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 disposed on the substrate and coupled with each of the electronic components, an interrupt wire coupled between one of the component-mounted wires and the common wire, a connection wire via which the interrupt wire is coupled with one of the common wire and the one of the component-mounted wires, and a solder disposed between each of the electronic components and a corresponding one of the component-mounted wires and having a lower melting point than the interrupt wire. The interrupt wire is configured to melt in accordance with heat generated by an overcurrent so as to interrupt a coupling between the one of the component-mounted wires and the common wire.

Abstract: A thermal sensing system for providing thermal protection to an electronic circuit breaker that does not require any additional components. The layout of the conductive traces on the printed circuit board are dimensioned and configured so that the ratio of primary current to primary conductor thermal mass heating is correlated with the ratio of secondary current to secondary thermal mass heating. A voltage at a semiconductor junction in the rectifier behind the secondary transformer is measured, and a temperature or heat is calculated based on the voltage. Because this temperature or heat calculation is correlated with the temperature or heat of the primary conductor, a trip routine can be added based on the measured voltage for thermal protection of the primary conductors. A thermal history of the ‘primary thermal mass’ is also provided for robust thermal protection of the circuit breaker load and primary conductors.

Abstract: An over-current protection circuit includes a voltage generating unit and a comparing unit. The voltage generating unit is configured for receiving a first voltage and generating a reference voltage. The reference voltage has an offset positively dependent on temperature and negatively dependent on the first voltage, and the offset of the reference voltage varies along with another offset varying within a sense voltage sensed by the over-current protection circuit. The comparing unit is configured for comparing the reference voltage with the sense voltage to output a control signal for de-asserting the sense voltage when the sense voltage is correlated to an over-current condition of the sense voltage exceeding the reference voltage. A driver is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A thermal overload relay includes a main bimetal for detection of an overload current, a shifter associated with the main bimetal, a release lever working according to a displacement of the shifter, a contact reversing mechanism for changing-over contacts by reversing action caused by rotation of the release lever, and a manipulation structure for manipulating the release lever and the contact reversing mechanism. The manipulation structure includes a reset bar for returning the contact reversing mechanism to an initial state. The reset bar is arranged to change-over between a manual reset state in which the reset bar can be pushed-in and an automatic reset state in which the reset bar is pushed-in and turned from the manual reset state and held in that state.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection element, with a housing, at least one overvoltage-limiting component in the housing, two connecting elements for electrical connection of the overvoltage protection element to the path to be protected, and an electrically conducting disconnection element in electrically conductive contact with the first connecting element at one end and with a solder connection to the overvoltage-limiting component at another end, the solder connection separating when a temperature threshold of the overvoltage-limiting component is exceeded so that a resulting disconnection point, formed electrically isolates it.

Abstract: An electric circuit protection system includes a control module and a circuit sensor communicatively coupled with the control module. The control module is communicatively coupled with a switch that is joined with a circuit having a power source and a fuse. The control module is configured to monitor a degradation factor related to an energy threshold value of the fuse and direct the switch to open the circuit to prevent the power source from supplying current through the fuse. The circuit sensor is configured to measure an energy parameter of the current supplied by the power source through the circuit or that is demanded by a load from the power source. The control module is configured to direct the switch to open the circuit based on the energy threshold value and the energy parameter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a power supply apparatus and method for converting three-phase delta AC power to DC power using EMI filters and PFC circuits to maintain balanced AC current loading and reduce radiated and conducted emissions. Overcurrent and temperature protection are also provided in conjunction with a novel optocoupler latch circuit for improving maintenance of the power supply.

Abstract: The invention describes an electric circuit (100), a method and a computer program for hot-swapping an electronic board in a telecommunication system, where the increase in current in the electric circuit is controlled by a microcontroller (130) switching a power transistor in a switching circuit (150) so as to gradually increase the capacitor voltage for the electronic board. The current level is measured either in the microcontroller (130) itself or in an external current sense circuit (140) and compared to a maximum current level.

