# US 10,770,241 B2 · High speed arc suppressor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,770,241 B2 - Document ID: US10770241B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/776,433 - Filed: 2020-01-29 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-29 - Assignees: Arc Suppression Technologies - Applicants: Arc Suppression Technologies - Inventors: Reinhold Henke; Warren Kahle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770241B2 ## CPC - H01H 1/0015: {Means for testing or for inspecting contacts, e.g. wear indicator (measuring circuits G01R31/3274)} - H01H 9/542: {Contacts shunted by static switch means} - G01R 31/3272: {Apparatus, systems or circuits therefor (G01R31/3275 takes precedence)} - G01R 31/3277: {of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches} - H01H 1/38: Plug-and-socket contacts - H01H 9/30: Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts - H01H 9/54: Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere - H01H 33/593: {for ensuring operation of the switch at a predetermined point of the AC cycle (for multipolar switches H01H9/563)} - H01H 50/045: {Details particular to contactors (H01H50/042 takes precedence)} - H01H 50/44: Magnetic coils or windings - H01R 13/052: {co-operating with sockets having a circular transverse section} - H01R 13/6666: {with built-in overvoltage protection} - H01R 13/70: with built-in switch - H01R 13/7038: {making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts} - H01R 24/30: with additional earth or shield contacts - H02H 1/0015: {Using arc detectors} - H02H 9/08: Limitation or suppression of earth fault currents, e.g. Petersen coil - H01H 50/021: {structurally combining a relay and an electronic component, e.g. varistor, RC circuit (auxiliary switch inserting resistor during closure H01H50/543)} - H01H 85/0082: {preventing explosion of the cartridge} - H01H 2009/543: {third parallel branch comprising an energy absorber, e.g. MOV, PTC, Zener} - H01H 2047/008: {with a drop in current upon closure of armature or change of inductance} - H01H 2085/0275: {Structural association with a printed circuit board} - H01H 2085/0283: {Structural association with a semiconductor device} - 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) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - 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) ## Abstract A high speed arc suppressor and method include a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across contacts of the power contactor in a positive domain and a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the contacts in a negative domain. First and second high speed switches are configured to enable and disable operation of an associated one of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors. First and second drivers are configured to drive the first and second high speed switches. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A high speed arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across a power contactor coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, the high speed arc suppressor comprising: a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across contacts of the power contactor in a positive domain, comprising: a first high speed switch configured to enable or disable operation of the first phase-specific arc suppressor; and a first driver, coupled to the first high speed switch, configured to cause the first high speed switch to enable operation of the first phase-specific arc suppressor when an input signal from the contacts is in the positive domain and disable operation of the first phase-specific are suppressor when the input signal from the contacts is in a negative domain; and a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the contacts in a negative domain, comprising: a second high speed switch configured to enable or disable operation of the second phase-specific arc suppressor; and a second driver, coupled to the second high speed switch, configured to cause the second high speed switch to enable operation of the first phase-specific arc suppressor when an input signal from the contacts is in the negative domain and disable operation of the first phase-specific arc suppressor when the input signal from the contacts is in the positive domain; wherein the first and second high speed switches are configured to switch the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors between the enable operation and the disable operation in not more than ten (10) microseconds; wherein the first and second high speed switches are insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT); and wherein each of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors further comprises: an arc ignition detector circuit; a trigger lock circuit; and an arc burn memory. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The high speed arc suppressor of claim 1, wherein, for each of the first and second phase-specific are suppressors, the arc ignition detector circuit is coupled over the power contactor, the arc burn memory is coupled between the arc ignition detector circuit and the first and second driver, respectively, and the trigger lock circuit is coupled between the arc ignition detector circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The high speed arc suppressor of claim 2, wherein the trigger lock circuit is configured to inhibit operation of an associated one of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors during a predetermined time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The high speed arc suppressor of claim 3, wherein the arc burn memory is configured to output to an associated one of the first and second drivers an indication of a detection of an arc burn across the power contactor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The high speed arc suppressor of claim 4, wherein the arc burn memory comprises a one-bit flip-flop. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The high speed arc suppressor of claim 4, wherein the arc ignition detector circuit is configured to detect at least one of a change in voltage or a change in current over the power contactor indicative of the ignition of an arc. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The high speed arc suppressor of claim 6, further comprising a power contact interface coupled over the power contactor and between the power contactor and the arc ignition detector circuit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The high speed arc suppressor of claim 7, wherein the power contact interface comprises an over voltage protection circuit and an over current protection circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The high speed arc suppressor of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors each comprise an arc extinguishing element, wherein the arc extinguishing element of the first phase-specific arc suppressor includes the first high speed switch and the arc extinguishing element of the second phase-specific arc suppressor includes the second high speed switch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The high speed arc suppressor of claim 9, wherein the one of the first and second high speed switches is configured to short across the power contacts upon the arc burn memory of the associated one of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors storing an indication of existence of an arc across the power contacts. ### Claim 11 A method of operation a high speed arc suppressor, comprising: enabling a first phase-specific arc suppressor of the high speed arc suppressor to suppress arcing across contacts of a power contactor when an alternating current (AC) signal from the power contactor is in a positive domain; disabling a second phase-specific arc suppressor of the high speed arc suppressor to suppress arcing across the contacts when the signal is in the positive domain; and upon the signal crossing into a negative domain: switching a first high speed switch of the first phase-specific arc suppressor to disable operation of the first phase-specific arc suppressor to suppress arcing across the contacts; and switching a second high speed switch of the first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to enable operation of the second phase-specific arc suppressor to suppress arcing across the contacts; wherein the first and second high speed switches are configured to switch the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors between the enable operation and the disable operation in not more than ten (10) microseconds; wherein the first phase-specific arc suppressor comprises a first driver and the second phase-specific arc suppressor comprises a second driver, and wherein switching the first and second high speed switches comprises driving the first and second high speed switches with the first and second drivers, respectively; wherein the first and second high speed switches are insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT); and wherein the each of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors comprise a trigger lock configured to inhibit operation of an associated one of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressor for a predetermined time following an initial detection of an arc. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined time is not more than three hundred (300) milliseconds.