REMOTE-OPERABLE MICRO-ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM BASED OVER-CURRENT PROTECTION APPARATUS

• US 20080310056A1
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Premerlani, William James, Keimel, Christopher Fred, Subramanian, Kanakasabapathi, Pitzen, Charles Stephan, Caggiano, Robert Joseph, Lesslie, David James, Kumfer, Brent Charles, Thakre, Parag
• Granted Patent: US 7,885,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/6
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/008 Protective switches or relays using micromechanics
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 59/0009 making use of micromechanics
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/30 Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/541 Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/08 responsive to excess current responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/261 involving signal transmission between at least two stations transmission of signals in general H02H1/0061

Abstract

The present invention provides a remote operable over-current protection apparatus. The apparatus includes control circuitry integrally arranged on a current path and a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed on the current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current passing through the current path. The apparatus further includes a communication connection in signal connection with the control circuitry such that the control circuitry is responsive to a control signal on the communication connection to control a state of the MEMS switch.

Claims

1. A remote operable over-current protection system, comprising:

a plurality of remote operable over-current protection apparatuses, wherein each of the plurality of remote operable over-current protection apparatuses includes;

control circuitry integrally arranged on a current path;

a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed on the current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current passing through the current path; and

a communication connection in signal connection with the control circuitry such that the control circuitry is responsive to a remote control signal on the communication connection to control a state of the MEMS switch, the remote control signal being received from a location spatially displaced from the MEMS switch.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each communication connection of the plurality of remote operable over-current protection apparatuses is in signal communication with each other.

2. A method of remote over-current protection of a current path, comprising:

measuring electrical current via control circuitry arranged integrally with the current path;

facilitating interrupting of the electrical current via a MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry, the MEMS switch disposed on the current path; and

changing a state of the MEMS switch based on a remote control signal communicated to the control circuitry.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the facilitating further comprises:

determining, by the control circuitry, if the electrical current meets or exceeds a parameter of a defined trip event; and

in response to determining that the electrical current meets or exceeds the parameter of the defined trip event, making available to the MEMS switch an interruption signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the interrupting further comprises:

in response to the interruption signal being received at the MEMS switch, opening the MEMS switch, thereby facilitating interrupting the electrical current.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry changes the state of the MEMS switch from open to closed in response to the control signal.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry changes the state of the MEMS switch from closed to open in response to the control signal.

8. A remote operable over-current protection apparatus, comprising:

control circuitry integrally arranged on a current path;

a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed on the current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current passing through the current path; and

a communication connection in signal connection with the control circuitry such that the control circuitry is responsive to a remote control signal on the communication connection to control a state of the MEMS switch, the remote control signal being received from a location spatially displaced from the MEMS switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to the electrical current meeting a parameter of a defined trip event to open the MEMS switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the parameter of the defined trip event comprises at least one of time, level of electrical current, or a combination thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to the control signal to close the MEMS switch.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to the control signal to close the MEMS switch.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to the control signal to open the MEMS switch.

14. The apparatus claim 8, further comprising a Hybrid Arcless Limiting Technology (HALT) arc suppression circuit disposed in electrical communication with the MEMS switch to receive a transfer of electrical energy from the MEMS switch in response to the MEMS switch changing state from closed to open.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a voltage snubber circuit in parallel connection with the MEMS switch.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a soft-switching circuit to synchronize a change in state of the MEMS switch with an occurrence of a zero crossing of at least one of an alternating electrical current passing through the conduction path and an alternating voltage of the conduction path relative to an absolute zero reference.

17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the current path is one of a plurality of current paths; and

each current path of the plurality of current paths is integrally arranged with the control circuitry.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the MEMS switch is one of a plurality of MEMS switches corresponding to the plurality of current paths, each MEMS switch of the plurality of MEMS switches being responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current passing through a respective one of each of the plurality of current paths.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to an electrical current passing through any one of the plurality of current paths meeting a parameter of a defined trip event to facilitate the interruption, via each of the plurality of MEMS switches, of an electrical current passing through each of the plurality of current paths.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the parameter of the defined trip event comprises at least one of time, level of electrical current, or a combination thereof.