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US 10,770,887 B2Granted
Semiconductor circuit interruption devices using current filtering to improve device coordination
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorGeraldo Nojima
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus includes a semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current between a power source and a load, an inductor coupled in series with the semiconductor switch, and a capacitor coupled to a node between the inductor and the load. The apparatus further includes a current sensor configured to sense a current provided to the load and a control circuit coupled to the current sensor and configured to control the semiconductor switch responsive to the sensed current.
Claims11
An apparatus comprising:
- a circuit breaker comprising a semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current between a power source and a load;
- an inductor coupled in series with the semiconductor switch;
- a capacitor coupled to a node between the inductor and the load;
- a current sensor configured to sense a current provided to the load from the node;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the current sensor and configured to determine a rate of change of the sensed current and to open the semiconductor switch responsive to the determined rate of change of the sensed current exceeding a rate of change threshold.
3 more elements
A circuit interruption device comprising:
- an input port configured to be coupled to a power source;
- an output port configured to be coupled to a load;
- a semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current between the input port and the output port;
- an inductor coupled in series with the semiconductor switch;
- a capacitor coupled to a node between the inductor and output port;
- a current sensor configured to sense a current provided to the output port from the node;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the current sensor and configured to transition the semiconductor switch to a non-conducting state responsive to the sensed current indicating a fault, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a rate of change of the sensed current and to open the semiconductor switch responsive to the determined rate of change of the sensed current exceeding a rate of change threshold.
5 more elements
A circuit breaker comprising:
- an input port configured to be coupled to a power source;
- an output port configured to be coupled to a load;
- a semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current between the input port and the output port;
- a low-pass filter coupled in series with the semiconductor switch;
- a current sensor configured to sense a current provided to the output port from the low-pass filter;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the current sensor and configured to control the semiconductor switch responsive to the sensed current indicating a fault, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a rate of change of the sensed current and to open the semiconductor switch responsive to the determined rate of change of the sensed current exceeding a rate of change threshold.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.