ARC FAULT ROOT-CAUSE FINDER SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. An arc fault root-cause finder apparatus, comprising:
- a sensing base module mounted to a load panel box having at least one circuit breaker that protects a corresponding branch circuit, the sensing base module comprises sensing electronics that are electrically connected to the at least one circuit breaker and are configured to sense the occurrence of arcing events in the branch circuit, the sensing base module including wireless communication electronics to (i) effect transmission of electrical signals that provide information about the occurrence or absence of arcing events in the branch circuit, and (ii) to receive command signals; and
a remote user interface module comprising wireless communication electronics configured to establish communication with the sensing base module so as to receive signals transmitted by the sensing base module and to transmit control signals to the sensing base module, the remote user interface module further comprising a visual display device to display information received from the sensing base module about the branch circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an arc fault root-cause finder apparatus and method for determining the root-cause of an arc fault condition. In one embodiment, the arc fault root-cause finder apparatus has a sensing base module mounted to a load panel box having at least one circuit breaker that protects a corresponding branch circuit. The sensing base module has sensing electronics that are electrically connected to the at least one circuit breaker and are configured to sense the occurrence of arcing events in the branch circuit. The sensing base module includes wireless communication electronics to (i) effect transmission of electrical signals that provide information about the occurrence or absence of arcing events in the branch circuit, and (ii) to receive command signals. The arc fault root-cause finder apparatus also has a remote user interface module that has wireless communication electronics configured to establish communication with the sensing base module so as to receive signals transmitted by the sensing base module and to transmit control signals to the sensing base module. The remote user interface module has a visual display device to display information received from the sensing base module about the branch circuit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An arc fault root-cause finder apparatus, comprising:
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a sensing base module mounted to a load panel box having at least one circuit breaker that protects a corresponding branch circuit, the sensing base module comprises sensing electronics that are electrically connected to the at least one circuit breaker and are configured to sense the occurrence of arcing events in the branch circuit, the sensing base module including wireless communication electronics to (i) effect transmission of electrical signals that provide information about the occurrence or absence of arcing events in the branch circuit, and (ii) to receive command signals; and a remote user interface module comprising wireless communication electronics configured to establish communication with the sensing base module so as to receive signals transmitted by the sensing base module and to transmit control signals to the sensing base module, the remote user interface module further comprising a visual display device to display information received from the sensing base module about the branch circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An arc fault root-cause finder apparatus for use with an electrical power distribution system having at least one circuit breaker that protects a corresponding branch circuit:
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a branch protection testing module in electrical signal communication with the branch circuit and comprising wireless communication electronics and additional electronics and electrical circuitry to (i) generate electrical signals that represent the characteristics of a true arc and ground fault conditions, (ii) inject the electrical signals into the branch circuit, and (iii) determine the integrity of the wiring in the branch circuit, (iv) determine if the installed circuit breaker associated with the branch circuit is functioning properly, and (v) generate information signals that indicate if the installed circuit breaker is or is not functioning properly; and a remote user interface module comprising wireless communication electronics configured to establish communication with the branch protection testing module so as to receive signals transmitted by the branch protection testing module and to transmit control signals to the branch protection testing module, the remote user interface module further comprising a visual display device and processing electronics to process the information signals generated by the branch protection testing apparatus and display the processed information that indicates whether the circuit breaker is functioning properly.
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16. A method for finding the root cause of an arc fault, comprising:
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providing at least one circuit breaker that protects a corresponding branch circuit having at least one load device electrically connected to the branch circuit; energizing the at least one load device; sensing the occurrence arcing events in the branch circuit; generating electrical signals that represent whether an arcing event has occurred in the branch circuit; processing the generated electrical signals to derive data that represents either the occurrence or absence of an arcing event in the branch circuit; and displaying the data on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification