Patent ID: 7072196

Claim:
A multi-stage high voltage solid state switch comprising: a) at least one command triggered stage, comprising: i) a current input; ii) a current output; iii) a trigger input; and iv) a solid state device comprising a control input coupled to the trigger input of the command triggered stage and a controlled current path controllably coupling the input of the command triggered stage to the output of the command triggered stage, such that a command signal on the trigger input causes the solid state device to conduct current on the current path; b) at least one auto-triggered stage, comprising: i) a current input; ii) a current output; iii) a solid state device comprising a control input and a controlled current path controllably coupling the input of the command triggered stage to the output of the command triggered stage, such that a trigger signal on the control input causes the solid state device to conduct current on the current path; iv) a snubber circuit in parallel with controlled current path of the solid state device; and iv) an auto-trigger circuit coupled to the current path, having a trigger output coupled to the control input of the solid state device, such that current flow in the current path causes the trigger circuit to produce a trigger signal on the trigger output, causing the solid state device to conduct current on the current path; the at least one auto-triggered stage and the at least one control triggered stage being connected in series, so that when the command signal on the trigger input of the control triggered stage causes the control triggered stage to conduct current, the auto trigger circuit of each of the auto-triggered stages causes each of the auto-triggered stages to conduct current, and a current path through all of the stages of the switch is turned on.