Circuit breaker with integrated control features
First Claim
1. An intelligent circuit breaker for controlling the current flow from an AC main to a load, which circuit breaker has a series breaker element that can be controlled by a generated control signal to control current flow to the load through the series breaker element, comprising:
- a parameter sensor for sensing the parameters of the circuit breaker relating to current flowing through the circuit breaker from the AC main to the load;
a storage device for storing predetermined performance parameters for desired relationships between the current and the load that define acceptable operating current constraints of the load, wherein said acceptable operating current constraints vary with time according to the load that is associated with the series breaker element at a given time; and
a controller for comparing the sensed parameters detected by said parameter sensor to said stored predetermined performance parameters and generating said control signal when the sensed parameters fall outside of said acceptable operating current constraints.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digitally controlled circuit breaker includes a conventional thermal circuit breaker (10) which is controlled by a solenoid (16) to override the thermal aspect thereof. The solenoid (16) is controlled by a digital processing section (20). The digital processing section (20) has a digital control module (22) with multiple profile tables associated therewith. The profile tables allow the digital control module (22) to compare a sensed current from a sensor (24) with a predetermined current value as a function of time and to generate the control signal for the solenoid (16) if the sensed current exceeds that in the profile. The profiles can optionally be downloaded to the module (22) through a serial communication port (36). The digital control module (22) is also operable to sense the voltage of the circuit breaker to determine zero crossing points and phase angle, which phase angle can be utilized to determine the type of load and, therefore, can alter the profile to be utilized. Display (30) provides a visual communication device for the control module (22). Various self-test features including generating a simulated current to the digital control module (22) and automatic recovery if the execution of the stored program in the digital control module (22) is disrupted.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An intelligent circuit breaker for controlling the current flow from an AC main to a load, which circuit breaker has a series breaker element that can be controlled by a generated control signal to control current flow to the load through the series breaker element, comprising:
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a parameter sensor for sensing the parameters of the circuit breaker relating to current flowing through the circuit breaker from the AC main to the load; a storage device for storing predetermined performance parameters for desired relationships between the current and the load that define acceptable operating current constraints of the load, wherein said acceptable operating current constraints vary with time according to the load that is associated with the series breaker element at a given time; and a controller for comparing the sensed parameters detected by said parameter sensor to said stored predetermined performance parameters and generating said control signal when the sensed parameters fall outside of said acceptable operating current constraints. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An intelligent circuit breaker for detecting arcs in a line, which circuit breaker is operable to modify the current supplied to the load in response to receiving a generated control signal, comprising:
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a current sensor for detecting the AC current waveform for current flowing to a load disposed on the line; a peak detector for measuring current at the substantially peak level thereof for a substantially complete cycle of the present AC waveform to provide a present detected value; a comparator for comparing the present detected value with the detected value for the previous cycle and generating a true result when a predetermined number of comparisons exhibit a predetermined imbalance; and a control circuit for generating the control signal when a true result is output by said comparator. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method for controlling the current flow from an AC main to a load with a circuit breaker, the circuit breaker having a series breaker element associated therewith that can be controlled by a generated control signal to control current flow to the load through the breaker element, comprising the steps of:
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sensing the parameters of the circuit breaker with a parameter sensor relating to current flowing through the circuit breaker from the AC main to the load; storing in a storage device predetermined performance parameters for desired relationships between the current and the load that define acceptable operating current constraints of the load; selecting various ones of the predetermined performance parameters for varying the operating current constraints of the load with time according to the load; and comparing the sensed parameters sensed by the parameter sensor to the stored predetermined performance parameters and generating the control signal when the sensed parameters fall outside of the acceptable operating current constraints. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification