ARC fault or ground fault or ARC fault/ground fault trip signal generator and trip unit employing the same
First Claim
1. A trip unit for an arc fault or ground fault circuit breaker, said trip unit comprising:
- a trip actuator having a trip coil;
a semiconductor switching device driving said trip coil, said semiconductor switching device including a gate and an output electrically interconnected with said trip coil;
an arc fault or ground fault detection circuit including at least one output having an arc fault or ground fault detection signal;
a power supply having an output; and
a trip signal generator comprising;
at least one first input electrically interconnected with said at least one output of said arc fault or ground fault detection circuit, a second input electrically interconnected with said output of said semiconductor switching device, a power supply monitor monitoring the output of said power supply, said power supply monitor having an output, and a circuit having an output electrically interconnected with the gate of said semiconductor switching device, said circuit comprising;
a first switch controlled by said second input and electrically interconnected with said output of said semiconductor switching device, said first switch having an output, a second switch controlled by the output of said first switch and powered from the output of said power supply monitor, said second switch having an output, a third switch controlled by the output of said second switch, said third switch powered from the output of said power supply, said third switch having said output electrically interconnected with the gate of said semiconductor switching device, and at least one fourth switch controlled by said at least one first input electrically interconnected with said at least one output of said arc fault or ground fault detection circuit, said at least one fourth switch enabling said third switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trip signal generator for an arc fault or ground fault trip unit includes two inputs electrically interconnected with the two outputs of arc fault and ground fault detection circuits. A second input is electrically interconnected with an anode of a semiconductor switching device, such as a triac or SCR, which drives a trip coil of a trip solenoid. A circuit monitors the outputs of a power supply and provides an output when the outputs of the power supply are operational. A trip logic circuit drives a gate of the semiconductor switching device when the outputs of the power supply are operational, when one of the two first inputs is active, and when the second input is inactive.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A trip unit for an arc fault or ground fault circuit breaker, said trip unit comprising:
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a trip actuator having a trip coil;
a semiconductor switching device driving said trip coil, said semiconductor switching device including a gate and an output electrically interconnected with said trip coil;
an arc fault or ground fault detection circuit including at least one output having an arc fault or ground fault detection signal;
a power supply having an output; and
a trip signal generator comprising;
at least one first input electrically interconnected with said at least one output of said arc fault or ground fault detection circuit, a second input electrically interconnected with said output of said semiconductor switching device, a power supply monitor monitoring the output of said power supply, said power supply monitor having an output, and a circuit having an output electrically interconnected with the gate of said semiconductor switching device, said circuit comprising;
a first switch controlled by said second input and electrically interconnected with said output of said semiconductor switching device, said first switch having an output, a second switch controlled by the output of said first switch and powered from the output of said power supply monitor, said second switch having an output, a third switch controlled by the output of said second switch, said third switch powered from the output of said power supply, said third switch having said output electrically interconnected with the gate of said semiconductor switching device, and at least one fourth switch controlled by said at least one first input electrically interconnected with said at least one output of said arc fault or ground fault detection circuit, said at least one fourth switch enabling said third switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A trip signal generator for an arc fault or ground fault trip unit comprising a trip actuator having a trip coil, a semiconductor switching device driving said trip coil, said semiconductor switching device including a gate and an output electrically interconnected with said trip coil, an arc fault or ground fault detection circuit including at least one output having an arc fault or ground fault detection signal, and a power supply with an output, said trip signal generator comprising:
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at least one first input electrically interconnected with said at least one output of said arc fault or ground fault detection circuit, a second input electrically interconnected with said output of said semiconductor switching device, a power supply monitor monitoring the output of said power supply, said power supply monitor having an output, and a circuit having an output electrically interconnected with the gate of said semiconductor switching device, said circuit comprising;
a first switch controlled by said second input and electrically interconnected with said output of said semiconductor switching device, said first switch having an output, a second switch controlled by the output of said first switch and powered from the output of said power supply monitor, said second switch having an output, a third switch controlled by the output of said second switch, said third switch powered from the output of said power supply, said third switch having said output electrically interconnected with the gate of said semiconductor switching device, and at least one fourth switch controlled by said at least one first input electrically interconnected with said at least one output of said arc fault or ground fault detection circuit, said at least one fourth switch enabling said third switch. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A trip signal generator for an arc fault or ground fault trip unit comprising a trip actuator driven by a semiconductor switching device having an anode and a gate, an arc fault or ground fault detection circuit including at least one output having an arc fault or ground fault detection signal, and a power supply with an output, said trip signal generator comprising:
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at least one first input electrically interconnected with said at least one output of said arc fault or ground fault detection circuit;
a second input electrically interconnected with the anode of said semiconductor switching device;
means for monitoring the output of said power supply and providing an output when said output of said power supply is operational; and
means for driving the gate of said semiconductor switching device when said output of said power supply is operational, when said at least one first input is active, and when said second input is inactive. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification