Optically switched circuit breaker with cascaded transistor topology
US12218497B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 12, 2022 |
| Grant date | Feb 4, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2017/6875
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A disclosed switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, includes a transistor switch circuit connected between a power input terminal and a load terminal, and, connected to the power input terminal and bypassing the transistor switch circuit, a switchable bypass leg that is optically switched by a series-connected photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS). The transistor switch circuit includes at least one cascade of three or more series-connected transistors, and at least one resistor network configured to divide a voltage from a voltage source across a cascade of series-connected transistors. Operating the switch apparatus includes detecting whether a sensed electric current is in a fault condition, opening the transistor switch circuit upon detecting a fault condition, and then closing the PCSS so that the electric current is diverted onto a switchable bypass path. The opening of the transistor switch circuit comprises turning OFF a normally-ON transistor switch circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.