Patent ID: 7672096
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: first and second ports; a contactor coupled between the ports; and a switching device coupled in parallel with the contactor between the ports, wherein the switching device includes a solid-state semiconductor device, wherein the solid-state semiconductor device is operated to become conductive at a first time prior to a second time at which the contactor switches from a non-conductive state to a conductive state in response to a first state change of a contactor control signal which occurs prior to the first time, and the solid-state semiconductor device remains conductive up to a third time at which the solid-state semiconductor device becomes non-conductive, wherein the third time is subsequent to the second time, and wherein the solid-state semiconductor device is operated to again become conductive at a fourth time which is prior to a fifth time at which the contactor switches from a conductive state to a non-conductive state in response to a second state change of the contactor control signal which occurs between the third and the fourth times, wherein the solid-state semiconductor device remains conductive from the fourth time up to a sixth time at which the solid-state semiconductor device becomes non-conductive, and wherein the sixth time is subsequent to the fifth time.