A circuit interrupter (100) for interrupting an electric current in an electrical line is disclosed. The circuit interrupter (100) includes a controller (102) for detecting a breaker fault condition. The controller (102) is connected to a first semiconductor switch (114) for energizing a solenoid (104) to trip a circuit breaker on detection of the breaker fault condition, wherein a winding of the solenoid (104) is energized to trip the circuit breaker, and wherein the solenoid (104) is configured with a center tap in the winding, such that there are two parts (106, 108) in the winding separated by the center tap. Further, upon detection of an open condition in a part of the winding, the controller (102) is configured to provide a trip signal to the circuit breaker using the other part of the winding.

An electrical supply holding circuit includes a primary stage and a secondary stage. The primary stage includes a voltage connector connected to a supply network, and a primary winding connected to a voltage converter. The secondary stage includes a secondary winding facing the primary winding, the primary and secondary windings forming two coupled inductances, and a voltage controller to which the secondary winding is connected, the voltage controller being connected to a load and controlling a voltage across the terminals of the load. Directions of the currents flowing through the primary and secondary windings are the reverse of one another, and the voltage converter stops the supply to the primary winding when the supply voltage is less than a threshold voltage and resumes the supply to the primary winding when the supply voltage is greater than a threshold voltage.

An electrical supply holding circuit includes a primary stage and a secondary stage. The primary stage includes a voltage connector connected to a supply network, and a primary winding connected to a voltage converter. The secondary stage includes a secondary winding facing the primary winding, the primary and secondary windings forming two coupled inductances, and a voltage controller to which the secondary winding is connected, the voltage controller being connected to a load and controlling a voltage across the terminals of the load. Directions of the currents flowing through the primary and secondary windings are the reverse of one another, and the voltage converter stops the supply to the primary winding when the supply voltage is less than a threshold voltage and resumes the supply to the primary winding when the supply voltage is greater than a threshold voltage.

An arc detection circuit includes: a current detector that detects a current supplied from a power supply apparatus via a transmission path; a voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the transmission path; and an arc determination unit configured to determine whether an arc has occurred in the transmission path based on the voltage, when one or more particular frequency components of the current exceed a first threshold.

An arc detection circuit includes: a current detector that detects a current supplied from a power supply apparatus via a transmission path; a voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the transmission path; and an arc determination unit configured to determine whether an arc has occurred in the transmission path based on the voltage, when one or more particular frequency components of the current exceed a first threshold.

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, a firing member, a motor, and a control circuit is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw to grasp tissue therebetween, a staple cartridge comprising staples, a first sensor at a first position of the end effector, and a second sensor at a second position of the end effector. The firing member is movable in a firing motion to deploy the staples. The motor is configured to cause the firing motion. The control circuit is configured to receive a first output of the first sensor, receive a second output of the second sensor, and cause the motor to adjust the firing motion based on the first and second outputs. The first output is indicative of a tissue property and the second output is indicative of the tissue property.

An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw to grasp tissue therebetween, and a staple cartridge. The staple cartridge comprises staples deployable into the tissue. The end effector further comprises a magnetic sensor configured to measure a parameter indicative of an identifying characteristic of the staple cartridge, an impedance sensor configured to measure a parameter indicative of an impedance of the tissue, and a processing unit in communication with the impedance sensor. The processing unit is configured to determine a property of the tissue based on an output of the impedance sensor.

A method for protecting at least a part of a network segment of an electrical power distribution network has: detecting voltage dips at the intermediate feeding devices of the line arrangements by the voltage dip detection devices; generating and feeding an electrical signal into the line arrangement by the signal generating device at each intermediate feeding device at which one of the voltage dips is detected, the electrical signals having frequencies different from a network frequency of the network segment; receiving the electrical signals via the line arrangements by the receiving devices of the line protection devices; detecting electrical faults on the line arrangement using the electrical signals received by the triggering device of the respective line protection device; and triggering the disconnecting device of the line protection device of the line arrangement, where an electric fault is detected, by the triggering device so that the line arrangement is electrically disconnected from the further element.

A method is described for operating an electrical system, in particular, of a motor vehicle, which includes at least one electrical consumer, at least one energy source for electrical energy, and at least one control unit, the consumer being test activated by the control unit for the purpose of initializing a start of the system and a voltage level of an electrical voltage in the system being monitored and compared to a predefinable minimum value, and the activation being interrupted if the voltage level falls below the minimum value, and the consumer being subsequently test reactivated. It is provided that the number of the interruptions is counted and the consumer is deactivated at least for a predefinable period of time upon reaching a predefinable maximum number.

A method is described for operating an electrical system, in particular, of a motor vehicle, which includes at least one electrical consumer, at least one energy source for electrical energy, and at least one control unit, the consumer being test activated by the control unit for the purpose of initializing a start of the system and a voltage level of an electrical voltage in the system being monitored and compared to a predefinable minimum value, and the activation being interrupted if the voltage level falls below the minimum value, and the consumer being subsequently test reactivated. It is provided that the number of the interruptions is counted and the consumer is deactivated at least for a predefinable period of time upon reaching a predefinable maximum number.