Intelligent ground fault circuit interrupter employing miswiring detection and user testing
First Claim
1. The method of determining the status of an intelligent circuit interrupting device, comprising the steps of:
- a) producing a first signal indicative of the status of a test button;
b) producing a second signal indicative of the status of a line line;
c) producing a third signal indicative of the status of a load line; and
d) sampling periodically one of said first, second and third signals and based upon such sampling indicating the status of an intelligent circuit interrupting device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent ground fault circuit interrupter device that incorporates a test and miswiring control circuit in addition to an independent GFCI circuit. Since the test and miswiring circuit is separate and independent of the GFCI circuit portion, it can be used with any circuit interrupting means that can be reset and which incorporates a test circuit. The test and miswiring circuit functions to indicate to a user when the device must be manually tested. The test time events occur upon first installation and on a monthly basis thereafter. The device also indicates that testing is required after occasions of power outage of sufficient time duration and after the device has been tripped by the occurrence of a ground fault. At the times when manual testing of the device is required, a visual and/or audible alarm is triggered and continues until a successful test and reset sequence is completed. The ability to detect when the device is incorrectly wired in an electrical wiring system is also provided. Upon detection of a miswiring condition, a visual and/or audible alarm is triggered to alert the user to the miswired condition. The alarm cannot be disabled unless the miswiring condition is removed.
248 Citations
18 Claims
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1. The method of determining the status of an intelligent circuit interrupting device, comprising the steps of:
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a) producing a first signal indicative of the status of a test button; b) producing a second signal indicative of the status of a line line; c) producing a third signal indicative of the status of a load line; and d) sampling periodically one of said first, second and third signals and based upon such sampling indicating the status of an intelligent circuit interrupting device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification