Micro-electromechanical system based switching

• US 8,144,445 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Caggiano, Robert Joseph, Premerlani, William James, Valdes, Marcelo Esteban, Subramanian, Kanakasabapathi, Kumfer, Brent Charles, Pitzen, Charles Stephan, Park, John Norton
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAUER, SCOTT ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US11/761,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,750 Days
• Field of Search: 361/115, 361/93.1, 200/181
• US Class Current: 361/115
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/008 Protective switches or relays using micromechanics
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/088 Terminals for switching devices which make the devices interchangeable, e.g. with fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/124 with a hybrid structure, the solid state trip device being combined with a thermal or a electromagnetic trip
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 59/0009 making use of micromechanics
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/123 using a solid-state trip unit circuits H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/40 Multiple main contacts for the purpose of dividing the current through, or potential drop along, the arc
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/541 Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices

Abstract

A current control device is disclosed. The current control device includes control circuitry and a current path integrally arranged with the control circuitry. The current path includes a set of conduction interfaces and a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed between the set of conduction interfaces. The set of conduction interfaces have geometry of a defined fuse terminal geometry and include a first interface disposed at one end of the current path and a second interface disposed at an opposite end of the current path. The MEMS switch is responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current passing through the current path.

Claims

1. A poly-phase current control device, comprising:

a first current path;

a first set of conduction interfaces comprising a first interface disposed at one end of the first current path and a second interface disposed at an opposite end of the first current path, wherein the first interface and the second interface are configured to couple with a fuse terminal;

a first micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed between the first interface and the second interface;

a second current path;

a second set of conduction disposed proximate the first set of conduction interfaces, the second set of conduction interfaces comprising a third interface disposed at one end of the second current path and a fourth interface disposed at an opposite end of the second current path, wherein the third interface and the fourth interface are configured to couple with the fuse terminal;

a second micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed between the third interface and the fourth interface;

control circuitry in signal communication with the first current path and second current path, wherein the control circuitry configured to facilitate an interruption in response to an electrical current passing through any one of the first current path and second current path meeting a parameter of a defined trip event, via the first MEMS switch and second MEMS switche;

an activator in signal communication with the control circuitry and configured to close the first MEMS switch and second MEMS switch in response to a signal subsequent to the defined trip event;

an indicator in signal communication with the control circuitry to indicate an occurrence of the defined trip event; and

an input device in signal communication with the control circuitry and configured to transmit to the control circuitry the parameter of the defined trip event.

2. The poly-phase current control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third current path;

a third set of conduction interfaces disposed proximate the second set of conduction interfaces, the third set of conduction interfaces comprising a fifth interface disposed at one end of the third current path and a sixth interface disposed at an opposite end of the second current path, wherein the fifth interface and the sixth interface are configured to couple with the fuse terminal; and

a third micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed between the fifth interface and the sixth interface;

wherein the control circuitry is responsive to an electrical current passing through any one of the first current path, the second current path, and third current path meeting the parameter of the defined trip event to facilitate interruption, via the first MEMS switch, the second MEMS switch, and third MEMS switch.

3. The poly-phase current control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to the electrical current meeting a parameter of a defined trip event to open the first and second MEMS switches.

4. The poly-phase current control device of claim 3, wherein the parameter of the defined trip event comprises at least one of time, level of electrical current, or a combination thereof.

5. The poly-phase current control device of claim 1, further comprising a Hybrid Arcless Limiting Technology (HALT) arc suppression circuit disposed in electrical communication with first and second MEMS switches to receive electrical energy from the first and second MEMS switches in response to the first and second MEMS switches in response to a change in state from closed to open.

6. The poly-phase current control device of claim 1, further comprising a voltage snubber circuit in parallel connection with the first and second MEMS switches.

7. The poly-phase current control device of claim 1, further comprising a soft-switching circuit to synchronize a change in state of the first and second MEMS switches with an occurrence of a zero crossing of at least one of an alternating electrical current passing through an associated conduction path and an alternating voltage of the associated conduction path relative to an absolute zero reference.

8. A method of controlling electrical current passing through at least two current paths, the method comprising:

measuring the electrical current via control circuitry arranged integrally with the at least two current paths, a first current path of the at least two current paths comprising a first set of conduction interfaces having geometry of a defined fuse terminal geometry, and a second current path of the at least two current paths comprising a second set of conduction interfaces having geometry of the defined fuse terminal geometry; and

facilitating interrupting of the electrical current via at least two MEMS switches responsive to the control circuitry and a defined trip event, a first MEMS switch of the at least two MEMS switches being disposed between a first interface of the first set of conduction interfaces disposed at one end of the first current path and a second interface of the first set of conduction interfaces disposed at an opposite end of the first current path, a second MEMS switch of the at least two MEMS switches being disposed between a first interface of the second set of conduction interfaces disposed at one end of the second current path and a second interface of the second set of conduction interfaces disposed at an opposite end of the second current path;

wherein the control circuitry comprises an activator in signal communication with the control circuitry to close both of the first and second MEMS switches on command subsequent to the defined trip, an indicator in signal communication with the control circuitry to indicate an occurrence of the defined trip event, and an input device in signal communication with the control circuitry to input the parameter of the defined trip event.