Systems and methods to protect a MEMS relay switch system

A method for protecting a MEMS relay switch system that controls electric current to a load, the method comprising:

• receiving a turn OFF signal;
• activating an auxiliary switch of a parallel resonant circuit in series with the load, the parallel resonant circuit comprising the auxiliary switch in series with a capacitor configured to be pre-charged by a voltage source, and an inductor in parallel with the auxiliary switch and the capacitor, the inductor being in series with the load;
• setting a time delay within a resonant half cycle of the parallel resonant circuit for the electric current to cross zero within a predefined electric current band;
• turning OFF the MEMS relay switch system;
• and
• turning OFF the auxiliary switch.

A method for protecting a MEMS relay switch system that controls electric current to a load, the method comprising:

• receiving a turn ON signal;
• activating an auxiliary switch of a parallel resonant circuit in series with the load, the parallel resonant circuit comprising the auxiliary switch in series with a capacitor configured to be pre-charged by a voltage source, and an inductor in parallel with the auxiliary switch and the capacitor, the inductor being in series with the load;
• setting a time delay within a resonant half cycle of the parallel resonant circuit for a voltage of the MEMS relay switch system to go negative and recover through a zero voltage within a predefined voltage band;
• turning ON the MEMS relay switch system;
• and
• turning OFF the auxiliary switch.