ARC SUPPRESSION DEVICE, MOBILE BODY, AND POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM

• US 20200135414A1
• Filed: 03/06/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: MORITA, TADASHI
• Granted Patent: US 11,189,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/544 the static switching means being an insulated gate bipolar transistor, e.g. IGBT, Darlington configuration of FET and bipolar transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/546 the static switching means being triggered by the voltage over the mechanical switch contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/59 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switch and not otherwise provided for, e.g. for ensuring operation of the switch at a predetermined point in the ac cycle
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/596 for interrupting dc
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/00 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 73/18 Means for extinguishing or suppressing arc magnet coil acting as blow-out device H01H71/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/46 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the protective device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/54 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/541 Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/542 Contacts shunted by static switch means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/547 Combinations of mechanical switches and static switches, the latter being controlled by the former
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/087 for dc applications

Abstract

[Problem] A new and improved arc suppression device is provided that allows for reduction in power consumption in a semiconductor at a time of power shutoff by reducing power consumption of a current-limiting circuit that is used for suppression of an arc occurring at the time of power shutoff. [Solving means] Provided is an arc suppression device including one or more current-limiting circuits provided in parallel with a circuit breaker that switches between feeding and shutoff of power from a power supply. The current-limiting circuit shuts off a current from the power supply when the power from the power supply is fed to a load through a circuit breaker. The current from the power supply is shut off when a voltage generated by a potential difference between contacts of the circuit breaker becomes a predetermined voltage or higher in a case where feeding of the power from the power supply to the load is shut off by the circuit breaker. The potential difference is generated upon shutoff.

Claims

1. An arc suppression device comprising one or more current-limiting circuits provided in parallel with a circuit breaker that switches between feeding and shutoff of power from a power supply, wherein

the current-limiting circuit shuts off a current from the power supply when the power from the power supply is fed to a load through a circuit breaker, and

the current from the power supply is shut off when a voltage generated by a potential difference between contacts of the circuit breaker becomes a predetermined voltage or higher in a case where feeding of the power from the power supply to the load is shut off by the circuit breaker, the potential difference being generated upon shutoff.

2. The arc suppression device according to claim 1, wherein the current-limiting circuit includes

a first switching element that is turned off when the power from the power supply is fed to the load through the circuit breaker, and is turned on by the potential difference between the contacts of the circuit breaker that is generated upon the shutoff when feeding of the power from the power supply to the load is shut off by the circuit breaker, and is thereafter turned off after a current generated by the difference passes, and

a second switching element that is turned on in accordance with the potential difference to cause short-circuiting between a gate terminal of the first switching element and a source terminal of the first switching element.

3. The arc suppression device according to claim 2, wherein the current-limiting circuit includes a capacitor element that raises a gate voltage of the first switching element when feeding of the power from the power supply to the load is shut off.

4. The arc suppression device according to claim 3, wherein the current-limiting circuit includes a resistor element that sets, together with the capacitor element, a time when a voltage is applied to the gate terminal of the first switching element.

5. The arc suppression device according to claim 3, wherein the current-limiting circuit includes a Zener diode between the source terminal of the first switching element and the gate terminal of the first switching element.

6. The arc suppression device according to claim 2, wherein the current-limiting circuit further includes a switch that is turned on when feeding of the power from the power supply to the load is shut off, and thereby causes short-circuiting between the gate terminal of the first switching element and the source terminal of the first switching element.

7. The arc suppression device according to claim 1, wherein the power to be fed from the power supply comprises direct-current power.

13. A mobile body comprising one or more the arc suppression devices according to claim 1.

14. A power supply system comprising:

a battery that feeds direct-current power;

a driving section that performs drive using the direct-current power fed from the battery; and

one or more the arc suppression devices according to claim 1 that are provided between the battery and the driving section.

8. An arc suppression device comprising one or more current-limiting circuits provided in parallel with a circuit breaker that switches between feeding and shutoff of power from a power supply, wherein

the current-limiting circuit includes

a first switching element that is turned off when the power from the power supply is fed to the load through a circuit breaker, and is turned on by a potential difference between contacts of the circuit breaker when feeding of alternate-current power from the power supply to the load is shut off by the circuit breaker, and is thereafter turned off after a current generated by the potential difference passes, the potential difference being generated upon shutoff,

a capacitor element that raises a gate voltage of the first switching element when feeding of the power from the power supply to the load is shut off, and

a second switching element that is turned on in accordance with the potential difference to cause short-circuiting between a gate terminal of the first switching element and a source terminal of the first switching element.

9. The arc suppression device according to claim 8, wherein the current-limiting circuit includes a resistor element that sets, together with the capacitor element, a time when a voltage is applied to the gate terminal of the first switching element.

10. The arc suppression device according to claim 8, wherein the current-limiting circuit includes a Zener diode between the source terminal of the first switching element and the gate terminal of the first switching element.

11. The arc suppression device according to claim 8, wherein the current-limiting circuit further includes a switch that is turned on when feeding of the power from the power supply to the load is shut off, and thereby causes short-circuiting between the gate terminal of the first switching element and the source terminal of the first switching element.

12. The arc suppression device according to claim 8, wherein the power to be fed from the power supply comprises direct-current power.