Did You Know...
...that while attempting to develop a super strong glue, 3M employee Spencer Silver accidentally developed a glue that was so weak it would barely hold two pieces of paper together? However, his colleague Art Fry needed the glue. Fry sang with his church choir and marked the pages of his hymnal with small scraps of paper that often fell out. He used Silver's glue to hold the papers in place. Today we call this invention Post-it Notes.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8035938 | Active current surge limiters Active current surge limiters (100) and methods of use are disclosed. One exemplary system, among others, comprises a current limiter (140), including an interface configured to be connected between a power supply (110) and a load (120); ... | 10/11/2011 |
| RE42785 | Semiconductor module with serial bus connection to multiple dies A semiconductor module is provided which includes a beat heat spreader, at least two semiconductors thermally coupled to the heat spreader, and a plurality of electrically conductive leads electrically connected to the semiconductors. At least one of the electricall... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8004806 | Solid-state disconnect device A solid-state disconnect device capable of isolating and protecting circuits and equipment from overloads and undesired transients is presented. The protection device includes at least one depletion mode circuit block having three terminals (drain, gate, and source)... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7974057 | Inrush current limiter device and power factor control (PFC) circuit having an improved inrush current limiter device The present invention relates to an inrush current limiter device (4) for limiting inrushing current to a connectable load (3) comprising: at least one switchable IGBT-based limiter unit (5) for selectively limiting the inrushing current, having... | 07/05/2011 |
| RE42429 | Semiconductor module with serial bus connection to multiple dies A semiconductor module is provided which includes a beat heat spreader, at least two semiconductors thermally coupled to the heat spreader, and a plurality of electrically conductive leads electrically connected to the semiconductors. At least one of the electricall... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7936544 | High-voltage X-ray generator A power supply for a device which has a load, comprising a first resonant generator and a second resonant generator, coupled in parallel, each generator having a phase output. The power supply further comprises a control circuit coupled to the first and second gener... | 05/03/2011 |
| RE42318 | Semiconductor module with serial bus connection to multiple dies A semiconductor module is provided which includes a beat heat spreader, at least two semiconductors thermally coupled to the heat spreader, and a plurality of electrically conductive leads electrically connected to the semiconductors. At least one of the electrical... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7864495 | Excess voltage protection circuit, method of protecting a circuit from excess voltage, and semiconductor apparatus having the excess voltage protection circuit In a disclosed excess voltage protection circuit, when the input voltage equal to or higher than a predetermined maximum voltage is detected by an excess voltage detection circuit, a switching element is shut off so as to prevent the input voltage being output from ... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7667937 | Control device for an electronic domestic appliance A control device for an electronic domestic appliance has a control panel of an electrically conducting material and an electronic control system with a mains-connected circuit and a circuit that is galvanically separated from the mains. To protect the electronic co... | 02/23/2010 |
| 7639465 | Inrush current restraining circuit and audio device using the same An inrush current restraining circuit (100) includes a power source (Vcc), a charging/discharging circuit (11), a switching circuit (13), a first impedance component (Z1), a second impedance component (Z2), and a controller (10 | 12/29/2009 |
| 7616418 | Mitigation of current collapse in transient blocking units A transient blocking unit (TBU) includes at least two depletion mode transistors connected to each other such that they can rapidly switch from a normal low-impedance state to a high-impedance current blocking state in response to an over-voltage or over-current con... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7576962 | Transient blocking apparatus with reset A method and apparatus for transient blocking relying on a transient blocking device and a sampling circuit. The transient blocking device has at least one depletion mode n-channel device interconnected with at least one depletion mode p-channel device such that a t... | 08/18/2009 |
| 7477499 | Switching element and protection circuit using the same Provided is a switching element including: first switching element primarily used for formation of a two-way current path; a second switching element that forms, at the time when the first switching element is turned off, a current path by switching a parasitic diod... | 01/13/2009 |
| 7433166 | Constant current generator A constant current generator connected between first and second terminals includes a gate turn-off thyristor in series with a resistor; a current limiting component connected between the anode gate and the cathode gate of the thyristor; and a voltage reference conne... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7428134 | Energy pathway arrangements for energy conditioning The system of an energy conditioner comprising: a conductive shield structure comprising a first conductive shield layer, a second conductive shield layer, and a third conductive shield layer; wherein said first conductive shield layer is above said second conductiv... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7403363 | Switching element and protection circuit using the same Provided is a switching element including: a first switching element primarily used for formation of a two-way current path; and a second switching element that interrupts a parasitic diode at the time when the first switching element is turned off. The second switc... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7391596 | High frequency integrated circuit pad configuration including ESD protection circuitry A high frequency integrated circuit (IC) pad configuration includes a first IC pad, an inductor, and a second IC pad. The first IC pad is directly coupled to input or output a high frequency signal, wherein no electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuitry is di... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7385828 | Electronic shunt resistor assembly An electronic shunt resistor assembly comprises a planar shunt resistor and an electronic monitoring unit. The planar shunt resistor has a resistance element and first and second terminal bars at opposite ends of the resistance element. The electronic measuring unit... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7372397 | Energy storage in a radar level gauge A radar level gauge using microwaves for measuring a level of a surface of a product in a container, comprising a microwave unit, processing circuitry connected to said microwave unit, an interface for connecting said radar level gauge externally thereof, and a powe... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7372006 | Low cost heating devices manufactured from conductive loaded resin-based materials Heating devices are formed of a conductive loaded resin-based material. The conductive loaded resin-based material comprises micron conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination of conductive powder and conductive fibers in a base resin host. The ratio... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7369387 | Apparatus and method for temperature-dependent transient blocking An apparatus and method for temperature-dependent transient blocking employing a transient blocking unit (TBU) that uses at least one depletion mode n-channel device interconnected with at least one depletion mode p-channel device. The interconnection is performed s... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7362162 | Line filter The invention is directed to a network filter that comprises at least one phase input and a protective conductor in which each phase input is connected via a filter inductance to a corresponding phase output, in which the input side of each filter inductance is conn... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7358684 | Balanced circuit for multi-LED driver A driving circuit uses a plurality of transformers to provide currents for driving a plurality of LEDs associated with a plurality of current paths. Each transformer has two induction coils with a coil turn ratio between to the number of turns in each induction coil... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7359169 | Circuit for protecting integrated circuits against electrostatic discharges A circuit is described that protects an integrated circuit from electrostatic discharges or electrical over-stress. The circuit arrangement has first and second protective elements connected in series between a connection of the integrated circuit and a supply volta... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7358627 | Electronic control systems and methods An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collec... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7359164 | Superconducting matrix fault current limiter with current-driven trigger mechanism A modular and scalable Matrix-type Fault Current Limiter (MFCL) that functions as a “variable impedance” device in an electric power network, using components made of superconducting and non-superconducting electrically conductive materials. An inductor is conne... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7355504 | Electrical devices An electrical device which comprises first and second laminar electrodes and a laminar PTC resistive element sandwiched between them, the device comprising (a) a main portion which comprises a main part of the first electrode, a ma... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7345861 | Capacitor circuit with surge protection A capacitor circuit with surge protection that is selectively connected between a voltage source and a device includes a first capacitance element has one end that communicates with a first terminal of the voltage source. A first transistor has a first terminal that... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7342433 | Apparatus and method for enhanced transient blocking An apparatus and method for enhanced transient blocking employing a transient blocking unit (TBU) that uses at least one depletion mode n-channel device interconnected with at least one depletion mode p-channel device. The interconnection is performed such that a tr... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7343137 | Circuit, switching module comprising the same, and use of said switching module The invention relates to a circuit comprising an antenna input (1), a signal input (2) and a signal output (3), and a switching unit (4), wherein the antenna input (1) is connected to a first protection device (6) against el... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7339773 | Method for driving a semiconductor switch and circuit configuration with a semiconductor switch A method for driving a semiconductor switch with load current limiting and thermal protection whose maximum load current is limited and which switches off when a predetermined upper temperature is exceeded and switches on again when a predetermined lower temperature... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7338854 | Method for manufacturing multilayer ceramic capacitor A method for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor, in which internal electrodes printed on each of a plurality of dielectric sheets have reduced thicknesses using an absorption member, thereby allowing the multilayer ceramic capacitor to have a high capacity... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7339772 | Hot-swap protection circuit Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and circuitry for protecting a circuit during hot-swap events. Hot swap protection circuitry includes as overcurrent detection circuit which decouples power from a load. Circuitry is provided to detect ground-faul... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7337336 | Method for rapid port power reduction A method for rapidly reducing power in the event of a change in power source conditions, comprising: obtaining an indicator of one of current power consumption of ports being supplied power and current power allocation of ports being supplied power; storing for at l... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7332846 | Damping device A damping device for damping speed irregularities of a rotating shaft includes an armature having at least one armature part made of a non-ferromagnetic, electrically conductive material. An exciter configured to permeate the armature part in at least some regions w... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7333316 | AC power line protection using thyristors A transient suppressor circuit for use in suppressing transient voltages superimposed on AC power conductors. The transient suppressor circuit includes a threshold thyristor connected in series with a capacitor. The transient suppressor circuit is connected across t... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7330063 | Circuit arrangement for limiting a ringing current A circuit arrangement for bidirectional current limiting comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, a first resistor, a first zener diode and a second zener diode. The first transistor comprises a first controllable path and a first control terminal and the ... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7330096 | Fault current limiter A fault current limiter (FCL) comprises: an air core flat clock spiral inductor comprising wound electrically conductive material and insulated turns; and two terminations configured for attaching the spiral inductor in series with a power carrying conductor. ... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7327541 | Operation of dual-directional electrostatic discharge protection device A two-terminal ESD protection structure formed by an arrangement of five adjacent semiconductor regions (112, 114, 116, 118, and 120) of alternating conductivity type provides protection against both positive and negative ESD voltages. The middle semic... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7326999 | Chip resistor and method for manufacturing same A chip resistor (R1) includes a resistor element (1) having a first surface (1a) and a second surface (1b) opposite to the first surface. Two main electrodes (21), spaced from each other, are provided on the first sur... | 02/05/2008 |
