Systems, methods, and device for arc fault detection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- sensing a broadband RF signal within an alternating current signal transmitted on a predetermined alternating current circuit;
down-converting the sensed broadband RF signal to an intermediate frequency;
generating a received signal strength indication signal representative of a signal strength of the sensed broadband RF signal at the intermediate frequency;
sampling the received signal strength indication signal at a predetermined sample frequency;
repeatedly, for a predetermined one of a predetermined number of sequential time intervals, each time interval corresponding to a predetermined number of sequential received signal strength indication signal samples, each sample from the predetermined number of samples assigned a sample identifier, for each sample identifier, determining a maximum amplitude of all samples corresponding to that sample identifier in all of the predetermined number of sequential time intervals and storing that maximum amplitude;
repeatedly, for the predetermined number of time intervals, for each sample identifier, determining a mean amplitude of all stored maximum amplitudes associated with the predetermined number of time intervals and storing that mean amplitude;
repeatedly, for a computed signal comprised of each of the stored mean amplitudes, detecting a predetermined number of disturbances, each disturbances characterized by a steep rising edge and a steep falling edge;
characterizing the broadband RF signal as related to an arcing condition if a gap between a steep falling edge associated with a disturbance of a first predetermined number and a steep rising edge associated with a disturbance of a second predetermined number exceeds a predetermined value;
opening the predetermined alternating current circuit if the characterized broadband RF signal is related to an arcing condition.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Certain exemplary embodiments described herein comprise a method comprising a plurality of activities comprising: discriminating an arcing condition from a non-arcing broadband signal, and, in response to detecting an arcing condition, outputting a trip signal to a circuit breaker controlling a predetermined alternating current circuit associated with the arcing condition.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
sensing a broadband RF signal within an alternating current signal transmitted on a predetermined alternating current circuit; down-converting the sensed broadband RF signal to an intermediate frequency; generating a received signal strength indication signal representative of a signal strength of the sensed broadband RF signal at the intermediate frequency; sampling the received signal strength indication signal at a predetermined sample frequency; repeatedly, for a predetermined one of a predetermined number of sequential time intervals, each time interval corresponding to a predetermined number of sequential received signal strength indication signal samples, each sample from the predetermined number of samples assigned a sample identifier, for each sample identifier, determining a maximum amplitude of all samples corresponding to that sample identifier in all of the predetermined number of sequential time intervals and storing that maximum amplitude; repeatedly, for the predetermined number of time intervals, for each sample identifier, determining a mean amplitude of all stored maximum amplitudes associated with the predetermined number of time intervals and storing that mean amplitude; repeatedly, for a computed signal comprised of each of the stored mean amplitudes, detecting a predetermined number of disturbances, each disturbances characterized by a steep rising edge and a steep falling edge; characterizing the broadband RF signal as related to an arcing condition if a gap between a steep falling edge associated with a disturbance of a first predetermined number and a steep rising edge associated with a disturbance of a second predetermined number exceeds a predetermined value; opening the predetermined alternating current circuit if the characterized broadband RF signal is related to an arcing condition.
-
-
2. A method comprising:
-
repeatedly, for a predetermined one of a predetermined number of sequential time intervals, each time interval corresponding to a predetermined number of sequential samples of an indication signal related to a sensed broadband signal within an alternating current signal transmitted on a predetermined alternating current circuit, each sample from the predetermined number of samples assigned a sample identifier, for each sample identifier, determining a statistical amplitude measure of all samples corresponding to that sample identifier in all of the predetermined number of sequential time intervals and storing that statistical amplitude measure; repeatedly, for the predetermined number of time intervals, for each sample identifier, determining a mean amplitude value of all stored statistical amplitude measures associated with the predetermined number of time intervals and storing that mean amplitude value; for a computed signal comprised of each of the stored mean amplitude values, detecting an arcing condition; and outputting a trip signal to a circuit breaker controlling the predetermined alternating current circuit. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A system comprising:
-
a statistical amplitude processor module adapted to, repeatedly, for a predetermined one of a predetermined number of sequential time intervals, each time interval corresponding to a predetermined number of sequential samples of a indication signal related to a sensed broadband signal carried on an alternating current signal transmitted on a predetermined alternating current circuit, each sample from the predetermined number of sequential samples assigned a sample identifier, for each sample identifier, determine a statistical amplitude measure of all samples corresponding to that sample identifier in all of the predetermined number of sequential time intervals and storing that statistical amplitude measure; a mean amplitude processor module adapted to, repeatedly, for the predetermined number of time intervals, for each sample identifier, determine a mean amplitude value of all stored statistical amplitude measures associated with the predetermined number of time intervals and storing that mean amplitude value; a detector adapted to, for a computed signal comprised of each of the stored mean amplitude values, detect an arc event; and a signal generator adapted to output a trip signal to a circuit breaker controlling the predetermined alternating current circuit.
-
Specification