Device to attenuate arc faults in an electric distributor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10818446-B2
Application number	US-201816192824-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2018
Priority date	Nov 17, 2017
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A hybrid circuit configuration, particularly a protection circuit configuration, includes: at least one first external conductor segment; a first mechanical bypass switch in the first external conductor segment; a first semiconductor switch configuration connected in parallel to the first bypass switch; a first electronic control unit for activating the first semiconductor switch configuration; and a bypass switch activation unit, to which bypass switch activation unit at least one field coil of the bypass switch is connected. At least one control terminal of the bypass switch activation unit is connected to the first electronic control unit. The electronic control unit and/or the bypass switch activation unit controls the at least one field coil of the bypass switch in a preconfigured way either with at least one first electric current or one second electric current, the one second electric current being greater than the at least one first electric current.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hybrid circuit configuration, particularly a protection circuit configuration, comprising:
at least one first external conductor segment;
a first mechanical bypass switch provided in the first external conductor segment;
a first semiconductor switch configuration connected in parallel to the first bypass switch;
a first electronic control unit configured to activate the first semiconductor switch configuration; and
a bypass switch activation unit, to which bypass switch activation unit at least one field coil of the bypass switch is connected, the bypass switch activation unit comprising a relay driver, a first capacitor connected to a first switch, a second capacitor connected to a second switch, and a third capacitor connected to a third switch, each capacitor being activatable using its respective switch individually or in combination with the relay driver,
wherein at least one control terminal of the bypass switch activation unit is connected to the first electronic control unit, and
wherein the electronic control unit and/or the bypass switch activation unit is configured to control the at least one field coil of the bypass switch in a preconfigured way either with at least one first electric current or at least one second electric current, the at least one second electric current being greater than the at least one first electric current.

2. The hybrid circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the bypass switch activation unit is configured to control the at least one field coil of the bypass switch in a preconfigured way either with the at least one first electric current or the at least one second electric current, the one second electric current being greater than the at least one first electric current.

3. The hybrid circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit and/or the bypass switch activation unit is configured to control the at least one field coil of the bypass switch in a preconfigured way either for at least a first length of time or a second length of time, the second length of time being greater than the first length of time.

4. The hybrid circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the bypass switch activation unit comprises at least a first capacitor and a second capacitor configured to generate the at least one first electric current and/or the at least one second electric current.

5. The hybrid circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit and/or the bypass switch activation unit is configured to control the at least one field coil of the bypass switch with a switching operation appropriate to the at least one first electric current.

6. The hybrid circuit configuration according to claim 1 , further comprising a current measurement unit in the first external conductor segment, which current measurement unit is connected to the electronic control unit,
wherein, upon detection of a predetermined current, the electronic control unit and/or the bypass switch activation unit is configured to control the at least one field coil of the bypass switch in the external conductor segment with the at least one second electric current.

7. A low-voltage protective switch device, comprising:
the hybrid circuit configuration according to claim 1 .

8. The hybrid circuit configuration according to claim 6 , wherein the predetermined current comprises a strong current.

9. The hybrid circuit configuration according to claim 8 , wherein the strong current comprises an overcurrent and/or a short circuit current.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Askan Kenan

Classifications

• H01H9/542 Primary

  Contacts shunted by static switch means · CPC title

• H01H2009/544

  the static switching means being an insulated gate bipolar transistor, e.g. IGBT, Darlington configuration of FET and bipolar transistor · CPC title

• H01H9/547

  Combinations of mechanical switches and static switches, the latter being controlled by the former · CPC title

• H01H2009/543

  third parallel branch comprising an energy absorber, e.g. MOV, PTC, Zener · CPC title

• H01H47/32

  Energising current supplied by semiconductor device · CPC title