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Arc detection system

  • US 5,280,404 A
  • Filed: 05/15/1992
  • Issued: 01/18/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An arc detector for detecting electrical arcs across a break in a line carrying a current in an electrical system, the line carrying a current when a path is provided for current flow, the path either provided by the line without a break or by an arc across the break in the line, with no current path being provided when the break is present and no arc is present, the arc detector comprising:

  • a current sensor coupled to the line carrying the current, for measuring a current amplitude and providing a current signal proportional to said current amplitude;

    a filtering amplifier for amplifying only desired frequency components of said current signal into an amplified signal and for rejecting unwanted low frequency components, wherein arc pulses form steep clock edges in said amplified signal; and

    an accumulator, coupled to an output of said filtering amplifier and having a reset input, for counting said steep clock edges in said amplified signal, said accumulator asserting a detection signal at an output node when said accumulator accumulates a predetermined threshold number of clock edges, said accumulator beginning an accumulation of clock edges after a reset signal is asserted at said reset input to said accumulator.

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