This disclosure is directed to circuits and techniques for protecting a power switch when the power switch is turned ON. A driver circuit may detect whether the power switch is in a desaturation mode or an overcurrent state based on a signal at a detection pin, and disable the power switch in response to detecting that the power switch is in the desaturation mode or the overcurrent state. In addition, the driver circuit may detect whether the power switch is trending towards a safe operating area (SOA) limit of the power switch based on a rate of change of the signal, and disable the power switch in response to detecting that the power switch is trending towards the SOA limit.

A power distribution unit includes a circuit protection device having output terminals and a current transformer board connected to the output terminals of the circuit protection device. The power distribution unit further includes a signal board connected to the current transformer board and a measurement board connected to the signal board.

A load control apparatus (1) for controlling a power supply to an electrical load connected to an output terminal (3) of the load control apparatus (1) comprising: an overcurrent protection circuit (1A) having a power switch (5) through which the electrical load receives an electrical load current (I.sub.L) and having a sensor component (4) connected in series with the power switch (5) and adapted to generate directly a voltage drop (ΔU.sub.4) corresponding to the current rise speed of the electrical load current (I.sub.L) flowing from an input terminal (2) of the load control apparatus (1) via the sensor component (4) and the power switch (5) to the output terminal (3) and having a driver circuit (6) adapted to detect an occurring overcurrent depending on the voltage drop (ΔU.sub.4) generated by the sensor component (4) and/or a voltage drop (ΔU.sub.5) along the power switch (5) and adapted to switch off said power switch (5) upon detection of an overcurrent within a switch-off period of less than one millisecond; and/or comprising a power supply control circuit (1C) having a sensor component (9) adapted to measure at the input terminal (2) a supply voltage notified to a control unit (8) of the load control apparatus (1) adapted to control an electrical power supplied to the electrical load.

A load protection apparatus for protecting an electrical load connected to an output terminal (3) of the load protection apparatus (1) against overcurrent, said apparatus (1) comprising: an overcurrent protection circuit (1A) having a power switch (5) through which the electrical load receives an electrical load current (I.sub.L) via the output terminal (3) and having a sensor component (4) connected in series with the power switch (5) and adapted to generate directly a voltage drop (ΔU.sub.4) corresponding to the current rise speed of the electrical load current (I.sub.L) flowing from an input terminal (2) of the load control apparatus (1) via the sensor component (4) and the power switch (5) to the output terminal (3) and having a driver circuit (6) adapted to detect an occurring overcurrent depending on the voltage drop (ΔU.sub.4) generated by the sensor component (4) and depending on a voltage drop (ΔU.sub.5) along the power switch (5) adapted to switch off said power switch (5) upon detection of an overcurrent within a switch-off period.

A sensing and alert system is installed in a plurality of electrical switchgear cabinets. Each switchgear cabinet includes at least one high-voltage circuit breaker, and each switchgear cabinet is in communication with a central programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to activate and deactivate the high-voltage circuit breaker in the corresponding switchgear cabinet. The sensing and alert system includes a time of flight (ToF) sensor arranged to capture real-time image data, a lighting module affixed to an inside portion of the switchgear cabinet, and a processor operatively coupled to the ToF sensor and to the lighting module. The sensing and alert system is affixed to an inside portion of each switchgear cabinet. The processor compares real-time image data from the ToF sensor to the stored calibration image data and transmits an alarm if the difference is greater than a predetermined amount.

Provided herein is a power distribution system comprising a main power bus, sub-buses coupled to the main power bus, and a controller. The sub-buses provide power to electrical components of a vehicle. Each of the sub-buses includes an electrically programmable fuse in series with a relay. The controller is configured to detect a fault in a sub-bus of the sub-buses, determine a fault type associated with the fault, and in response to determining the fault type, generate a command to cause the relay to change a relay state.

A method for determining a control architecture for a network of protective relays of a power distribution system. The method includes receiving data specifying a topology of a plurality of relays in the network of protective relays. The method includes sequentially modelling each relay in the network of protective relays using a reinforcement learning algorithm, including modelling each relay as an agent configured to detect one or more local conditions on the power distribution system and configured to trip based on the one or more local conditions. The method includes determining, based on the sequential modelling, one or more control parameters for each relay in the network of protective relays.

A method and circuit for determining and extinguishing electrical faults includes a power supply, and electrical load, a controller module, and electrical sensors, and when the controller module does not extinguish the electrical fault, another switch blows a fuse.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and it is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device that makes it easy to change a specification on driving of a power semiconductor element or control of a protection operation thereof. The semiconductor device includes a power semiconductor element, a main electrode terminal of the power semiconductor element, a sensor section that emits a signal corresponding to a physical state of the power semiconductor element, a sensor signal terminal connected to the sensor section, a drive terminal that supplies power to drive the power semiconductor element and a case that accommodates the power semiconductor element, the main electrode terminal, the sensor section, the sensor signal terminal and the drive terminal, and the sensor signal terminal and the drive terminal are provided so as to be connectable from outside the case.

An electromechanical motor vehicle power steering system having a multiphase, permanently excited electric motor via a controller and supply lines from an onboard power supply of a motor vehicle.