Glass panel circuit breaker

In combination with a frangible panel having an electrically-energizable layer secured thereto in coplanar relation and main circuit means having upper and lower voltage level leads for supplying electrical power to said layer, the improvement comprising:

• circuit breaker means connected in said main circuit for interrupting electrical power to said electrically-energizable layer upon breakage of said panel, electrically-actuated control means operable to cause said breaker means to conduct electricity when said main circuit means is energized, and a frangible sensing circuit strip carried by said panel and extending around a substantial portion of said electrically-energizable layer to detect breakage of said panel, said circuit breaker means including a fusible link connected in series with said upper voltage lead in said main circuit means and in series relation with said electrically-energizable layer, said control means including a solid-state device connected in said main circuit means in parallel relation with said electrically-energizable layer and in series with said fusible link, said solid-state device having gate means operable to render said solid state control device selectively conductive and non-conductive, and means electrically connecting one end of said sensing circuit strip to said gate means and the upper voltage lead and means electrically connecting the other end of said sensing circuit strip to the lower voltage lead in said main circuit means to maintain said solid-state control device non-conductive so long as said sensing circuit strip is continuous and to cause said solid-state control device to conduct when continuity of said sensing circuit strip is interrupted, whereby the solid state control device shunts the electrically-energizable layer and blows the fusible link to interrupt power to the electrically-energizable layer.