A device is presented for use in power distribution networks, for limiting transient overvoltages during backfeed on a network primary feeder whose feeder breaker is open and whose network protector fails to open. The device is self-contained and self-protecting, and limits the transient voltages due to an arcing single line-to-ground fault by inserting a resistance into the zero-sequence network of the primary feeder. Limiting transient overvoltages reduces damage to and prevents failures of various network components, and in particular, prevents multiple insulation failures during backfeed and reduces failures during backfeed in microprocessor network protector relays on the secondary side of network transformers whose protectors are open. In addition, the device reduces transient overvoltages associated with re-energizing a network primary feeder by closing the station breaker when all network protectors on the feeder are open, as occurs when restoring a network primary feeder that has been out of service.

The present invention relates to a circuit for protecting a switch of an electrical system, said protecting circuit comprising a variable electronic component having a physical characteristic the value of which varies by at least 10% as a function of temperature, the protecting circuit being configured to prohibit a current from passing through said switch when the intensity of said current exceeds a maximum allowed intensity threshold, said variable electronic component being connected in the protecting circuit such that the value of the maximum allowed intensity threshold is directly a function of said physical characteristic.

Provided is a protection circuit capable of reliably preventing an overcurrent or a sneak current after cutoff to improve safety, implementing cost reduction with a device configuration simpler than conventional device configurations, and further reducing a failure rate of a device. In a protection circuit, after one of two fuse elements provided in each of a plurality of protection elements is blown due to an overcurrent flowing along a current-carrying path, a heater provided in at least one of the plurality of protection elements generates heat due to a sneak current flowing via the plurality of protection elements on the current-carrying path which is remained and blows the other of the two fuse elements provided in the at least one of the plurality of protection elements.

An integrated circuit device includes a heating element, and a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the heating element. An outer shape of the integrated circuit device has a first side and a second side intersecting the first side, and when a direction along the first side of the integrated circuit device is set as an X direction and a direction along the second side is set as a Y direction, the heating element includes a first heating element, and a second heating element arranged adjacent to the first heating element along the Y direction with a region AR interposed therebetween. The temperature sensor is arranged at an arrangement position where a position in the X direction is a position between a center of the region AR and the second side, and a position in the Y direction is a position between the first heating element and the second heating element.

An integrated circuit device includes a heating element, and a control circuit configured to control flow of a current through the heating element. An outer shape of the integrated circuit device has a first side and a second side intersecting the first side. An outer shape of the heating element has a short side and a long side. A distance between the long side of the heating element and the first side of the integrated circuit device is larger than a distance between the short side of the heating element and the second side of the integrated circuit device.

An electronic fuse circuit for safeguarding a multi-channel electronic power distributor includes a driver circuit for each channel of the power distributor configured to control an electronic switch of a corresponding channel to assume a certain state, and a microcontroller interface configured to receive from a microcontroller a command for setting the state of the electronic switch of a corresponding channel. The driver circuit of the corresponding channel is configured to set the state of the electronic switch of the corresponding channel according to the command from the microcontroller. The electronic fuse circuit further includes a safety circuit for detecting a malfunction in the microcontroller and/or the power distributor. In the event of a detected malfunction in the microcontroller and/or the power distributor, the driver circuit of each channel is configured to set the state of the electronic switch of the corresponding channel according to a channel-specific preconfigured safety state.

Provided is a protection circuit capable of reliably preventing an overcurrent or a sneak current after cutoff to improve safety, implementing cost reduction with a device configuration simpler than conventional device configurations, and further reducing a failure rate of a device. In a protection circuit, after one of two fuse elements provided in each of a plurality of protection elements is blown due to an overcurrent flowing along a current-carrying path, a heater provided in at least one of the plurality of protection elements generates heat due to a sneak current flowing via the plurality of protection elements on the current-carrying path which is remained and the current-carrying path which is remained is cut off due to destruction of the heater.

A miniature circuit breaker for providing short circuit and overload protection is disclosed herein. The miniature circuit breaker features a field effect transistor (FET), which may be a depletion mode metal oxide semiconductor FET (D MOSFET), a junction field-effect transistor (JFET), or a silicon carbide JFET, the FET being connected to a bi-metallic switch, where the bi-metallic switch acts as a temperature sensing circuit breaker. In combination, the D MOSFET and bi-metallic switch are able to limit current to downstream circuit components, thus protecting the components from damage.

An electronic installation device for controlling a load in an electrical circuit, which comprises a single or multi-layer printed circuit board arrangement with electrical components and conductor tracks and which comprises a load circuit and a control circuit. According to the invention, in order to provide an electronic installation device with protective devices against short-circuit and against overload and which are specific to devices, the load circuit and the control circuit are at least functionally coupled to one another, and the electronic installation device comprises a first overcurrent protection device for protection against short-circuit currents and a second overcurrent protection device for protection against overload currents.

Devices having one primary transistor, or a plurality of primary transistors in parallel, protect electrical circuits from overcurrent conditions. Optionally, the devices have only two terminals and require no auxiliary power to operate. In those devices, the voltage drop across the device provides the electrical energy to power the device. A third or fourth terminal can appear in further devices, allowing additional overcurrent and overvoltage monitoring opportunities. Autocatalytic voltage conversion allows certain devices to rapidly limit or block nascent overcurrents.