A circuit breaker comprises a solid-state switch, an air-gap electromagnetic switch, switch control circuitry, a zero-crossing detection circuit, and a current sensor. The solid-state and air-gap switches are connected in series in an electrical path between line input and load output terminals of the circuit breaker. The switch control circuitry controls the solid-state and air-gap switches. The zero-crossing detection circuit detects zero crossings of an AC waveform on the electrical path. The current sensor senses current flow in the electrical path to detect a fault condition based on the sensed current flow. In response to a detected fault condition, the switch control circuitry generates control signals to place the solid-state switch into a switched-off state and place the air-gap switch into a switched-open state after the solid-state switch is placed into the switched-off state. The switch control circuitry utilizes zero-crossing detection signals output from the zero-crossing detection circuit to determine when to place the air-gap switch into the switched-open state.

Some embodiments are directed to an apparatus for detecting and suppressing DC electric arcs at a component, and are particularly adapted for vehicle wiring harnesses. The apparatus can include a detector circuit electrically connected to input and output terminals so as to be electrically connected in parallel to the component, the detector circuit being configured to detect a significant voltage spike across the component upon the component actuating between open and closed positions. The detector circuit can also be configured to transmit a control signal upon detecting the significant voltage spike. The detector circuit can include multiple circuit elements, enabling both the detection of the significant voltage spike and the transmission of the control signal, that are directly electrically connected to each other. A switching circuit conducts electricity from the power source side of the component to the load side of the component upon receipt of the control signal.

A switching apparatus for carrying and disconnecting electric currents includes: a first mechanical contact arrangement; a second mechanical contact arrangement which is connected in series with the first mechanical contact arrangement; a semiconductor switch which is connected in parallel to the first mechanical contact arrangement; a switching electronics system for switching on and switching off the semiconductor switch; and a control circuit for ascertaining a voltage across the first mechanical contact arrangement as an ascertained voltage and generating an actuation signal for the switching electronics system, which actuation signal switches on the semiconductor switch, depending on the ascertained voltage. During a switching process, the switching apparatus closes the two mechanical contact arrangements with a time delay in relation to one another.

A hybridization system for an electric device having two terminals and two states including a closed state allowing an electric current to circulate between the two terminals and an open state blocking the circulation of the electric current between the terminals, the device being suitable for an electric arc to be generated during the switching from the closed state to the open state. The hybridization system includes: two conductors connected to the two terminals of the electric device; a timer switch having two terminals connected to the two conductors and the timer switch being suitable for being in the open state by default and, after a first predetermined duration following the triggering of the electric arc, switching to the closed state for a second predetermined duration, and an electric power supply of the timer switch, connected to the two conductors in order to derive its power only from the electric energy provided by the electric arc.

The DC interrupting device includes a main current conduction unit including a main interrupting switch, which is a mechanical switch, a reverse current power supply unit connected to an input terminal of the main current conduction unit and configured to generate a predetermined reverse current, and a reverse current conduction unit configured to supply the reverse current to an output terminal of the main current conduction unit. The reverse current power supply unit includes a first reverse current dedicated capacitor charged by a voltage applied to an input terminal of the main current conduction unit, a polarity reversing inductor configured to reverse a polarity of the first reverse current dedicated capacitor, and a reverse current power supply unit switch configured to perform circuit connection such that the polarity reversing inductor reverses the polarity of the first reverse current dedicated capacitor.

A flexible circuit breaker is disclosed having at least two semiconductor switches, where the flexible circuit breaker has at least one input and at least two outputs, where each of the at least two semiconductor switches can carry a defined current, where each of the semiconductor switches is monitored individually in relation to the current flowing through, where the first output is assigned to the first semiconductor switch, where by a selection using a selection device on the flexible circuit breaker, one can select whether the current through a second semiconductor switch is assigned to the second output or the first output.

The present disclosure relates to direct current arc extinguishing circuit and apparatus. The direct current arc extinguishing circuit and apparatus are suitable for quickly extinguishing arc of mechanical contacts such as mechanical switches, where a mechanical switch requiring arc extinguishing is connected with a load in series. It includes a voltage detection switch and a capacitor, wherein the voltage detection switch is connected with the capacitor. During the breaking of the mechanical switch, the capacitor forms a discharge loop by the voltage detection switch and the load, and is used for breaking arc extinguishing of the mechanical switch. The present disclosure is reasonable in design and has the advantages of low cost and high arc extinguishing speed.

A low-voltage protective device includes: at least one outer conductor path from an outer conductor power terminal of the low-voltage protective device to an outer conductor load terminal of the low-voltage protective device; a neutral conductor path from a neutral conductor terminal of the low-voltage protective device to a neutral conductor load terminal of the low-voltage protective device; a mechanical bypass switch arranged in the outer conductor path; a first semiconductor circuit arrangement connected in parallel to the mechanical bypass switch, the first semiconductor circuit arrangement having at least one power semiconductor, such as an IGBT, with a control terminal, such as a gate terminal; an electronic control unit; a current-measurement arrangement arranged in the outer conductor path, connected to the electronic control unit of the protective device; and at least one voltage measurement arrangement for detecting a Miller effect-induced voltage spike at the at least one power semiconductor.

A current limiting circuit configured to: before release of a touch between a second contact provided at a position where a terminal on a power receiving side in which a current flows at supply of DC power in an electrode that supplies the DC power touches before touching a first contact provided for the electrode at supply of the DC power and the terminal, decrease the current flowing into the terminal through the second contact; and avoid flowing a current in a case where the terminal is touching the first contact, and decrease the current flowing into the terminal through the second contact only in a case where the terminal is touching the second contact.

A separating device for interrupting a direct current of a current path, in particular for an on-board electrical system of a motor vehicle. The separating device has a hybrid switch with a current-conducting mechanical contact system and a first semiconductor switch connected to the hybrid switch in parallel and having a switchable resistance cascade with at least one ohmic resistor which is connected to the contact system of the hybrid switch in parallel.