Electrical overstress protection for high speed interfaces are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a semiconductor die with bidirectional protection against electrical overstress is provided. The semiconductor die includes a first pad, a second pad, a forward protection silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) electrically connected between the first pad and the second pad and configured to activate in response to electrical overstress that increases a voltage of the first pad relative to a voltage of the second pad, and a reverse protection SCR electrically connected in parallel with the forward protection SCR between the first pad and the second pad and configured to activate in response to electrical overstress that decreases the voltage of the first pad relative to the voltage of the second pad.

The present disclosure pertains to detection of abnormal, risky, or abberant conditions in a power distribution network and to corresponding trip signals being used to trip open devices such as reclosers upstream of where the abnormal condition is detected. Detection of a missing broadband over power-line signal or of an open circuit between phases of a power distribution circuit may prevent severed conductors from causing a ground fault, therefore avoiding the possibility of fire and dangerous conditions.

The present disclosure pertains to detection of abnormal, risky, or abberant conditions in a power distribution network and to corresponding trip signals being used to trip open devices such as reclosers upstream of where the abnormal condition is detected. Detection of a missing broadband over power-line signal or of an open circuit between phases of a power distribution circuit may prevent severed conductors from causing a ground fault, therefore avoiding the possibility of fire and dangerous conditions.

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a surgical instrument. The method includes connecting a power assembly to a control circuit, wherein the power assembly is configured to provide a source voltage, energizing, by the power assembly, a voltage boost convertor circuit configured to provide a set voltage greater than the source voltage, and energizing, by the voltage boost convertor, one or more voltage convertors configured to provide one or more operating voltages to one or more circuit components.

A method for detecting an isolation fault in an isolation resistance between a positive and negative high-voltage bus rail and a vehicle chassis on a high-voltage propulsion side of a high-voltage system of an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle. The high-voltage system is split into a battery side and propulsion side by means of two high-voltage contactors located in the positive and negative high-voltage bus rails. The propulsion side includes first and second capacitors connected in series across the positive and negative bus rails, a common junction of the first and second capacitors connected to the chassis. The method supplies a low-voltage output to the positive and negative bus rails to charge the capacitors; and determines, based on charging current, voltage level or energy level of the capacitors, whether an isolation fault is present between the positive and/or negative high-voltage bus rail and the vehicle chassis on the propulsion side.

A power system comprises a power source, a transmission line coupled to the power source through a circuit breaker, a shunt reactor coupled to the transmission line, and a current transformer connected in series with the shunt reactor. A method for controlling the circuit breaker of the power system comprises processing an output signal of the current transformer to obtain the voltage on the transmission line by determining a time derivative of a current sensed by the current transformer. The method further comprises performing, by at least one control or protection device, a control or protection operation (e.g., auto-reclosing) based on the determined time derivative of the current sensed by the current transformer.

A soft turn-off active clamp protection circuit and a power system are disclosed. The circuit includes a gate connection terminal, a drain connection terminal, a source connection terminal, a discharge capacitor, an overvoltage signal acquisition module, a negative feedback module, a discharge current control module and a turn-off control module.

An electrical receptacle contains a plug outlet that has a pair of contacts for electrical connection to respective hot and neutral power lines. A controlled switch, such as a TRIAC, is connected in series relationship between the outlet contact and the hot power line. Sensors in the receptacle outputs signals to a processor having an output coupled to the control terminal of the controlled switch. The processor outputs an activation signal or a deactivation signal to the controlled switch in response to received sensor signals that are indicative of conditions relative to the first and second contacts.

An electrical receptacle contains a plug outlet that has a pair of contacts for electrical connection to respective hot and neutral power lines. A controlled switch, such as a TRIAC, is connected in series relationship between the outlet contact and the hot power line. Sensors in the receptacle outputs signals to a processor having an output coupled to the control terminal of the controlled switch. The processor outputs an activation signal or a deactivation signal to the controlled switch in response to received sensor signals that are indicative of conditions relative to the first and second contacts.

A hybrid load protection apparatus (1) comprises a primary power supply path (1A) between input terminal and output terminals (2, 3) and a controllable mechanical switch (5A) connected in series with a primary coil (4A-1) coupled inductively to a secondary coil (4A-2) providing a voltage, U.sub.A, corresponding to a current rise speed of the electrical current flowing through the primary path (1A). The voltage, U.sub.A, is applied directly to a driver input (IN) of a first driver circuit (6A) to trigger automatically a switch-off of the mechanical switch (5A) within a first switch-off period (Δt1) to interrupt the primary power supply path (1A). A secondary power supply path (1B) is provided in parallel to the primary path (1A) and having a further coil (4B) connected in series with a semiconductor power switch (5B). wherein a second driver circuit (6B) associated with the secondary path (1B) detects an increasing electrical current, I, flowing through the secondary path (1B) caused by the interruption of the primary current path (1A) on the basis of a voltage drop (ΔU.sub.4) generated by the further coil (4B) and a non-linear voltage drop (ΔU.sub.5) along the semiconductor power switch (5B) applied as a sum voltage (U.sub.B) directly to a driver input (DESAT) at a high voltage side of the second analog driver circuit (6B) to trigger automatically a switch-off of the semiconductor power switch (5B) within a second switch-off period (Δt2) to interrupt the secondary power supply path (1B).