Patent ID: 7453680

Claim:
A power supply in which a feed voltage (U s ) is routed through at least one longitudinal branch to at least one output, the at least one branch having a disconnect fuse formed as a controlled main semiconductor switch (SW 1 ) and a monitoring unit (UWE) being set up to supply a disconnect signal (s 1 ) to the semiconductor switch when there are changes in voltage or current beyond pre-defined tolerances, wherein the controlled main semiconductor switch (SW 1 ) is addressed with said disconnect signal (s 1 ) if the limit current is exceeded, so that the controlled main semiconductor switch (SW 1 ) leaves the saturation state and holds the output flow constant in a limit state for a short period of time, and wherein at least one series circuit of an auxiliary semiconductor switch (H 1 A), likewise triggered by the monitoring unit (UWE), and a ballast resistor (RA 1 ), is connected in parallel to the semiconductor switch (SW 1 ), the monitoring unit (UWE) being configured to keep the auxiliary switch (H 1 A) continuously switched on during normal operation, but in the event of a short circuit or a state similar to a short circuit to lock the semiconductor switch (SW 1 ) and to lock the auxiliary switch (H 1 A) via a disconnect signal after the short period of time.