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Title: Wide bandgap optical switch circuit breaker

Abstract

A high-voltage switch is adapted for use as a medium-voltage direct current circuit breaker, which provides a low-cost, small-footprint device to mitigate system faults. In one example, a method for operating a wideband optical device includes illuminating the wide bandgap optical device with a light within a first range of wavelengths and a first average intensity, allowing a current to propagate therethrough without substantial absorption of the current, illuminating the wide bandgap optical device with light within the first range of wavelengths and a second average intensity that is lower than the first average intensity to allow a sustained current flow though the wide bandgap optical device, and illuminating the wide bandgap optical device with light within a second range of wavelengths to stop or substantially restrict propagation of the current through the wide gap material.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1986887
Patent Number(s):
11522542
Application Number:
16/430,021
Assignee:
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 06/03/2019
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Voss, Lars F., and Conway, Adam M. Wide bandgap optical switch circuit breaker. United States: N. p., 2022. Web.
Voss, Lars F., & Conway, Adam M. Wide bandgap optical switch circuit breaker. United States.
Voss, Lars F., and Conway, Adam M. Tue . "Wide bandgap optical switch circuit breaker". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1986887.
@article{osti_1986887,
title = {Wide bandgap optical switch circuit breaker},
author = {Voss, Lars F. and Conway, Adam M.},
abstractNote = {A high-voltage switch is adapted for use as a medium-voltage direct current circuit breaker, which provides a low-cost, small-footprint device to mitigate system faults. In one example, a method for operating a wideband optical device includes illuminating the wide bandgap optical device with a light within a first range of wavelengths and a first average intensity, allowing a current to propagate therethrough without substantial absorption of the current, illuminating the wide bandgap optical device with light within the first range of wavelengths and a second average intensity that is lower than the first average intensity to allow a sustained current flow though the wide bandgap optical device, and illuminating the wide bandgap optical device with light within a second range of wavelengths to stop or substantially restrict propagation of the current through the wide gap material.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2022},
month = {12}
}

Works referenced in this record:

High Voltage Wide Bandgap Photoconductive Switching
journal, June 2015


Optically controlled bulk semiconductor switch not requiring radiation to sustain conduction
patent, April 1989


Blue shift of GaAs micropillars strained with silicon nitride
journal, November 2013


Light-Generated Effects on Power Switches Used in a Planar PV Power System With Monolithically Embedded Power Converters
journal, January 2013


Ruby fluorescence-enabled ultralong lock-on time high-gain gallium arsenic photoconductive semiconductor switch
journal, August 2018


Method of and system for forming SiC crystals having spatially uniform doping impurities
patent, October 2009