Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Mattern

Kenneth E. Mattern has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Hybrid solid state/mechanical switch with failure protection
    Patent number: 4618906
    Abstract: A hybrid solid state/mechanical switch is provided with a pair of mechanical contacts connected in parallel with a solid state switching device. These components are operated by a control circuit to achieve arcless current interruption under normal conditions. A circuit breaking device, which can be operated by a crowbar circuit, provides failure protection for the hybrid switch if excessive leakage current is detected in the solid state switching device or current continues to flow through the switch at a preselected time following the occurrence of a turn-off command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Derek A. Paice, Kenneth E. Mattern