Arc detection architecture based on correlation for circuit breakers
First Claim
1. Apparatus for detecting arcs from a signal provided by a current sensor for sensing current in an AC power line, said apparatus comprising:
- a central processing unit coupled to the current sensor for receiving a signal representative of current sensed by the current sensor; and
a summer having a first input coupled to the current sensor, a second input coupled to an output of said central processing unit, and an output coupled to an input of said central processing unit.
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Abstract
A low cost mixed analog digital application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) includes a standard central processing it (CPU) programmed to execute a correlation function for arc detection. Use of a standard CPU is possible because need for digital fourier analysis is eliminated by the ASIC architecture. The SIC includes a power supply configured to be coupled to an AC power line for supplying power to the ASIC components, and further includes a current sensor coupled to a current-carrying conductor for generating a signal representative of current in the conductor. A first analog-to-digital converter (ADC), coupled in series with the current sensor, has its output coupled to a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU supplies a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a digital signal representative of a portion of the sensed current. The DAC supplies this signal, in analog form, to a summer, which also receives an output signal from the current sensor. The summed analog output signal of the summer is converted to digital form by a second ADC and is supplied to the CPU. The CPU output is coupled to a trigger, e.g., a trigger of a circuit breaker.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting arcs from a signal provided by a current sensor for sensing current in an AC power line, said apparatus comprising:
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a central processing unit coupled to the current sensor for receiving a signal representative of current sensed by the current sensor; and
a summer having a first input coupled to the current sensor, a second input coupled to an output of said central processing unit, and an output coupled to an input of said central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for detecting arcs on an AC power line, comprising:
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a current sensor;
a central processing unit coupled to receive a signal representative of current sensed by said current sensor;
a summer having a first input coupled to said current sensor, and an output coupled to an input of said central processing unit;
a first analog-to-digital converter coupled between said current sensor and said central processing unit for converting an analog signal produced by said current sensor to a digital signal representative of current sensed by said current sensor; and
a digital-to-analog converter coupling said central processing unit to said summer for supplying an analog signal to a second input of said summer.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for detecting arcs from a signal produced by a current sensor for sensing current in an AC power line, said apparatus comprising:
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a central processing unit coupled to the current sensor for receiving a signal, including a fundamental signal, representative of current sensed by the current sensor; and
a summer having a first input coupled to the current sensor, and an output coupled to an input of said central processing unit, said summer being configured to subtract the fundamental signal from the current sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification