Micro-Electromechanical System Based Electric Motor Starter

A motor starter, comprising:

• micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry;
• solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical system switching circuitry;
• and
• a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry, the controller configured to perform selective switching of a load current from a motor connected to the motor starter, the selective switching performed between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a motor load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.

A circuit breaker comprising:

• micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry;
• and
• at least a first over-current protection circuitry connected in a parallel circuit with the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry, the first over-current protection circuitry configured to momentarily form an electrically conductive path in response to a first switching event of the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry, said electrically conductive path in a parallel circuit with the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry for suppressing arc formation between contacts of the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry during the first switching event;
• solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the micro-electromechanical switching circuitry and the first over-current protection circuitry;
• and
• a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry, the controller configured to perform selective switching of a load current from a load connected to the circuit breaker, the selective switching performed between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current to be interrupted by the circuit breaker over a time segment that varies from multiple times longer than a half cycle switching to instantaneous switching based on the magnitude of the load current.