System and method for fault interruption with mems switches

A method of interrupting current in an electrical circuit upon detection of a fault condition, the method comprising:

• receiving power at an input to the electrical circuit;
• closing a first fault isolation MEMS switch via a controller upon powering up the electrical circuit so as to allow current to flow from the input to a first circuit load, the first fault isolation MEMS switch positioned in a first current path;
• selectively operating a first operation MEMS switch in series with the first fault isolation MEMS switch to provide current to the first circuit load through the first current path and interrupt current through the first current path;
• measuring, via a first fault sensor, a first characteristic affecting the electrical circuit;
• providing the measured first characteristic to the controller;
• monitoring, via the controller, the measured first characteristic to detect if a fault condition is present;
• and
• opening, via the controller, the first fault isolation MEMS switch upon detecting that a fault condition is present so as to interrupt current flowing to the first electrical load and prevent damage to the electrical circuit.

A power system having micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch failure protection, the power system comprising:

• a power source;
• a first system load that receives power from the power source;
• a first process MEMS switch disposed between the power source and the first system load along a first circuit path, the first process MEMS switch operable in a closed position and an open position to selectively control a current flowing from the power source to the first system load;
• and
• a failure isolation MEMS switch module comprising:
• a first failure isolation MEMS switch positioned in series with the first process MEMS switch, the first failure isolation MEMS switch operable in a closed position and an open position to selectively control a current flowing through the first process MEMS switch;
• a first failure sensor measuring a first system characteristic corresponding to the position of the first process MEMS switch;
• and
• a control unit programmed to:
• receive the first system characteristic from the first failure sensor;
• determine, using the first system characteristic, if the first process MEMS switch is stuck in the closed position;
• and
• upon determining that the first process MEMS switch is stuck in the closed position, switch the first failure isolation MEMS switch from the closed position to the open position to electrically isolate the first system load from the power source.