High-current, high-voltage solid state switch
First Claim
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1. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- solid state switch means operable for selectively switching electrical current flow relative to the supply side of a load with the other side of the load being coupled with circuit ground; and
control circuit means electrically coupled with said switch means for controlling the operation thereof,said switch means including a field effect transistor switchable between a conducting state and a nonconducting state,said control circuit means including means for applying a gate voltage to said field effect transistor for switching thereof to said conducting state and means for rapidly coupling said circuit ground with the gate of said transistor for switching thereof from said conducting state to said nonconducting state in about 0.5 microseconds in order to prevent excessive power dissipation through said transistor during the transition from said conducting state to said nonconducting state.
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Abstract
A high-current, high-voltage solid state switch includes at least one solid state switching component connected to control circuitry configured into a single package. In the preferred embodiment, the switching component includes a power field effect transistor, and the control circuitry includes control logic, temperature sense and overcurrent circuits supported in an adjacent, coplanar relationship. Parallel coupled transistors are used for higher current embodiments.
60 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
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solid state switch means operable for selectively switching electrical current flow relative to the supply side of a load with the other side of the load being coupled with circuit ground; and control circuit means electrically coupled with said switch means for controlling the operation thereof, said switch means including a field effect transistor switchable between a conducting state and a nonconducting state, said control circuit means including means for applying a gate voltage to said field effect transistor for switching thereof to said conducting state and means for rapidly coupling said circuit ground with the gate of said transistor for switching thereof from said conducting state to said nonconducting state in about 0.5 microseconds in order to prevent excessive power dissipation through said transistor during the transition from said conducting state to said nonconducting state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
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solid state switch means operable for selectively switching electrical current flow relative to the supply side of a load with the other side of the load being coupled with circuit ground; and control circuit means electrically coupled with said switch means for controlling the operation thereof, fault sensing means for sensing a fault in the operation of said apparatus and for producing a fault signal on a fault line representative of a fault, and fault responsive means responsive to said fault signal on said fault line for switching off said current flow, said current flow producing a changing magnetic field when said switch means is switching on said current flow and said fault line being subject to inducement of a transient signal in response to said changing magnetic field, said circuit means further including a circuit ground line positioned closely adjacent said fault line for minimizing said transient signal sufficiently to prevent a transient induced fault signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification