A motor apparatus for a switch drive of an electric switch has an electric motor and a controller for controlling the electric motor. The controller has: a rectifier unit for rectifying a supply voltage of the motor apparatus, if the supply voltage is an alternating voltage, and for reverse polarity protection if the supply voltage is a direct voltage, a voltage measurement unit for detecting the supply voltage or a rectifier output voltage of the rectifier unit, a switch unit for generating a drive voltage for the electric motor from the supply voltage or from the rectifier output voltage and a control unit for controlling the switch unit as a function of the supply or rectifier output voltage detected. The electric motor is operable by direct current and the switch unit generates a drive direct voltage for the electric motor.

A surgical stapling system including a shaft assembly transmits actuation motions from an actuator and an end effector compresses and staples tissue. The end effector comprises an elongated channel; an anvil having a staple forming surface is moveable relative to the elongated channel between an open position and a closed position; and a staple cartridge removably positioned within the elongated channel. The staple cartridge comprises a body having a tissue contacting surface in a confronting relationship with the staple forming surface; a plurality of staple drivers within the cartridge body each supporting a staple; and a tissue thickness compensator positionable between the anvil and the cartridge, the tissue thickness compensator is captured by the staples and assumes different compressed heights within the different staples. The tissue compensator comprises first conductive elements. The system determines properties of tissue compressed between the anvil and the cartridge.

A battery protection circuit has two input nodes and two output nodes. The input nodes are connected to a positive supply line and a negative or ground line respectively, and the two output nodes are connected to a positive side of a load and a negative or ground return side of the load. The circuit includes a solid state switch which is oriented such that when the switch is open current cannot flow from the battery through the load. At least one capacitor is connected in series with a diode between the two input nodes of the circuit to smooth out any negative transient voltages present at the positive input node of the circuit. The capacitor includes a polarized capacitor and the diode is oriented to protect the capacitor during normal use when a positive voltage is present at the input node that is connected to the positive supply line.

A phase sequence switching device for a three-phase power supply is disposed in a power feed path from a three-phase power supply to a load and includes a power-supply side relay including two Form C contact relays connected to two phases of the power supply respectively, a load side relay including two Form C contact relays connected between the power-supply side relay and the load, and a switching circuit connected between the power-supply side relay and the load side relay and wired to be capable of switching by a relay action from a standby state where no power is supplied to the load to either a state where the power supply is connected to a positive phase so that power is supplied to the load side or a state where the power supply is connected to a reverse phase so that power is supplied to the load side.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a processing circuit is configured to determine the wiring state based on detecting a wiring state parameter at the plurality of line terminals during a predetermined period after the tripped state has been established. The processing circuit is configured to store a wiring state indicator in a wiring state register based on a wiring state determination. The wiring state register being preset to trip the circuit interrupter when the AC power source is applied by an installer to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals for the first time.

Provided herein are improved apparatuses and methods for protecting polarity sensitive loads in DC power circuits that include a power source, a relay coupled to the power source, and a polarity sensitive load coupled to the relay. A diode can be coupled between the power source and the relay. When the power source provides a DC voltage of a desired polarity, the diode can block a current from flowing to a coil of the relay. Consequently, the relay can provide a current path to the polarity sensitive load. When the power source provides a DC voltage of an incorrect or reverse polarity, the diode can allow a current to flow to the coil of the relay. In turn, the coil of the relay can be energized, causing the relay to disrupt the current path provided to the load, thereby protecting the polarity sensitive load from the reverse polarity condition.

An electrical receptacle contains contacts, at least one contact for electrical connection to a hot power line and at least one contact for a neutral power line. A controlled switch, such as a TRIAC, is connected in series relationship between the contact and the hot power line. One or more sensors are provided which detect signals of the hot power line and/or the neutral power line. The processor provides activation or deactivation control to the controlled switch in response to the detected signals that are indicative of conditions relative to the first and second contacts.

An output device outputs a DC voltage applied between a first terminal and a second terminal via the drain and the source of a semiconductor switch. The output device includes a conversion circuit configured to convert the DC voltage into a voltage of a predetermined polarity, irrespective of the polarity of the DC voltage. A booster circuit boosts the voltage that was converted by the conversion circuit and applies the boosted voltage to the gate of the semiconductor switch. The semiconductor switch is on if the voltage of the control terminal with respect to the potential of the first terminal is at least a predetermined voltage.

A battery polarity determination circuit includes a battery accommodating unit including a first contact and a second contact to be in contact with respective electrode terminals of a battery, a control device that is connected via a resistor to a voltage lead-out point at which a voltage of the battery is led out and determines a polarity of the battery, a connection switching circuit capable of switching between a first connection state and a second connection state, and a diode having a cathode to be connected to a voltage read-in point at which the resistor and the control device are connected to each other, and an anode to be grounded, wherein the control device determines the polarity of the battery based on a voltage at the voltage read-in point according to the connection state of the connection switching circuit, and a forward voltage of the diode is set so that the voltage at the voltage read-in point is not less than a lower limit value of an absolute maximum rating of the control device.

An electrical receptacle contains a plug outlet that has a pair of contacts for electrical connection to respective hot and neutral power lines. A controlled switch, such as a TRIAC, is connected in series relationship between the outlet contact and the hot power line. Sensors in the receptacle outputs signals to a processor having an output coupled to the control terminal of the controlled switch. The processor outputs an activation signal or a deactivation signal to the controlled switch in response to received sensor signals that are indicative of conditions relative to the first and second contacts.