Arc fault detection for SSPC based electrical power distribution systems
First Claim
1. An apparatus for arc fault protection in an electrical power distribution system of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a load current input arranged to obtain a measurement of current being supplied to a load via a solid state power switching device of said electrical power distribution system;
a load signature input arranged to obtain reference steady state and transient characteristics of the load supplied current waveforms, thereby obtaining a load signature, said load signature being a function of characteristics of said load being supplied current via said solid state power switching device and operating conditions of said solid state power switching device; and
an arc fault detector arranged to compare said measured load current with said load signature, said arc fault detector outputting an arc fault indication signal when said measured current is outside an allowable range of said load signature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method detect arc faults in an electrical power distribution system of a vehicle. In one implementation, the apparatus (320) includes: a load current input (340) arranged to obtain a measurement of current being supplied to a load (140) via a solid state power switching device (310) of the electrical power distribution system; and an arc fault detector (330) arranged to compare the measured load current with a load signature, the load signature being a function of characteristics of the load (140) being supplied current via the solid state power switching device (310) and operating conditions of the solid state power switching device (310). The arc fault detector (330) outputs an arc fault indication signal when the measured current is outside an allowable range of the load signature to provide protection against arc faults.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for arc fault protection in an electrical power distribution system of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a load current input arranged to obtain a measurement of current being supplied to a load via a solid state power switching device of said electrical power distribution system;
a load signature input arranged to obtain reference steady state and transient characteristics of the load supplied current waveforms, thereby obtaining a load signature, said load signature being a function of characteristics of said load being supplied current via said solid state power switching device and operating conditions of said solid state power switching device; and
an arc fault detector arranged to compare said measured load current with said load signature, said arc fault detector outputting an arc fault indication signal when said measured current is outside an allowable range of said load signature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for protecting against arc faults in an electrical power distribution system of a vehicle, said method comprising:
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obtaining a measurement of current being supplied to a load via a solid state power switching device of said electrical power distribution system;
obtaining reference steady state and transient characteristics of the load supplied current waveforms, to thereby determine a load signature, said load signature being a function of characteristics of said load being supplied current via said solid state power switching device and operating conditions of said solid state power switching device;
comparing the measured load current with the load signature; and
outputting an arc fault indication signal when the measured current is outside an allowable range of said load signature. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification