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Electrical fault detection system

  • US 6,246,556 B1
  • Filed: 02/19/1998
  • Issued: 06/12/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An integrated circuit for use in a processor-controlled device connected to at least one electrical power line so that the combination of the integrated circuit and the processor-controlled device can detect faults in the power line, said integrated circuit comprising:

  • a first input for receiving an alternating signal from an arcing-fault sensor coupled to said power line;

    at least one band pass filter connected to said first input for passing those components of said alternating signal within a prescribed frequency band;

    a threshold detector receiving the components of said alternating signal passed by said filter for comparing those signal components with a predetermined threshold and producing an output signal when the predetermined threshold is exceeded;

    a pulse generator receiving the output signal from the threshold detector and producing a corresponding output pulse;

    a first output receiving the output pulses from the pulse generator for coupling those pulses to a processor;

    an integrator connected to said first input for integrating said alternating signal and producing a signal representing the resulting integral;

    an absolute value circuit receiving the integral signal from said integrator and producing an output signal representing the absolute value of that integral;

    a second output receiving the absolute-value integral signal for coupling that signal to the processor;

    a second input for receiving a signal from a ground-fault sensor coupled to said power line;

    an amplifier connected to said second input for amplifying the ground-fault signal from the ground-fault sensor;

    an absolute value circuit receiving the amplified ground-fault signal and producing an output signal representing the absolute value of the amplified ground-fault signal; and

    a third output receiving the absolute-value ground-fault signal for coupling that signal to the processor.

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