Methods and apparatus for continuous ground fault self test

• US 8,384,392 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Lewinski, Artur J., Teggatz, Ross, Cosby, Thomas Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): NATALINI, JEFF WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US11/923,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20080106831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,952 Days
• Field of Search: 324/509
• US Class Current: 324/509
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus covered by the other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/335 the main function being self testing of the device

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for continuous ground fault self-test are disclosed. An example ground fault detection device includes a sense coil to detect current in a line conductor and a neutral conductor, the sense coil comprising a winding influenced by a current difference between the line conductor and the neutral conductor. The example ground fault detection device also includes a current bypass to facilitate a continuous current imbalance detected by the sense coil, and a ground fault detector circuit to detect at least one of the continuous current imbalance in the sense coil or a ground fault current imbalance.

Claims

1. A ground fault detection device comprising:

a sense coil to detect current in a line conductor and a neutral conductor, the sense coil comprising a winding influenced by a current difference between the line conductor and the neutral conductor;

a current bypass to facilitate a continuous current imbalance during both halves of a power-line cycle which is detected by the sense coil; and

a ground fault detector circuit to detect at least one of the continuous current imbalance in the sense coil or a ground fault current imbalance wherein the ground fault detector circuit utilizes the current in the current bypass for operating power and to continuously test proper operation of the entire ground fault detection device.

2. A ground fault detection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the ground fault detector circuit is connected to detect the continuous current imbalance in the sense coil and the ground fault current imbalance simultaneously.

3. A ground fault detection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the current bypass further comprises a first power tap comprising a first diode connected at a first location along one of the line conductor or the neutral conductor, the first location preceding the sense coil;

and

a second diode connected at a second location along the other of the neutral conductor or the line conductor, the second location after the sense coil.

4. A ground fault detection device as defined in claim 3, wherein the current bypass further comprises a second power tap comprising a third diode connected at the second location along one of the neutral conductor or the line conductor;

and

a fourth diode connected at the first location along the other of the line conductor or the neutral conductor.

5. A ground fault detection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the ground fault detector circuit comprises a fault separation circuit to determine if the continuous current imbalance in the sense coil is associated with at least one of a ground fault detector circuit power drain providing a continuous simulated fault, or a real ground fault.

6. A ground fault detection device as defined in claim 5, wherein the fault separation circuit comprises a self-test detector to compare the current imbalance with a threshold, the self-test detector to provide a fault signal when the current imbalance is below the threshold.

7. A ground fault detection device as defined in claim 6, wherein the self-test detector comprises a comparator.

8. A ground fault detection device as defined in claim 5, wherein the fault separation circuit comprises a subtractor and a normal-fault detector, the subtractor to generate a result by subtracting a simulated fault current from a total detected current imbalance, the normal-fault detector comparing the result to a threshold, the normal-fault detector to provide a fault signal when the result is greater than the threshold.

9. A ground fault detection device as defined in claim 8, wherein the normal-fault detector comprises a comparator.