Littelfuse, Inc.

Egis Group LLC

James Riley

Justin C Kaufman

Eric Graham

Chad Beauregard

A flexible intelligent electrical switching device with multi-function capability, and methods of use are presented herein which provide an autonomous, reconfigurable switching device. The present disclosure is specifically designed to reduce space, cost of manufacture, efficiency, installation reduction time and ease of implementation.

Flexible intelligent electrical switching device with multi-function capability

Provided herein is an improved bi-stable relay operable with a relay control circuit including a boost converter and an energy storage device, which is used to switch the bi-stable relay. In some embodiments, the bi-stable relay includes a solenoid wound with multiple coil windings. A conductive plate (e.g., a bus bar) may be coupled to a plunger of the solenoid, and is provided with contacts on each end of the conductive plate. The conductive plate is configured to electrically engage and disengage the solenoid upon respective application of power to the solenoid. The control circuit causes the solenoid to remain in an open position when selectively energized by a pulse for moving and retaining the conductive plate of the plunger against the solenoid for allowing wide operating voltage and reduced operating power.

Wide operating range relay controller system

Provided herein are improved relay protection systems that can detect a short to ground condition on an output of a relay. A relay protection system can bias an output of the relay. The output of the relay can be monitored to determine if a bias level reduces below a predetermined threshold, indicating a short to ground condition. If a short to ground condition is detected, the relay protection system can prevent the relay from transitioning from an open position to a closed position. As a result, a power source can remain decoupled from a load, thereby preventing damage to the relay and the load.

Relay protection system

Provided herein are improved current monitoring systems for monitoring currents having large ranges. A current monitor can include two or more current sensors. At least two of the current sensors can have different current measurement ranges and different current measurement sensitivities. Each current sensor can be associated with one or more current monitoring thresholds. A time delay or time threshold can correspond to each current monitoring threshold. Each current sensor can monitor a same current having a large range of possible current values. When a predetermined current threshold is exceeded for an amount of time exceeding a corresponding time threshold, a signal can be generated by the current sensor. The generated signal can indicate that the measured current exceeds the predetermined current threshold for the corresponding predetermined period of time.

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Lakewood, WA, United States of America

James Riley