Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of solid state circuit breaker protection are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a solid state circuit breaker comprising a primary switching device including a first terminal and a second terminal and a voltage clamping circuit coupled in parallel with the primary switching device. The voltage clamping circuit includes a metal-oxide varistor (MOV) coupled in series between the first terminal and an auxiliary semiconductor device, the auxiliary semiconductor device being arranged so as to selectively couple the MOV with the second terminal, and a bypass circuit coupled between the first terminal and the auxiliary semiconductor device.

A driver for a power device. The driver includes: a voltage providing module, configured to provide a voltage required for the power device; a drive signal isolation module, including a signal input end and a signal output end isolated with each other, the signal input end being configured to receive an external drive signal, and the signal output end being connected to a control end of the power device and configured to provide an isolation drive signal for the power device; a short circuit/overcurrent protection module, connected to a drain electrode of the power device, and configured to cut off the power device when a short circuit or an overcurrent occurs for the power device. The driver also includes a Miller clamp module, an under-voltage protection module and an over-temperature protection module.

In a vehicular power supply system according to an embodiment, passage current of a power MOSFET of an IPD of a sub power distribution box monitored by a sub controller of the sub power distribution box is transmitted from the sub controller to a main controller of a main power distribution box. When energy storage amount of a load-based path calculated by integrating the passage current received by the main controller exceeds a predetermined value which is a overcurrent state, the main controller determines that the load-based path is in the overcurrent, and notifies the fact from the main controller to the sub controller. The sub controller switches the power MOSFET of the IPD of the load-based path set to the overcurrent by the notification to a non-conduction state to interrupt the energization of the load-based path.

A component includes first and second switches in series and connected between a power source and a coil of contacts of a safety relay. A first controller controls the first switch with a close signal that closes the first switch or a first PWM signal that opens and closes the first switch on each PWM cycle. A second controller controls the second switch with a close signal that closes the second switch or a second PWM signal that opens and closes the second switch on each PWM cycle. A PWM sensing circuit connected to the coil sends a sensed PWM signal to an input of the first and second controllers. The first controller sends the first PWM signal while the second controller sends a close signal and vice-versa. The controllers verify that the received PWM signal matches the sent PWM signal.

A device includes: a controller configured to output a contactor control signal for controlling an operation of a contactor; a system basis unit configured to monitor a state of the controller and to output a safety detection signal; an operation maintaining unit including a first level shifter configured to shift a voltage level of the safety detection signal, a second level shifter configured to shift a voltage level of the contactor control signal, a retention output unit configured to compare the voltage level of the first level shifter with the voltage level of the second level shifter and to output a retention output signal, and a timer output unit configured to output a timer output signal to output the retention output signal for a preset time; and a contactor driver configured to output a contactor driving signal based on the contactor control signal and the retention output signal.

Line capacitance discharge in a power distribution system employing safety power disconnection is disclosed. The power distribution system is configured to remotely distribute power from a power source over current carrying electrical conductors (“power conductors”) to remote units to provide power-to-power consuming components of the remote units for operation. The power distribution system is configured to detect an unsafe condition, such as a touching or causing of a short circuit on the power conductors by a human. A line discharge circuit is provided in the power distribution system that is coupled to the power conductors and the controller circuit. The line discharge circuit is configured to be controlled to discharge charge from the power conductors in response to disconnection of the remote unit(s) from the power conductors.

The present invention relates to a circuit for protecting a switch of an electrical system, said protecting circuit comprising a variable electronic component having a physical characteristic the value of which varies by at least 10% as a function of temperature, the protecting circuit being configured to prohibit a current from passing through said switch when the intensity of said current exceeds a maximum allowed intensity threshold, said variable electronic component being connected in the protecting circuit such that the value of the maximum allowed intensity threshold is directly a function of said physical characteristic.

The invention relates to a hazardous voltage interlock loop, HVIL, system (10), comprising a first HVIL circuit (12) being associated with a first high voltage bus (52) and a second HVIL circuit (14) being associated with a second high voltage bus (54), wherein the first and second high voltage buses (52, 54) are separated and not electrically connected to each other. The system further comprises a galvanically isolated relay (16) connected to the first and second HVIL circuits, wherein the galvanically isolated relay is configured to open the first HVIL circuit when no electrical current is flowing in at least a portion of the second HVIL circuit comprising the galvanically isolated relay. The present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such a system. The present invention also relates to a method of operating a hazardous voltage interlock loop system.

An electrical power distribution system can distribute electricity from a source to a load, and can comprise at least one solid state power controller (SSPC) having an input coupled to the source and an output coupled to the load. The SSPC can include an open shunt switch connecting the input to ground. A control circuit can couple to the shunt switch and can be configured to detect a failure in the SSPC. A fuse can be connected between the source and the input. A failure can be detected in the SSPC and the control circuit can close the shunt switch to cause a short circuit that will blow the fuse and isolate the SSPC from the source.

A disconnecting device for interrupting current, in particular of a circuit breaker, having a switch and a voltage limiter connected in parallel to the switch. The voltage limiter has a number of parallel-connected phases, each phase including a resistor. At least one of the phases includes a switching element, which is connected in series to the resistor of the phase.