A power distribution monitoring system (100) is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of monitoring devices configured to attach to conductor(s) on a power grid distribution network. In some embodiments, a monitoring device is disposed on each conductor of a three-phase network and utilizes a complex platform of software and hardware to detect faults and disturbances that can be analyzed to determine or predict the risk of wildfires.

A power distribution monitoring system (100) is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of monitoring devices configured to attach to conductor(s) on a power grid distribution network. In some embodiments, a monitoring device is disposed on each conductor of a three-phase network and utilizes a complex platform of software and hardware to detect faults and disturbances that can be analyzed to determine or predict the risk of wildfires.

Electronic controller comprising: —a power supply (11) connectable to a power supply network (12); —at least one connector (13a, 13b, 13c) adapted to be connected to a load (14a, 14b, 14c) in order to supply it; —a microcontroller (15) connected to the power supply (11) and to the at least one connector (13a, 13b, 13c) in order to apply to the latter a supply voltage in a controlled manner; —at least one detection device (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) configured to detect a current flow through the connector (13a, 13b, 13c). The microcontroller (15) is connected to the detection device (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) and is configured to zero the supply voltage if, following application of the supply voltage, the detection device (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) does not detect a current flow through the connector (13a, 13b, 13c).

An apparatus includes a substrate; a group III-Nitride barrier layer; a source electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer; a drain electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and a recovery enhancement circuit configured to reduce an impact of an overload received by the gate. Additionally, at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, an area between the gate and the drain.

An apparatus includes a substrate; a group III-Nitride barrier layer; a source electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer; a drain electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and a recovery enhancement circuit configured to reduce an impact of an overload received by the gate. Additionally, at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, an area between the gate and the drain.

A first input unit receives an analog signal from a pair of input terminals, to which a sensor is connected, as a differential input via a pair of first input lines between which a first resistor is interposed. The analog signal input device converts the analog signals read via the first input unit and a second input unit having a similar configuration into a multi-bit digital signal and outputs the digital signal. When a prescribed instruction is received, a current is supplied from one of the pair of first input lines to a power supply line, and it is determined that there an open circuit when the output of the second input unit obtained when the output of the first input unit has increased in response to the current supply from the current supply unit is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value.

A first input unit receives an analog signal from a pair of input terminals, to which a sensor is connected, as a differential input via a pair of first input lines between which a first resistor is interposed. The analog signal input device converts the analog signals read via the first input unit and a second input unit having a similar configuration into a multi-bit digital signal and outputs the digital signal. When a prescribed instruction is received, a current is supplied from one of the pair of first input lines to a power supply line, and it is determined that there an open circuit when the output of the second input unit obtained when the output of the first input unit has increased in response to the current supply from the current supply unit is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value.

Methods and apparatuses for detecting an open load condition for a load. The load is coupled to a power source at a high side and to a ground at a low side through at least one switch, the load has a first end and a second end, a first voltage at the first end is kept constant. A switch is controlled by a PWM signal. After the switch is turned off by the PWM signal, the voltage associated with the second end of the load is measured. In one embodiment, a change of the second voltage during a predefined delay is compared with a predefined voltage threshold. In another embodiment, the time it takes for the change of the second voltage to reach a predefined voltage threshold is compared with a predefined time threshold.

A safety shutdown apparatus with self-driven control is coupled to a power-supplying path between a power supply apparatus and a load. The safety shutdown apparatus includes a detection unit, a controllable switch, and a drive circuit. The detection unit is coupled to the power-supplying path, and the controllable switch is coupled between a positive node and a negative node of the power-supplying path. The drive circuit is coupled to the detection unit, the power-supplying path, and the controllable switch. The drive circuit receives an output voltage of the power supply apparatus to turn on the controllable switch, and turn off the controllable switch according to whether the detection unit detects a current flowing through the power-supplying path.

A safety shutdown apparatus with self-driven control is coupled to a power-supplying path between a power supply apparatus and a load. The safety shutdown apparatus includes a detection unit, a controllable switch, and a drive circuit. The detection unit is coupled to the power-supplying path, and the controllable switch is coupled between a positive node and a negative node of the power-supplying path. The drive circuit is coupled to the detection unit, the power-supplying path, and the controllable switch. The drive circuit receives an output voltage of the power supply apparatus to turn on the controllable switch, and turn off the controllable switch according to whether the detection unit detects a current flowing through the power-supplying path.