Various embodiments include an arrangement comprising a plurality of MEMS switches with movable elements. The plurality of MEMS switches are connected to one another in a total-cross-tied configuration.

A dropout recloser is capable of in accordance with its operating programming after a predetermined number of fault interrupting operations, e.g., 1, 2, 3 or more but typically 3, to drop out of a cutout and hang freely in a hinge contact of the cutout providing sectionalization with an observable visible gap. The recloser includes fault interrupting and reclosing components, a drop out mechanism and a controller. The drop out mechanism may include a bi-stable actuator to affect fault interrupting operation and dropout operation. The device may include motion limiting structures. The recloser may have a number of operating modes or sequences.

Multi-pole and single-pole circuit breakers include a housing and a reset lockout mechanism disposed within the housing. The reset lockout mechanism disables electrical communication between line and load terminals of the circuit breaker if a predefined condition exists. Some circuit breakers include a single actuator, transition between ON and OFF states, and are capable of performing test functions. The test functions may involve testing AFCI and/or GFCI functions of the circuit breakers. The test functions may be performed when the circuit breaker transitions from an OFF state to an ON state. Some circuit breakers including a reset lockout mechanism may be powered only on its line side. Some circuit breakers provide an electrical indication when they are in the OFF state.

The present disclosure relates to a method for monitoring an electromechanical component of an automation system. The method includes sensing a current mechanical state variable of the electromechanical component, sensing a current electrical state variable of the electromechanical component and determining a state of the electromechanical component based at least in part on a behaviour model of the electromechanical component, wherein the behaviour model takes into account an effect of the sensed current mechanical state variable on the sensed current electrical state variable.

A method for diagnosing the state of wear of an electrical switching unit including an electrical unit monitoring phase. The monitoring phase uses learning data loaded previously and representative of the type of electrical unit, and initialization data corresponding to the unit to be monitored and stored in an initialization phase. The monitoring phase includes the measurement and the acquisition of a measurement curve on opening the electrical unit, the determination of the value of local descriptors of the measurement curve as a function of values of the measurement curve, of initialization data and of learning data, the determination of the positioning of local descriptor values, the determination of an overall state class as a function of the positioning values. The device and the electrical unit implement the method.

The present disclosure generally relates to the design of a MEMS ohmic switch which provides for a low-impact landing of the MEMS device movable plate on the RF contact and a high restoring force for breaking the contacts to improve the lifetime of the switch. The switch has at least one contact electrode disposed off-center of the switch device and also has a secondary landing post disposed near the center of the switch device. The secondary landing post extends to a greater height above the substrate as compared to the RF contact of the contact electrode so that the movable plate contacts the secondary landing post first and then gently lands on the RF contact. Upon release, the movable plate will disengage from the RF contact prior to disengaging from the secondary landing post and have a longer lifetime due to the high restoring force.

The present disclosure discloses an infrared sensor structure, comprises a cantilever switch array, the cantilever switch array comprises cantilever switches, and each cantilever switch comprises a cantilever beam and a switch corresponding to the cantilever beam, vertical heights from the cantilever beams to the switches in different cantilever switches are different from each other, when the cantilever beams are deformed towards the switches and connect to the switches, the switches turn on; wherein, deformations of different cantilever beams produced by absorbing infrared signal are different from each other, the intensity of the infrared signal can be quantified by number of the switches on, so as to realize detection of the infrared signal. The manufacturing of the infrared sensor structure in the present disclosure can be compatible with the existing semiconductor CMOS process.

According to one embodiment, a MEMS element includes a first member, and an element part. The element part includes a first fixed electrode fixed to the first member, a first movable electrode facing the first fixed electrode, a first conductive member electrically connected to the first movable electrode, and a second conductive member electrically connected to the first movable electrode. The first conductive member and the second conductive member support the first movable electrode to be separated from the first fixed electrode in a first state before a first electrical signal is applied between the second conductive member and the first fixed electrode. The first conductive member and the second conductive member are in a broken state in a second state after the first electrical signal is applied between the second conductive member and the first fixed electrode.

A sliding power contact and method includes a mobile load device connector and a socket. The mobile load device connector includes a non-current power pin having a first length, a current power pin having a second length less than the first length, a neutral pin, and a ground pin. The socket includes a non-current power contact configured to electrically couple with the non-current power pin, a current power contact configured to electrically couple with the current power pin, a neutral contact configured to electrically couple with the neutral pin, and a ground pin configured to electrically couple with the ground pin. An arc suppressor is directly coupled to at least one of the non-current power pin and the non-current power contact, wherein the arc suppressor, the non-current power pin and the non-current power contact form a current path between the current power pin and the current power contact.

An arc suppressing circuit configured to suppress arcing across a power contactor coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source having a predetermined number of phases, each contact of the power contactor corresponding to one of the predetermined number of phases includes a number of dual unidirectional arc suppressors equal to the predetermined number of phases of the AC power source. Each dual unidirectional arc suppressor includes a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the associated contacts in a positive domain, a a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the associated contacts in a negative domain, and a coil lock controller, configured to be coupled between a contact coil driver of the power contactor, configured to detect an output condition from the contact coil driver and inhibit operation of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors over a predetermined time.