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:
Feb. 17, 2015
Filed:
Jul. 31, 2013
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Fall Church, VA (US);
John V. Veliadis, Hanover, MD (US);
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Falls Church, VA (US);
Abstract
A system/method for providing an optically triggered circuit breaker is provided. The system comprises a junction field-effect transistor (JFET) and gate drive coupled to the JFET's gate. The gate drive applies voltage bias (V) to the gate and the gate drive is configured to bias Vso that the system allows current flow through the JFET in the Drain to Source or Source to Drain directions, or so that the system blocks voltages applied to the Drain and/or Source. The system also comprises a photodetector which detects light emitted by the JFET resulting from a fault condition. The photodetector transmits a signal to the gate drive to provide the selectively biased Vso that the system blocks voltages applied to the Drain and/or Source, in response to the light detection. A system/method for providing an optically triggered bidirectional circuit breaker comprising common source JFETs and two photodetectors is alternatively provided.