Various receiver electrodes for supplying power to a load connected in a capacitive power transfer system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the receiver electrodes include a first conductive plate (212) connected to a first sphere-shaped hinge (211), wherein the first sphere-shaped hinge is coupled to a first receiver electrode (210); and a second conductive plate (222) connected to a second sphere-shaped hinge (221), wherein the second sphere-shaped hinge is coupled to a second receiver electrode (220), the second receiver electrode being connected to an inductor of the capacitive power transfer system and the first receiver electrode being connected to the load, the inductor being connected to the load to resonate the capacitive power transfer system.

A contact wetting circuit 100 is disclosed for supplying wetting current to sense the state of dry contacts of a switch SW1 setting for an electronic device 10. The contact wetting circuit includes an RC circuit 110 having a resistor R1 and a capacitor C1, and a controller 120 connected to a power supply 130 of the device. The controller supplies a first voltage to the RC circuit to produce a charging current having an average current and/or a peak current below the wetting current parameter of the dry contacts. The charging current is used to charge the capacitor C1 during the first time period. The controller stops the supply of the first voltage to the RC circuit after sufficient charging to allow the charged capacitor C1 to supply a second voltage, across the switch SW1, to produce a wetting current. Thereafter, the controller polls and senses the state of the switch SW1, and performs certain operations accordingly.

An electrostatic-coupling contactless power supply device includes a power supply electrode and a high-frequency power source circuit that are provided on a fixing portion, and a power receiving electrode and a power receiving circuit that are provided on a movable portion. The power supply electrode is formed of a plurality of segment electrodes which are arranged in a line in a moving direction of the movable portion and to which power is individually supplied from the high-frequency power source circuit. A plurality of switches are connected between the high-frequency power source circuit and the segment electrodes, respectively, and are opened and closed independently of one another. A current detecting circuit individually detects segment currents flowing in the respective segment electrodes; and a switch controller controls the switches so that only a part of the plurality of switches are closed.

According to an embodiment, a circuit includes a protection voltage generator coupled to a first voltage node, a second voltage node, and a ground voltage node, the protection voltage generator configured to generate a plurality of protection voltages at a first plurality of nodes based on the first voltage node and the second voltage node, and a voltage protection ladder coupled between the first voltage node and a low voltage circuit, the voltage protection ladder coupled to the plurality of protection voltages at the first plurality of nodes, the voltage protection ladder configured to generate a first low voltage based on the first voltage node and the plurality of protection voltages.

According to an embodiment, a circuit includes a protection voltage generator coupled to a first voltage node, a second voltage node, and a ground voltage node, the protection voltage generator configured to generate a plurality of protection voltages at a first plurality of nodes based on the first voltage node and the second voltage node, and a voltage protection ladder coupled between the first voltage node and a low voltage circuit, the voltage protection ladder coupled to the plurality of protection voltages at the first plurality of nodes, the voltage protection ladder configured to generate a first low voltage based on the first voltage node and the plurality of protection voltages.

This electrical energy converter comprises: a first bridge comprising at least a first switching branch between two terminals of an input voltage and including two first switches connected at a first midpoint; a second bridge comprising at least a second switching branch between two terminals of an output voltage and including two second switches connected at a second midpoint; at least one piezoelectric assembly connected between respective first and second midpoints; and at least one switching aid circuit connected to a respective midpoint and configured to, via the flow of a previously received current, discharge a parasitic capacitance of a switch of the bridge to which it is connected, and respectively charge a parasitic capacitance of another switch of said bridge.

This electrical energy converter comprises: a first bridge comprising at least a first switching branch between two terminals of an input voltage and including two first switches connected at a first midpoint; a second bridge comprising at least a second switching branch between two terminals of an output voltage and including two second switches connected at a second midpoint; at least one piezoelectric assembly connected between respective first and second midpoints; and at least one switching aid circuit connected to a respective midpoint and configured to, via the flow of a previously received current, discharge a parasitic capacitance of a switch of the bridge to which it is connected, and respectively charge a parasitic capacitance of another switch of said bridge.

A power conversion device converting and outputting a characteristic of input power, includes: a power conversion unit including a normally-on type first switching element made of a nitride-based semiconductor material and converting the characteristic of power by a switching operation performed by the first switching element; an operation control unit controlling a switching operation of the first switching element; and an intelligent power switch including: a second switching element provided on a power input side of the power conversion unit and turning on/off power input to the power conversion unit; and a protection control unit including a current detection unit detecting a current flowing in the second switching element and controlling on/off of the second switching element and turn off the second switching element in a case where a current detected by the current detection unit exceeds a threshold value.

A power conversion device converting and outputting a characteristic of input power, includes: a power conversion unit including a normally-on type first switching element made of a nitride-based semiconductor material and converting the characteristic of power by a switching operation performed by the first switching element; an operation control unit controlling a switching operation of the first switching element; and an intelligent power switch including: a second switching element provided on a power input side of the power conversion unit and turning on/off power input to the power conversion unit; and a protection control unit including a current detection unit detecting a current flowing in the second switching element and controlling on/off of the second switching element and turn off the second switching element in a case where a current detected by the current detection unit exceeds a threshold value.

In described examples, a power management circuit includes a voltage sensor and a differential power converter. The voltage sensor is coupled in series with other voltage sensors between a high voltage bus and a ground bus. The voltage sensor senses a voltage across an impedance and outputs a control signal in response to the sensed voltage. The differential power converter is coupled in series with other differential power converters and in parallel with a load between the high voltage bus and the ground bus. The differential power converter is configured to increase or decrease a supplied current in response to a change in magnitude of the control signal.