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US 5,153,802 AGranted
Static switch
AssigneeMerlin Gerin
InventorsJean-Luc Mertz, Pierre Perichon, Bruno Beranger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For a preset period following application of a closing order, the semi-conductor of the static power switch, supplied with DC voltage, is controlled by a regulating circuit so as to operate as a current generator limiting the current to a value much lower than its rated value. A fuse acts as measuring shunt. The switch can comprise a circuit breaker function. In this case, the fault detection circuit measures the voltage at the terminals of the semi-conductor and supplies an opening signal when this voltage exceeds a preset threshold.
Claims10
A static switch comprising:
- a semi-conductor device, which is connected in series with a load to the terminals of a DC voltage supply during operation;
- control means for controlling an operating voltage of the semi-conductor device;
- means for measuring the current flowing in the semi-conductor device;
- and regulating means for regulating the operating voltage of the semi-conductor device in terms of said current;
- wherein the control means comprises a time delay circuit, to one input of which a switch closing or opening signal is applied during operation, and circuit means, connected to an output of the time delay circuit, for producing a rated operating voltage of the semi-conductor device after a preset time delay period following the application of a closing signal to the input of the time delay circuit;
- and wherein the regulated operating voltage produced by the regulating means is applied to the semi-conductor device during said time delay period so that the semi-conductor device operates during said time delay period as a current generator, thereby limiting the current permitted to pass through the static switch to a preset value that is much lower than the rated current of the static switch.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.