A functional safety system with high reliability is provided. The functional safety system includes power source apparatuses VS1 and VS2, voltage monitoring apparatuses VM1 and VM2, semiconductor devices SC1 and SC2, interruption circuits IN1 and IN2, and a motor MT. A the voltage converting circuit DA1 of the voltage monitoring apparatus VM1 generates a detected voltage VA1 from a power source voltage VDD1 on the basis of a switching signal VC1, and a voltage converting circuit DA2 of the voltage monitoring apparatus VM1 generates a detected voltage VA2 from the power source voltage VDD1 on the basis of a switching signal VC1.

The interlock detector includes a first input, wherein a first output signal from an interlock generator is applied to the first input. The interlock detector further includes a second output which is configured to provide a microprocessor with a second output signal. The interlock detector further includes a differential amplifier that includes a second input, a third input, and a third output, wherein the second input and the third input are connected to the first input. The interlock detector further includes a comparator circuit that includes a fourth input and a fourth output, wherein the fourth input is connected to the third output, the fourth output is connected to the second output, and the fourth input is positioned between the comparator circuit and the differential amplifier.

The present invention relates to a surge protection device for multi-protection mode communications, comprising: an input line into which a voltage is introduced; an output line connected to an external line; a surge discharge part provided with a ground terminal; a surge protection circuit part provided between the input line and the output line and having at least two or more surge protection circuits provided in parallel and discharging the introduced voltage to the ground terminal if the introduced voltage is a surge voltage; circuit conversion parts for selectively connecting the input line and the output line to any one of the surge protection circuits; a condition measuring part for measuring an input voltage introduced into an input terminal of the input line and a second discharge voltage from the surge protection circuit to the ground terminal and comparing each of the input voltage and the second discharge voltage with preset reference voltages; and a control circuit part for detecting abnormality of the connected surge protection circuit by using the comparison result of the input voltage and the comparison result of the second discharge voltage and converting the connected surge protection circuit into another one of the connected surge protection circuits through the circuit conversion parts if the abnormality of the connected surge protection circuit is detected. By the surge protection device for multi-protection mode communications, the damage to the surge protection circuits can be detected using the input surge voltage and no voltage is required to be additionally applied for detecting the damage to the surge protection circuits.

Implementations of ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) self-test circuits may include: a current transformer coupled to a controller, a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) test loop coupled to the controller, a ground fault test loop coupled to the controller, and a solenoid coupled to the controller. The SCR test loop may be configured to conduct an SCR self-test during a first half wave portion of a phase and the ground fault test loop may be configured to conduct a ground fault self-test during a second half wave portion of a phase. An SCR may be configured to activate the solenoid to deny power to a load upon one of the SCR self-test or the ground fault self-test being identified as failing.

A circuit interrupter includes a sensor structured to output a sensor signal, a control unit structured to receive an external control signal, the control unit including: a communication interface structured to receive the external control signal, and a waveform generator structured to generate a waveform equivalent to the sensor signal in response to the external control, and a signal processing circuit structured to receive and process the sensor signal or the generated waveform and to output the processed sensor signal or generated waveform to the control unit.

A testing circuit assembly can include a first variable resistive load configurable for a range of electrical resistances, where the first variable resistive load is configured to couple to at least one first ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breaker and a current source. The testing circuit assembly can also include a first local controller coupled to the first variable resistive load, where the first local controller controls the first variable resistive load to simulate a range of fault currents, corresponding to the range of electrical resistances, flowing to the at least one first GFCI breaker to determine at least one actual trip point of the at least one first GFCI breaker. Each electrical resistance in the range of electrical resistances can correspond to a fault current in the range of fault currents.

A transient voltage suppressor (TVS) can include an input line, a return line, and a plurality of TVS diodes disposed in series between the input line and the return line. The TVS can include a switch assembly operatively connected to the plurality of TVS diodes and configured to bypass at least one of the plurality of TVS diodes to allow a remainder of the plurality of TVS diodes to be tested at a voltage that is lower than if the switch assembly were not employed.

The invention relates to a circuit arrangement (12) for monitoring and triggering an igniter (5) of an active electrical fuse (6). The arrangement comprises: a control and evaluation unit (1), an alternating current generating unit (2) activated by the control and evaluation unit (1), an alternating current transmission unit arranged between the igniter (5) and the alternating current generating unit (2), the control and evaluation unit (1) being designed and programmed, in a first operational state, to determine the electrical resistance of the igniter (5) from a current detected on the primary side and a voltage detected on the primary side, the value of the resistance being a measure for tripping of the igniter (5), and, in a second operational state, to trigger the igniter (5) by means of the alternating current generating unit (2). The invention further relates to an associated method, to a computer program product which carries out the method and a computer-readable medium, and to a converter and to an aircraft having such a circuit arrangement.

A system-in-package includes a function circuit and a protection circuit that protects the function circuit by preventing an instantaneous transient voltage from being applied to the function circuit. Here, the protection circuit includes a TVS diode and a capacitor. The TVS diode includes an anode that receives a ground voltage and a cathode that is connected to a first external connection terminal. The capacitor includes a first terminal that is connected to a second external connection terminal electrically separated from the first external connection terminal and a second terminal that receives the ground voltage.

An apparatus includes a safety fault interrupter circuit. The safety fault interrupter circuit includes a safety fault monitor coupled to a first bias node and configured to selectively assert a fault interrupter signal based at least in part on a first bias voltage and a first power consumption. The safety fault interrupter circuit also includes a power fault monitor for the safety fault monitor, wherein the power fault monitor is coupled to a second bias node and is configured to selectively assert the fault interrupter signal based at least in part on a second bias voltage and a second power consumption that is less than the first power consumption.