A method for controlled switching of a circuit breaker is described. The method includes initiating operation of the circuit breaker at an initiation time derivable from an initiation time function by calculating a value of the initiation time function with respect to a command instant. The initiation time function is a sum of the command instant and a command delay time. The initiation time function depends on a first parameter and a second parameter. At least one of: the partial derivative of the initiation time function with respect to the first parameter is dependent on the second parameter or the partial derivative of the initiation time function with respect to the second parameter is dependent on the first parameter. Further, a system for controlled switching according to the method and a circuit breaker including the system are described.

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an electronic circuit including a first switch coupling a first node of the circuit to an input/output terminal of the circuit; a second switch coupling the first node to a second node of application of a fixed potential; and a high-pass filter having an input coupled to the terminal and an output coupled to a control terminal of the second switch.

A microcontroller unit for controlling a three-level inverter including delayed fault protection is provided. The microcontroller unit includes an input port configured to receive a trip signal from a fault detection module, and a plurality of EPWM modules, each configured to control a power switch within the three-level inverter. The microcontroller unit includes an auxiliary EPWM module configured to receive the trip signal and produce a delayed trip signal, and processing circuitry coupled with the input port, the plurality of EPWM modules, and the auxiliary EPWM module. The processing circuitry is configured to, in response to activation of the trip signal, direct one of the plurality of EPWM modules to shut off its corresponding power switch upon activation of the trip signal, and to direct a different one of the plurality of EPWM modules to shut off its corresponding power switch upon activation of the delayed trip signal.

A switching apparatus includes first and second electric terminals, and first and second electric branches comprising one or more switching devices. The second electric branch is electrically connected in parallel with said first electric branch between said first and second electric terminals. The switching apparatus comprises a current blocking circuit adapted to block a current along said second branch. The current blocking circuit includes a first switching device of solid-state type and a first electronic circuit electrically connected in parallel to said first switching device of solid-state type. The switching apparatus further comprises a current limiting circuit adapted to limit a current flowing along said second electric branch. Said current limiting circuit is electrically connected in series with said current blocking circuit and it includes a second switching device of solid-state type and a second electronic circuit electrically connected in parallel to said second switching device of solid-state type.

A circuit interrupting device including a fault detection circuit and an auto-monitoring circuit. The fault detection circuit is configured to output a pre-trigger signal, wherein the pre-trigger signal is configured to not place the circuit interrupting device in a tripped condition. The auto-monitoring circuit is configured to monitor an auto-monitoring input signal, wherein the value of the auto-monitoring signal is at least partially determined by a value of a pre-trigger signal generated.

A circuit interrupting device including a fault detection circuit and an auto-monitoring circuit. The fault detection circuit is configured to output a pre-trigger signal, wherein the pre-trigger signal is configured to not place the circuit interrupting device in a tripped condition. The auto-monitoring circuit is configured to monitor an auto-monitoring input signal, wherein the value of the auto-monitoring signal is at least partially determined by a value of a pre-trigger signal generated.

Electrical power distribution systems with a bypass unit that electrically engages one of two alternate units for powering a load while electrically isolating the other using a power transfer switch with first and second contactors and mechanical and electrical interlocks to allow a technician to access one of the alternate units when de-energized and in position while the other of the alternate units is energized and powering the load.

This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle configured to disconnect a battery from a load, and a corresponding method. An example electrified vehicle includes an array of battery cells and an electrical conductor connecting the array to a load. A disconnect is arranged along the electrical conductor. Further, the electrified vehicle includes an electronic circuit with a switch and an igniter. When a voltage drop across the electrical conductor exceeds a threshold, the switch is configured to permit current to flow from at least one of the battery cells through the igniter to trigger the disconnect thereby disconnecting the array of battery cells from the load.

A circuit breaker distribution system is configured to provide selective coordination. The system comprises a solid-state switch disposed as a main or upstream breaker and a switch with an over current protection disposed as a branch or downstream breaker. The solid-state switch comprises a microcontroller to: allow repeated pulses of current through to the branch or downstream breaker in an event of an overload or short circuit, choose a maximum current limit for the solid-state switch as a “chop level” such that the chop level is chosen higher than a rated current of the solid-state circuit breaker but low enough that the solid-state switch is not damaged from repeated pulses over a period of time needed to switch OFF the branch or downstream breaker, and add a pulse interval which is optimized to a system voltage waveform in that chopped pulses tend to be longer and more effective for de-latching the branch or downstream breaker when they occur in vicinity of a zero crossing of the system voltage waveform and chopped pulses are shorter and less effective near peaks of the system voltage waveform.

A disclosed electric fence system includes an electric fence; an energizer for generating a plurality of electric pulses applied to the electric fence; a detection circuit for monitoring a voltage of the electric fence; and a grounding device for grounding the electric fence when the electric fence is off. The grounding device is connected to the electric fence, the energizer, the detection circuit, and the ground.