Techniques for determining a potential electrical threat by a utility meter are described herein. A metrology unit of the meter is configured to receive electrical data associated with electrical usage at a location The meter is configured to determine, based on the electrical usage at the location and/or previous electrical data, abnormalities indicative of an unstable connection, such as a loose wire connecting a load to a power supply. The meter may employ a machine learned model or other algorithm to identify the loose wire or unstable connection and is configured to disconnect power to the location and/or send a message to an alarm device at the location and/or to a computing device remote from the location. In this way, the metrology unit can be used to mitigate potential electrical threats, such as fire, due to an unstable connection such as a loose connection.

A transistor semiconductor die includes a first current terminal, a second current terminal, and a control terminal. A semiconductor structure is between the first current terminal, the second current terminal, and the control terminal and configured such that a resistance between the first current terminal and the second current terminal is based on a control signal provided at the control terminal. Short circuit protection circuitry is coupled between the control terminal and the second current terminal. In a normal mode of operation, the short circuit protection circuitry is configured to provide a voltage drop that is greater than a voltage of the control signal. In a short circuit protection mode of operation, the short circuit protection circuitry is configured to provide a voltage drop that is less than a voltage of the control signal.

A transistor semiconductor die includes a first current terminal, a second current terminal, and a control terminal. A semiconductor structure is between the first current terminal, the second current terminal, and the control terminal and configured such that a resistance between the first current terminal and the second current terminal is based on a control signal provided at the control terminal. Short circuit protection circuitry is coupled between the control terminal and the second current terminal. In a normal mode of operation, the short circuit protection circuitry is configured to provide a voltage drop that is greater than a voltage of the control signal. In a short circuit protection mode of operation, the short circuit protection circuitry is configured to provide a voltage drop that is less than a voltage of the control signal.

An electrical system includes an operation MEMS switch operable in on and off states to enable and disable current flow to a load and a fault interruption MEMS switch positioned in series with the operation MEMS switch. The fault interruption MEMS switch is operable in on and off states to enable and disable current flow to the electrical load, with operation of the fault interruption MEMS switch in the off state disabling current flow to the load regardless of the state of the operation MEMS switch. A fault sensor control system operate to sense a system variable, analyze the system variable to detect if a fault is affecting the electrical system and, upon detection of a fault, switch the fault interruption MEMS switch from the on state to the off state to interrupt current flowing through the operation MEMS switch to the load.

A method of evaluating a power storage device includes at least [a] to [f] below. [a] A power storage device is prepared. [b] A charge level of the power storage device is adjusted to produce a first potential difference between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. [c] The positive electrode or the negative electrode is selected as a reference electrode. [d] After the charge level is adjusted, an operation to insert a conductive rod-shaped member into a stack portion along a direction of stack of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is performed while a second potential difference between the reference electrode and the rod-shaped member is measured. [e] The rod-shaped member is stopped. [f] The power storage device is evaluated based on a state of the power storage device after the rod-shaped member is stopped.

A method of evaluating a power storage device includes at least [a] to [f] below. [a] A power storage device is prepared. [b] A charge level of the power storage device is adjusted to produce a first potential difference between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. [c] The positive electrode or the negative electrode is selected as a reference electrode. [d] After the charge level is adjusted, an operation to insert a conductive rod-shaped member into a stack portion along a direction of stack of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is performed while a second potential difference between the reference electrode and the rod-shaped member is measured. [e] The rod-shaped member is stopped. [f] The power storage device is evaluated based on a state of the power storage device after the rod-shaped member is stopped.

An integrated circuit design method includes receiving an integrated circuit design, and determining a floor plan for the integrated circuit design. The floor plan includes an arrangement of a plurality of functional cells and a plurality of tap cells. Potential latchup locations in the floor plan are determined, and the arrangement of at least one of the functional cells or the tap cells is modified based on the determined potential latchup locations.

An integrated circuit design method includes receiving an integrated circuit design, and determining a floor plan for the integrated circuit design. The floor plan includes an arrangement of a plurality of functional cells and a plurality of tap cells. Potential latchup locations in the floor plan are determined, and the arrangement of at least one of the functional cells or the tap cells is modified based on the determined potential latchup locations.

A ground-fault detecting device includes: a first detecting module, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and a third input terminal coupled to a first-phase electric power, a second-phase electric power, and a third-phase electric power on an AC side of a photovoltaic power generating system respectively, for sampling voltages of the first-phase electric power, the second-phase electric power, and the third-phase electric power to generate a first sampled voltage, a second sampled voltage, and a third sampled voltage respectively; and a controller, coupled to the first detecting module, for determining if a ground-fault occurs in the AC side before the photovoltaic power generating system is connected to a grid according to the first sampled voltage, the second sampled voltage, and the third sampled voltage; wherein the controller generates an alarm signal when the ground-fault occurs in the AC side.

A ground-fault detecting device includes: a first detecting module, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and a third input terminal coupled to a first-phase electric power, a second-phase electric power, and a third-phase electric power on an AC side of a photovoltaic power generating system respectively, for sampling voltages of the first-phase electric power, the second-phase electric power, and the third-phase electric power to generate a first sampled voltage, a second sampled voltage, and a third sampled voltage respectively; and a controller, coupled to the first detecting module, for determining if a ground-fault occurs in the AC side before the photovoltaic power generating system is connected to a grid according to the first sampled voltage, the second sampled voltage, and the third sampled voltage; wherein the controller generates an alarm signal when the ground-fault occurs in the AC side.