Patent ID: 7612471
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A hybrid electrical switching device, comprising: an electromechanical relay including a mechanical switching element to be operated by means of an electrical coil; a main semiconductor switching element including a main control input and a main current conduction path connected in parallel with the mechanical switching element for energizing an electric load through a current circuit between a first AC supply terminal and a second AC supply terminal, wherein the main semiconductor switching element ceases to conduct when a current through the main current conduction path thereof drops below a threshold value; an auxiliary semiconductor switching element including an auxiliary control input and an auxiliary current conduction path connected for controlling the main semiconductor switching element, wherein the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is configured to switch to a conducting state in response to a control pulse received at the auxiliary control input, and the auxiliary semiconductor switching element ceases to conduct when a current through the auxiliary current conduction path drops below a threshold value, and the auxiliary control input is separate from an input for the mechanical switching element; a voltage divider circuit, series-connected with the auxiliary current conduction path between the first AC supply terminal and the second AC supply terminal, and wherein the main control input is connected to a branch of the voltage divider circuit, wherein the electromechanical relay is a bistable relay with a first and a second stable switching position of the mechanical switching element, wherein the electrical coil of the electromechanical relay is connected for directly energizing the electromechanical relay by the auxiliary current conduction path.