Abstract: A protection apparatus for a load circuit is provided which can miniaturize electric wires and semiconductor switches by using a switch circuit simulating the current interruption time characteristics of fuses. A conductor resistance r and a heat resistance R used in each of a heat generation temperature calculation expression and a heat dissipation temperature calculation expression are respectively changed into a pseudo conductor resistance r* and a pseudo heat resistance R*, then the heat generation amount and the heat dissipation amount of the electric wire are calculated, and current temperature of the electric wire is estimated. When the estimation temperature reaches allowable temperature, an electronic switch S1 is turned off to thereby protect the load circuit. As a result, each of the electric wires and the semiconductor switches used in the load circuit can be protected from over heat.

Abstract: An over-current protection device includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a resistance material disposed between the first and second electrode layers. The first electrode layer includes a first groove pattern formed on and through the first electrode layer. The first groove pattern is configured to separate the first electrode layer into a plurality of connected regions. The second electrode layer includes a second groove pattern formed on and through the second electrode layer. The second groove pattern is configured to separate the second electrode layer into a plurality of connected regions. The first and second groove patterns are further configured to be formed in an interlaced manner that when the first and second electrode layers are overlapped, the first and second groove patterns form a plurality of independent regions, which divide the resistance material into a plurality of electrically isolated and parallel connected units.

Abstract: A thermal overload relay includes main bimetals which bend upon detection of an overload current; a release lever displaced via movement of a shifter moved in response to the bending of the main bimetals; and a contact reversing mechanism for changing-over contacts responsive to a rotation of the release lever. The main bimetals, the release lever and the contact reversing mechanism are all disposed in a case. The contact reversing mechanism includes a pivotable movable plate; a reversing spring reversing the movable plate by coupling with a rotated release lever; and an interlock plate rotating around a support shaft together with the movable plate. Each contact has a normally opened contact piece and a normally closed contact piece and is disposed respectively in the vicinity of a front surface and in the vicinity of a back surface of the interlock plate.

Abstract: There is provide a PTC device which is more compact. In the PTC device which comprises a first lead 14 electrically connected to a first metal electrode 18 of a PTC component 12, and a second lead 16 electrically connected to a second metal electrode 20 of the PTC component, the first lead has a covering area that covers at least a part of the first electrode of the PTC component, the second lead has a first area 24 that covers the bottom part of the PTC component and a second area 26 that extends outward from the periphery of the first area, wherein the second area forms a connecting area 38 on the edge or end thereof, a gap 60 exists between the first area and the connecting area, and the second area is connected to the second electrode in such a manner that the first area covers the bottom part of the PTC component, and at least the side surface of the PTC component is covered by resin coating 50.

Abstract: To provide an overcurrent protection apparatus which can surely protect a load circuit from an overcurrent with a simple configuration.

Abstract: Electronic circuit breakers and systems for isolating a load from a power-supply unit are provided. One electronic circuit breaker includes a current sensor, a switching element coupled to the current sensor, and a switch controller coupled to the current sensor and the switching element. The switch controller is powered by the power-supply unit and is configured to switch OFF the switching element when the current sensor detects an amount of current from the power-supply unit greater than a predetermined amount. An electronic system includes a power-supply unit, a load, and the above-referenced electronic circuit breaker coupled to the power-supply unit and the load.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments disclosed herein include an adaptive current limiter comprising a variable reference voltage generator which is coupled to a power source via two input nodes and which develops a voltage step with exponential decay in response to, for example, a transient over-voltage condition, with the output of the variable reference voltage generator supplying a reference voltage to a comparator which compares the reference voltage to a voltage derived from a sensing resistor and, upon detecting an over-voltage condition, signals to a circuit breaker that the circuit should be broken or modified.

Abstract: A protection device detects a temperature in a predetermined monitoring place in an electronic apparatus 3 to protect the electronic apparatus 3, and includes an oscillating circuit 20 for generating a clock signal Vck having a predetermined cycle and a predetermined ON time, and a temperature detection circuit 16 for detecting the temperature in the monitoring place during the ON time of the clock signal Vck. The protection device shuts off supply of electric power to the electronic apparatus 3, when the temperature in the monitoring place exceeds a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A power semiconductor module with temperature measurement is disclosed. One embodiment provides a conductor having a first end and a second end. The second end is thermally coupled at a substrate. A device including temperature sensor is thermally coupled at the first end and configured to determine a temperature at the second end using the temperature sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the detection of a thermal overload situation in a hand-held power tool, wherein the temperature or astute variable correlating to the temperature of a component is measured, wherein in case of a thermal overload a reduced transitional operation is activated, during which the current flow in the electric circuit is modulated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a secondary battery pack including a battery cell having a pair of coupling grooves, each of the coupling grooves having a predetermined depth, an insulative mounting member mounted to the top of the battery cell, a protection circuit module (PCM) having a pair of connection coupling members protruding downward, and an insulative cap coupled to the top of the battery cell, wherein the connection coupling members are inserted into coupling grooves formed at electrode terminals of the battery cell through openings of the insulative mounting member in a state in which the insulative mounting member is mounted to the top of the battery cell, thereby achieving the coupling of the PCM to the battery cell and the insulative mounting member and the electrical connection between the battery cell and the PCM.

Abstract: A method of providing overload and short-circuit protection for a Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS). The method may rely upon sensing a temperature change rate for a component of the SMPS and implementing a protection scheme when the temperature change rate exceeds a desired temperature change rate. The implementation scheme may include permanently or temporarily shutting-off the component.

Abstract: A stacked battery module or a battery pack is formed by laying a plurality of unit batteries of non-aqueous electrolyte batteries in layers with the surfaces thereof having a large area disposed vis-à-vis and electrically connecting them in series and a temperature fuse is arranged in the central part of the stacked battery module with one of its terminals connected to either the positive electrode terminal or the negative electrode terminal of the stacked battery module while the other terminal connected to a charging terminal for supplying a charging current in a charging operation. One of the terminals of the stacked battery module is connected to a discharging terminal for taking out a discharging current in a discharging operation and the other terminal of the stacked battery module is a common terminal for charging and discharging operations.

Abstract: An electric power supply cut-off circuit comprises an IC which outputs a normal operation signal when the IC is operated normally, a switch which makes connection or disconnection between the IC and a power source, and a switching control circuit which continuously outputs a connection instruction signal during a period in which the normal operation signal is inputted from the IC, wherein the switch connects the IC and the power source when the connection instruction signal is inputted, and the switch cuts off the connection between the IC and the power source when the connection instruction signal is not inputted. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably avoid any excessive increase in the temperature of the IC and the ignition of the IC.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing photovoltaic (PV) cell reverse breakdown during operation of a PV module. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a first temperature value; and restricting an operating voltage of the PV module based on the first temperature value.

Abstract: There is provided a PTC device wherein its PTC element functions appropriately even when the PTC device is used in an environment in which solvent is present. The PTC device includes (1) a polymer PTC component including a polymer PTC element and a first and a second metal electrodes disposed on both sides of the main surface thereof; (2) a lead connected to at least one of the metal electrodes of the polymer PTC component; and (3) a ceramic package having an open-ended space for accommodating the polymer PTC component, said open-ended space having at least one opening that defines the open-ended space. The lead closes said opening in order to isolate the polymer PTC component disposed in said open-ended space from the environment surrounding the ceramic package.

Abstract: Overcurrent is prevented in an automotive vehicle based on sensing at least one operating condition. An overcurrent threshold is determined based on characteristics of the load and on the sensed condition. If the sensed flow of current exceeds the determined overcurrent threshold, the flow of current to the load is interrupted. The sensed condition may be, for example, ambient temperature.

Abstract: A protection circuit of a secondary battery includes a thermal switching element which has an resistance that decreases along with increase of temperature and which is connected in parallel with the secondary battery.

Abstract: A device for protecting an electronic converter, e.g. for halogen lamps, includes a comparator having an output as well as non-inverting and inverting inputs for receiving a first input signal indicative of the load applied to the converter and a second input signal indicative of the temperature of the converter. The comparator is in a non-inverting Schmitt-trigger configuration having an input-output characteristic with hysteresis. Consequently, the output is switched from a first value to a second value to switch off the electronic converter as the first input signal exceeds a first threshold value. The output is switched back from the second value to the first value to restart the electronic converter when the first input signal falls below a second threshold value. The second threshold value is lower than the first threshold value, and both threshold values are a function of the signal indicative of the temperature of the converter.

