Hybrid electrical power controller
First Claim
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1. An electrical power controller comprising:
- an input terminal for connection to a power source;
an output terminal for connection to a load;
a relay having a coil and a pair of mechanical contacts, said contacts being electrically connected between said input terminal and said output terminal;
a first solid state switching device electrically connected in parallel with said mechanical contacts;
means for energizing said relay coil;
a resistor electrically connected in series with said relay coil for producing a first signal representative of current flowing in said relay coil following deenergization of said relay coil;
a second solid state switching device, having a main conduction path electrically connected in parallel with said resistor; and
means for controlling the operation of said first solid state switching device, said means for controlling being responsive to said signal to turn off said first switching device when said signal falls below a predetermined magnitude.
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Abstract
A hybrid electrical power controller is provided with a relay having a coil and a pair of mechanical contacts. A solid state switching device is electrically connected in parallel with the mechanical contacts and the parallel combination of that switching device and the contacts is connected between an input and an output terminal. A relay coil energizing circuit is included and means is provided for producing a signal representative of current flowing in the relay coil following deenergization of the relay coil. A solid state switching device control circuit responds to this signal and turns off the switching device when the signals fall below a predetermined magnitude.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. An electrical power controller comprising:
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an input terminal for connection to a power source; an output terminal for connection to a load; a relay having a coil and a pair of mechanical contacts, said contacts being electrically connected between said input terminal and said output terminal; a first solid state switching device electrically connected in parallel with said mechanical contacts; means for energizing said relay coil; a resistor electrically connected in series with said relay coil for producing a first signal representative of current flowing in said relay coil following deenergization of said relay coil; a second solid state switching device, having a main conduction path electrically connected in parallel with said resistor; and means for controlling the operation of said first solid state switching device, said means for controlling being responsive to said signal to turn off said first switching device when said signal falls below a predetermined magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification