Method and apparatus for bi-directional communication with a miniature circuit breaker
First Claim
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1. A bi-directional circuit breaker communication and control system comprising:
- a load center enclosure;
a load center interior attached to a back surface of said load center enclosure and defining a plurality of branch circuit breaker stations, each said station providing means for mounting and electrically connecting at least one branch circuit breaker to an electrical distribution bus;
at least one communications strip lying immediately adjacent said back surface of said load center enclosure and having bi-directional wirelessly communications means for communicating with at least some of said plurality of branch circuit breakers having similar bi-directional wireless communications means as they are mounted in one of said branch circuit breaker stations.
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Abstract
A wireless electrically isolated plug-n-play communications system for branch circuit breakers. The system providing means for automatically connecting the wireless electrically isolated communication system between the branch circuit breaker and a communications strip as the branch circuit breaker is being installed in the load center.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A bi-directional circuit breaker communication and control system comprising:
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a load center enclosure; a load center interior attached to a back surface of said load center enclosure and defining a plurality of branch circuit breaker stations, each said station providing means for mounting and electrically connecting at least one branch circuit breaker to an electrical distribution bus; at least one communications strip lying immediately adjacent said back surface of said load center enclosure and having bi-directional wirelessly communications means for communicating with at least some of said plurality of branch circuit breakers having similar bi-directional wireless communications means as they are mounted in one of said branch circuit breaker stations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of communicating with and controlling a circuit breaker in a load center said method comprising the steps of:
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placing at least one communications strip having a plurality of communications ports with wireless bi-directional communications means and at least one microprocessor for processing data and/or controlling branch circuit breakers adjacent a back surface of a load center enclosure; attaching a load center interior to said back surface of a load center such that said at least one communications strip is at least partially captured between said load center interior and said back surface of said load center enclosure, said load center interior having a plurality of branch breaker stations each providing means for mounting and electrically connecting a branch circuit breaker to a line bus and being in register with one of said plurality of communications ports of said communications strip; installing at least one branch circuit breaker having similar wireless bi-directional communications means in one of said branch circuit breaker stations of said load center interior, said wireless bi-directional communications means of said branch circuit breaker being configured to be in juxtaposed position with one of said communications ports of said communications strip such that bi-directional communications is established during installation of said branch circuit breaker into said branch circuit breaker station.
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Specification