Power switching system including a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) array
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsPradeep Kumar Anand, Sriram Changali, John Kenneth Hooker, Remesh Kumar Keeramthode, Brent Charles Kumfer
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Abstract
A switching system includes a plurality of diodes forming a diode bridge, and a micro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch array closely coupled to the plurality of diodes. The MEMS switch array is electrically connected in an (M×N) array. The (M×N) array includes a first MEMS switch leg electrically connected in parallel with a second MEMS switch leg. The first MEMS switch leg includes a first plurality of MEMS dies electrically connected in series, and the second MEMS switch leg includes a second plurality of MEMS dies electrically connected in series.
Claims20
A switching system comprising:
- a plurality of diodes forming a diode bridge;
- and
- a micro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch array closely coupled to the plurality of diodes, the MEMS switch array being electrically connected in an (M×N) array, the (M×N) array including a first MEMS switch leg electrically connected in parallel with a second MEMS switch leg, the first MEMS switch leg including a first plurality of MEMS dies electrically connected in series, and the second MEMS switch leg including a second plurality of MEMS dies electrically connected in series.
A method of starting and stopping a motor, the method comprising:
- transferring electrical energy to a pulse assisted turn on (PATO) circuit electrically connected in parallel to a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switch array to establish a current path to a motor, the MEMS switch array including a first MEMS switch leg connected in parallel to a second MEMS switch leg, each of the first and second MEMS switch legs including a plurality of MEMS dies electrically connected in series to establish an M×N array;
- and
- transferring electrical energy to a hybrid arc less limiting technology (HALT) circuit electrically connected in parallel to the plurality of MEMS dies to disrupt a current path to a motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.