# US 10,770,887 B2 · Semiconductor circuit interruption devices using current filtering to improve device coordination

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- Number: US 10,770,887 B2
- Document ID: US10770887B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/291,482
- Filed: 2016-10-12
- Published: 2017-04-13
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-12
- Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Applicants: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Inventors: Geraldo Nojima
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770887B2

## CPC

- H02H 3/44: responsive to the rate of change of electrical quantities
- H02H 7/30: Staggered disconnection
- H03K 17/72: having more than two PN junctions; having more than three electrodes; having more than one electrode connected to the same conductivity region
- 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)
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the rate of change threshold responsive to a voltage applied by the power source.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust the rate of change threshold responsive to the sensed current.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises another circuit breaker.

### Claim 5

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.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The circuit interruption device of claim 5, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the rate of change threshold responsive to a voltage applied by the power source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The circuit interruption device of claim 5, wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust the rate of change threshold responsive to the sensed current.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The circuit interruption device of claim 5, wherein the power source comprises a circuit breaker.

### Claim 9

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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The circuit breaker of claim 9, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the rate of change threshold responsive to a voltage applied by the power source.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The circuit breaker of claim 9, wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust the rate of change threshold responsive to the sensed current.