Patent ID: 7142950

Claim:
A power distribution system for distributing power from a primary power source and a backup power source to a load, the power distribution system comprising: a first input to receive input power from the primary power source; a second input to receive input power from the backup power source; an output that provides output power from at least one of the primary power source and the backup power source; a first switch operatively coupled to the first input and the output and operative to selectively couple the first input to the output; a second switch operatively coupled to the second input and the output and operative to selectively couple the second input to the output; and a controller operatively coupled to the first switch and to the second switch and configured to control the first switch and the second switch to provide an electrical interlock; wherein each of the first switch and the second switch is a multi-mode switch having at least three operational states, and wherein the controller is configured to control switching of the first switch and the second switch between the at least three operational states.