Patent ID: 7885043

Claim:
A remote operable over-current protection system, comprising: a plurality of remote operable over-current protection apparatuses, wherein each of the plurality of remote operable over-current protection apparatuses includes: control circuitry integrally arranged on a current path configured to receive an enable logic signal in the form of a logical-high or a logical-low voltage signal, and configured to provide a gate activation signal; a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed on the current path, the MEMS switch comprising a first contact configured as a drain, a second contact configured as a source, and a third contact configured as a gate, the gate of the MEMS switch responsive to the gate activation signal from the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current passing through the current path; detection circuitry operatively coupled to the control circuitry and the MEMS switch, the detection circuitry configured to provide synchronization signals to the MEMS switch in response to detection of a zero crossing of a current from a voltage source, and configured to provide an output signal to the control circuitry; and a communication connection in signal connection with the control circuitry such that the control circuitry is responsive to the enable logic on the communication connection in logical combination with the output signal from the detection circuitry to control a state of the MEMS switch, the enable logic signal being received from a location spatially displaced from the MEMS switch.