Arc fault detection
First Claim
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1. An arc fault detector comprising:
- an alternating current (AC) line filter for receiving an AC line signal having a line frequency portion and an audio frequency portion associated with at least one arc condition where the filter is adapted to filter out the line frequency portion and pass the audio frequency portion;
an audio frequency filter coupled to the AC line filter to pass a portion of the audio frequency portion which represents an arc fault signature; and
a switch means coupled to the audio frequency filter to disconnect line terminal from load terminal when a signal which represents an arc fault signature is passed by the audio frequency filter.
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Abstract
An arc fault detector configured to process audio frequencies associated with an arc fault condition to detect the occurrence of an arc fault condition. In one embodiment, the arc fault detector includes an alternating current (AC) line filter for receiving an AC line signal having a line frequency portion and an audio frequency portion in the electromagnetic spectrum associated with at least one arc condition. The AC line filter removes the line frequency portion and passes the audio frequency portion to an audio frequency filter which processes the audio frequency portion for an arc fault signature to detect for the occurrence of an arc fault condition.
46 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An arc fault detector comprising:
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an alternating current (AC) line filter for receiving an AC line signal having a line frequency portion and an audio frequency portion associated with at least one arc condition where the filter is adapted to filter out the line frequency portion and pass the audio frequency portion;
an audio frequency filter coupled to the AC line filter to pass a portion of the audio frequency portion which represents an arc fault signature; and
a switch means coupled to the audio frequency filter to disconnect line terminal from load terminal when a signal which represents an arc fault signature is passed by the audio frequency filter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of detecting an arc fault comprising:
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receiving an AC line signal having a line frequency portion and an audio frequency portion associated with at least one arc fault condition;
removing the line frequency portion; and
processing the audio frequency portion to detect for the occurrence of an arc fault condition. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) comprising:
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a disconnect switch having a line side terminal for connection to a power source and a load side terminal for connection to a load; and
an arc fault detector configured to receive from the line side terminal an AC line signal having a line frequency portion and an audio frequency portion associated with at least one arc fault condition, wherein the arc fault detector removes the AC line frequency and process the audio frequency portion to detect the occurrence of an arc fault condition. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification