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:
Sep. 23, 2003
Filed:
May. 18, 2001
Vernon Brooks, Jr., Roanoke, IN (US);
Franklin Electric Company, Inc., Bluffton, IN (US);
Abstract
Circuits and methods are disclosed for suppressing arcing occurring in switch contacts that includes a triggerable electronic switch in parallel with a series connection of relay switches. The trigger electrode of the triggerable electronic switch is connected to a node between the series connected relay switches, which allows the electronic switch to be turned on to a conducting state when a voltage difference occurs between the node and either of the opposite ends of the switches. The voltage difference arises because of arcing that occurs when the relay switches bounce, typically during opening and closing of the relay switches. The opposite ends of the switches are connected to conduction terminals of the electronic switch, where the electronic switch carries substantially all of the current supplied to a load for a half-cycle or less of an AC current cycle when arcing occurs in the relay switches, thereby bypassing the relay switches and suppressing arcing therein.