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.

A first overvoltage protection and reporting system comprises input and output transceivers and input and output surge protection devices coupled respectively to the input and output transceivers. The input surge protection device includes first and second gas discharge tubes coupled to the input transceiver only at, respectively, a first input and a second input. The output surge protection device includes third and fourth gas discharge tubes coupled to the output transceiver only at, respectively, a first and a second output. A second overvoltage protection and reporting system comprises input and output transceivers, a processor coupled between the input and output transceivers, and an output surge protection system that includes a surge protection device coupled to the output transceiver and a sensor receiver coupled between the output transceiver and the processor. The processor detects a failure of the surge protection device based on a signal received from the sensor receiver.

A surge protector having a first hot line, a first load line, a second hot line, a second load line, and a ground line, the surge protector including a first fuse coupled between the first hot line and the first load line; a second fuse coupled between the second hot line and the second load line; a differential mode protection circuit coupled between the first hot line and the second hot line; and a common mode protection circuit coupled to the first hot line, the second hot line and the ground line.

A protective circuit can include an AC line configured to provide power from an AC source, and a first protection circuit coupled to the AC line and implemented to be electrically parallel with a load circuit. The first protection circuit can be configured to be in an inactive state to be substantially non-conducting when a voltage across the load circuit is in a normal range or an active state to be substantially conducting when the voltage across the load circuit has an overvoltage value greater than the normal range to shunt power away from the load circuit. The protective circuit can further include a second protection circuit implemented to be electrically between the AC source and the load circuit. The second protection circuit can be configured to block power from the AC source in response to a condition resulting from the first protection circuit being in the active state.

The disclosed technology generally relates to electrical overstress protection devices, and more particularly to electrical overstress monitoring devices for detecting electrical overstress events in semiconductor devices. In one aspect, an electrical overstress monitor and/or protection device includes a two different conductive structures configured to electrically arc in response to an EOS event and a sensing circuit configured to detect a change in a physical property of the two conductive structures caused by the EOS event. The two conductive structures have facing surfaces that have different shapes.

The invention relates to a protection ensemble, comprising a circuit breaker, and a surge protector device, wherein the circuit breaker and the surge protector device have an interface, wherein the surge protector device comprises a monitoring device and, upon recognizing a fault condition by the monitoring device, the circuit breaker can be tripped by means of the interface.

Disclosed is a printed circuit board including an overvoltage controlling element and an electronic device including the same. The printed circuit board includes a first outer layer, a second outer layer, at least one inner layer stacked between the first and second outer layers, an overvoltage controlling element comprising overvoltage controlling circuitry mounted on the first outer layer and including a plurality of terminals of which a first terminal is connected to a ground, and a conductive area configured to transfer at least a part of a first voltage applied from an external power source to an external IC and to transfer a remaining part of the first voltage to the overvoltage controlling element.

The present disclosure provides a method and device for overvoltage protection. Specifically, the present disclosure provides an overvoltage protection device which provides a feedback loop for electronic components such as amplifiers and digital to analog converters which require feedback. The overvoltage protection device also includes overvoltage switches in both the signal and feedback channels, which may be opened by a fault detector in the event of an overvoltage. The device also includes an overvoltage feedback channel coupled between the signal and feedback channels, and which also includes a switch which may be closed in the event of an overvoltage event. As such, the overvoltage device provides a closed loop feedback channel during an overvoltage event.

An improved electric circuit structure for short circuit protection is applicable to examining a device under test, comprising a circuit breaking element, a thermistor, a filtering and rectifying module and a capacitor. A first end of the circuit breaking element is electrically connected to a power source. A first end of the thermistor is electrically connected to a ground. The filtering and rectifying module is connected between the second end of the circuit breaking element and the second end of the thermistor. The capacitor is connected to the filtering and rectifying module and in parallel with the device under test. The circuit breaking element disclosed in the present invention is a multi-protector fuse and forms an open circuit when the device under test forms a short circuit. Meanwhile, the multi-protector fuse is able to withstand voltage between its first and second end without generating any physical damage.

A surge protection circuit protection circuit includes a first series-connected line formed by at least two TVSs connected in series. One end of the line is connected to a positive terminal, and another is connected to a negative terminal. A second series-connected line is formed by at least one TSS. One end is connected between the at least two TVSs in the first series-connected line, and another end is grounded. The first line is connected in parallel to a protected circuit. When a differential-mode surge voltage appears at the ends of the first line, a voltage of a backend connection circuit is clamped to a first value. When a common-mode surge voltage appears at the two ends of the first line to the ground end, respectively, voltages to ground of the positive terminal and the negative terminal are reduced to a second value.