Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100027176 | ARC FAULT DETECTION APPARATUS EMPLOYING A COMPARATOR WITH A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE THRESHOLD - An arc fault detection apparatus that provides for better discrimination of electrical arcing events from nuisance loads. The arc fault detection apparatus includes an arcing sense circuit having a comparator circuit with a variable threshold voltage that varies continuously with the line voltage. The arc fault detection apparatus has reduced susceptibility to nuisance tripping in the presence of sudden changes in the load current that occur outside of a specified time window centered on each zero crossing point of the line voltage. | 02-04-2010 |
20130009483 | POWER GENERATOR MODULE CONNECTIVITY CONTROL - A remote resource can be configured to control connectivity of the power generator modules in a string. For example, a respective power generator module can include a current sense circuit that monitors for presence of communication signal. The power generator module can monitor for a presence of a remotely generated control signal over power line that is used by the respective power generator module to convey power to the external load. If the control signal is present on the power line, as generated by the remote resource, the control circuit in the respective power generator module activates the switch to an ON state such that respective activated power generator module is connected in series with the other activated power generator modules. If no keep-alive control signal is detected within a timeout period, the controller deactivates the respective power generator module. | 01-10-2013 |
20140142873 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF DISCRIMINATING DC ARCS AND LOAD SWITCHING NOISE - Systems and methods of detecting arcing in DC power systems that can differentiate between DC arcs and load-switching noise. The systems and methods can determine, within a plurality of predetermined time intervals, at least the pulse count (PC) per predetermined time interval, and the pulse duration (PD) per predetermined time interval, in which the PC and the PD can correspond to the number and the intensity of potential arcing events in a DC power system, respectively. The systems and methods can process the PC and PD using one or more arc fault detection algorithms, thereby differentiating between DC arcs and load-switching noise with increased reliability. | 05-22-2014 |
20140142874 | HOME RUN ARC DETECTION AT THE PHOTOVOLTAIC STRING LEVEL USING MULTIPLE CURRENT SENSORS - Systems and methods of detecting arcing in DC power systems that can differentiate between DC arcs and load-switching noise. The systems and methods can determine, within a plurality of predetermined time intervals, at least the pulse count (PC) per predetermined time interval, and the pulse duration (PD) per predetermined time interval, in which the PC and the PD can correspond to the number and the intensity of potential arcing events in a DC power system, respectively. The systems and methods can process the PC and PD using one or more arc fault detection algorithms, thereby differentiating between DC arcs and load-switching noise with increased reliability. | 05-22-2014 |
20140195177 | NOISE PROPAGATION IMMUNITY OF A MULTI-STRING ARC FAULT DETECTION DEVICE - Systems and methods of detecting arcing in a DC power system that can provide improved noise propagation immunity. The system includes at least two current sensors for monitoring at least two current outputs, respectively. The current sensors have reverse polarities, and are configured and arranged in parallel to provide a combined current output signal. The current sensors monitor the respective current outputs, which are provided for monitoring by the current sensors over at least two adjacent conductors. If arcing occurs at a location on a first conductor, then arcing (adjacent conductor crosstalk), having an arc current signature like that of the arcing on the first conductor, can occur at a location on the other adjacent conductor. The system can effectively cancel out such adjacent conductor crosstalk within a photovoltaic (PV) system, thereby improving the capability of an arc fault detection device for detecting arcing at the PV string level. | 07-10-2014 |