# US 10,483,072 B2 · Interrupter device for interrupting a direct current > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,072 B2 - Document ID: US10483072B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/864,417 - Filed: 2018-01-08 - Published: 2018-05-03 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-08 - Assignees: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH - Applicants: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH - Inventors: Hendrik-Christian Koepf; Ernst-Dieter Wilkening - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483072B2 ## CPC - H01H 89/00: Combinations of two or more different basic types of electric switches, relays, selectors and emergency protective devices, not covered by any single one of the other main groups of this subclass - H01H 9/54: Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere - H01H 9/542: {Contacts shunted by static switch means} - H01H 33/596: {for interrupting DC} - H02H 7/1222: {responsive to abnormalities in the input circuit, e.g. transients in the DC input} - H02S 40/32: comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules - H02S 40/34: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes - H01H 1/20: Bridging contacts {(for circuit breakers H01H73/045)} - H01H 9/0271: {structurally combining a switch and an electronic component (for relays H01H50/021)} - H01H 9/50: Means for detecting the presence of an arc or discharge - H01H 2009/546: {the static switching means being triggered by the voltage over the mechanical switch contacts} - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An interrupter device for interrupting a direct current between a direct current source and an electrical device, for example, between a photovoltaic generator and an inverter. The interrupter device has a mechanical switch which has a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, and a contact bridge that can be moved between a first position and a second position. The contact bridge and the first fixed contact are electrically contacted to a semiconductor switch which blocks a current when the contact bridge is in the first position. A control input of the semiconductor switch is connected to the mechanical switch such that an arc voltage generated as a result of an arc across the switch connects the semiconductor switch so as to conduct a current when the contact bridge is moved into the second position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interrupter device for interrupting a direct current between a direct current source and an electrical device, the interrupter device comprising: a semiconductor switch; a mechanical switch that has a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, and a contact bridge that is adapted to be moved between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact are electrically contacted via the contact bridge, and in the second position, the contact bridge is spaced apart from the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact and the second fixed contact is galvanically isolated from the contact bridge, wherein when the contact bridge is in the second position, the first fixed contact is galvanically isolated from the second fixed contact, wherein the contact bridge and the first fixed contact are electrically contacted to the semiconductor switch, which blocks a current when the contact bridge is in the first position, and wherein a control input of the semiconductor switch is connected to the mechanical switch such that an arc voltage generated as a result of an arc across the mechanical switch connects the semiconductor switch so as to conduct the current when the contact bridge is moved into the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The interrupter device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical switch is an electromechanical contactor in a closer configuration with a double break. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The interrupter device according to claim 1, wherein semiconductor electronics are connected in parallel to the semiconductor switch, which has an energy storage that charges as a result of the arc within an arc duration, and wherein the control input of the semiconductor switch is electrically contacted to the energy storage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The interrupter device according to claim 3, wherein the semiconductor electronics includes a timer for an arc-fee disconnection of the semiconductor switch after a turn-on period has ended, which follows a charging time of the energy storage device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The interrupter device according to claim 3, wherein the arc duration is determined by a charging time or charge capacity of the energy storage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The interrupter device according to claim 5, wherein the arc duration is between 100 μs and 800 μs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The interrupter device according to claim 1, further comprising an overvoltage protection connected in parallel to the semiconductor switch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The interrupter device according to claim 7, wherein the overvoltage protection comprises a varistor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The interrupter device according to claim 1, wherein the direct current between a photovoltaic generator and an inverter is interrupted. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The interrupter device according to claim 1, wherein an overvoltage protection is electrically contacted to the contact bridge and the direct current source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The interrupter device according to claim 10, wherein a threshold voltage of the overvoltage protection is set to a maximum electrical voltage that can be applied to the semiconductor switch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The interrupter device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical switch comprises an electrical coil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The interrupter device according to claim 1, wherein semiconductor electronics are connected in parallel to the semiconductor switch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The interrupter device according to claim 1, further comprising an energy storage that charges as a result of the arc within an arc duration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The interrupter device according to claim 14, wherein the control input of the semiconductor switch is electrically contacted to the energy storage. ### Claim 16 An interrupter device for interrupting a direct current between a direct current source and an electrical device, the interrupter device comprising: a semiconductor switch; a mechanical switch that has a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, and a contact bridge that is adapted to be moved between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact are electrically contacted via the contact bridge, and in the second position, the contact bridge is spaced apart from the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact and the second fixed contact is galvanically isolated from the contact bridge, wherein the contact bridge and the first fixed contact are electrically contacted to the semiconductor switch, which blocks a current when the contact bridge is in the first position, and wherein a control input of the semiconductor switch is connected to the mechanical switch such that an arc voltage generated as a result of an arc across the mechanical switch connects the semiconductor switch so as to conduct the current when the contact bridge is moved into the second position, wherein the contact bridge comprises a contact point directly electrically contacted to a first input of the semiconductor switch. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a direct current source; an electrical device; and an interrupter device for interrupting a direct current between the direct current source and the electrical device, the interrupter device comprising: a semiconductor switch; a mechanical switch having a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact and a contact bridge, the mechanical switch being configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein, in the second position, the contact bridge is spaced apart from the second fixed contact and the second fixed contact is galvanically isolated from the contact bridge, wherein, when the contact bridge is in the second position, the first fixed contact is galvanically isolated from the second fixed contact, wherein the semiconductor switch blocks a current when the contact bridge is in the first position, and wherein the mechanical switch connects the semiconductor switch to conduct the current when the contact bridge is moved into the second position.