ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An arc fault circuit interrupter is disclosed. This arc fault circuit interrupter can include any one or more of three different sensors such as a high frequency sensor, and any one of lower frequency sensors such as a current sensor or a differential sensor. The arc fault circuit interrupter can be configured as an in line arc fault circuit interrupter installed in a wall box. In addition, the arc fault circuit interrupter can include a processor configured to determine any one of a series arc fault, or a parallel arc fault.
-
Citations
70 Claims
-
1-43. -43. (canceled)
-
44. An arc fault circuit interrupter, comprising:
-
a high-frequency sensor configured to detect high frequency components of an electrical current flow and provide a first signal representative of the high frequency components; a current sensor configured to measure the electrical current flow and provide a second signal representative of the electrical current measurement; a processor including; an input structure configured to receive a third signal representative of a filtered version of the first signal and a fourth signal representative of a filtered version of the second signal; logic configured to determine based on the third signal and the fourth signal that an arc fault has occurred; and an output structure configured to generate a trigger signal; and a reset lockout circuit configured to; receive the trigger signal; in response to the trigger signal, cause a circuit interrupt switch to open; and prevent the circuit interrupt switch from closing until a reset signal is received from the processor. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
-
-
57. A circuit interrupter, comprising:
-
a first arc fault detection circuit including a first coil and a second coil; a second arc fault detection circuit including a third coil; and a test block configured to perform a test of the first arc fault detection circuit and the second arc fault detection circuit, the test block including; a current supply configured to provide flow of a test current through the first coil; a measuring circuit configured to measure a current flowing through the second coil and a current flowing through the third coil; logic configured to determine, based on the current flowing through the second coil and the current flowing through the third coil, that conditions satisfying criteria related to an arc fault exist; and an indicator configured to indicate a result of the test. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
-
-
65. A circuit interrupter, comprising:
-
a detector circuit configured to detect an arc fault and provide an indication of the arc fault; a processing circuit configured to receive the indication of the arc fault and generate a trigger signal in response to the indication; an interruption circuit configured to receive the trigger signal and cause an interruption signal in response to the indication; and a switch circuit configured to open two closed switches in response to the interruption signal, wherein the two switches when open electrically isolate a pair of load side conductors from a corresponding pair of line side conductors; wherein the detector circuit includes at least two of;
a high-frequency detector, a low-frequency detector, and an electrical current detector. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
-
Specification