Patent ID: 11936176
Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 17:
18. A contactor comprising:
a first power terminal;
a second power terminal;
a sub-circuit electrically connected between the first power terminal and the second power terminal, and comprising at least the following three elements connected in series: an electrical conductor portion, a primary switch comprising a movable part driven by an actuator, and a fuse;
a magnetic sensor configured for measuring a primary current flowing through the electrical conductor portion;
a controller communicatively connected to said magnetic sensor for measuring said primary current flowing through the electrical conductor portion using said magnetic sensor, and operatively connected to said actuator for selectively opening and closing said primary switch;
wherein the controller has a communication port connectable to an external processor for receiving a command to open or to close the primary switch;
wherein the controller is configured for:
i) operating the actuator to open the primary switch;
ii) detecting if the primary switch is effectively open; and if it is detected that the primary switch is still closed, blowing the fuse.