Ground fault circuit interrupter and method

• US 8,390,297 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Beck, Riley D., Layton, Kent D., Tyler, Matthew A., Grange, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): VALONE, THOMAS F
• Application Number:
  US12/572,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20110080177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 324/509
• US Class Current: 324/509
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/18 using inductive devices, e.g. transformers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/16 Measuring impedance of element or network through which a current is passing from another source, e.g. cable, power line
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/18 Measuring resistance to earth , i.e. line to ground
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0092 concerning the data processing means, e.g. expert systems, neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/04 Arrangements for preventing response to transient abnormal conditions, e.g. to lightning or to short duration over voltage or oscillations; Damping the influence of dc component by short circuits in ac networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/33 using summation current transformers H02H3/347 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and circuit for determining a circuit element parameter in a ground fault circuit interrupter circuit. An electrical signal provided to a first node is used to generate another electrical signal at a second node. The electrical signal at the second node is multiplexed with a modulation signal to generate a modulated signal that is then filtered and converted into a digital representation of a portion of the circuit element parameter. The electrical signal at the second node is multiplexed with the modulation signal after it has been phase shifted to produce a modulated signal that is filter and converted into a digital representation of another portion of the circuit element parameter. In another aspect, a slope based solenoid self-test method is used for self-testing in a GFCI circuit. Alternatively, a method for determining a wiring fault is provided using a digital filter.

Claims

1. A method for determining an operating condition of a sub-module within a ground fault circuit indicator module, comprising:

generating a current in a device;

measuring a rate at which a mains voltage level decreases in response to the current generated in the device; and

generating an operating condition signal in accordance with the rate at which the mains voltage level decreases.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the rate at which the mains voltage level decreases comprises measuring the rate at which the mains voltage level decreases from its steady state level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the current in the component comprises generating the current in a solenoid that is external to the ground fault circuit indicator module.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating condition signal indicates that a digital control circuit can activate a silicon controlled rectifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating condition signal indicates that the component is operating in a normal mode.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the current in the solenoid includes pulling the current through an active semiconductor device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the active semiconductor device is one of a transistor or a silicon controlled rectifier.