Provided are: a power supply circuit capable of automatically changing a circuit configuration according to consumption current at a load to which power is supplied from a power supply line; and a method for controlling the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit includes: a plurality of Zener diodes (ZD) between which cascade connection is established and which are connected in parallel to a load (10) to which power is supplied from a power supply line; switches (SW) on which ON/OFF control is performed, which are connected in parallel to one of the plurality of Zener diodes or between the plurality of Zener diodes, and which form current paths when ON control is performed on the switches; a current monitoring means (2) for monitoring current that is flowing in one of the plurality of Zener diodes; a comparison means (4) for comparing a reference current (3) and the current monitored by the current monitoring means; and a control means (5) for performing ON/OFF control on the switches on the basis of the result of the comparison by the comparison means.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a containment, comprising a sensor unit and an electronics unit, wherein the electronics unit includes a transceiver unit and a transceiver protecting unit for limiting an input voltage of the transceiver unit to a first transceiver voltage value. According to the present disclosure, the transceiver protecting unit includes a first limiting unit and a transistor unit, the transistor unit connected in series with the transceiver unit, wherein the first limiting unit is connected in parallel with transceiver unit and to a control terminal of the transistor and is configured to control an input voltage for the control terminal of the transistor to a predeterminable control value such that the input voltage of the transceiver unit is limited to the first transceiver voltage value.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a containment, comprising a sensor unit and an electronics unit, wherein the electronics unit includes a transceiver unit and a transceiver protecting unit for limiting an input voltage of the transceiver unit to a first transceiver voltage value. According to the present disclosure, the transceiver protecting unit includes a first limiting unit and a transistor unit, the transistor unit connected in series with the transceiver unit, wherein the first limiting unit is connected in parallel with transceiver unit and to a control terminal of the transistor and is configured to control an input voltage for the control terminal of the transistor to a predeterminable control value such that the input voltage of the transceiver unit is limited to the first transceiver voltage value.

A TVS circuit having a first diode with a cathode coupled to a first terminal and an anode coupled to a first node. A second diode has an anode coupled to a second node and a cathode coupled to a third node. A third diode is coupled between the first node and second node. A fourth diode is coupled between the first node and third node. A fifth diode is coupled between the second node and a second terminal. A sixth diode is coupled between the second terminal and the third node. A seventh diode can be coupled between the second terminal and an intermediate node between the fifth diode and sixth diode. The first diode is disposed on a first semiconductor die, while the second diode is disposed on a second semiconductor die. Alternatively, the first diode and second diode are disposed on a single semiconductor die.

A TVS circuit having a first diode with a cathode coupled to a first terminal and an anode coupled to a first node. A second diode has an anode coupled to a second node and a cathode coupled to a third node. A third diode is coupled between the first node and second node. A fourth diode is coupled between the first node and third node. A fifth diode is coupled between the second node and a second terminal. A sixth diode is coupled between the second terminal and the third node. A seventh diode can be coupled between the second terminal and an intermediate node between the fifth diode and sixth diode. The first diode is disposed on a first semiconductor die, while the second diode is disposed on a second semiconductor die. Alternatively, the first diode and second diode are disposed on a single semiconductor die.

A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generation source; and a charger including an information input part, and configured to be able to supply one of a first charging voltage and a second charging voltage lower than the first charging voltage to the power supply, based on an input value which is input from the information input part. A fixed value which is predetermined as one input value can be input to the information input part, and the fixed value is a value for supplying the second charging voltage to the power supply.

A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generation source; and a charger including an information input part, and configured to be able to supply one of a first charging voltage and a second charging voltage lower than the first charging voltage to the power supply, based on an input value which is input from the information input part. A fixed value which is predetermined as one input value can be input to the information input part, and the fixed value is a value for supplying the second charging voltage to the power supply.

A voltage detector has a diode ladder with one or more diodes connected in series between a battery voltage input and an upper measuring node. A measuring diode is connected between the upper measuring node and a lower measuring node. A resistor and a power-down switch are connected in series between the lower measuring node and a ground. An analog input to an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) is connected by a switch to the upper measuring node to generate an upper digital value. Then the switch connects the analog input to the lower measuring node to generate a lower digital value. The difference between the upper and lower digital values is the diode voltage drop across the measuring diode and is multiplied by a number of diodes in the diode ladder and added to the upper digital value to generate a battery voltage measurement.

A voltage detector has a diode ladder with one or more diodes connected in series between a battery voltage input and an upper measuring node. A measuring diode is connected between the upper measuring node and a lower measuring node. A resistor and a power-down switch are connected in series between the lower measuring node and a ground. An analog input to an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) is connected by a switch to the upper measuring node to generate an upper digital value. Then the switch connects the analog input to the lower measuring node to generate a lower digital value. The difference between the upper and lower digital values is the diode voltage drop across the measuring diode and is multiplied by a number of diodes in the diode ladder and added to the upper digital value to generate a battery voltage measurement.

A first terminal receives a first DC voltage. A switch selectively couples the first terminal to a second terminal providing an output. A control circuit selectively actuates the switch in response to a comparison of the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage. A low-dropout (LDO) linear voltage regulator, connected between the first and third terminals, operates to provide the second DC voltage from the first DC voltage.