Patent ID: 8054589

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an electromechanical switch structure configured to move between an open configuration and a fully-closed configuration over a characteristic time, said electromechanical switch structure having a minimum characteristic resistance when in the fully-closed configuration; and a commutation circuit connected in parallel with said electromechanical switch structure and including a balanced diode bridge configured to suppress arc formation between contacts of said electromechanical switch structure; and a pulse circuit including a pulse capacitor configured to form a pulse signal for causing flow of a pulse current through said balanced diode bridge, the pulse signal being generated in connection with a switching event of said electromechanical switch structure, wherein said electromechanical switch structure and said balanced diode bridge are disposed such that a total inductance associated with said commutation circuit is less than or equal to a product of the characteristic time and the minimum characteristic resistance.