Patent ID: 8593776
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: H02H

Abstract:
1. A system, comprising: at least one first voltage clamping device configured to clamp a voltage of an input power voltage applied to an electrical load; at least one second voltage clamping device configured to clamp the voltage applied to the electrical load; an inductance arranged between the first and second voltage clamping devices; a switching element employed to selectively establish a coupling of the input power voltage to the electrical load; and a processor circuit that controls the operation of the switching element, the processor circuit operative to: store a plurality of predefined voltage-time thresholds in a memory; monitor the input power voltage to identify an overvoltage experienced in the power voltage among the first clamping device and the second clamping device; and time a duration of the overvoltage by controlling the switching element to selectively establish a coupling of the input power voltage to the electrical load such that, when the input power voltage experiences an overvoltage that extends beyond one or more of the voltage-time thresholds, the processor circuit manipulates the switching element to at least partially isolate the electrical load and the second voltage clamping device from the power voltage until the overvoltage has abated.