A multiphase voltage regulator includes a plurality of power stages, a plurality of current sense circuits, a controller and a current sense interface running between the controller and one or more of the current sense circuits. The current sense interface includes a separate line for each current sense circuit coupled to the current sense interface and which is configured to support single-ended or differential current sense. The regulator also includes a plurality of pullup circuits, each of which is connected to one of the current sense interface lines and has a higher impedance than the line to which it is connected. A fault detection circuit of the controller determines if an individual one of the current sense interface lines has an open fault, based on the pullup circuit connected to the line with the open fault pulling up the voltage on the line by more than a predetermined amount.

A non-linearity evaluation circuit for use with a signal generator having at least a partly non-linear operation. The non-linearity evaluation circuit may include a detection unit operable to detect a given amplitude attribute in a target signal generated by the signal generator, a time position of the amplitude attribute in the target signal defining a time location of a snapshot time window relative to the target signal, a part of the target signal occupying the snapshot time window being a corresponding signal snapshot, and a presence of the given amplitude attribute indicating that the signal snapshot includes noise due to the non-linear operation of the signal generator. The non-linearity evaluation circuit may further include a controller operable to analyse the signal snapshot rather than a larger part of the target signal and to evaluate the non-linear characteristics of the operation of the signal generator based on the analysis.

A labeling system for defect classification having a storage unit and a processing unit is provided. The storage unit stores a defect classification module, a defect labeling module, and a catalog generation module. The processing unit performs the modules aforementioned. The defect classification module is configured to provide a defect type information. The defect labeling module marks a defect type label to at least one test object image according to an image feature and the defect type information on the at least one test object image. The catalog generation module receives the labeled test object images and moves test object images having the same defect type label to a corresponding file catalog.

A system includes an energy production device, a tampering detection system comprising a plurality of sensors, and a control system in communication with the plurality of sensors. The control system is configured to detect a candidate for a tampering event, determine if the candidate is a tampering or a normal operational error by comparing a first order condition to a predetermined threshold, and, when the predetermined threshold is not met, comparing the candidate to a subsequent order condition until the threshold is met, and direct an undertaking of a countermeasure when the candidate is a determined tampering or undertaking a maintenance when the candidate is a determined normal operational error.

According to an aspect, there is provided a method for self-diagnosing a mobile device comprising at least one or more actuators, one or more sensors and a display. The method comprises, first, feeding a pre-defined control signal to a first actuator of the mobile device and measuring, in response to the feeding, a first electric signal using a first sensor of the one or more sensors. Then, the first electric signal is compared to one or more reference signals associated with the first actuator and the pre-defined control signal. If the first electric signal fails to match the one or more reference signals according to one or more pre-defined criteria, a negative diagnosis is indicated to a user of the mobile device using one or more of a display of the mobile device and one or more actuators of the mobile device.

An inspection method according to an embodiment is an inspection method of performing laser marking on a semiconductor device including a substrate and a metal layer formed on the substrate, and the inspection method includes specifying a fault point in the semiconductor device by inspecting the semiconductor device, and irradiating the semiconductor device with laser light having a wavelength that is transmitted through the substrate from the substrate side so that a marking is formed at least at a boundary between the substrate and the metal layer on the basis of the fault point.

A thermal abnormality detection system includes: a first heat dissipation system having a first temperature sensor for measuring an actual temperature of the first heat dissipation system; a second heat dissipation system having a second temperature sensor for measuring an actual temperature of the second heat dissipation system. Assuming that a difference between the actual temperature of the first heat dissipation system and an upper limit temperature of the first heat dissipation system is d1, and a difference between the actual temperature of the second heat dissipation system and an upper limit temperature of the second heat dissipation system is d2, when a value of d1d2 is greater than an error threshold value Error1_level, the first heat dissipation system is determined to be abnormal, and when the value of d1d2 is less than an error threshold value Error2_level, the second heat dissipation system is determined to be abnormal.

An electrical equipment diagnostic system can include an electrical equipment and a sensor device controlled by a user that takes a first measurement of a first parameter of the electrical equipment while the electrical equipment is operating. The system can also include a controller communicably coupled to the sensor device, where the controller includes a storage repository, where the storage repository includes at least one threshold value and at least one algorithm. The controller can receive the first measurement from the sensor device, and process the at least one first algorithm using the first measurement. The controller can also identify a problem with the electrical equipment based on results of the at least one first algorithm, and instruct the user to perform specific tasks to correct the problem with the electrical equipment.

A method for detecting fault direction of transmission line of an AC power system and control system using the same. The method includes: sampling current values and voltage values of three phases at one end of the transmission line for a series of time points; for each of the series of time points, computing instantaneous symmetrical voltage components of the three phases based on the voltage value samples for the respective one of the series of time points; for each of the series of time points, computing instantaneous symmetrical current components of the three phases based on the current value samples for the respective one of the series of time points; for at least two of the series of time points, calculating energy directional elements each based on the respective ones of the computed instantaneous symmetrical voltage components and the respective ones of the computed instantaneous symmetrical current components; identifying the fault direction in consideration of the calculated energy directional elements; and generating a fault direction signal indicating the identified fault direction. Simulation results show the graph of the energy directional element calculated based on instantaneous symmetrical voltage components and instantaneous symmetrical current components exhibits distinctive characteristics either for forward or reverse fault. In consideration of such difference, by calculating the energy directional element at each sampling time point, the fault direction information may be identified accurately.

Fault detection, isolation and restoration systems for electric power systems using smart switch points that autonomously coordinate operations to minimize the number of customers affected by outages and their durations, without relying on communications with a central controller or between the smart switch points. Each smart recloser can be individually programmed to operate as a tie-switch, a Type-A (normal or default type) sectionalizer, or a Type-B (special type) sectionalizer. The Type-A recloser automatically opens when it detects a fault, uses a direction-to-fault and zone-based distance-to-fault operating protocol, and stays as is with no automatic opening when power (voltage) is lost on both sides of the switch. The Type-B sectionalizer does the same thing and is further configured to automatically open when it detects that it is deenergized on both sides for a pre-defined time period, and to operate like a tie-switch once open.