Circuit protection device

Abstract

A current control device is described wherein a pressure conduction composite is compressed and decompressed to alter its conductivity and thereby current conduction through the device. The pressure conduction composite is composed of a nonconductive matrix, a conductive filler, and an additive. The invention consists of electrodes and pressure plates contacting the composite. Electrically activated actuators apply a force onto pressures plates. Actuators are composed of a piezoelectric, piezoceramic, electrostrictive, magnetostrictive, and shape memory materials, capable of extending and/or contracting thereby altering pressure and consequently resistivity within the composite. In an alternate embodiment, two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.