Patent ID: 8482892

Claim:
An overcurrent protection circuit for protecting a plurality of apparatus switching devices from alternating current overload, the circuit comprising: an auxiliary direct current switching device; a first component sensor located in proximity to at least one of the plurality of apparatus switching devices; a threshold detection circuit coupled to the first component; and a controller circuit provided in series with the plurality of apparatus switching devices, wherein the threshold detection circuit is configured to detect an indication of a current value flowing through at least one of the plurality of apparatus switching devices by detecting a current value flowing through the first component and to output a first control signal to the auxiliary direct current switching device to trigger the auxiliary direct current switching device to eliminate the alternating current overload in the plurality of apparatus switching devices, and wherein the controller circuit is configured to be reset and remove command signals from the plurality of apparatus switching devices in response to a power interruption resulting from the auxiliary direct current switching device's elimination of the alternating current overload in the plurality of apparatus switching devices.