Series arc fault interrupters and methods
First Claim
1. A circuit interrupter for interrupting current on a line conductor, comprising:
- separable contacts in electrical communication with the line conductor;
a trip mechanism for selectively opening said separable contacts upon receipt of a trip signal;
a sensor in electrical communication with the line conductor;
a processing device in electrical communication with said trip mechanism;
a series arc detection sequence resident on said processing device, said series arc detection sequence comprising a plurality of series fault detection algorithms; and
at least one filter circuit comprising a low-pass filter providing at least one signal from said sensor to said series arc detection sequence, said sequence selecting a particular algorithm from said plurality of algorithms based on said at least one signal, calculating a plurality of statistical features from said at least one signal, and generating said trip signal based on a comparison of said plurality of statistical features to said particular algorithm, wherein said low-pass filter circuit is configured to provide a low-pass signal from said sensor to said series arc detection sequence, said sequence selecting said particular algorithm from said plurality of algorithms based on said low-pass signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit interrupter for interrupting current on a line conductor is provided. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, a trip mechanism, a bimetal, a microprocessor, a series arc detection sequence, a low-pass filter circuit, and a high-pass filter circuit. The trip mechanism selectively opens the separable contacts when activated. The series arc detection sequence is resident on the microprocessor and includes a plurality of series fault detection algorithms. The low-pass filter circuit provides a low-pass signal to the series arc detection sequence. The high-pass filter circuit provides a high-pass signal to the series arc detection sequence. The sequence selects a particular algorithm from the plurality of algorithms based on the low-pass signal. The sequence calculates a plurality of statistical features from the high-pass signal and sends an output signal to activate the trip mechanism based on a comparison of the plurality of statistical features to the particular algorithm.
132 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A circuit interrupter for interrupting current on a line conductor, comprising:
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separable contacts in electrical communication with the line conductor; a trip mechanism for selectively opening said separable contacts upon receipt of a trip signal; a sensor in electrical communication with the line conductor; a processing device in electrical communication with said trip mechanism; a series arc detection sequence resident on said processing device, said series arc detection sequence comprising a plurality of series fault detection algorithms; and at least one filter circuit comprising a low-pass filter providing at least one signal from said sensor to said series arc detection sequence, said sequence selecting a particular algorithm from said plurality of algorithms based on said at least one signal, calculating a plurality of statistical features from said at least one signal, and generating said trip signal based on a comparison of said plurality of statistical features to said particular algorithm, wherein said low-pass filter circuit is configured to provide a low-pass signal from said sensor to said series arc detection sequence, said sequence selecting said particular algorithm from said plurality of algorithms based on said low-pass signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A circuit interrupter for interrupting current on a line conductor, comprising:
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separable contacts in electrical communication with the line conductor; a trip mechanism for selectively opening said separable contacts upon receipt of a trip signal; a sensor in electrical communication with the line conductor; a processing device in electrical communication with said trip mechanism; a series arc detection sequence resident on said processing device, said series arc detection sequence comprising a plurality of series fault detection algorithms; and at least one filter circuit comprising a high-pass filter providing at least one signal from said sensor to said series arc detection sequence, said sequence selecting a particular algorithm from said plurality of algorithms based on said at least one signal, calculating a plurality of statistical features from said at least one signal, and generating said trip signal based on a comparison of said plurality of statistical features to said particular algorithm, wherein said high-pass filter circuit provides a high-pass signal from said sensor to said series arc detection sequence, said sequence calculating said plurality of statistical features from said high-pass signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A circuit interrupter for interrupting current on a line conductor, comprising:
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separable contacts in electrical communication with the line conductor; a trip mechanism for selectively opening said separable contacts upon receipt of a trip signal; a sensor in electrical communication with the line conductor; a processing device in electrical communication with said trip mechanism; a series arc detection sequence resident on said processing device, said series arc detection sequence comprising a plurality of series fault detection algorithms; a low-pass filter circuit in electrical communication with said sensor, said low-pass filter circuit passing a low-pass signal from said sensor to said series arc detection sequence, said sequence selecting a particular algorithm from said plurality of algorithms based on said low-pass signal; and a high-pass filter circuit in electrical communication with said sensor, said high-pass filter circuit passing a high-pass signal from said sensor to said series arc detection sequence, said sequence calculating a plurality of statistical features from said high-pass signal and generating said trip signal based on a comparison of said plurality of statistical features to said particular algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification