strings required for a given design, and achieving overall system and array manufacture savings.

Abstract: A method of determining a fault direction parameter of a fault on an AC transmission line of a power distribution system relative to a measurement location of the transmission line. The method includes measuring a time-dependent AC current of the transmission line at the measurement location to obtain time-domain current data indicative of the measured current, obtaining a time of the fault on the transmission line, identifying first and second times by identifying a periodically re-occurring feature of the current data, such that the fault time is between the first and second times, extracting, from the current data, an offset indicative parameter indicative of a time offset of the current at the fault time and between the first and second times, calculating an offset direction parameter by comparing the offset indicative parameter to a non-offset indicative parameter, and establishing the fault direction parameter based on the offset direction parameter.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for controlling electrical coupling by a load switch are disclosed. In an embodiment, the load switch includes a pass element, level-shift circuit and low-resistance active path. The pass element is configured to be coupled to a power supply and a load, and is configured to electrically couple the power supply with the load during ON-state and electrically decouple the power supply from the load during OFF-state. The level-shift circuit includes a first transistor and pull-up resistor and is configured to generate a level-shifted signal in response to an enable signal, and enable the ON-state and the OFF-state of the pass element based on first and second voltages of the level-shifted signal. The low-resistance active path is coupled in parallel with the pull-up resistor for shunting the pull-up resistor in the OFF-state by providing a path for a leakage current of the first transistor in the OFF-state.

Abstract: A controller is provided in an in-vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling a backup power source to maintain continuous power supply to a memory in a standby state of ACC-OFF using a battery of a vehicle. The controller reduces dark current in the standby state by reducing an output voltage of the backup power source of the ECU depending on a state of the battery of the vehicle. The controller may be provided to not only the single ECU but also other ECUs in the vehicle, thereby reducing the dark current in the whole of the vehicle.

Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to operation of a computing device powered with first and second sets of energy storage cells, the cells of the first set structurally optimized for higher density storage of electric power, and the cells of the second set structurally optimized for providing electric power at a high electric current level. A battery module includes a casing, a first cell disposed within the casing to store electric energy with a high density, and a second cell disposed within the casing to provide electric energy stored therein with a high current level. Other embodiments are described and claimed herein.

Abstract: An under voltage lockout circuit configured to set a minimum turn-on voltage for a load is provided. The circuit includes an input terminal configured to receive an input voltage. The circuit includes a first transistor configured to become conductive to supply the input voltage to the load when an input voltage to the under voltage lockout circuit exceeds a threshold, and a second transistor coupled to the first transistor, the second transistor configured to become conductive to supply the input voltage to a first resistor and not to the load when an input voltage to the under voltage lockout circuit falls below the threshold.

Abstract: A storage battery is charged with power supplied from at least one of a commercial power system and an independent power source, and supplies the charged power to a plurality of electric devices or the commercial power system. A control unit switches the operation state of the storage battery to either charging or discharging, and switches connection destinations of the storage battery. When the commercial power system is not in a power outage state, the control unit supplies power from the storage battery to the electric devices or the commercial power system only if the remaining level of the storage battery exceeds a reference value.

Abstract: An emergency lighting ballast device includes a housing; a circuit disposed within the housing and configured to receive a battery supply voltage and to process the battery supply voltage for driving one or more fluorescent lamps; and at least three ballast outputs providing at an exterior of the housing, each ballast output being directly connected to a different electrical component of the circuit than the other ballast outputs and being configured to be selectively connected to the one or more fluorescent lamps to supply power from the circuit to the one or more fluorescent lamps.

Abstract: Methods and systems supply uninterrupted power to a load using a backup battery module. A driver circuit connects the load and the backup battery module such that the operational range of the load voltage is narrower than the operational range of the battery voltage. Different charging and discharging paths of the driver circuit may be used to limit the DC bus voltage to values lower than the battery voltage. The proposed systems and methods can increase power efficiency and decrease the cost of power supply and conversion operations.

Abstract: This relates to detecting unwanted couplings between a protected terminal and an adjacent terminal of an IC controller of a power supply. The voltages across adjacent terminals are monitored. If the voltage difference between the terminals falls below a minimum threshold for greater than a first duration of time, an internal current source injects current into one of the terminals. If, within a second duration of time, the injected current pulls the voltage of the injected terminal to a voltage that causes the voltage difference between the terminals to be above the minimum threshold, it may be determined that a transient fault has occurred and been cleared or falsely detected. If, however, the injected current does not pull the voltage of the injected terminal to a voltage that causes the voltage between the adjacent terminals to be above the minimum threshold, the fault condition is confirmed and switching is disabled.

