The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 01, 1991
Filed:
Mar. 14, 1990
Omron Tateisi Electronics Co., Kyoto, JP;
Abstract
A hybrid relay comprising a mechanical relay provided with mechanical contact unit adapted to be actuated by an electromagnet, an electronic relay consisting of a semiconductor device, and a drive switch for supplying a drive current to the electromagnet, wherein the mechanical contact unit comprises: a first contact mechanism for controlling a load current of the hybrid relay; and a second contact mechanism for controlling a control current for a control gate of the semiconductor device; a contact point gap of the first contact mechanism being larger than that of the second contact mechanism. Thus, it is ensured that the first contact mechanism is engaged after the second contact mechanism and is disengaged before the second contact mechanism. Preferably, the mechanical contact unit further comprises a third contact mechanism, for controlling the leak current of the semiconductor device, which may be provided with a delay mechanism for delaying the returning action thereof. By maintaining the orders of engagement and disengagement of the three contact mechanisms, even when the load of the hybrid relay contains an inductive element, the generation of electric arcs in the first and third contact mechanisms is avoided. The addition of the delay mechanism simplifies the adjustment of the contact gaps of the three contact mechanisms.