Abstract: An overheat protection circuit of a semiconductor apparatus has an output current detecting circuit for detecting an output current of a constant voltage circuit; a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the apparatus; an output current control circuit for controlling the output current in accordance with output of the temperature detector; a bias current source for providing a bias current for the temperature detector; and a switch for controlling the bias current from the bias current source to the temperature detector. The output current control circuit interrupts the output current when the temperature detector detects a temperature that is higher than a predetermined temperature. The output current detecting circuit and the output current control circuit may be used to control the switch to prevent oscillation of the output current in the vicinity of the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An electrical device having thermal overload protection detects an abnormal temperature of the current carrying conductors, and causes a current imbalance so that a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) triggers, thereby cutting off current flow and preventing thermal overload.

Abstract: Load switches are relatively common and in use with a variety of applications, and conventional load switches have been designed to have continually operating protection circuitry, which can consume a great deal of power. Here, a load switch integrated circuit (IC) is provided where a controller within the IC activates and deactivates various protection circuits in a sequence, allowing the protection circuit to protect the IC while also reducing power consumption.

Abstract: A fault interrupter and load break switch includes a trip assembly configured to automatically open a transformer circuit electrically coupled to stationary contacts of the switch upon the occurrence of a fault condition. The fault condition causes a Curie metal element electrically coupled to at least one of the stationary contacts to release a magnetic latch. The release causes a trip rotor of the trip assembly to rotate a rotor assembly. This rotation causes ends of a movable contact of the rotor assembly to electrically disengage the stationary contacts, thereby opening the circuit. The switch also includes a handle for manually opening and closing the electrical circuit in fault and non-fault conditions. Actuation of the handle coupled to the rotor assembly via a spring-loaded rotor causes the movable contact ends to selectively engage or disengage the stationary contacts.

Abstract: Load switches are relatively common and in use with a variety of applications, and conventional load switches have been designed to have continually operating protection circuitry, which can consume a great deal of power. Here, a load switch integrated circuit (IC) is provided where a controller within the IC activates and deactivates various protection circuits in a sequence, allowing the protection circuit to protect the IC while also reducing power consumption.

Abstract: A fault interrupter and load break switch includes a trip assembly configured to automatically open a transformer circuit electrically coupled to stationary contacts of the switch upon the occurrence of a fault condition. The fault condition causes a Curie metal element electrically coupled to at least one of the stationary contacts to release a magnetic latch. The release causes a trip rotor of the trip assembly to rotate a rotor assembly. This rotation causes ends of a movable contact of the rotor assembly to electrically disengage the stationary contacts, thereby opening the circuit. The switch also includes a handle for manually opening and closing the electrical circuit in fault and non-fault conditions. Actuation of the handle coupled to the rotor assembly via a spring-loaded rotor causes the movable contact ends to selectively engage or disengage the stationary contacts.

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: A circuit that electrically controls power includes at least one power control device and at least one heat extraction device. The at least one extraction device is in thermal contact with the at least one power control device. The heat extraction device is arranged such that it can be clamped to a fixed predefined electric potential and electrically insulated by the at least one power control device.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a transistor and a method for driving a transistor are described.

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: An over-current protection circuit includes a voltage generating unit and a comparing unit. The voltage generating unit is configured for receiving a first voltage and generating a reference voltage. The reference voltage has an offset positively dependent on temperature and negatively dependent on the first voltage, and the offset of the reference voltage varies along with another offset varying within a sense voltage sensed by the over-current protection circuit. The comparing unit is configured for comparing the reference voltage with the sense voltage to output a control signal for de-asserting the sense voltage when the sense voltage is correlated to an over-current condition of the sense voltage exceeding the reference voltage. A driver is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A ballast having fused leads protects against uncommon, but harmful, ballast failures. The fused leads prevent a current in the primary coil of the ballast from exceeding a potentially damaging value. A thermal protector shorts the primary ballast coil if the temperature of the secondary ballast coil exceeds a potentially damaging value. Since the thermal protector permanently disables the ballast, potentially damaging repetitive overheating of the ballast is prevented.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and an electronic apparatus incorporating the semiconductor device are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a power circuit that further includes a power transistor for providing current to a load (load current), a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the power transistor, and a current detector for detecting the load current. If the detected temperature of the power transistor reaches a first predetermined temperature, and if the detected load current exceeds a first predetermined load current, a signal is output through an external terminal of the semiconductor device.