Abstract: A method of testing a short circuit protection system applied to a spur of an electric circuit. The short circuit protection system has a current limiting means which applies a current limit to the spur if the current thereon exceeds a trip level. The electric circuit has a power supply and an isolation means adapted to fully or partially isolate the power supply from the electric circuit if the current thereon exceeds a power supply trip level for longer than a deadband period. The method includes applying a test current demand to the short circuit protection system which has a current and duration sufficient for the spur current trip level but a current insufficient to exceed the power supply trip level and/or a duration insufficient to exceed the deadband period, and detecting if the current limiting means applies the current limit or not during the test current demand.

Abstract: Techniques pertaining to battery protection circuits are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the battery protection circuit includes a power button, a power detection circuit, a first switch coupled between the power button and the power detection circuit, the power detection circuit configured to output a power-off signal when either the first switch or the power button is in a switch-off state, a low-voltage detection circuit coupled with a battery and configured to detect whether a voltage of the battery is lower than a low-voltage detection threshold or not, and switch off the first switch to cut off an electric leakage path of the battery when the voltage of the battery is determined to be lower than the low-voltage detection threshold, and a power management circuit coupled with the power detection circuit and configured to cut off an electric discharge path of the battery to prohibit the battery from discharging when receiving the power-off signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with this invention provide a power converter including an input signal terminal, a first output signal at a first output signal terminal, and a controller. The controller is adapted to switch the first output signal from a first value to a second value, measure a voltage at the input signal terminal as a function of time, set a flag to a first flag value if the measured voltage falls below a predetermined value within a first predetermined time interval after the first output signal has been switched from the first value to the second value, otherwise set the flag to a second flag value, and save the flag in a memory. Numerous other aspects are also provided.

Abstract: A field device for determining and/or monitoring a physical or chemical, process variable in automation technology. The field device comprises: at least one microcontroller; a supply unit of limited capacity as primary voltage supply; and a detection circuit, which signals the microcontroller of a failure of the supply unit so early by means of a detection signal that sufficient time is available to take suitable safety measures, in order to avoid loss of data. The detection circuit is so embodied that a reference voltage required for detection of a voltage decline of the supply unit has an almost constant offset from the supply voltage of the supply unit and adjusts to the supply voltage, until the detection circuit, in the case of an abrupt subceeding of the reference voltage, or an abrupt voltage decline of the supply voltage, sends a detection signal to the microcontroller.

Abstract: A control circuit, comprising a protection detection circuit, a protection synchronous output circuit, a protection synchronous input circuit and a protection circuit, is provided. The protection detection circuit is adapted to generate an error notice signal when detecting an error condition. The protection synchronous output circuit is coupled to the protection detection circuit for enabling a level of a protection synchronous pin to be a protection level when receiving the error notice signal. The protection synchronous input circuit is coupled to the protection synchronous pin for generating a synchronous protection signal when the level of the protection synchronous pin has been at the protection level for a predetermined time period. The protection circuit generates a protection signal to make the control circuit enter a protection mode when receiving one of the error notice signal and the synchronous protection signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method comprising providing a first signal to an apparatus comprising a protection circuit and an output for providing electric power. The protection circuit comprises at least an overdischarge detection element and a discharging control output. The first signal is used to change a voltage level at an input of the overdischarge detection element of the protection circuit. The change of the voltage level at the input of overdischarge detection element is detected, and a second signal is provided at the discharging control output to switch off the output of the apparatus. There is also disclosed an apparatus comprising a protection circuit comprising at least an overdischarge detection element and a discharging control output. The apparatus also comprises an output for providing electric power; the protection circuit; and a first signal input adapted to receive a first signal to change a voltage level at an input of the overdischarge detection element of the protection circuit.

Abstract: A power supply controller is connected between a power source and a power-supply path, and includes a switch circuit, a power-supply path protection circuit, and a sleep mode setting circuit. The switch circuit is configured to permit and inhibit power supply from the power source to the load. The protection circuit controls switching operation of the switch circuit according to a power-supply command signal commanding start or stop of the power supply to the load, calculates a temperature of the power-supply path regardless of whether power is supplied to the load, do not calculate the temperature of the power-supply path in a sleep mode, and inhibits power supply to the switch circuit according to the calculated temperature reaching an upper limit. The sleep mode setting circuit sets the power supply controller to the sleep mode according to the power-supply path satisfying a temperature condition.

Abstract: A measuring system having at least one field device with at least one display apparatus, wherein the display apparatus is embodied for displaying data, information and diagnostic reports of the field device, wherein the field device is supplied with voltage via a voltage input. A monitoring system is provided, which monitors the voltage at the voltage input and recognizes a voltage reduction, and the field device is embodied to execute a service program, which performs steps to shut down the field device in the case of a detected voltage reduction, characterized in that the service program is embodied, in the case of a detected voltage reduction, to show on the display apparatus a diagnostic report, which describes the state of the field device. The invention relates further to a method for operating the measuring system.