Abstract: A low-inductance bus bar arrangement includes at least n+1 individual bus bars for establishing a quick connection of modular components of n dependent circuits. The n+1 individual bus bars are stacked upon each other and are electrically separated from each other by insulation. The two outermost bus bars are electrically connected to each other by an appropriate connecting device. While the several modular components of the n dependent circuits are quickly connectable to the bus bar, the bus bar itself provides an inherently low inductance.

Abstract: Control power for driving semiconductor power components is transmitted by means of a pulse sequence. The same pulse sequence also contains the control information which has been impressed thereon by modulation. During transmission, the potentials of the control power and control information are separated by a transformer. The pulse sequence is subsequently rectified and demodulated after the potential-separated transmission. The recovered control information is then delivered to the components after demodulation.

Abstract: This invention concerns a procedure to operate a turn-off thyristor which can be set to a current-conducting state or a current-blocking state as a function of a switch-on command or a switch-off command. To permit particularly reliable and optimal operation of the turn-off thyristor, the voltage between its gate terminal, G, and its cathode terminal, K, is detected and when it drops below a negative threshold current value U.sub.GKS, a status signal, Z, is generated which indicates the current-blocking state of the turn-off thyristor. A further embodiment detects the gate current of the turn-off thyristor and after the appearance of the switch-off command, the status signal is generated as the polarity changes in accordance with the time derivative of the gate current.