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: 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: A protection arrangement for a power semiconductor component made of a plurality of cells, in which a current sensor made of a current sense transistor and current sense resistors and also a temperature sensor, is disclosed. The current sense transistor and the temperature sensor are provided in a gap or in different gaps between the cells, while the current sense resistor is fitted directly on at least one cell. The temperature sensor may, include a plurality of stages which are located from the center of the power semiconductor component to an edge of the latter in the gap between two cells.

Abstract: An electric device that functions either as a reverting (resettable) type element or a non-reverting (non-resettable) type element depending on the conditions. Such an element includes a polymer PTC element and a temperature fuse member connected in series thereto, the temperature fuse member placed such that it is under the thermal influence of the polymer PTC element. A melting point of a metal composing the temperature fuse member is at least 5° C. higher than a melting point of a polymer composing the polymer PTC element.

Abstract: A semiconductor device which combines reliability and the guarantee of electrical characteristics is provided. A power MOSFET and a protection circuit formed over the same semiconductor substrate are provided. The power MOSFET is a trench gate vertical type P-channel MOSFET and the conduction type of the gate electrode is assumed to be P-type. The protection circuit includes a planar gate horizontal type offset P-channel MOSFET and the conduction type of the gate electrode is assumed to be N-type. These gate electrode and gate electrode are formed in separate steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for detecting the overtemperature of a semiconductor body. The arrangement comprises at least one field effect transistor, having a parasitic diode, which is integrated in the semiconductor body, wherein the parasitic diode connects a load terminal of the field effect transistor to a bulk terminal of the semiconductor body, and comprising an evaluating unit electrically connected to the parasitic diode via the bulk terminal at the semiconductor body, which is constructed for feeding a current into the parasitic diode and evaluating a temperature-dependent voltage drop across the parasitic diode, the direction of the current fed into the diode being such that it is operated in the forward direction.

Abstract: In a switch (mechanical switch) in a drive circuit, an electric potential according to the temperature of a driver IC is given to a gate electrode from a switch control circuit. During normal operation, a lever is in contact with terminals, and thus a terminal connected to an input terminal to which power is supplied from outside and a terminal connected to the drive circuit are connected to each other. On the other hand, when the electric potential given to the gate electrode is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the lever is deformed due to electrostatic forces between the lever and the gate electrode and separates from the terminal, and thus the connection between the terminals is disconnected. The driver IC including the switch and the above-mentioned circuit is constructed as MEMS.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a trip sensitivity in a thermal overload protection apparatus, including setting an adjusting reference point; measuring a normal position of bimetals; measuring a moving distance at a time of trip operation of a trip latch mechanism; deciding an assembling position of a shifter mechanism based on the measured moving distance at the time of trip operation of the trip latch mechanism, information on a trip distance between a pre-determined shifter mechanism and the trip latch mechanism and information on a size of the shifter mechanism; conducting a predetermined overcurrent to the thermal overload protection apparatus; measuring a conducting time of the overcurrent until a trip event; calculating a difference between the conducting time measured in the measuring step and a predetermined trip time by converting a rotation angle; and marking a graduation of a set trip operation current by the rotation angle calculated in the calculating step.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments disclosed herein include an adaptive current limiter comprising a variable reference voltage generator which is coupled to a power source via two input nodes and which develops a voltage step with exponential decay in response to, for example, a transient over-voltage condition, with the output of the variable reference voltage generator supplying a reference voltage to a comparator which compares the reference voltage to a voltage derived from a sensing resistor and, upon detecting an over-voltage condition, signals to a circuit breaker that the circuit should be broken or modified.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a constant voltage circuit configured to convert an input voltage to a predetermined voltage by controlling an output transistor, and an overheat protection circuit configured to restrict output current of the constant voltage circuit according to temperature of the semiconductor device. The overheat protection circuit includes a diode to detect the temperature of the semiconductor device and a resistor connected in series with the diode.