Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
361910600 | With zener diode sensor | 21 |
20080218922 | MOS transistor triggered transient voltage supressor to provide circuit protection at a lower voltage - An electronic device formed as an integrated circuit (IC) wherein the electronic device further includes a transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit. The TVS circuit includes a triggering MOS transistor connected between an emitter and a collector of a first bipolar-junction transistor (BJT) coupled to a second BJT to form a SCR functioning as a main clamp circuit of the TVS circuit. The TVS circuit further includes a triggering circuit for generating a triggering signal for the triggering MOS transistor wherein the triggering circuit includes multiple stacked MOS transistors for turning into a conductive state by a transient voltage while maintaining a low leakage current. | 09-11-2008 |
20080239604 | Surge protected power supply - An overvoltage protection circuit for protecting a pass element in a controlled voltage supply circuit electrically connected between a circuit power supply interconnection terminal region suited for electrical connection to a circuit power supply and an output terminal, the pass element being protected from voltage surges that may occur on the circuit power supply interconnection with respect to a voltage reference interconnection. A voltage reference is provided electrically connected in series with a voltage. The voltage divider and the voltage reference are connected in series with one another between the circuit power supply interconnection and the voltage reference interconnection. A threshold switch is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the voltage divider output and one of the voltage divider terminating regions terminating regions, and has an output coupled to the pass element control region. | 10-02-2008 |
20080310066 | Methods of achieving linear capacitance in symmetrcial and asymmetrical EMI filters with TVS - A transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit with uni-directional blocking and symmetric bi-directional blocking capabilities integrated with an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter supported on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The TVS circuit integrated with the EMI filter further includes a ground terminal disposed on the surface for the symmetric bi-directional blocking structure and at the bottom of the semiconductor substrate for the uni-directional blocking structure and an input and an output terminal disposed on a top surface with at least a Zener diode and a plurality of capacitors disposed in the semiconductor substrate to couple the ground terminal to the input and output terminals with a direct capacitive coupling without an intermediate floating body region. | 12-18-2008 |
20090002907 | Modular parallel protection circuit - A modular protection circuit can protect a first terminal and a second terminal of a first device. The circuit comprises a load device which has a third terminal and a fourth terminal with the third terminal for connection to a first voltage. A first diode is provided, with the first diode having a first cathode and a first anode with the first cathode connected to the fourth terminal and the first anode connected to the first terminal. A second diode is provided with the second diode having a second cathode and a second anode with the second cathode connected to the fourth terminal and the second anode connected to the second terminal. A third diode is provided with the third diode having a third cathode and a third anode with the third cathode connected to the first terminal and the third anode connected to a second voltage. Finally, a fourth diode is provided with the fourth diode having a fourth cathode and a fourth anode with the fourth cathode connected to the second terminal and the fourth anode connected to a third voltage. | 01-01-2009 |
20090073626 | PHOTOCOUPLER - A photocoupler includes a light emitting device, a drive circuit; a clamp circuit and a light receiving section. For an input voltage to the input terminal being within a range between a first voltage and a second voltage, the photocoupler is allowed to enter an operation mode in which the drive circuit, in response to the digital signal inputted thereto, drives the light emitting device to convert the digital signal to the optical signal, and the electrical signal is externally outputted from the light receiving section. For an input voltage to the input terminal being outside the range between the first voltage and the second voltage, the photocoupler is allowed to enter an inspection mode in which the drive circuit stops driving the light emitting device, the first transistor of the clamp circuit is turned on, and a current generally equal or proportional to a clamp current of the clamp circuit is supplied to the light emitting device so that characteristics of the light emitting device can be measured. | 03-19-2009 |
20090097182 | Circuitry protection arrangement - A circuit and a method are provided for protecting sensitive circuitry from over voltage and over current during a double fault situation. The circuit may be used in a portable electronic device, and may include an over voltage protection component and an over current protection component. The over voltage protection component may be coupled across power supply inputs of a load of the portable electronic device. The over current protection component is configured in the circuit to provide over current protection to the load of the portable electronic device at least when the over current protection component provides over current protection to the over voltage protection component. | 04-16-2009 |
20100246082 | Communication Circuit for a Digital Electronic Dimming Ballast - A communication circuit for an electronic dimming ballast provides high-voltage miswire protection and improved rise and fall times of a transmitted digital signal. The electronic dimming ballast comprises a control circuit, which is coupled to a digital communication link, for example, a DALI communication link, via the communication circuit. The communication circuit comprises a receiving circuit for detecting when the digital ballast communication link is shorted and for providing a received digital message to the control circuit. The communication circuit also comprises a transmitting circuit for shorting the communication link in response to the control circuit. The communication circuit also includes a high-voltage fault protection circuit for protecting the circuitry of the communication circuit if the communication circuit high-voltage mains voltages. The communication circuit is operable to reliably transmit digital messages having improved rise and fall times. The communication circuit draws acceptable amounts of current when the communication link is alternatively in idle and active states. | 09-30-2010 |
20100328830 | Methods of achieving linear capacitance in symmetrcial and asymmetrical EMI filters with TVS - A transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit with uni-directional blocking and symmetric bi-directional blocking capabilities integrated with an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter supported on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The TVS circuit integrated with the EMI filter further includes a ground terminal disposed on the surface for the symmetric bi-directional blocking structure and at the bottom of the semiconductor substrate for the uni-directional blocking structure and an input and an output terminal disposed on a top surface with at least a Zener diode and a plurality of capacitors disposed in the semiconductor substrate to couple the ground terminal to the input and output terminals with a direct capacitive coupling without an intermediate floating body region. | 12-30-2010 |
20120188675 | FREE-WHEELING CIRCUIT - A free-wheeling circuit is disclosed for the rapid reduction of a shutdown overvoltage of an inductive load when the latter is shut down. The free-wheeling circuit includes a switching threshold component by which the free-wheeling circuit becomes active more rapidly compared to a free-wheeling circuit without said switching threshold component, thereby ensuring a more rapid reduction of the shutdown overvoltage. If a control voltage provided by a control voltage source falls below a threshold voltage set by the switching threshold component, a capacitive energy accumulator is immediately discharged and not only when the control voltage is reduced to near zero, and the energy accumulator then activates the free-wheeling circuit for reducing the shutdown overvoltage, when in the nearly discharged state. | 07-26-2012 |
20130016448 | TRANSIENT VOLTAGE BLOCKING FOR POWER CONVERTERAANM George; Mark StevenAACI WilsonvilleAAST ORAACO USAAGP George; Mark Steven Wilsonville OR USAANM Bernards; Charles LawrenceAACI Lake OswegoAAST ORAACO USAAGP Bernards; Charles Lawrence Lake Oswego OR US - A power converter includes a transient voltage protection circuit connected between an input of the power converter and a power stage of the power converter. The transient voltage protection circuit provides a low resistance connection from the input of the power converter to the power stage of the power converter when the input voltage is less than a predetermined threshold, but blocks the input voltage from the power stage when the input voltage is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold voltage. The power converter may be a boost power converter used in a vehicle to provide power from a main power bus of the vehicle to a subsystem of the vehicle such as an anti-lock brake system. | 01-17-2013 |
20130163137 | CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR LIMITING OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE OF PHOTOVOLTAIC STRINGS - A photovoltaic string may include an open circuit voltage limiter that conducts current in one direction to provide a limiter voltage less than an open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic string, and that conducts current in the other direction. One or more open circuit voltage limiters may be connected across the photovoltaic string or across selected groups of solar cells of the photovoltaic string. The limiter voltage may be greater than a maximum power point voltage but less than the open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic string. | 06-27-2013 |
20130176653 | OVER-VOLTAGE PROTECTION DEVICE FOR RESONANT WIRELESS POWER RECEPTION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE OVER-VOLTAGE PROTECTION DEVICE - Provided is an over-voltage protection device for a resonant wireless power reception device. The over-voltage protection device includes a resonance signal receiver for receiving a wireless resonance signal transmitted from a wireless power transmission device, an over-voltage protector which is driven by a driver in an over-voltage protection operation to detune a resonance frequency of the reception device, thereby reducing reception power, the driver for driving the over-voltage protector according to a control signal in the over-voltage protection operation, and a controller for outputting the control signal for driving the over-voltage protector to the driver when it is determined that over-voltage occurs. | 07-11-2013 |
20130314833 | HIGH PRECISION CLIPPING REGULATOR CIRCUIT - A high precision clipping regulator circuit includes a first protection diode, a second protection diode, a first offset clamp voltage regulator, and a second offset clamp voltage regulator. The first protection diode is configured to conduct when a voltage potential exceeds a first protection voltage magnitude, and is operable to exhibit variations in the first protection voltage magnitude. The second protection diode is configured to conduct when a voltage potential exceeds a second protection voltage magnitude, and is operable to exhibit variations in the second protection voltage magnitude. The first reference and second voltage regulator circuits are configured to determine when the first and second protection voltages vary and, in response thereto, to vary the first and second variable offset clamp voltages so that a difference in voltage across the protection diodes remains substantially constant. | 11-28-2013 |
20130342946 | PARALLEL PROTECTION CIRCUIT FOR SOLAR MODULE - A parallel protection circuit for a solar module, comprising a field effect transistor for blocking current reversal, a driver module for driving the field effect transistor, and a protection module for preventing the gate of the field effect transistor from high-voltage puncturing. The driver module and the protection module are serially connected to each other to form the control module of the parallel protection circuit, and the control module is connected in parallel with the solar module at two output polarities of the solar module. The gate of the field effect transistor is connected between the driver module and the protection module, the source terminal of the field effect transistor is connected to the negative terminal of the solar module, and the drain terminal of the field effect transistor and the positive terminal of the solar module form two protected output polarities. The protection module may be a resistance, a diode string, or a Zener diode, and so on. The parallel protection circuit reduces the loss in a solar module protection circuit, thereby enhancing the power generation capacity of a solar cell in the early morning, evening and rainy days. In addition, the present invention has the characteristics of simple structure, great versatility, low production cost, and can play a significant role in promoting solar energy applications. | 12-26-2013 |
20140002941 | Overvoltage protection circuit with self biased latch | 01-02-2014 |
20140055899 | ELECTRONIC PROTECTION DEVICE, METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRONIC PROTECTION DEVICE, AND USE THEREOF - An electronic protection device for protecting at least one electrical load, connectable to the protection device, whereby the electronic protection device has an input terminal and an output terminal, and whereby the protection device includes a fuse element, which is thermally self-resetting, and whereby the fuse element is provided and set up to conduct or limit a first current as a function of a fuse element temperature, whereby a limiting component is provided to limit the first current, and whereby the limiting component has a first transistor that is connected in series to the fuse element and a monitoring circuit that influences the first transistor. The monitoring circuit blocks the first transistor when the first current reaches or exceeds a predefined maximum current value and unblocks it when the first current reaches or falls below a predefined reset current value. | 02-27-2014 |
20140085762 | Inverter Drive Device - An inverter drive device includes a drive circuit that outputs a gate voltage signal of a power semiconductor element; and a Zener clamping protection circuit that acquires an emitter electrode side voltage of the power semiconductor element, and, if that voltage is greater than a predetermined voltage value, performs clamping of the gate voltage of the drive circuit after a predetermined time interval has elapsed from the acquisition of the emitter electrode side voltage. The Zener clamping protection circuit includes a latch circuit that, after the emitter electrode side voltage has been acquired, continues the clamping of the gate voltage by the Zener clamping protection circuit during an interval. | 03-27-2014 |
20140139962 | CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT HAVING AN OVERLOAD PROTECTION FOR GALVANIC ISOLATION UNITS - A circuit arrangement having an overload protection for galvanic isolation units (OK | 05-22-2014 |
20140153149 | CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR LIMITING OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE OF PHOTOVOLTAIC STRINGS - A photovoltaic string may include an open circuit voltage limiter that conducts current in one direction to provide a limiter voltage less than an open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic string, and that conducts current in the other direction. One or more open circuit voltage limiters may be connected across the photovoltaic string or across selected groups of solar cells of the photovoltaic string. The limiter voltage may be greater than a maximum power point voltage but less than the open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic string. | 06-05-2014 |
20150294965 | SEMICONDUCTOR ISOLATION STRUCTURE - The invention relates to a semiconductor isolation structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor isolation structure suitable for providing high voltage isolation. Embodiments disclosed include a semiconductor structure ( | 10-15-2015 |
20160036380 | CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR LIMITING OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE OF PHOTOVOLTAIC STRINGS - A photovoltaic string may include an open circuit voltage limiter that conducts current in one direction to provide a limiter voltage less than an open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic string, and that conducts current in the other direction. One or more open circuit voltage limiters may be connected across the photovoltaic string or across selected groups of solar cells of the photovoltaic string. The limiter voltage may be greater than a maximum power point voltage but less than the open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic string. | 02-04-2016 |