US 12,074,426 B2
Hybrid circuit breaker using a transient commutation current injector circuit
Zheng John Shen, Chicago, IL (US); and Yuanfeng Zhou, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Chicago, IL (US)
Appl. No. 17/293,554
Filed by Zheng John Shen, Chicago, IL (US); and Yuanfeng Zhou, Chicago, IL (US)
PCT Filed May 31, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/034901
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 13, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/101741, PCT Pub. Date May 22, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/760,200, filed on Nov. 13, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0006281 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. H02H 3/087 (2006.01); H02H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02H 3/087 (2013.01) [H02H 1/0007 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A circuit breaker, comprising:
a first current path including a mechanical switch;
a second current path in parallel connection to the first current path, the second current path including a current injector in series with an electronic switch; and
a control circuit in combination with the current injector, the control circuit is configured to initiate pulse-width modulation (PWM) signals to activate the current injector upon a detected overcurrent condition in the first current path, wherein upon activation during the detected overcurrent condition the current injector generates a regulated pulse current and the mechanical switch opens when the regulated pulse current of the current injector commutates a load current from the first current path to the second current path.