# US 2022/0045503 A1 · Electronic switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0045503 A1 - Document ID: US20220045503A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/427,466 - Filed: 2019-12-20 - Published: 2022-02-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-31 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: HUBERT SCHIERLING - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220045503A1 ## CPC - H02H 5/047: {using a temperature responsive switch} - H03K 17/0828: {in composite switches} - H02H 3/023: {by short-circuiting} - H03K 2217/0009: AC switches, i.e. delivering AC power to a load - H03K 2217/0054: Gating switches, e.g. pass gates - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - 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 An electronic switch has a first semiconductor switch arranged between a first source-side terminal and a first consumer-side terminal first, and a switch embodied as a thyristor and arranged between the first consumer-side terminal and a second source-side terminal. The switch is configured to generate a thermal overload from a short-circuit current produced when the switch closes. The thermal overload causes the first semiconductor switch to irreversibly transition into an open state due to a modification inside the first semiconductor switch caused by the thermal overload. This improves the switching behavior of the electronic switch in the event of a fault. Furthermore, an electrical network with at least one electronic switch connected to an energy source and a method for operating such an electronic switch or such an electrical network is also described. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -11. (canceled) ### Claim 12 An electronic switch, comprising a first consumer-side terminal, a first source-side terminal and a second source-side terminal, a first semiconductor switch arranged between the first source-side terminal and the first consumer-side terminal, and a switch embodied as a thyristor and arranged between the first consumer-side terminal and the second source-side terminal, with the switch being configured to generate a thermal overload from a short-circuit current produced when the switch closes, wherein the thermal overload causes the first semiconductor switch to irreversibly transition into an open state due to a modification inside the first semiconductor switch caused by the thermal overload. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic switch of claim 12, wherein the first semiconductor switch has a modular construction and comprises bonding wires, with the irreversible transition into the open state taking place by melting the bonding wires. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The electronic switch of claim 12, further comprising: a second semiconductor switch and a second consumer-side terminal, wherein the second semiconductor switch is arranged between the second source-side terminal and the second consumer-side terminal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electronic switch of claim 14, wherein the switch is arranged between the first consumer-side terminal and the second consumer-side terminal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The electronic switch of claim 12, wherein the first semiconductor switch comprises bonding wires. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The electronic switch of claim 14, wherein the second semiconductor switch comprises bonding wires. ### Claim 18 An electrical network, comprising: an energy source, and at least one electronic switch having a first source-side terminal and a second source-side terminal connected to the energy source, and a first consumer-side terminal, the at least one semiconductor switch being arranged between the first source-side terminal and the first consumer-side terminal, and a switch embodied as a thyristor and arranged between the first consumer-side terminal and the second source-side terminal, with the switch being configured to generate a thermal overload from a short-circuit current produced when the switch closes, wherein the thermal overload causes the at least one semiconductor switch to irreversibly transition into an open state due a modification inside the at least one semiconductor switch caused by the thermal overload. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electrical network of claim 18, wherein the electrical network is embodied as a DC voltage network or AC voltage network, in particular as a three-phase network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The electrical network of claim 18, comprising at least one electrical consumer. ### Claim 21 A method for operating at least one electronic switch or an electrical network comprising the at least one electronic switch, the method comprising: connecting the at least one semiconductor switch between a first source-side terminal connected to an energy source and a first consumer-side terminal; connecting a switch embodied as a thyristor between the first consumer-side terminal and a second source-side terminal connected to the energy source; and generating with the switch a thermal overload from a short-circuit current produced when the switch closes, with the thermal overload simultaneously causing the first semiconductor switch to irreversibly transition into an open state due to a modification of the first semiconductor switch.