A mechanical switch that works by commutation of the current to an energy absorbing path or sequence of paths through at least one blocking semiconductor to open the circuit, wherein the commutation is caused by a sliding motion of at least one shuttle electrode over at least one stationary electrode.

A mechanical switch that works by commutation of the current to an energy absorbing path or sequence of paths through at least one blocking semiconductor to open the circuit, wherein the commutation is caused by a sliding motion of at least one shuttle electrode over at least one stationary electrode.

Stacks of electrically resistive materials and related apparatuses, electrical systems, and methods are disclosed. An apparatus includes one or more resistor devices including a substrate, first and second electrically resistive materials, and an electrically insulating material between the first and second electrically resistive materials. The substrate includes a semiconductor material. A stepped trench is defined in the substrate by sidewalls and horizontal surfaces of the semiconductor material. The first electrically resistive material and the second electrically resistive material are within the stepped trench. A method of manufacturing a resistor device includes forming a stepped trench in the substrate, forming an etch stop material within the stepped trench, disposing an electrically resistive material within the stepped trench, disposing an electrically insulating material on the electrically resistive material, and repeating the disposing the electrically resistive material and the disposing the electrically insulating material operations a predetermined number of times.

A method of controlling a current path range using an electric field is disclosed, and the method of controlling a current path range includes applying an electric field to an active layer including a spontaneous polarization material through an application electrode disposed adjacent to the active layer to form a polarization region of the active layer, and forming a variable low resistance region corresponding to a boundary of the polarization region, wherein the variable low resistance region is a region of the active layer having a lower electrical resistance than another region of the active layer adjacent to the variable low resistance region and allows an electrical path to be formed.

A switchable wire includes filaments, each of which includes a heat-activated material layer that may be indirectly heated to change its state between different states having different electrical conductivity. In an example embodiment the indirect heating may be electrically resistance heating by passing electrical current through an electrically-resistive core of the filament. The heat passing through an electrically-insulative coating around the core, and into a heat-activated material layer around the electrically-insulative coating. The heat-activated material may be a chalcogenide material that is shiftable between a crystalline electrically-conducting state and an amorphous electrically-insulating state. The state of the material may be controlled by controlling the heating profile through controlling heating in the core. Many such filaments may be twisted together to form a switchable wire. Such wires may be used in any of a variety of devices where switchable electrical conductivity is desired.

A seesaw type operation unit having a new configuration is provided. A swinging member is capable of swinging in a predetermined direction with a rotation axis at a center. An urging member urges the swinging member to a neutral position. A detector includes a rotating portion which is arranged coaxially with the rotation axis and rotates integrally with the swinging member, and outputs a signal depending on a rotation amount of the rotating portion. An operating member receives an operation from an outside and causes the swinging member to rotate in the predetermined direction by the operation. A supporting member rotatably and coaxially supports the swinging member and the operating member. In a case where the operating member is rotated in the predetermined direction, the operating member pushes an end of the swinging member to rotate the operating member, the swinging member, and the rotating portion integrally with one another.

A variable resistor includes: a main body and a rotating part vertically separated away from each other, among which the main body includes: a substrate having a first main surface, a second main surface and a through hole vertically penetrating the first main surface and the second main surface; a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion provided on the first main surface; a resistor body connected thereto; an electrode positioned closer to the through hole than the resistor body; and a third conductive portion (i) provided on each of the second main surface and a partition wall surface for partitioning the through hole and (ii) connected to the electrode, and the rotating part includes: an opposing part rotatable in a circumferential direction; and a slider configured to conductively slide as the rotating part rotates.

A method of controlling a current path range using an electric field is disclosed, and the method of controlling a current path range includes applying an electric field to an active layer including a spontaneous polarization material through an application electrode disposed adjacent to the active layer to form a polarization region of the active layer, and forming a variable low resistance region corresponding to a boundary of the polarization region, wherein the variable low resistance region is a region of the active layer having a lower electrical resistance than another region of the active layer adjacent to the variable low resistance region and allows an electrical path to be formed.

An assembly comprises a resistor plate for a rotating rectifier assembly (RRA). A shaft bore is defined through the resistor plate for passage of a shaft of an electrical machine, and the resistor plate defines a main annular body around the shaft bore. A first protrusion extends radially outward from the main annular body, so that a first pin bore extends through the first protrusion. At least one contact band is seated in a the pin bore of the resistor plate for mounting a direct current (DC) pin to the resistor plate.

This application discloses a photovoltaic direct-current breaking apparatus, including a positive connection terminal and a negative connection terminal for connecting a photovoltaic string and a photovoltaic energy converter, a first diode, a first switch, a convector circuit, and an energy absorption circuit, where the first switch, the convector circuit, and the energy absorption circuit are connected in parallel. The convector circuit can effectively avoid arc discharge and ablation generated when the first switch cuts off a direct-current circuit between the photovoltaic string and the photovoltaic energy converter. The first diode can effectively bypass energy stored by an energy storage device in the photovoltaic energy converter, helping reduce required specifications of a semiconductor device in the convector circuit. The energy absorption circuit can also effectively reduce required specifications of the semiconductor device and a varistor.