Arc detection using load recognition, harmonic content and broadband noise
First Claim
1. A method of determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit comprising:
- sensing a change in current in said circuit and developing a corresponding input signal;
analyzing said input signal to determine the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies, and producing a corresponding output signal; and
processing said input signal and said output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in said circuit;
said processing including determining a type of load connected to said electrical circuit, based at least in part upon said input signal and said output signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit includes sensing a change in current in the circuit and developing a corresponding input signal, analyzing the input signal to determine the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies, and producing a corresponding output signal, and processing the input signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in the circuit. The processing includes determining a type of load connected to the electrical circuit, based at least in part upon the input signal and the output signal.
113 Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method of determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit comprising:
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sensing a change in current in said circuit and developing a corresponding input signal;
analyzing said input signal to determine the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies, and producing a corresponding output signal; and
processing said input signal and said output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in said circuit;
said processing including determining a type of load connected to said electrical circuit, based at least in part upon said input signal and said output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit comprising:
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a sensor for sensing current in said circuit and developing a corresponding sensor signal;
a circuit for analyzing said sensor signal to determine the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies, and producing a corresponding output signal; and
a controller for processing said sensor signal and said output signal to determine current characteristics and a type of load connected to said electrical circuit and to determine, using said load current characteristics and the presence of broadband noise, whether an arcing fault is present in said circuit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A controller for a system for determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit in response to input signals, said input signals corresponding to a changing current in said circuit and to the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies in said circuit, said controller comprising:
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a plurality of counters;
means for incrementing one or more of said plurality of counters in accordance with said input signals and means for determining a type of load connected to said electrical circuit and whether an arcing fault is present using at least the states of one or more of said plurality counters. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit in response to input signals, said input signals corresponding to a changing current in said circuit and to the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies in said circuit, said method comprising:
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incrementing one or more of a plurality of counters in accordance with said input signals; and
determining a type of load connected to said electrical circuit and whether an arcing fault is present using the states of one or more of said plurality of counters. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification