Ground fault circuit interrupter and method

• US 9,645,192 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• 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., Grange, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): VALONE, THOMAS F
• Application Number:
  US13/829,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 3247503
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2827 Testing of electronic protection circuits testing switches G01R31/327; checking alarm systems G08B29/00; self test of summation current transformers H02H3/335
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/33 using summation current transformers H02H3/347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/335 the main function being self testing of the device

Abstract

A ground fault interrupter circuit and a method for operating a ground fault interrupter that includes configuring the ground fault interrupter to perform a plurality of self tests. The ground fault interrupter may be configured to perform a ground fault self test, a grounded-neutral self test, and a trip circuit self test.

Claims

1. A ground fault circuit interrupter having a single current transformer and self test capabilities, comprising:

a state machine that performs one or more self-test functions; and

one or more detectors coupled to the state machine, wherein the state machine and the one or more detectors operate in response to a signal from the single current transformer of the ground fault circuit interrupter having the single current transformer;

a silicon controlled rectifier test circuit coupled to the state machine;

a ground fault test circuit coupled to the state machine, wherein the ground fault test circuit interrupts current flow in the single current transformer in response to the signal from the single current transformer indicating another fault condition, and wherein the ground fault test circuit includes a first switch connected to a neutral conductor and a second switch connected to a line conductor, the ground fault circuit test circuit configured to open and close the first switch and the second switch.

2. The ground fault circuit interrupter having self test capabilities of claim 1 wherein the state machine performs a grounded-neutral self test.

3. The ground fault circuit interrupter having self test capabilities of claim 1, wherein the state machine performs a ground fault self test.

4. The ground fault circuit interrupter having self test capabilities of claim 1, wherein the state machine performs a trip circuit self test.

5. The ground fault circuit interrupter having self test capabilities of claim 1, wherein the state machine performs a ground fault self test, a grounded-neutral self test, and a trip circuit self test.

6. A method for self testing a ground fault circuit interrupter having a single current transformer, comprising:

monitoring a plurality of input signals to the ground fault circuit interrupter in response to a current flowing through the single current transformer of the ground fault circuit interrupter;

performing a differential self test in response to a first input signal of the plurality of input signals;

opening a set of contacts to terminate a flow of the current through the single current transformer in response to the first input signal indicating that the ground fault circuit interrupter has failed the differential self test;

performing a grounded-neutral self test in response to a second input signal of the plurality of input signals;

opening a set of contacts to terminate a flow of the current through the single current transformer in response to the first input signal indicating that the ground fault circuit interrupter has failed the grounded-neutral self test;

performing a trip circuit self test in response to a third input signal of the plurality of input signals; and

opening a first switch or a second switch to terminate a flow of the current through the single current transformer in response to the first input signal indicating that the trip circuit interrupter has failed the trip circuit self test.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the differential self test comprises using the ground fault interrupter circuit for the differential self test.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein using the ground fault interrupter circuit for the differential self test includes:

applying an assertion signal to a first terminal of the ground fault interrupter circuit;

monitoring a current flowing through a second terminal of the ground fault interrupter circuit;

in response to monitoring the current flowing through the second terminal, indicating a pass/fail state.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein indicating the pass/fail state includes one of generating a pass signal in response to detecting current flowing through the second terminal or generating a fail signal in response to the absence of current flowing through the second terminal.

10. The method of claim 8, further including injecting a current through the second terminal at a level at least equal to a first current level and indicating a pass state in response to a state machine setting a register bit in response to the current being at a level at least equal to threshold level.

11. The method of claim 10, further including monitoring a plurality of register bits during self tests, wherein each register bit represents a different differential current.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the grounded-neutral self test comprises using the ground fault interrupter circuit for the grounded-neutral self test.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein using the ground fault interrupter circuit for the grounded-neutral self test includes:

initiating a grounded-neutral circuitry to internally emulate a ground-neutral current;

initiating a stimulus having a periodic waveform;

monitoring the grounded-neutral current at a first terminal of the ground fault interrupter circuit in response to the stimulus having the periodic waveform; and

indicating a pass/fail state in response to monitoring the grounded-neutral current flowing through the first terminal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein indicating the pass/fail state includes one of generating a pass signal in response to detecting the grounded-neutral current flowing through the first terminal or generating a fail signal in response to the absence of the grounded-neutral current flowing through the first terminal.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the trip circuit self test comprises using the ground fault interrupter circuit for the trip circuit self test.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein using the ground fault interrupter circuit for the trip circuit self test includes:

monitoring an energy level of a periodic waveform;

asserting a first terminal in response to the energy level being greater than a first reference level;

monitoring a trip effect in response to asserting the first terminal;

indicating a pass/fail state in response to observing a trip effect.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein indicating the pass/fail state includes one of generating a pass signal in response to trip effect or generating a fail signal in response to the absence of the trip effect.

18. A method for operating a ground fault circuit interrupter having one current transformer comprising:

performing a plurality of self tests in the ground fault interrupter in response to a current signal from the one current transformer of the ground fault circuit interrupter;

opening a set of contacts to terminate a flow of a current through the one current transformer in response to one or more of the self tests indicating that the ground fault circuit interrupter has failed.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein using the ground fault circuit interrupter to perform the plurality of self tests includes using the ground fault circuit interrupter to perform a grounded-neutral self test.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein using the ground fault circuit interrupter to perform the plurality of self tests includes using the ground fault circuit interrupter to perform a ground fault self test.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein using the ground fault circuit interrupter to perform the plurality of self tests includes using the ground fault circuit interrupter to perform a trip circuit self test.