Arcing detection system and method for vehicle

• US 20060291109A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Yongchang
• Application Number:
  US11/165,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291109A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/5
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/005 Testing of electric installations on transport means
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/14 Circuits therefor , e.g. for generating test voltages, sensing circuits G01R31/1209 - G01R31/1227 take precedence; for testing switches G01R31/327
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0015 Using arc detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/268 for dc systems

Abstract

An arcing detection system for a vehicle includes a plurality of detection modules adapted for installing into the vehicle to electrically connect with the loads. Each of the detection modules includes a current sensor for detecting a load current of the load to obtain a detected current, and a main controller communicatively linked to the current sensor to verify the detected current that when the detected current is an arc current, the main controller generates an arcing signal for denoting an arc fault of the respective load.

Claims

1. An arcing detection system for a vehicle having a plurality of loads, comprising a plurality of detection modules adapted for installing into the vehicle to electrically connect with the loads, wherein each of the detection modules comprising a current sensor for detecting a load current of said load to obtain a detected current thereof, and a main controller communicatively linked to the current sensor to verify the detected current that when the detected current is an arc current, the main controller generates an arcing signal for denoting an arc fault of the respective load.

2. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said main controller generates said arcing signal when a magnitude of said detected current is out of a reference load current range preset in said main controller.

3. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said main controller generates a series arcing signal for denote said series arcing of said respective load when said main controller determines there is a series arcing that said detected current is below said reference load current range, wherein said main controller generates a parallel arcing signal for denote said parallel arcing of said respective load when said main controller determines there is a parallel arcing that said detected current is above said reference load current range.

4. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises a power switch electrically connected to said main controller for controlling each of said loads in an on and off manner, wherein when said main controller verifies said detected current is said arc current, said power switch is activated for deactivating said respective load of said vehicle while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

5. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises a power switch electrically connected to said main controller for controlling each of said loads in an on and off manner, wherein when said main controller verifies said detected current is said arc current, said power switch is activated for deactivating said respective load of said vehicle while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

6. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises a power switch electrically connected to said main controller for controlling each of said loads in an on and off manner, wherein when said main controller verifies said detected current is said arc current, said power switch is activated for deactivating said respective load of said vehicle while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

7. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 1, wherein when said main controller verifies said detected current is said arc current, said main controller generates an alerting signal while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

8. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 2, wherein when said main controller verifies said detected current is said arc current, said main controller generates an alerting signal while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

9. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 3, wherein when said main controller verifies said detected current is said arc current, said main controller generates an alerting signal while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

10. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises an open load detector communicatively linked to said main controller for detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

11. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises an open load detector communicatively linked to said main controller for detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

12. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises an open load detector communicatively linked to said main controller for detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

13. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises an open load detector communicatively linked to said main controller for detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

14. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said main controller generates said arcing signal when a magnitude of the load current is changed rapidly in a relatively short period of time and return back to its original magnitude.

15. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises a power switch electrically connected to said main controller for controlling each of said loads in an on and off manner, wherein when said main controller verifies said detected current is said arc current, said power switch is activated for deactivating said respective load of said vehicle while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

16. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 14, wherein when said main controller verifies said detected current is said arc current, said main controller generates an alerting signal while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

17. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises an open load detector communicatively linked to said main controller for detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

18. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 15, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises an open load detector communicatively linked to said main controller for detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

19. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 16, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises an open load detector communicatively linked to said main controller for detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

20. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said main controller comprises a frequency counter counting a frequency of a magnitude change of said load current to generate said arcing signal.

21. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 20, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises a power switch electrically connected to said main controller for controlling each of said loads in an on and off manner, wherein when said main controller verifies said detected current is said arc current, said power switch is activated for deactivating said respective load of said vehicle while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

22. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 20, wherein when said main controller verifies said detected current is said arc current, said main controller generates an alerting signal while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

23. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 20, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises an open load detector communicatively linked to said main controller for detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

24. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 21, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises an open load detector communicatively linked to said main controller for detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

25. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 22, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises an open load detector communicatively linked to said main controller for detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

26. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises a network interface communicatively linked to said main controller to communicatively network with another said detection module to form a detection network for monitoring arc fault of said loads of said vehicle.

27. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 13, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises a network interface communicatively linked to said main controller to communicatively network with another said detection module to form a detection network for monitoring arc fault of said loads of said vehicle.

28. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 19, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises a network interface communicatively linked to said main controller to communicatively network with another said detection module to form a detection network for monitoring arc fault of said loads of said vehicle.

29. The arcing detection system, as recited in claim 25, wherein each of said detection modules further comprises a network interface communicatively linked to said main controller to communicatively network with another said detection module to form a detection network for monitoring arc fault of said loads of said vehicle.

30. A process of detecting arc fault of a vehicle having a plurality of loads, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a load current of each of said loads to obtain a detected current;

(b) verifying said detected current whether said detected current is an arc current; and

(c) generating an arcing signal for denoting an arc fault of said respective load.

31. The process as recited in claim 30, in step (b), further comprising a step of determining a magnitude of said detected current with respect to a reference load current range, wherein said arcing signal is generated when said magnitude of said detected current is out of said reference load current range.

32. The process as recited in claim 31, in step (b), further comprising the steps of:

(b.1) determining there is a series arcing when said detected current is below said reference load current range; and

(b.2) determining there is a parallel arcing when said detected current is above said reference load current range.

33. The process as recited in claim 30, in step (c), further comprising a step of deactivating said respective load of said vehicle when said detected current is an arc current while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

34. The process as recited in claim 32, in step (c), further comprising a step of deactivating said respective load of said vehicle when said detected current is an arc current while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

35. The process as recited in claim 30, in step (c), further comprising a step of generating an alerting signal for said respective load of said vehicle when said detected current is an arc current while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

36. The process as recited in claim 32, in step (c), further comprising a step of generating an alerting signal for said respective load of said vehicle when said detected current is an arc current while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

37. The process, as recited in claim 30, further comprising a step of detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

38. The process, as recited in claim 33, further comprising a step of detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

39. The process, as recited in claim 35, further comprising a step of detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

40. The process as recited in claim 30, in step (b), further comprising a step of determining a magnitude of said load current vs. time, wherein said arcing signal is generated when said magnitude of the load current is changed rapidly in a relatively short period of time and return back to its original magnitude.

41. The process as recited in claim 40, in step (c), further comprising a step of deactivating said respective load of said vehicle when said detected current is an arc current while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

42. The process as recited in claim 40, in step (c), further comprising a step of generating an alerting signal for said respective load of said vehicle when said detected current is an arc current while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

43. The process, as recited in claim 40, further comprising a step of detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

44. The process, as recited in claim 41, further comprising a step of detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

45. The process, as recited in claim 42, further comprising a step of detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

46. The process as recited in claim 30, in step (b), further comprising a step of counting a frequency of a magnitude change of said load current to generate said arcing signal.

47. The process as recited in claim 46, in step (c), further comprising a step of deactivating said respective load of said vehicle when said detected current is an arc current while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

48. The process as recited in claim 46, in step (c), further comprising a step of generating an alerting signal for said respective load of said vehicle when said detected current is an arc current while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

49. The process, as recited in claim 46, further comprising a step of detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

50. The process, as recited in claim 47, further comprising a step of detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

51. The process, as recited in claim 48, further comprising a step of detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.

52. A process of detecting an operation of a vehicle which comprises a central controller communicatively networked with a plurality of loads, comprising the steps of:

(a) inputting a monitoring signal to each of said loads from said central controller;

(b) outputting a feedback signal from each of said loads to said central controller;

(c) inputting an arcing detecting signal to each of said loads; and

(d) outputting a responding signal from each of said modules to determine whether an arc fault occurs at each of said loads.

53. The process as recited in claim 52, in step (c), further comprising the steps of:

(c.1) detecting a load current of each of said loads to obtain a detected current;

(c.2) verifying said detected current whether said detected current is an arc current; and

(c.3) generating an arcing signal for denoting an arc fault of said respective load.

54. The process as recited in claim 53, in step (c.2), further comprising a step of determining a magnitude of said detected current with respect to a reference load current range, wherein said arcing signal is generated when said magnitude of said detected current is out of said reference load current range.

55. The process as recited in claim 53, in step (c.2), further comprising a step of determining a magnitude of said load current vs. time, wherein said arcing signal is generated when said magnitude of the load current is changed rapidly in a relatively short period of time and return back to its original magnitude.

56. The process as recited in claim 53, in step (c.2), further comprising a step of counting a frequency of a magnitude change of said load current to generate said arcing signal.

57. The process as recited in claim 53, in step (c.3), further comprising a step of deactivating said respective load of said vehicle when said detected current is an arc current while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

58. The process as recited in claim 53, in step (c.3), further comprising a step of generating an alerting signal for said respective load of said vehicle when said detected current is an arc current while said vehicle is remained in a normal operation.

59. The process, as recited in claim 53, further comprising a step of detecting a load status of said load when said load is off.