Abstract:
A transient voltage protection device includes an element body formed with a cavity inside, a pair of external electrodes on the element body, and a pair of internal electrodes in the element body. The pair of internal electrodes oppose each other. Each internal electrode is connected to a corresponding external electrode of the pair of external electrodes. The element body includes a first inner surface and a second inner surface. The first and second inner surfaces define the cavity and oppose each other. The pair of internal electrodes are exposed to the cavity and disposed on the first inner surface. In a cross section along a direction in which the first inner surface and the second inner surface oppose each other, the first inner surface includes a contour different from a contour included in the second inner surface.
Abstract:
An electronic control device for executing fundamental and additional functions includes: a fundamental circuit element that executes the fundamental function; an additional circuit element that executes the additional function; and a printed wiring board having a rectangular shape divided into first and second regions. The fundamental circuit element is mounted in the first region, and the additional circuit element is mounted in the second region. The fundamental circuit element includes an operation voltage generating circuit for supplying an operation voltage to at least a part of the fundamental and additional circuit elements and a bypass capacitor for functioning for the additional circuit element. The bypass capacitor is connected to a power source wiring pattern for supplying the operation voltage to the additional circuit element. The bypass capacitor is arranged in the first region at a position nearer the second region than the operation voltage generating circuit.
Abstract:
Semiconductor switch modules have positive and negative electrical input connections which must be spaced adequately to prevent a short circuit flashover between the polarities. This terminal spacing is defined by the strike distance through air or creepage distance through air along an insulating surface between the two input connections given the operating voltage per regulatory agency requirements. The inductance of the switch connections is ultimately limited by this terminal spacing. A novel conformal solid insulation scheme between the bus structure and switch module eliminates the strike or creepage paths through air and allows for reduced terminal spacing and lower inductance while meeting regulatory agency requirements.
Abstract:
A surge protector for protecting telecommunications related equipment and other associated sensitive electrical components from over-voltage transient occurring on tip/ring conductors of communication lines coupled thereto includes a printed circuit board and surge protection circuits mounted on the printed circuit board. The surge protection circuits are interconnected between incoming tip and ring terminals defining an unprotected side and outgoing tip and ring terminals defining a protected side. Each of the surge protection circuits has a first set of steering diodes, a pair of series-connected voltage clamping devices, and a second set of steering diodes. Input side connector devices are coupled to the respective incoming tip and ring terminals for connecting to incoming telecommunication lines. Output side connector devices are coupled to the respective outgoing tip and ring terminals for connecting to customers' electrical equipment to be protected.
Abstract:
To prevent damage to equipment due to the oblique insertion of a fat cable, a capacitor-connection line having a capacitive circuit element is disposed adjacent to a power supply line of a printed circuit board and connected to a ground of the printed circuit board. When a flat cable is obliquely inserted, the capacitor-connection line which comes into erroneous contact with the power supply line works as high impedance in the case of a direct current, and the current does not flow. Damage generated when a flat cable is obliquely inserted into a connector of a printed circuit board is prevented in this manner.
Abstract:
Arcing between a connection pad of a PCB (printed circuit board) and a contact of a connector on insertion and removal of the PCB from the connector is avoided by terminating the pad before the connection edge of the PCB, and by-passing the connection with a second connection comprising another contact of the connector, another pad of the PCB extending to the connection edge of the PCB, and a series resistor. The resistor can be mounted on either the PCB or the connector.
Abstract:
An electronic isolation device is formed on a monolithic substrate and includes a plurality of passive isolation components. The isolation components are formed in three metal levels. The first metal level is separated from the monolithic substrate by an inorganic PMD layer. The second metal level is separated from the first metal level by a layer of silicon dioxide. The third metal level is separated from the second metal level by at least 20 microns of polyimide or PBO. The isolation components include bondpads on the third metal level for connections to other devices. A dielectric layer is formed over the third metal level, exposing the bondpads. The isolation device contains no transistors.
Abstract:
An electronic control device for executing fundamental and additional functions includes: a fundamental circuit element that executes the fundamental function; an additional circuit element that executes the additional function; and a printed wiring board having a rectangular shape divided into first and second regions. The fundamental circuit element is mounted in the first region, and the additional circuit element is mounted in the second region. The fundamental circuit element includes an operation voltage generating circuit for supplying an operation voltage to at least a part of the fundamental and additional circuit elements and a bypass capacitor for functioning for the additional circuit element. The bypass capacitor is connected to a power source wiring pattern for supplying the operation voltage to the additional circuit element. The bypass capacitor is arranged in the first region at a position nearer the second region than the operation voltage generating circuit.
Abstract:
An apparatus ensures that circuit cards of a computer system are properly oriented and fully inserted into their slots before allowing the computer system to power-up. Each card has two electrically connected key fingers on the card edge, while each slot has first and second contacts adapted to engage the two key fingers when the card is fully seated on the slot. One contact of the first slot is connected to a known voltage, while the second contact is connected to the first contact of the next slot. The second contact of the next slot is in turn connected to the first contact of the subsequent slot. Thus, upon a complete engagement of the cards onto the slots, all contacts are connected in a series arrangement. The final contact is connected to an insertion detector which turns on the computer system power supply only when the voltage of the last contact equals the known voltage, indicating that all circuit cards are fully seated on the slots. Additionally, each circuit card has a card edge with asymmetrical segments which form a mechanical key for ensuring proper orientation of the circuit card on the slot.
Abstract:
The main system printed circuit board of a computer is mounted on a tray structure that also supports other CPU components of the computer and is removably insertable into the housing portion of the computer. A specially designed card edge connector portion of the system board is operatively insertable into a socketed connector on another circuit board interiorly mounted within the housing. Electrically conductive signal fingers and grounding fingers are respectively mounted on first and second sides of the card edge, with the signal fingers being connected to the signal plane of the system board, and the grounding fingers being connected to its ground plane. A sacrificial grounding pad is positioned on the second side of the edge connector portion, between the grounding pads and its leading edge, and is initially engaged by the internal connector contact strips, as the card edge is being inserted into the connector, to equalize any voltage potential between the two circuit boards before the contact strips engage the signal and grounding fingers The grounding pad thus eliminates the necessity of incorporating clamping diodes in the system board circuitry to avoid ESD damage to its components. The initially engageable grounding pad also serves as a sacrificial contact wear member that lengthens the connectivity life of the system board by diminishing the mechanical wear-away of the signal and grounding fingers.