A power supply system includes a plurality of sweep modules that is connected to a main line. Each sweep module includes a switching element that switches between connection and disconnection between a battery module and the main line and is formed of a MOSFET. A failure detecting device of the power supply system includes a temperature detecting unit configured to detect temperatures of the plurality of sweep modules and a failure determining unit configured to determine whether a difference between a temperature of one sweep module selected from the plurality of sweep modules and a reference temperature which is determined based on the temperatures of other sweep modules is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor base body including: a p-type substrate; and an n-type first semiconductor layer; a first electrode; a second electrode; an isolation film; an insulation film; and a third electrode disposed over the insulation film. The first electrode is electrically connected to a first circuit C1 that is connected to a first power source Vin. The second electrode is electrically connected to a second circuit C2 that is connected to a second power source Vcc. The semiconductor base body further includes a p-type back gate region that is formed in at least a region of the semiconductor base body that faces the third electrode by way of the insulation film with a depth that allows the back gate region to reach the substrate. A dopant concentration of the back gate region falls within a range of 1×10.sup.10 cm.sup.−3 to 1×10.sup.15 cm.sup.−3.

An electrical system may include an electrical unit including a power source, a switch assembly electrically connected to the power source, an activation portion electrically connected to the switch assembly, an electrical latch electrically connected to the pulse generator and/or the switch assembly, and/or a controller electrically connected to the switch assembly and the electrical latch. An embodiment of a method of operating the electrical system may include activating the activation portion; activating, via the activation portion, the switch assembly to electrically connect the controller with the power source; latching the switch assembly in an activated state via the electrical latch; and/or unlatching the switch assembly via the controller to electrically disconnect the controller from the power source.

A drive circuit drives driven switches connected in parallel with one another. The driven switches each include first, second main, and main control terminals. When a potential difference of the main control terminal with respect to the second main terminal becomes greater than or equal to a threshold voltage, the flow of current between the first and second main terminals is permitted. At least two driven switches have different threshold voltages. The drive circuit includes, for each driven switch, an electrical path electrically connecting the second main terminal or a negative voltage supply, which is at a negative voltage lower than the potential of the second main terminal, to the main control terminal. The impedance of each of the electrical paths is set so the potential difference increased by electric charge flowing into the electrical path through a parasitic capacitance of the driven switch becomes less than the threshold voltage.

A drive circuit drives driven switches connected in parallel with one another. The driven switches each include first, second main, and main control terminals. When a potential difference of the main control terminal with respect to the second main terminal becomes greater than or equal to a threshold voltage, the flow of current between the first and second main terminals is permitted. At least two driven switches have different threshold voltages. The drive circuit includes, for each driven switch, an electrical path electrically connecting the second main terminal or a negative voltage supply, which is at a negative voltage lower than the potential of the second main terminal, to the main control terminal. The impedance of each of the electrical paths is set so the potential difference increased by electric charge flowing into the electrical path through a parasitic capacitance of the driven switch becomes less than the threshold voltage.

A switching device includes: a lower switching element, an upper switching element having a source connected to a drain of the lower switching element; a control circuit including a first output part that supplies a driving signal to the lower switching element; a Zener diode having a cathode connected to the first output part; a parallel capacitor connected to the Zener diode in parallel; a resistor connected between an anode of the Zener diode and a gate of the lower switching element; and a gate-side capacitor provided separate from a parasitic capacitance of the lower switching element, having a larger capacitance than the parasitic capacitance of the lower switching element, and connected, outside the lower switching element, between the gate and a source of the lower switching element. The capacitance of the gate-side capacitor is smaller than a capacitance of the parallel capacitor.

A signal analysis method for analyzing a pulse modulated input signal is described. The signal analysis method includes: receiving the pulse modulated input signal, the input signal including a symbol sequence; recovering a clock signal from the input signal, the clock signal being associated with the input signal; sampling the input signal based on the clock signal, thereby obtaining a set of input signal samples, each of the input signal samples having a certain level being constant over time; determining at least two different levels of input signal samples being associated with different symbols of the symbol sequence; and determining at least one decision threshold based on the at least two different levels determined previously, the decision threshold being associated with a symbol transition of the symbol sequence. Further, a signal analysis apparatus is described.

A signal analysis method for analyzing a pulse modulated input signal is described. The signal analysis method includes: receiving the pulse modulated input signal, the input signal including a symbol sequence; recovering a clock signal from the input signal, the clock signal being associated with the input signal; sampling the input signal based on the clock signal, thereby obtaining a set of input signal samples, each of the input signal samples having a certain level being constant over time; determining at least two different levels of input signal samples being associated with different symbols of the symbol sequence; and determining at least one decision threshold based on the at least two different levels determined previously, the decision threshold being associated with a symbol transition of the symbol sequence. Further, a signal analysis apparatus is described.

A signal analysis method for analyzing a pulse modulated input signal is described. The signal analysis method includes: receiving the pulse modulated input signal, the input signal including a symbol sequence; recovering a clock signal from the input signal, the clock signal being associated with the input signal; sampling the input signal based on the clock signal, thereby obtaining a set of input signal samples, each of the input signal samples having a certain level being constant over time; determining at least two different levels of input signal samples being associated with different symbols of the symbol sequence; and determining at least one decision threshold based on the at least two different levels determined previously, the decision threshold being associated with a symbol transition of the symbol sequence. Further, a signal analysis apparatus is described.

A signal analysis method for analyzing a pulse modulated input signal is described. The signal analysis method includes: receiving the pulse modulated input signal, the input signal including a symbol sequence; recovering a clock signal from the input signal, the clock signal being associated with the input signal; sampling the input signal based on the clock signal, thereby obtaining a set of input signal samples, each of the input signal samples having a certain level being constant over time; determining at least two different levels of input signal samples being associated with different symbols of the symbol sequence; and determining at least one decision threshold based on the at least two different levels determined previously, the decision threshold being associated with a symbol transition of the symbol sequence. Further, a signal analysis apparatus is described.