A guided wave radar level gauge comprising a housing providing explosion proof protection and having an intrinsically safe output, a transmission line probe connected to the IS output. The housing encloses radar level gauge circuitry which is incompatible with intrinsic safety requirements, a microwave unit connected to the IS output, an electrical barrier connected between the RLG circuitry and the microwave unit, the electrical barrier having a barrier ground potential which is independent from the grounded housing wall, and a set of blocking capacitors connected between the microwave unit and the IS output.

A method for limiting current in-rush in automotive lighting devices. By controlling the state of a switching circuit that is used to selectively connect a power supply to an automotive lighting device, the invention allows for selectively limiting the intensity of the current that is supplied to the lighting device. In accordance with preferred embodiments, this advantage is achieved by relying on electronic components that are nowadays used for different purposes.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide miniaturized isolator modules capable of transferring power and/or data signals across an isolation barrier by way of a transformer while maintaining intrinsic safety (IS) compliance. For example, the isolator modules may provide power from a non-IS side to an IS side of the isolation barrier while protecting the IS side in the event of an overvoltage and/or overcurrent event on the non-IS side. In some aspects, an isolator module includes one or more silicon protection devices, which facilitate the miniaturization of the isolator module while maintaining protection against overvoltage and/or overcurrent events in accordance with IS standards. In some aspects, an isolator module includes a transformer adapted for IS compliance. For example, coils of the transformer may be disposed on opposing sides of an isolation barrier having a thickness of at least 200 microns. Some aspects provide silicon protection devices formed on a single semiconductor die for use with miniaturized isolator modules to provide overvoltage and/or overcurrent protection for IS compliance. Miniaturized isolator modules and protection devices described herein may be used either alone or in combination, in IS or non-IS environments.

An ESD protective device is provided which can lower a discharge start voltage. In an ESD protective device 1, first and second discharge electrodes 3 and 4 are disposed in a substrate 2 in a spaced relation with a discharge gap G interposed therebetween, and a conductor 9 is arranged around the discharge gap G. The conductor 9 has a nonlinear sectional shape in a section of the substrate 2 extending in a direction interconnecting a first principal surface 2a and a second principal surface 2b of the substrate 2 and passing the discharge gap G.

A Power Over Data Lines (PoDL) system includes Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) supplying DC power and Ethernet data over a single twisted wire pair to a Powered Device (PD). The PSE supplies the DC current and AC data through a cascaded coupling network including a series of AC-blocking inductor stages having different inductances to substantially filter out the AC component and pass the DC component. The data is supplied to the wires via capacitors. The PD may have a matched decoupling network for providing the separated DC power and data to a PD load.

A fluid sample system includes a control system that operates in the hazardous area and controls one or more valves and optionally receives outputs from one or more transducers and optionally one or more sensors. The fluid sample system includes components that operate in a hazardous area and includes a control system that operates in the hazardous area and that controls one or more electrical devices. The control system communicates across a barrier with a system on a safe side of the barrier with as few as two intrinsically safe couplings including a single pneumatic coupling and a communication link coupling. The control system includes an intrinsically safe voltage boost circuit.

Semiconductor devices and related electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection methods are provided. An exemplary semiconductor device includes an interface for a signal and a multi-triggered protection arrangement coupled between the interface and a reference node to initiate discharge of the signal between the interface and the reference node based on any one of a plurality of different characteristics of the signal. Discharge of the signal at the interface is initiated based on a first characteristic of the signal, and thereafter, the discharge of the signal at the interface is maintained based on another characteristic of the signal.

A method for phase controlled energizing of a power transformer includes acquiring electrical voltage signal from a voltage sensing device connected to the power transformer. Determining a first characterizing data in the voltage signal within a pre-determined set of cycles at about an opening operation of a circuit breaker and determining a second characterizing data within the pre-determined set of cycles in the voltage signal subsequent to the opening operation of the circuit breaker. Estimating a level of magnetization of the core of the power transformer based on at least one of second characterizing data, and the first characterizing data and the second characterizing data. Operating the circuit breaker at a determined instant of switching based on the estimated level of magnetization for a phase controlled energizing of the power transformer by the circuit breaker.

A compensation filter and a method for activating a compensation filter are disclosed. In an embodiment a compensation filter includes an operational amplifier, a capacitive element, a first and a second resistive element and a current converter. The compensation filter is configured to attenuate a common mode interference in a critical frequency range.

A voltage control circuit for electrically coupling a field device coupler to a bus line. An input voltage (UE) provided at the voltage control circuit by the bus line is converted into an output voltage (UA) that can be regulated and limited. If a current limitation is additionally provided, the “inherent safety” ignition protection type can be achieved. The voltage control circuit has a chopper-type regulator without galvanic isolation. A parallel path is formed parallel to the chopper-type regulator by a series connection of two buffer capacitors. Communication signals of higher frequency can be transmitted past the chopper-type regulator via the parallel path. The parallel path and a reference terminal of the chopper-type regulator are additionally connected via an impedance circuit to a reference potential at a second input terminal of the voltage control circuit.