Patent ID: 6160689
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: H02H,H03K

Abstract:
A two-wire solid state AC/DC circuit breaker comprising:a. a line terminal connecting the circuit breaker to power;b. a load terminal connecting the circuit breaker to a load;c. a pair of insulating gate bi-polar transistors in parallel across the line and load terminals, connected in reverse polarity to one another;d. unidirectional means in series with each insulated gate bi-polar transistors for limiting current flow to the direction of polarity of the respective insulated gate bi-polar transistors;e. means connected across said terminals for sensing current passing through the insulated gate bi-polar transistors;f. means for providing voltage pulses to respective bases of the insulated gate bi-polar transistors responsively to said current sensing means detecting current above a preselected level thereby instantaneously interrupting current flow through respective insulated gate bi-polar transistors;g. means connected across said line and load terminals for generating pulses and providing the same to bases of each of said insulated gate bi-polar transistors at a potential to keep said insulated gate bi-polar transistors sequentially conducting, comprising:i. means for generating square waves for input to a transistor;ii. said transistor receiving said square waves and providing signals to bases of said insulated bi-polar transistors to alternatingly cause those insulated bi-polar transistors to conduct.