Patent ID: 8575990

Claim:
A semiconductor switching device comprising: a control-triggered stage comprising: one or more semiconductor switches connected in parallel, each semiconductor switch comprising a power input, a power output, and a control input; a breakover switch comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the breakover switch coupled to the power input of each semiconductor switch, the second end of the breakover switch coupled to the control input of each semiconductor switch; and a control switch connected across the breakover switch; one or more auto-triggered stages connected in series, each auto-triggered stage comprising: one or more semiconductor switches connected in parallel, each semiconductor switch of each auto-triggered stage comprising a power input, a power output, and a control input; and a breakover switch comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the breakover switch of the each auto-triggered stage coupled to the power input of each semiconductor switch of the each auto-triggered stage, the second end of the breakover switch of the each auto-triggered stage coupled to the control input of each semiconductor switch of the each auto-triggered stage, wherein the control-triggered stage is connected in series with the one or more auto-triggered stages.