Arc fault circuit interrupter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A circuit interrupter device comprising:
- a device current path comprising;
a phase conductive path having a line side and a load side;
a neutral conductive path having a line side and a load side;
a differential sensor, communicatively arranged and configured to read a current differential between the phase and neutral conductive paths and to output a differential sensor signal representative of a value of the current differential;
a high frequency sensor communicatively arranged and configured to read a high frequency signal along one of the phase and neutral conductive paths and to output a high frequency sensor signal representative of a presence of the high frequency signal;
a current sensor communicatively arranged and configured to read a current level along one of the phase and neutral conductive paths and to output a current level sensor signal representative of a value of the current level; and
a processor configured to;
(i) receive the differential sensor signal, the high frequency sensor signal, and the current level sensor signal,(ii) increment a count in a counter based on at least in part on the high frequency sensor signal, and(iii) detect a presence of an arc fault condition based on the count in the counter.
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Abstract
An arc fault circuit interrupter is disclosed. This arc fault circuit interrupter can include any one or more of three different sensors such as a high frequency sensor, and any one of lower frequency sensors such as a current sensor or a differential sensor. The arc fault circuit interrupter can be configured as an in line arc fault circuit interrupter installed in a wall box. In addition, the arc fault circuit interrupter can include a processor configured to determine any one of a series arc fault, or a parallel arc fault.
241 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A circuit interrupter device comprising:
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a device current path comprising; a phase conductive path having a line side and a load side; a neutral conductive path having a line side and a load side; a differential sensor, communicatively arranged and configured to read a current differential between the phase and neutral conductive paths and to output a differential sensor signal representative of a value of the current differential; a high frequency sensor communicatively arranged and configured to read a high frequency signal along one of the phase and neutral conductive paths and to output a high frequency sensor signal representative of a presence of the high frequency signal; a current sensor communicatively arranged and configured to read a current level along one of the phase and neutral conductive paths and to output a current level sensor signal representative of a value of the current level; and a processor configured to; (i) receive the differential sensor signal, the high frequency sensor signal, and the current level sensor signal, (ii) increment a count in a counter based on at least in part on the high frequency sensor signal, and (iii) detect a presence of an arc fault condition based on the count in the counter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A circuit interrupter device comprising:
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a device current path comprising; a phase conductive path having a line side and a load side; a neutral conductive path having a line side and a load side; a high frequency sensor, communicatively arranged and configured to read an electrical signal along a phase conductive path and along a neutral conductive path and to output a high frequency sensor signal indicative of a frequency range of the electrical signal on the phase and neutral conductive paths; a processor configured to receive the high frequency sensor signal, wherein the processor is configured to detect a presence of an arc fault based on the high frequency sensor signal; and an interrupter circuit configured to interrupt at least one of the phase and neutral conductive paths in response to detection of the arc fault by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A process for determining a series arc comprising:
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a) setting a first time period; b) setting a second time period which is a fraction of said first time period; c) monitoring a frequency and a current of a signal on an electrical line; d) counting a number of second time periods that the frequency is within a first predetermined frequency range to find a first number; e) counting a number of second time periods that the frequency is within a second predetermined frequency range to find a second number; and f) determining a presence of an arc by comparing said first number and said second number to at least one predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A process for determining a presence of a parallel arc, the process comprising:
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a) starting a processor time clock for a series of first predetermined time periods; b) monitoring at least a current and a frequency on a line; c) determining whether a peak current on the line is greater than a predetermined peak current value; d) determining the presence of arcing noise on the line based upon at least one predetermined frequency value for at least one first predetermined time period in said series of first predetermined time periods; e) starting at least one counter to record the presence of at least one arcing characteristic for the at least one first predetermined time period of said series of first predetermined time periods within a second predetermined time period; f) comparing a count provided by said at least one counter recording a presence of said at least one arcing characteristic for said first predetermined time period across said second predetermined time period to find a first number; and g) determining the presence of the parallel arc by comparing said first number to a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A process for determining a presence of a parallel to ground arcing condition, the method comprising:
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a) starting a processor time clock for a series of first and second predetermined time periods; b) reading a differential current from a differential core; c) determining whether the differential current is above a predetermined value; d) starting a timer in response to a determination in c) that the differential current is above the predetermined value; e) recording for the first predetermined time period that the differential current is above the predetermined value; f) recording for the second predetermined time period that the differential current is above the predetermined value; and g) determining the presence of the parallel to ground arcing condition based at least in part on the recordings in e) and f).
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Specification