The disclosed embodiments relate to method and/or device which is effective at cancelling or altering electrical signals or pulses, generated by, for example, digital electronic systems and components, that are induced, reflected or otherwise made present on the mains power supply conductors and/or the earthing or grounding conductor (if present.) The disclosed embodiments cancel these electrical signals thereby providing an effective means of preventing the exfiltration of various data from a computing or similar system by means of power line emissions. The disclosed embodiments may perform this subjugation by: altering the shape of the fundamental current and voltage waveforms and also altering and diminishing any non-fundamental frequency waveforms to a point where they are no longer measurable or detectable; and preventing the communication via inductive coupling of any electrical signals on mains current onto the grounding path or vice versa.

A three-stage surge protection device protects against complex, time-variant voltage transients, including those resulting from a high-altitude nuclear electromagnetic pulse or a solar coronal mass ejection. The device relies on interaction between a snubbing low-pass filter, a transient voltage suppressor, and an electronic crowbar circuit. The low-pass filter significantly lowers the let-through voltage of the device for short-duration pulses, and helps to spread the energy to more effectively utilize the transient voltage suppressor. The transient voltage suppressor limits the let-through voltage to a clamping level and provides indication to the crowbar circuit when it is no longer able to do so. Once the clamping level is no longer able to be maintained, the crowbar circuit draws enough current to trip an upstream protective device, such as a breaker or fuse.

A control apparatus for an electro-optic element comprises a first voltage converter in connection with a power supply. The first voltage converter is configured to receive a supply voltage from the power supply and output a first voltage. A first storage capacitor is in connection with the first voltage converter and configured to store first energy at the first voltage. A second storage capacitor is configured to store second energy at a second voltage, wherein the second energy is supplied by the power supply. A driving circuit in conductive connection with the second storage capacitor and configured to supply a driving voltage to the electro-optic element. In response to a failure of the power supply, the first storage capacitor is configured to supply the first energy to a controller and the second storage capacitor is configured to supply the second energy to the driving circuit.

In order to achieve a universal, flexible and highly integrated operating device for driving various lamps, ensuring the protection of the entire operating device and of the appliances connected thereto by means of staggered protective measures at both the input and the output, starting from the preamble of claim 1, a first branch for connecting a lamp to a first of the interface circuits (SS1) and a second branch for connecting at least one communication module to a second of the interface circuits (SS2) are connected to the coarse protection circuit (G) which short-circuits an overvoltage of the mains voltage occurring at the input of the operating device. In the first branch, a line filter (NF) is connected to the coarse protection circuit (G) and a clamp circuit (K) consisting of the fine protection circuit (F) and of a first energy absorber (E1) is connected to the line filter (NF). When the residual pulse voltage is too high, the fine protection circuit (F) activates the first energy absorber (E1), the overvoltage pulse is short-circuited and the short-circuit is deactivated again when the mains voltage reaches the next zero crossing. A second energy absorber (E2) which, when it is switched on, limits the current with the aid of a temperature-dependent resistor (NTC), is connected to the first energy absorber (E1). Moreover, the first interface circuit (SS1) comprises a protection circuit (ÜS) against overvoltage and overcurrent, and an intermediate protection circuit (M) consisting of a transmitter (Ü) and of a first fine protection circuit (F1) is connected to the coarse protection circuit (G) in the second branch. A filter (FK) for separating communication signals fed in parallel into the power supply grid is connected to the first fine protection circuit (F) and a second fine protection circuit (F2) is connected to this filter (FK). In order to protect the second interface circuit (SS2) of the operating device from overvoltage and overcurrent coming from the communication module and acting upon the operating device, the second interface circuit (SS2) comprises a protection circuit (ÜS) against overvoltage and overcurrent. The invention is used in the field of protection systems against overvoltage.

A method for determining a function of a capacitor of a passive filter circuit, which partially reduces line-conducted interference of an electrical device electrically coupled to a power supply system via the passive filter circuit. The passive filter circuit comprises the capacitor having a predefined capacitance value and a choke having a predefined inductance value. An electric capacitor voltage on the capacitor is detected. A connection voltage of the electrical device is detected. Spectral components are determined for the capacitor voltage and the connection voltage. The function of the capacitor is determined by analysing the spectral components in consideration of the inductance value of the choke by a statistical processing operation.

A system and method for detecting and isolating a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (“HEMP”) along electrical lines electrically connected to a monitored infrastructure so as to protect the monitored infrastructure, the method including a phase unit receiving sensor signals from a plurality of sensors electrically connected to each of the electrical lines, respectively, upstream of and associated with the monitored infrastructure. The method includes determining if the received sensors signals associated with the respective electrical line is indicative of an E1 component of an EMP and, if so, actuating an isolation subsystem in less than 300 nanoseconds to electrically isolate the respective electrical line against propagation against the monitored infrastructure. Determining in real time if received sensor signals is indicative of the E1 component includes a hardware implemented neural network (NN) having algorithms for machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) operable to provide instantaneous detection and classification.

A limiter having a more ideal limiting function, a short response time, and an adjustable limiting threshold. In one embodiment, a self-activating limiter stack is coupled between circuit ground and a signal line between a source and a receiver. The limiter stack limits the power from the source when the voltage on the signal line exceeds the breakdown voltage of the limiter stack. The threshold of the limiter stack is controlled in part by a first control voltage applied to a control input. A rectifying power detector circuit connected between a node on the signal line and the control input of the limiter stack provides a second control voltage as a function of the signal power at the node. The combined first and second control voltages are applied to the control input to modulate the ON resistance of the limiter stack, thereby limiting the leakage power reaching the protected receiver.

Various embodiments include an apparatus for limiting voltage for a DC voltage network, wherein overvoltages resulting from switching operations occur between a first supply potential level and a second supply potential level of the DC voltage network. The apparatus comprises at least two limiter cells connected in series between the first supply potential level and the second supply potential level. Each limiter cell comprises a controllable switching element, a discharge resistor, and a capacitor, across all of which a voltage applied between the first supply potential level and the second supply potential level is dropped. During operation of the apparatus, based at least in part on the voltage dropped across the respective capacitor of a particular limiter cell, the controllable switching element of the limiter cell is switched on or off.

Provided is a method and system that includes a direct current solid state power controller that includes a plurality of switching devices connected in parallel for performing switching, one or more main transient voltage suppressors (TVSs) to perform voltage clamping, a plurality of parasitic inductances each connected in series with a switching device of the plurality of switching devices, and a plurality of local TVSs each connected in parallel with a series connection of a switching device and at least one parasitic inductor of the plurality of parasitic inductances, to dissipate energy stored within the at least one parasitic inductor of the plurality of parasitic inductances.

A wireless power system providing protection from overvoltage conditions. A wireless power receiver has one or more magnets to allow detection of a distance of the wireless power receiver from a wireless power transmitter using a Hall effect sensor. When the detected distance is less than a determined threshold, the wireless power transmitter is instructed to transmit power. The wireless power receiver has one or more transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes communicatively connected so that when a determined operating voltage of a protected portion of the receiver is exceeded, the TVS diodes provide a low impedance path for transient current to divert the transient current away from the protected portion of the receiver. When the wireless power receiver detects an overvoltage condition, the receiver sends a reset command to the wireless power transmitter.