Disclosed is a circuit protection device including a case, a negative temperature coefficient thermistor accommodated in the case and including a resistant heating element, a pair of electrodes installed on both sides of the resistant heating element, and a first thermistor lead wire and a second thermistor lead wire withdrawn from the pair of electrodes, respectively, and a fuse accommodated in the case and including a fuse body and a first fuse lead wire and a second fuse lead wire connected to both ends of the fuse body, respectively. Here, the fuse body includes a fuse rod with a plating layer formed thereon and a pair of fuse caps coupled to both ends of the fuse rod and having conductivity, and the first fuse lead wire and the second fuse lead wire are bonded to the pair of fuse caps, respectively.

A current distributor for a vehicle, having an input and a plurality of load channels which connect the input to a connected load via a safety fuse and a line in each case, and to a protection system for a vehicle having such a current distributor. In this case, a standby channel connects the input to the connected loads via an electronic fuse, wherein an evaluation and control unit checks the safety fuses for functionality and switches on a semiconductor switch of the electronic fuse and forms a redundant current path between the input and the connected loads via the standby channel if at least one of the safety fuses is identified as having been tripped.

A current distributor for a vehicle, having an input and a plurality of load channels which connect the input to a connected load via a safety fuse and a line in each case, and to a protection system for a vehicle having such a current distributor. In this case, a standby channel connects the input to the connected loads via an electronic fuse, wherein an evaluation and control unit checks the safety fuses for functionality and switches on a semiconductor switch of the electronic fuse and forms a redundant current path between the input and the connected loads via the standby channel if at least one of the safety fuses is identified as having been tripped.

A system include a vehicle having a motive electrical power path and a power distribution unit (PDU). The PDU includes a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit including a thermal fuse and a contactor in a series arrangement with the thermal fuse, and a high voltage power input coupling having a first electrical interface for a high voltage power source. The high voltage power output coupling includes a second electrical interface for a motive power load. The current protection circuit electrically couples the high voltage power input to the high voltage power output, and the current protection circuit is at least partially disposed in a laminated layer of the PDU. The laminated layer includes an electrically conductive flow path disposed between two electrically insulating layers.

A protection device comprises a first planar substrate, a second planar substrate, a heating element and a fusible element. The second planar substrate is attached to the underside of the first planar substrate to form a composite structure. The heating element comprises an insulating layer and a heating layer disposed thereon. The heating element is disposed on the first planar substrate, and the insulating layer is disposed between the first planar substrate and the heating layer. The fusible element is disposed above the heating element. The heating element heats up to blow the fusible element in the event of over-voltage or over-temperature.

A method is for protecting an electrical architecture including a protective device provided with a protective fuse capable of melting in a deteriorated mode of operation during which a breaking current having an amperage greater than a threshold is flowing through the architecture. The method includes, in a nominal mode of operation, periodically estimating a temperature of the fuse and controlling an amperage of a useful current flowing through the fuse such that the estimated temperature remains below a melting temperature of the fuse.

A method is for protecting an electrical architecture including a protective device provided with a protective fuse capable of melting in a deteriorated mode of operation during which a breaking current having an amperage greater than a threshold is flowing through the architecture. The method includes, in a nominal mode of operation, periodically estimating a temperature of the fuse and controlling an amperage of a useful current flowing through the fuse such that the estimated temperature remains below a melting temperature of the fuse.

A DC circuit breaker includes a fuse unit to interrupt a large current with a fuse, and the fuse unit includes a high-speed disconnector that is connected in parallel to the fuse and is opened when a fault current is detected.

A DC circuit breaker includes a fuse unit to interrupt a large current with a fuse, and the fuse unit includes a high-speed disconnector that is connected in parallel to the fuse and is opened when a fault current is detected.

A high reliability AC load switching circuit is disclosed. In some embodiments, the AC load switching circuit includes a high-speed switch connected between the load and the voltage source, a cutoff switch connected between the load and the voltage source in parallel with the high-speed switch, and a level detector connected to the voltage source and to a control input of the high-speed switch. The high-speed switch may be a solid-state switch, for example, a TRIAC or a bidirectional switch, and the cutoff switch may be an electromechanical switch, for example, a relay. In some embodiments a snubber is connected in parallel with a solid-state switch. In some embodiments a microcontroller is connected to an electromechanical switch and the level detector. In some embodiments, both a first cutoff switch and a second cutoff switch are used.