Patent ID: 7196435

Claim:
A solid state relay coupleable to first and second phase busses of an AC power source for switching power from said first and second phase busses to a load, said solid relay comprising: first and second power semiconductor switches connected in a series circuit configuration and coupleable to said first and second phase busses for switching power from said first and second phase busses to said load, each of said first and second power semiconductor switches controllably operative in conductive and non-conductive states; first and second power diodes coupled respectively across said first and second power semiconductor switches; and a control circuit for monitoring a polarity relationship of said first and second phase busses, said control circuit, upon being enabled, operative to control said first and second switches sequentially into conductive states based on said monitored polarity relationship, and, upon being disabled, operative to control said first and second switches sequentially into non-conductive states based on said monitored polarity relationship.