Remote control circuit breaker system with on-off-tripped-problem status storage and indication
First Claim
1. A remote control circuit breaker system comprising:
- a plurality of remote control circuit breakers, each having contacts for controlling connection of power from an electric power supply source over a power line to a respective load;
an electronic control unit for each said circuit breaker;
a local I/O circuit arranged to communicate with said plurality of remote control circuit breakers'"'"' electronic control units;
control lines comprising conductor pair connections between said I/O circuit and respective ones of said remote breaker'"'"'s electronic control units over which said communication is conducted;
a central processing unit arranged to communicate with said I/O circuit so as to transmit close and open commands for said breakers thereto and to read therefrom status data that is stored therein;
means in said I/O circuit for transmitting said close and open commands over said control lines to the respective electronic control units;
four-state sensing means in each said electronic control unit for sensing the closed, open or tripped status of the associated breaker contacts and a problem status of said power line or said control line and means for generating data respectively indicative thereof;
means including said sensing means in each said electronic control unit for applying a close or open operate signal to the respective breaker in response to said commands whenever the command coming over the corresponding control line differs from the sensed closed or open status of the respective breaker contacts;
means in said I/O circuit for periodically transmitting status information request pulses over said control lines to the respective electronic control units in sequence;
means in each said electronic control unit responsive to the respective information request pulse for tripping its data generating means into operation and to transmit said four-state status indicative data back to said I/O circuit;
and means in said I/O circuit for receiving and storing said four-state status indicative data so as to make it available for reading by said central processing unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remote control circuit breaker and contactor system having at least one I/O circuit functioning as an interface between a central processing unit and a plurality of up to 32 devices such as remote circuit breakers for each I/O circuit, each remote circuit breaker having an individual electronic circuit which receives commands from the I/O circuit to turn the breaker or contactor on or off or hold and also senses the state of the breaker contacts and the control line and upon request sends back status codes which are stored in the memory in the I/O circuit to be read when desired by the central processing unit. Four-state status information is provided including open, closed, tripped and problem (low voltage, open or shorted control line). Contact state is determined by directly measuring the contact resistance in single break contacts (or solid state device contactors) or the contact voltage in double-break contacts. The I/O circuit provides noise rejection using measured noise as a threshold to minimize the effect of electrical noise on the status communication signals coming from the remote breaker electronic circuit. In the event electrical noise on the control line or the like causes rapid turn-on and turn-off of the remote breaker, a rapid cycle inhibit circuit for a timed interval stops such cycling of the remote breaker after a predetermined number thereof to prevent damage to the remote device due to overheating. The remote breaker electronic circuit affords manual control of the breakers or contactors and trip indication of the breakers in addition to computer control through the I/O circuit. The system uses tri-state communication circuitry which includes a hold command and prevents unwanted state changes during losses of power or when a control line shorts to ground or opens.
64 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A remote control circuit breaker system comprising:
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a plurality of remote control circuit breakers, each having contacts for controlling connection of power from an electric power supply source over a power line to a respective load; an electronic control unit for each said circuit breaker; a local I/O circuit arranged to communicate with said plurality of remote control circuit breakers'"'"' electronic control units; control lines comprising conductor pair connections between said I/O circuit and respective ones of said remote breaker'"'"'s electronic control units over which said communication is conducted; a central processing unit arranged to communicate with said I/O circuit so as to transmit close and open commands for said breakers thereto and to read therefrom status data that is stored therein; means in said I/O circuit for transmitting said close and open commands over said control lines to the respective electronic control units; four-state sensing means in each said electronic control unit for sensing the closed, open or tripped status of the associated breaker contacts and a problem status of said power line or said control line and means for generating data respectively indicative thereof; means including said sensing means in each said electronic control unit for applying a close or open operate signal to the respective breaker in response to said commands whenever the command coming over the corresponding control line differs from the sensed closed or open status of the respective breaker contacts; means in said I/O circuit for periodically transmitting status information request pulses over said control lines to the respective electronic control units in sequence; means in each said electronic control unit responsive to the respective information request pulse for tripping its data generating means into operation and to transmit said four-state status indicative data back to said I/O circuit; and means in said I/O circuit for receiving and storing said four-state status indicative data so as to make it available for reading by said central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25)
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22. A remote control circuit breaker system comprising:
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a plurality of remote control circuit breakers, each having power switching means for controlling connection of power from an electric power supply source over a power line to a respective load and tripping means responsive to overload; an electronic control unit for each said circuit breaker; a local circuit arranged to communicate with said plurality of remote control circuit breakers'"'"' electronic control units; control lines comprising conductor pair connections between said local circuit and respective ones of said electronic control units over which two-way communication is conducted; means in said local circuit for transmitting close and open commands over said control lines to the respective electronic control units; means in each said electronic control unit coupled to the respective breaker power switching means for sensing their open, closed or tripped state and means for generating serial status codes respectively indicative thereof; means in each said electronic control unit responsive to said close and open commands for applying corresponding close and open operate signals to the respective remote control circuit breakers; and means in said local circuit for causing said electronic control units to transmit said status codes to it and for storing the same. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A remote control load switching system comprising:
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a plurality of remote control switching devices, each having power switching means for controlling connection of power from an electric power supply source over a power line to a respective load; an electronic control unit for each said switching device; a local circuit arranged to communicate with said plurality of remote control switching devices'"'"' electronic control units; control lines comprising conductor pair connections between said local circuit and respective ones of said electronic control units over which two-way communication is conducted; means in said local circuit for transmitting tri-state close, open and hold command signals over said control lines to the respective electronic control units; means in each said electronic control unit coupled to the respective device'"'"'s power switching means for sensing their open or closed state and means for generating serial status codes respectively indicative thereof; means in each said electronic control unit responsive to said close and open command signals for applying corresponding close and open operate signals to the respective remote control switching devices; and means in said local circuit for causing said electronic control units to transmit said serial status codes to it and for parallel storing the same.
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28. A remote control load switching system comprising:
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a plurality of remote control switching devices, each comprising power switching means for controlling connection of power from an electric power supply source over a power line to a respective load; a local circuit arranged to communicate with said plurality of remote control switching devices; control lines comprising conductor pair connections between said local circuit and respective ones of said remote control switching devices over which two-way communication is conducted; means in said local circuit for transmitting continuous close, open or hold command signals over said control lines to the respective remote control switching devices; means for sensing the open or closed state of said power switching means of the respective switching devices in sequence and means for generating status codes respectively indicative thereof; means responsive to said close and open command signals for applying corresponding close and open operate signals to the respective remote control switching devices whenever a closed or open command signal differs from said sensed closed or open state; and means for interrupting said command signals to store said status codes.
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29. A remote control load switching system comprising:
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a plurality of remote control switching devices, each comprising power switching means for controlling connection of power from an electric power supply source over a power line to a respective load; a local circuit arranged to communicate with said plurality of remote control switching devices; control lines comprising conductor pair connections between said local circuit and respective ones of said remote control switching devices over which two-way communication is conducted; means for transmitting continuous close and open command signals over said control lines to the respective remote control switching devices; means for sensing the open, closed and tripping status of said power switching means of said remote control switching devices and a problem status of said system and means for generating status codes respectively indicative thereof; means responsive to said close and open command signals for applying corresponding close and open operate signals to the respective remote control switching devices if a closed or open command signal differs from said sensed closed or open or tripped state; and means for interrupting said command signals for storing said status codes. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification