GROUND FAULT DETECTOR
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an interruption circuit electrically connected in a power delivery path, the power delivery path including a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path;
a fault detection circuit coupled to the interruption circuit and configured to provide a fault signal to selectively cause the interruption circuit to interrupt power delivery in at least one of the phase conductive path and the neutral conductive path, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a sensing coil configured to sense a differential current between the phase conductive path and the neutral conductive path, and further includes a comparator-type fault detection integrated circuit (IC) that compares the differential current to a threshold;
a fault simulation circuit; and
a processor coupled to the fault simulation circuit and the fault detection circuit, the processor configured toselectively control the fault simulation circuit to simulate a fault in the power delivery path;
detect a response of the fault detection circuit to the simulated fault; and
determine if the response of the fault detection circuit is an expected response;
wherein the processor provides an override signal to the interruption circuit to prevent the interruption circuit from receiving a fault signal from the fault detection circuit during, and for a predetermined time after, the simulated fault.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes an interruption circuit in a power delivery path, and a fault detection circuit configured to provide a fault signal to selectively cause the interruption circuit to interrupt power delivery, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a fault detection integrated circuit and a sensing coil configured to sense a differential current between a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path in the power delivery path. A processor is configured to selectively control a fault simulation circuit to simulate a fault in the power delivery path, detect a response of the fault detection circuit to the simulated fault, and determine if the response of the fault detection circuit is an expected response. The processor provides an override signal to the interruption circuit to prevent the interruption circuit from receiving a fault signal from the fault detection circuit during, and for a predetermined time after, the simulated fault.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an interruption circuit electrically connected in a power delivery path, the power delivery path including a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path; a fault detection circuit coupled to the interruption circuit and configured to provide a fault signal to selectively cause the interruption circuit to interrupt power delivery in at least one of the phase conductive path and the neutral conductive path, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a sensing coil configured to sense a differential current between the phase conductive path and the neutral conductive path, and further includes a comparator-type fault detection integrated circuit (IC) that compares the differential current to a threshold; a fault simulation circuit; and a processor coupled to the fault simulation circuit and the fault detection circuit, the processor configured to selectively control the fault simulation circuit to simulate a fault in the power delivery path; detect a response of the fault detection circuit to the simulated fault; and determine if the response of the fault detection circuit is an expected response; wherein the processor provides an override signal to the interruption circuit to prevent the interruption circuit from receiving a fault signal from the fault detection circuit during, and for a predetermined time after, the simulated fault. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus, comprising:
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an interruption circuit electrically connected in a power delivery path, the power delivery path including a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path; a fault detection circuit coupled to the interruption circuit and configured to provide a fault signal upon detection of a fault in the power delivery path; a fault simulation circuit configured to selectively cause a current imbalance between the phase conductive path and the neutral conductive path; and a processor coupled to the fault simulation circuit and the fault detection circuit, the processor configured to; selectively control the fault simulation circuit to cause a first current imbalance to simulate a fault during a first power half-cycle; and detect a response of the fault detection circuit to the simulated fault. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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an interruption circuit electrically connected in a power delivery path, the power delivery path including a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path; a fault detection circuit coupled to the interruption circuit and configured to provide a fault signal to selectively cause the interruption circuit to interrupt power delivery in at least one of the phase conductive path and the neutral conductive path; a fault simulation circuit; and a processor coupled to the fault simulation circuit and the fault detection circuit, the processor configured to selectively control the fault simulation circuit to simulate a fault in the power delivery path and detect a response of the fault detection circuit to the simulated fault; and a power circuit including a solenoid coil, a rectifier, and a first resistor in parallel with the solenoid coil, wherein the processor and the fault detection circuit are powered from a line side of the power delivery path via the solenoid coil and rectifier, and the resistor is sized such that, if the solenoid coil is damaged, the resistor will not allow sufficient power for proper operation of both the processor and the fault detection circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a connection device configured to electrically connect conductors receiving line side power to conductors providing load side power; a fault detection circuit configured to detect faults related to the load side conductors;
the fault detection circuit including;a sensing coil configured to sense a differential current between two line side conductors; and a fault detection integrated circuit (IC); a processor configured to initiate and control a simulation of a load side conductor fault and determine whether the fault detection circuit detects the resulting simulated fault; and a visual indicator, wherein the visual indicator is a first color when power is present on the load side conductors, and changes to a second color to indicate improper operation of the apparatus or a fault related to the load side conductors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus, comprising:
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an interruption circuit electrically connected in a power delivery path, the power delivery path including a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path; a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) coupled to the interruption circuit and configured to cause the interruption circuit to interrupt power delivery in at least one of the phase conductive path and the neutral conductive path; a fault detection circuit coupled to the SCR and configured to provide a first trigger signal to the SCR, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a sensing coil configured to sense a differential current between the phase conductive path and the neutral conductive path, and further includes a comparator-type fault detection integrated circuit (IC) that compares the differential current to a threshold; a processor coupled to the fault detection circuit and to the SCR, wherein the processor is configured to; identify when the fault detection circuit provides the first trigger signal; and provide a second trigger signal to the SCR at a subsequent time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification