# US 7,612,971 B2 · Micro-electromechanical system based switching in heating-ventilation-air-conditioning systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,971 B2 - Document ID: US7612971B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/763,631 - Filed: 2007-06-15 - Published: 2008-12-18 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-15 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Inventors: William James Premerlani; Kanakasabapathi Subramanian; Daniel Takashi Nakano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612971B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/88: Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/63: Electronic processing - F24F 11/77: by controlling the speed of ventilators - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract HVAC systems implementing micro-electromechanical system based switching devices. Exemplary embodiments include a HVAC system, including a load motor, a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch, and a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed between and electrically coupled to the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A HVAC system, comprising: a load motor; a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch; a voltage snubber circuit electrically coupled to the main breaker MEMS switch; and a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed between and electrically coupled to the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch. ### Claim 2 A HVAC system, comprising: a load motor; a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch; a soft-switching circuit to synchronize a change in state of the main breaker MEMS switch; and a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed between and electrically coupled to the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a drive MEMS switch electrically coupled to and disposed between the load motor and the VFD. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising control circuitry electrically coupled to the main breaker MEMS switch, the control circuitry configured to facilitate switch conditions triggered in the main breaker MEMS switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a Hybrid Arcless Limiting Technology (HALT) arc suppression circuit disposed in electrical communication with the main breaker MEMS switch to receive a transfer of electrical energy from the main breaker MEMS switch in response to a switch condition that triggers the main breaker MEMS. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the drive MEMS switch is configured to be triggered by a switch condition including at least one of a closed state to drive the VFD and an open state to bypass the VFD. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the drive MEMS switch and the VFD are electrically in series. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The system as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a bypass MEMS switch electrically parallel to the VFD and the drive MEMS switch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the VFD is disposed between the drive MEMS switch and an isolate MEMS switch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the bypass MEMS switch is configured to be triggered by a switch condition including at least one of a closed state to bypass the VFD and an open state to drive the VFD. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the drive and isolate MEMS switches are configured to be triggered into an open state to electrically de-energize the VFD. ### Claim 12 A HVAC system, comprising: a load motor; a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch; a soft-switching circuit to synchronize a change in state of the main breaker MEMS switch; a first MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch; a second MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch, and electrically arranged in parallel to the first MEMS switch branch; a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed on the first MEMS switch branch; a drive MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch and in electrical series with the VFD; and a bypass MEMS switch disposed on the second MEMS switch branch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a control circuit further coupled to each of the MEMS switches, the control circuit configured to facilitate switch conditions triggered in MEMS switches. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the switch conditions include at least one of short circuits and VFD control. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a Hybrid Arcless Limiting Technology (HALT) arc suppression circuit disposed in electrical communication with the main breaker MEMS switch to receive a transfer of electrical energy from the main breaker MEMS switch in response to a switch condition that triggers the main breaker MEMS. ### Claim 16 A HVAC system, comprising: a load motor; a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch; a soft-switching circuit to synchronize a change in state of the main breaker MEMS switch; a first MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch; a drive MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch; an isolate MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch; a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed on the first MEMS switch branch and between and in electrical series with the drive and isolate MEMS switches; a second MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch, and electrically arranged in parallel to the first MEMS switch branch; and a bypass MEMS switch disposed on the second MEMS switch branch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a control circuit further coupled to each of the MEMS switches, the control circuit configured to facilitate switch conditions triggered in MEMS switches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the switch conditions include at least one of short circuits and VFD control. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a Hybrid Arcless Limiting Technology (HALT) arc suppression circuit disposed in electrical communication with the main breaker MEMS switch to receive a transfer of electrical energy from the main breaker MEMS switch in response to a switch condition that triggers the main breaker MEMS. ### Claim 20 A HVAC system, comprising: a load motor; a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch; a voltage snubber circuit electrically coupled to the main breaker MEMS switch; a first MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch; a second MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch, and electrically arranged in parallel to the first MEMS switch branch; a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed on the first MEMS switch branch; a drive MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch and in electrical series with the VFD; and a bypass MEMS switch disposed on the second MEMS switch branch. ### Claim 21 A HVAC system, comprising: a load motor; a main breaker micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch; a voltage snubber circuit electrically coupled to the main breaker MEMS switch; a first MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch; a drive MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch; an isolate MEMS switch disposed on the first MEMS switch branch; a variable frequency drive (VFD) disposed on the first MEMS switch branch and between and in electrical series with the drive and isolate MEMS switches; a second MEMS switch branch coupled between the load motor and the main breaker MEMS switch, and electrically arranged in parallel to the first MEMS switch branch; and a bypass MEMS switch disposed on the second MEMS switch branch.