Interrupter circuit with MCTS and pulse resonant commutation for rapidly switching off kilo-AMP AC load currents
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United States of America Patent
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Jun 17, 1997
Grant Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Aug 31, 1995
filing date -
Aug 31, 1995
priority date (Note) -
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Abstract
A circuit and method for interrupting an AC load current includes a first MOS Controlled Thyristor (MCT) for selectively interrupting the load current. The current through the first MCT is reduced when the load current is to be interrupted by providing a pulse resonant commutation (PRC) current through the first MCT which flows in a direction opposed to the AC load current direction and which has a magnitude reducing the current through the first MCT to an MCT 'off' condition (e.g., when a voltage across the MCT is reversed, when there is near zero current through the MCT, or when a current is within the MCT's SOA.) The first MCT turns itself off when MCT gate voltage is an 'on' voltage and when reverse voltage is across the MCT. An MCT 'off' voltage may then be provided by sensing MCT current and providing an 'off' voltage to the MCT gate when the sensed current indicates that the MCT is an 'off' condition. The PRC current is generated by a second MCT which is triggered with a brief gate pulse when the load current is to be interrupted. The load current also may be sensed and the gate pulse triggered in the second MCT to interrupt the load current when the load current exceeds a predetermined value.
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