Patent ID: 6501196
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: H02H,H02J

Abstract:
A circuit for switching electrical power between a power source and a load, the circuit comprising:a main switch connectable between the load and the power source; a load sensor operative to convert a load voltage representative of the load into a load status signal; a source sensor operative to convert a source voltage representative of the power source into a source status signal; and a controller capable of obtaining a master status through arbitration, the controller being operative to command the main switch to an open state and relinquish the master status in response to at least one of the source status signal and the load status signal asserting a fail value; a connector in series with the main switch and connectable to the power source; and a safety switch in series with the connector, the safety switch being operative to transition from the open state to the closed state in response to an input voltage present between the safety switch and the connector becoming greater than a safety threshold, and transition from the closed state to the open state in response to the input voltage becoming less than the safety threshold.