Arrangement for alternation of two outputs in dependence on a change in the direction of a current appearing on an input

Claim 1

An electronic switching arrangement having an input terminal and two output terminals for the alternation of the polarity of the output terminals upon a change in the direction of a current passing through said input terminal and maintaining said polarity of the output terminals only as long as said current flows comprising: a first pair of switching elements, each of said switching elements having a control circuit for causing said switching elements to conduct a first main current; a second pair of switching elements, each of said switching elements having a control circuit for causing said switching elements to conduct a second main current; a first source of potential; means for connecting each of the switching elements of said first pair of switching elements between said first source of potential and one of said output terminals associated with the respective switching element; a second source of potential; means for connecting each of the switching elements of said second pair of switching elements between said second source of potential and one of said output terminals associated with the respective switching element; a further pair of switching elements, each of said switching elements having a first main electrode, a second main electrode and light sensitive control means; means for connecting said main electrodes of the respective switching elements of said further pair of switching elements to the control circuit of the first switching element of said first pair of switching elements and the second switching element of said second pair of switching elements and the second switching element of said first pair of switching elements and the first switching element of said second pair of switching elements, respectively, light emitting unidirectional conducting means for generating and transmitting light signals to the light sensitive control means of said further pair of switching elements in dependence on the direction of the current flowing through said input terminal, so that the respective pairs of switching elements are light activated in dependence on the direction of the current flowing through said input terminal, and first and second blocking circuit means connected to said first and second source of potential, respectively, said blocking circuits allowing potential to pass to the control circuit of the first switching element of the first pair of switching elements when the second element of the same pair is conducting and to the control circuit of the second switching element of the second pair of switching elements when the first switching element of the second pair of switching elements is conducting, and vice versa.