# US 2019/0377376 A1 · Power switching circuits having a saturable inductor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0377376 A1 - Document ID: US20190377376A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/158,850 - Filed: 2018-10-12 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-06 - Assignees: L3 Cincinnati Electronics Corporation - Applicants: L3 Cincinnati Electronics Corporation - Inventors: Justin Graves - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190377376A1 ## CPC - G05F 1/613: using semiconductor devices in parallel with the load as final control devices (G05F1/461 takes precedence) - H01F 29/146: {Constructional details} - H03K 17/08142: {in field-effect transistor switches} - H03K 17/0822: {in field-effect transistor switches} - H03K 17/122: {in field-effect transistor switches} - H03K 17/74: by the use, as active elements, of diodes (by the use of more than one type of semiconductor device H03K17/567; by the use of tunnel diodes H03K17/58; by the use of negative resistance diodes H03K17/70) - H03K 2217/009: Resonant driver circuits - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES - 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 Embodiments described herein are directed to power switching circuits having a saturable inductor. In one embodiment, a power switching circuit includes a power switch assembly operable to be connected to a power source. The power switch assembly includes a plurality of parallel power switches connected to and receiving current from the power source and a saturable inductor electrically coupled in series with the plurality of parallel power switches. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power switching circuit comprising: a power switch assembly operable to be connected to a power source, the power switch assembly comprising: a plurality of parallel power switches connected to and receiving current from the power source; and a saturable inductor electrically coupled in series with the plurality of parallel power switches for reducing a flow of load current over time into the plurality of parallel power switches without contributing inductance to LC resonance of the power switching circuit during load transients. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power switching circuit of claim 1 further comprising a power supply electrically connected to the power switch assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power switching circuit of claim 2, wherein the power supply is a 30V battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein each power switch comprises a metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a tube switch, a relay, or a mechanical toggle switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein: each power switch is a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) having a source and a drain; each metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) is electrically coupled to ground at the source; and each metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) is electrically coupled to each other at the drain. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein the saturable inductor further comprises a core made of a saturating core material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein the saturable inductor saturates over a time period between about 10 microseconds and about 100 microseconds. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein the saturable inductor has an inductance of about 31 nH upon saturation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein the power switch assembly further comprises one or more switching components electrically coupled in series with the saturable inductor such that when the plurality of parallel power switches are turned off, the one or more switching components enable any residual current to flow through to the saturable inductor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The power switching circuit of claim 9, wherein: each switching component is a diode having an anode and a cathode; each power switch is a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) having a source and a drain; the anode is electrically connected to the drain; and the cathode is electrically connected to the saturable inductor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein the power switch assembly further comprises one or more diodes electrically coupled in parallel to the plurality of parallel power switches such that when the plurality of parallel power switches are turned off, the one or more diodes limit the voltage across each power switch to the amount each power switch is rated for. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein each power switch is a radiation-hardened component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The power switching circuit of claim 1, wherein each power switch is rated for 30V at 100 A. ### Claim 14 A power switching circuit comprising: a power source; and a power switch assembly connected to the power source, the power switch assembly comprising: a plurality of parallel power switches connected to and receiving current from the power source; a saturable inductor electrically coupled in series with the plurality of parallel power switches for reducing a flow of load current over time into the plurality of parallel power switches without contributing inductance to LC resonance of the power switching circuit during load transients, wherein the saturable inductor comprises a core made of a saturating core material which saturates over a time period between about 10 microseconds and about 100 microseconds to an inductance of about 31 nH; and one or more switching components electrically coupled in series with the saturable inductor such that when the plurality of parallel power switches are turned off, the one or more switching components enable any residual current to flow through to the saturable inductor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The power switching circuit of claim 14, wherein each power switch comprises a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a tube switch, a relay, or a mechanical toggle switch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The power switching circuit of claim 14, wherein: each power switch is a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) having a source and a drain; each metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) is electrically coupled to ground at the source; and each metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) is electrically coupled to each other at the drain. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The power switching circuit of claim 14, wherein: each switching component is a diode having an anode and a cathode; each power switch is a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) having a source and a drain; the anode is electrically connected to the drain; and the cathode is electrically connected to the saturable inductor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The power switching circuit of claim 14, wherein each power switch is rated for 30V at 100 A. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The power switching circuit of claim 14, wherein each power switch is a radiation-hardened component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The power switching circuit of claim 14, wherein the power switch assembly further comprises one or more diodes electrically coupled in parallel to the plurality of parallel power switches such that when the plurality of parallel power switches are turned off, the one or more diodes limit the voltage across each power switch to the amount each power switch is rated for.