# US 2026/0100570 A1 · User interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0100570 A1 - Document ID: US20260100570A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/907,003 - Filed: 2024-10-04 - Published: 2026-04-09 - Earliest claimed: 2024-10-04 - Assignees: Atom Power, Inc. - Applicants: Atom Power, Inc. - Inventors: Matthew Deese; Andrew Nicholas Dames; Paul Jeffrey Dunaway; Zijian Zhao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260100570A1 ## CPC - H02H 3/08: responsive to excess current (responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04) - H02H 3/04: with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned {(watching of pilot wires H02H1/0084; protection of protective arrangements H02H7/008; indication of the state of electronic switches H03K17/18)} - H03K 17/0822: {in field-effect transistor switches} - 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 A circuit breaker includes an air gap device having contacts that can be opened and closed to interrupt or connect electrical power to a downstream load, a solenoid coupled to the air gap device and configured to actuate the contacts, and a firmware state machine having at least four unique states (STANDBY, TRIP, OFF, ON) that controls the solenoid and opens/closes the contacts based on inputs received from a user interface element. The user interface element has a single lever with at least two positions and sends signals to the firmware state machine indicating the position of the lever. A sensor coupled to the user interface element detects when the lever is moved, sending a signal to the firmware state machine. At least one FET switch is coupled between the air gap device and the downstream load in response to a signal from the firmware state machine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit breaker comprising: a user interface element configured to receive input from a user; an air gap device having contacts that can be electrically opened and closed to interrupt or connect electrical power to a downstream load; a firmware state machine having at least four unique states, including STANDBY, TRIP, OFF, and ON, wherein the firmware state machine is configured to open or close the contacts of the air gap device based on the current firmware state and inputs received from the user interface element; and at least one field-effect transistor (FET) switch coupled between the air gap device and the downstream load, wherein the FET switch is configured to open or close in response to a signal from the firmware state machine and when opening the FET switch ensure that the FET switch interrupts the flow of current prior to opening the air gap device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the at least one FET is a normally ON type. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the at least one FET is a normally OFF type. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein a user can remotely reset the circuit breaker from the TRIPPED state to the ON state by way of the user interface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the user interface element comprises a lever that can be moved between at least two positions, including an up position and a down position, wherein the user interface element is configured to send signals to the firmware state machine indicating the position of the lever. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The circuit breaker of claim 5 further comprising a sensor coupled to the user interface element and configured to detect when the lever is moved from one position to another, and to send a signal to the firmware state machine indicating that the lever has been moved. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The circuit breaker of claim 6 wherein the sensor is a microswitch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker of claim 1 further comprising: breaker electronics configured with the firmware state machine; and non-volatile memory in communication with the breaker electronics, wherein the firmware state machine is configured to store at least one of the unique states in the non-volatile memory. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The circuit breaker of claim 8 further comprising: a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to execute instructions based on configurations stored in non-volatile memory on the breaker electronics, including instructions for controlling the solenoid and FET switch based on the current firmware state and inputs received from the user interface element, wherein the solenoid is controllably coupled to the microcontroller and configured to open or close the air gap device when driven by the microcontroller; and at least one sensor or switch coupled to the air gap device, solenoid, or other components of the circuit breaker, wherein the sensor or switch is configured to send signals to the microcontroller indicating the status of the air gap device, solenoid, or other components. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The circuit breaker of claim 9 further comprising: a power supply, wherein the power supply is configured to provide power to the microcontroller, solenoid, FET switch; and at least one input/output (I/O) interface, wherein the I/O interface is configured to receive inputs from the user interface element and send signals to the microcontroller based on the current firmware state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker of claim 1 further comprising a visual indicator that shows the current firmware state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The circuit breaker of claim 11 wherein the visual indicator is an e-ink display. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the circuit breaker is configured to fit within a volume that is between 12 cubic inches and 14 cubic inches. ### Claim 14 A method for controlling a circuit breaker, the method comprising: providing an air gap device having contacts that can be electrically opened and closed to interrupt or connect electrical power to a downstream load; implementing a firmware state machine having at least four unique states (STANDBY, TRIP, OFF, ON), wherein the firmware state machine is configured to control the solenoid and open or close the air gap device based on the current firmware state and inputs received from a user interface element; providing the user interface element configured to send signals to the firmware state machine indicating a user's input of a selectable one of the at least four unique states; coupling a sensor to the user interface element; and configuring the sensor to detect the user's input and sending a signal to the firmware state machine indicating the user's selection; and coupling at least one field-effect transistor (FET) switch between the air gap device and the downstream load, wherein the FET switch is configured to open to open or close in response to a signal from the firmware state machine and when opening the FET switch ensure that the FET switch interrupts the flow of current prior to opening the air gap device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method for controlling the circuit breaker of claim 14 wherein the at least one FET is a normally ON type. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method for controlling the circuit breaker of claim 14 wherein the at least one FET is a normally OFF type. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method for controlling the circuit breaker of claim 14 wherein the user interface element is a lever configured to be moved between at least two positions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method for controlling the circuit breaker of claim 17 further comprising detecting the position of the lever by way of the sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method for controlling the circuit breaker of claim 17 wherein the sensor is a microswitch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method for controlling the circuit breaker of claim 15 wherein the circuit breaker further comprises a visual indicator configured to indicate to a user a present state of the circuit breaker. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method for controlling the circuit breaker of claim 20 wherein the visual indicator is an e-ink display. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method for operating the circuit breaker of claim 14 comprising: providing the circuit breaker with breaker electronics and a non-volatile memory; operating the circuit breaker using the firmware state machine to manage at least one unique state of the circuit breaker; and storing the at least one unique state in the non-volatile memory by the firmware state machine. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The method for controlling the circuit breaker of claim 14 comprising: providing the circuit breaker with a microcontroller, non-volatile memory, a solenoid, and at least one sensor or switch; storing instructions in the non-volatile memory for controlling the solenoid and FET switch based on the current firmware state and inputs received from the user interface element; executing the stored instructions on the microcontroller to control the circuit breaker's components, including driving the solenoid to open or close the air gap device; receiving signals from the at least one sensor or switch indicating the status of the air gap device, solenoid, or other components; and using the received signals to inform the operation of the circuit breaker.