Electrical fault detection circuit with dual-mode power supply
First Claim
1. An arcing fault and ground fault protection system, comprising:
- at least one sensor responsive to a current flowing in an electrical circuit for developing a corresponding sensor signal;
a fault detector responsive to said sensor signal for detecting arcing faults and ground faults and producing corresponding output signals;
a dual-mode power supply connected to said electrical circuit and said detector for supplying a predetermined output voltage to said detector, said power supply having first and second modes with the first mode supplying said predetermined output voltage more quickly than, but drawing more supply current than, said second mode, and a switch for switching said power supply from said first mode to said second mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An arcing fault protection assembly and a corresponding method determine whether arcing is present in electrical circuits. The assembly powers-up quickly without dissipating excessive heat while power is being supplied to the assembly. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, a controller, and a dual-mode power supply. The sensor detects a current flowing in an electrical circuit and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in the circuit. The dual-mode power supply supplies power to the sensor, broadband noise circuit and controller using a first mode and later switching to a second mode. The first mode reaches steady state faster than the second mode.
272 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An arcing fault and ground fault protection system, comprising:
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at least one sensor responsive to a current flowing in an electrical circuit for developing a corresponding sensor signal;
a fault detector responsive to said sensor signal for detecting arcing faults and ground faults and producing corresponding output signals;
a dual-mode power supply connected to said electrical circuit and said detector for supplying a predetermined output voltage to said detector, said power supply having first and second modes with the first mode supplying said predetermined output voltage more quickly than, but drawing more supply current than, said second mode, and a switch for switching said power supply from said first mode to said second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
a tripping mechanism which stops the current from flowing in the electrical circuit in response to said trip signal.
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7. The arcing fault and ground fault detection system of claim 6 further comprising a ground fault sensor which detects a difference in current flow between a line conductor and a neutral conductor of the electrical device to determine whether a ground fault is present, wherein said detector also produces said trip signal in response to a determination that a ground fault is present.
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8. An arcing fault and ground fault detection system, comprising:
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a sensor which detects a current flowing in an electrical circuit and develops a corresponding sensor signal;
a broadband noise circuit which determines the presence of broadband noise in said sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal;
a controller which processes said sensor signal and said output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in said electrical circuit;
a dual-mode power supply connected to said electrical circuit and said broadband noise circuit and said controller for supplying a predetermined output voltage thereto, said power supply having first and second modes with the first mode supplying said predetermined output voltage more quickly than, but drawing more supply current than, said second mode, and a switch for switching said power supply from said first mode to said second mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
a tripping mechanism which stops the current from flowing in the electrical circuit in response to said trip signal.
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13. The arcing fault and ground fault detection system of claim 12 further comprising a ground fault sensor which detects a difference in current flow between a line conductor and a neutral conductor of the device to determine whether a ground fault is present, wherein said controller also produces said trip signal in response to a determination that a ground fault is present.
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14. A method of powering up an arcing fault and ground fault detection system, comprising:
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supplying power to said arcing fault protection assembly using a first power supply; and
switching the power to said arcing fault protection assembly to a second power supply, wherein said first power supply reaches steady state faster than said second power supply. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of powering up an arcing fault and ground fault detection system, comprising:
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detecting a current flowing in an electrical circuit and developing a corresponding sensor signal;
determining the presence of broadband noise in said sensor signal and producing a corresponding output signal;
processing said sensor signal and said output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether a fault is present in said electrical circuit; and
supplying power to said system in a first mode and then switching to a second mode, said first mode reaching steady state faster than said second mode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
stopping the current from flowing in the electrical circuit in response to said trip signal.
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19. The method of claim 18 further comprising
detecting a difference in current flow between a line conductor and a neutral conductor of the electrical circuit to determine whether a ground fault is present, and producing said trip signal in response to a determination that a ground fault is present.
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20. An arcing fault and ground fault protection method, comprising:
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developing at least one sensor signal in response to a current flowing in an electrical circuit;
detecting arcing faults and ground faults and producing corresponding output signals in response to said sensor signal;
supplying a predetermined output voltage to said detector in a first mode that supplies said predetermined output voltage more quickly than, but drawing more supply current than, a second mode, and switching said power supply from said first mode to said second mode.
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Specification