Electrical power distribution system utilizing circuit breakers with internal control and communication circuitry
First Claim
1. An electrical power distribution system comprising:
- (a) a load center having a common data bus adapted to provide digital communications; and
(b) a plurality of circuit breakers coupled to the common data bus, each circuit breaker in said plurality of circuit breakers comprising;
a first contact and a second contact, the second contact movable between an open position and a closed position, the second contact being spaced from the first contact in the open position and in contact with said first contact in the closed position;
an actuator for causing the second contact to move between the open position and the closed position; and
a control circuit having a microcontroller coupled to the actuator for causing the actuator to move the second contact between the open position and the closed position, and between the closed position and open position, according to programmed instructions stored within said control circuit and according to instructions addressed to said control circuit over the common data bus from an external device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an electrical power distribution system which contains a primary load-center (100) having a common data bus (124) that is adapted to provide two-way digital communication. A number of circuit breakers (120) are coupled to the common data bus (124). Each circuit breaker (120) has a first contact and second movable contact which is moved between a closed position and an open position by an actuator (216). The circuit breaker contains a microcontroller based control circuit (210), which controls the operation of the actuator (216) according to programmed instructions, which may be stored in a memory (234) contained in the circuit breaker or which are communicated to the circuit breaker over the common data bus (124). A status detection circuit (218) coupled to certain nodes within the circuit breaker provides status information about various contacts and current paths contained in the circuit breaker. Circuit breaker status information, configuration information and other desired information is stored in an internal memory (234). The circuit breaker may be adapted to communicate with other circuit breakers within load panel or directly with external devices. To expand circuit breaker capacity, a desired number of secondary load-centers (110a) may be coupled to the primary load center in a manner that will enable the circuit breakers in the secondary load centers to communicate over the common data bus (124).
51 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electrical power distribution system comprising:
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(a) a load center having a common data bus adapted to provide digital communications; and (b) a plurality of circuit breakers coupled to the common data bus, each circuit breaker in said plurality of circuit breakers comprising; a first contact and a second contact, the second contact movable between an open position and a closed position, the second contact being spaced from the first contact in the open position and in contact with said first contact in the closed position; an actuator for causing the second contact to move between the open position and the closed position; and a control circuit having a microcontroller coupled to the actuator for causing the actuator to move the second contact between the open position and the closed position, and between the closed position and open position, according to programmed instructions stored within said control circuit and according to instructions addressed to said control circuit over the common data bus from an external device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A circuit breaker for use in a panel board, capable of being controlled by an external device, comprising:
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(a) a housing for housing the circuit breaker; (b) a first contact and a second contact, the second contact movable between an open position and a closed position, the second contact being spaced from the first contact in the open position and in contact with the first contact in the closed position; (c) an actuator for causing the second contact to move between the open position and the closed position; and (d) a control circuit within the housing, the control circuit having a microcontroller for causing the actuator to move the second contact between the open position and the closed position, and between the closed position and the open position, according to programmed instructions stored within the control circuit and according to instructions addressed to the control circuit over a common data bus from the external device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electrical power distribution system comprising:
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(a) a load center having a common data bus within the load center, said common data bus providing two-way digital communication; (b) a plurality of circuit breakers within the load center, said circuit breakers communicating with each other and with an external device over the common data bus, each said circuit breaker including; a first contact and a second contact, the second contact movable between an open position and a closed position, the second contact being spaced from the first contact in the open position and in contact with said first contact in the closed position; an actuator for causing the second contact to move between the open position and the closed position; and a control circuit having a microcontroller coupled to the actuator for causing the actuator to move the second contact between the open and closed positions according to programmed instructions stored within said control circuit and according to instructions addressed to said control circuit over the common data bus; (c) an interface circuit within the load center, said interface circuit communicating with an external device and each said circuit breaker, said interface circuit providing instructions received from the external device to the circuit breakers over the common data bus; and (d) a power supply within the load center for providing power to the plurality of circuit breakers. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification