# US 12,003,091 B2 · Circuit breaker device for DC voltage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,091 B2 - Document ID: US12003091B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/440,937 - Filed: 2020-03-13 - Published: 2022-05-26 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-22 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Thomas Beckert; Peter Koellensperger; Hauke Nannen; Hubert Schierling; Dieter Waegele - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003091B2 ## CPC - H02H 3/087: for DC applications - H02H 1/0007: {concerning the detecting means (in general G01R or other subclasses of G01; reed switches H01H71/2445)} - H02H 3/44: responsive to the rate of change of electrical quantities - H02H 7/268: {for DC systems} - H02J 1/00: Circuit arrangements for DC mains or DC distribution networks - H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection - H03K 17/0828: {in composite switches} - H03K 2217/0027: Measuring means of, e.g. currents through or voltages across the switch - 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) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - 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 A circuit breaker device is for coupling a DC voltage branch to a positive and a negative conductor on a DC voltage bus. In an embodiment, the circuit breaker device includes a series circuit including a safety fuse and a unidirectional switch module. The switch module has a parallel circuit includes a controllable semiconductor switch element that is conductive in a first current direction and a diode that is conductive in the opposite current direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit breaker device for coupling a DC voltage branch with a positive conductor and a negative conductor to a DC voltage bus, the circuit breaker device comprising: a series circuit including a safety fuse; and a unidirectional switching module arranged in a housing, the housing including a positive conductor input connection, a negative conductor input connection, a positive conductor output connection and a negative conductor output connection, wherein the positive conductor input connection and the negative conductor input connection are connectable to the DC voltage bus, wherein the positive conductor output connection and the negative conductor output connection are connectable to the DC voltage branch, wherein either the unidirectional switching module is provided between the positive conductor input connection and the positive conductor output connection or the unidirectional switching module is provided between the negative conductor input connection and the negative conductor output connection, and wherein the unidirectional switching module including a parallel circuit includes a controllable semiconductor switching element, and a diode, wherein the controllable semiconductor switching element is conductive only in a first current direction of a current, and the diode is in a conducting state in a second current direction of the current, opposite the first current direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker device of claim 1, wherein the controllable semiconductor switching element is an insulated gate bipolar transistor, a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor or a gallium nitride transistor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The circuit breaker device of claim 2, further comprising: a current sensor to determine a level of the current and a direction of the current. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The circuit breaker device of claim 2, wherein upon the unidirectional switching module being arranged in the positive conductor of the DC voltage branch, the controllable semiconductor switching element is conductive counter to a direction of the DC voltage bus, or upon the unidirectional switching module being arranged in the negative conductor of the DC voltage branch, the controllable semiconductor switching element is conductive in the direction of the DC voltage bus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The circuit breaker device of claim 2, wherein the safety fuse is arranged on a side of the DC voltage bus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The circuit breaker device of claim 2, further comprising: a control device connected to the unidirectional switching module and to a current sensor, the control device configured to control the unidirectional switching module to interrupt current flow in response to a first threshold value of the current in a direction of the conductivity of the controllable semiconductor switching element being exceeded. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The circuit breaker device of claim 6, wherein the control device is also configured to control the unidirectional switching module to interrupt the current flow in response to a rate of rise of the current in the direction of the conductivity of the semiconductor switching element exceeding a current rise threshold value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker device of claim 1, further comprising: a current sensor to determine a level of the current and a direction of the current. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The circuit breaker device of claim 8, wherein upon the unidirectional switching module being arranged in the positive conductor of the DC voltage branch, the controllable semiconductor switching element is conductive counter to a direction of the DC voltage bus, or upon the unidirectional switching module being arranged in the negative conductor of the DC voltage branch, the controllable semiconductor switching element is conductive in the direction of the DC voltage bus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The circuit breaker device of claim 8, wherein the safety fuse is arranged on a side of the DC voltage bus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker device of claim 1, wherein upon the unidirectional switching module being arranged in the positive conductor of the DC voltage branch, the controllable semiconductor switching element is conductive counter to a direction of the DC voltage bus, or upon the unidirectional switching module being arranged in the negative conductor of the DC voltage branch, the controllable semiconductor switching element is conductive in the direction of the DC voltage bus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker device of claim 1, wherein the safety fuse is arranged on a side of the DC voltage bus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker device of claim 1, further comprising: a control device connected to the unidirectional switching module and to a current sensor, the control device configured to control the unidirectional switching module to interrupt current flow in response to a first threshold value of the current in a direction of the conductivity of the controllable semiconductor switching element being exceeded. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The circuit breaker device of claim 13, wherein the control device is also configured to control the unidirectional switching module to interrupt the current flow in response to a rate of rise of the current in the direction of the conductivity of the semiconductor switching element exceeding a current rise threshold value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The circuit breaker device of claim 13, wherein the control device is connected to the controllable semiconductor switching element and to the current sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker device of claim 1, wherein connections, among the positive conductor input connection, the negative conductor input connection, the positive conductor output connection and the negative conductor output connection, which do not have the unidirectional switching module provided therebetween, are connected to one another by way of an electrical line. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker device of claim 1, wherein the safety fuse is in a form of a pyroelectrically tripping fuse. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker device of claim 1, wherein the diode includes a low forward voltage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker device of claim 1, wherein the circuit breaker device is usable in an outgoer switch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A DC voltage branch comprising: the circuit breaker device of claim 1, wherein the circuit breaker device is connected to the DC voltage bus and to devices. ### Claim 21 An outgoer switch comprising: a circuit breaker device for coupling a DC voltage branch with a positive conductor and a negative conductor to a DC voltage bus, the circuit breaker device including a series circuit including a safety fuse, and a unidirectional switching module arranged in a housing, the housing including a positive conductor input connection, a negative conductor input connection, a positive conductor output connection and a negative conductor output connection, wherein the positive conductor input connection and the negative conductor input connection are connectable to the DC voltage bus, wherein the positive conductor output connection and the negative conductor output connection are connectable to the DC voltage branch, wherein either the unidirectional switching module is provided between the positive conductor input connection and the positive conductor output connection or the unidirectional switching module is provided between the negative conductor input connection and the negative conductor output connection, and wherein the unidirectional switching module includes a parallel circuit including a controllable semiconductor switching element, and a diode, wherein the controllable semiconductor switching element is conductive only in a first current direction of a current, and the diode is in a conducting state in second current direction of the current, opposite the first current direction.