Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100165520 | Method and Apparatus For Tripping Circuit Breaker - An apparatus for monitoring a circuit breaker includes an electronics unit, the electronics unit being configured to generate a re-occurring signal, and a self-test trip unit in signal communication with the electronics unit and being configured to receive the re-occurring signal and effect tripping of the circuit breaker. | 07-01-2010 |
20110054713 | GLOBAL TRIP UNIT - A method of setting a ground fault trip response function for a trip unit includes enabling a ground fault protection mode for the trip unit, setting the ground fault trip response function for the trip unit, wherein the ground fault trip response function is a double knee time current function. | 03-03-2011 |
20110093234 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING FAILURE OF AN ACTUATOR SWITCHING DEVICE - A circuit breaker includes an actuator, a switching device connected to the actuator, and a test unit configured to test a connection between the actuator and the switching device by detecting a first connection voltage at the connection between the actuator and the switching device. The test unit is further configured to test the operation of the switching device by turning the switching device on without operating the actuator. | 04-21-2011 |
20120119918 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRONIC TRIP DEVICE - An electronic trip device is described that includes a test signal generator coupled to at least one of a line conductor and a neutral conductor and configured to create a test signal. The electronic trip device also includes a leakage current detection circuit configured to compare a current in the line conductor and a current in the neutral conductor, the leakage current detection circuit configured to output an error signal if the test signal is not detected. | 05-17-2012 |
20120169328 | Current Measuring Systems and Methods of Assembling the Same - A current measuring system for measuring a current through a conductor is described. The system includes a first sensor configured to measure a first magnetic flux and to generate a first signal proportional to the first magnetic flux. The system also includes a second sensor configured to measure a second magnetic flux and to provide a second signal proportional to the second magnetic flux, the second sensor having a higher sensitivity to stray magnetic fields than the first sensor. The system also includes a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to receive the first signal and the second signal. The processor is further configured to determine a presence of a stray magnetic field by comparing the first signal and the second signal. | 07-05-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100067159 | ELECTRONIC TRIP UNIT OF A CIRCUIT BREAKER - An electronic trip unit which includes a processing unit and a comparator circuit. The processing unit receives an input voltage, and a reset signal to reset the electronic trip unit, and generates a trip signal when sensed current of the electronic trip unit exceeds a predetermined threshold. The comparator circuit includes a first comparator which receives the trip signal from the processing unit and compares the trip signal with a predetermined reference voltage determined based on the reset signal, and a second comparator which compares a voltage generated by a power supply with the predetermined reference voltage. The comparator circuit determines whether the trip signal is for a valid trip event based comparison results of the first comparator and the second comparator. | 03-18-2010 |
20100157497 | FIELD CONFIGURABLE RATING PLUG USING COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL SIGNAL - A circuit breaker apparatus is provided and includes a trip mechanism which is coupled to an electrical circuit and which is configured to interrupt an operation of the electrical circuit when the trip mechanism is actuated, an electronic trip unit in signal communication with and configured to actuate the trip mechanism when pre-selected conditions are satisfied, and a rating plug coupled to the electronic trip unit and configured to operate in a first mode in response to a receipt of a transmitted control signal at the rating plug, and to otherwise operate in a second mode, the first and second modes being respectively associated with first and second ones of the pre-selected conditions to be correspondingly transmitted to the electronic trip unit by which the electronic trip unit determines whether to actuate the trip mechanism. | 06-24-2010 |
20110063202 | Reduced Energy Let Through Mode Indication and Delay in Switching Devices - A method of improved reduced energy let through (RELT) mode selection in a switching apparatus includes receiving a request to disable a RELT mode of the switching apparatus, and, if the RELT mode of the switching apparatus is active, increasing a current threshold of the switching apparatus after a configurable amount of time has elapsed from the receipt of the request to disable the RELT mode. | 03-17-2011 |
20120044600 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING ARC FLASH EVENTS USING CURRENT AND VOLTAGE - A power circuit protection system includes a current sensor configured to measure a first current level through a conductor of the circuit, a voltage sensor configured to measure a first voltage level across a plurality of conductors of the circuit, and a controller communicatively coupled to the current sensor and to the voltage sensor. The controller is configured to receive a first signal from the current sensor, wherein the first signal is representative of the first current level, and receive a second signal from the voltage sensor, wherein the second signal is representative of the first voltage level. Based on the first signal and the second signal, the controller is configured to determine whether to activate a first circuit protection device or a second circuit protection device. | 02-23-2012 |
20120154957 | CAPACITANCE CHECK AND CURRENT MONITORING CIRCUIT FOR USE WITH A CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICE - A circuit protection device includes a trip mechanism and at least one capacitor configured to store electrical energy and to provide the electrical energy to the trip mechanism. The circuit protection device also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one capacitor and configured to measure a charge property of the at least one capacitor, compare the measured charge property to a threshold, and output a signal indicative of the comparison. | 06-21-2012 |
20120169348 | Methods and Systems Involving Monitoring Circuit Connectivity - A circuit protection system includes a processor, a current sensing device having a first node and a second node, a current sensing circuit connected to the first node and the second node, the current sensing circuit operative to output a voltage indicative of a current sensed by the current sensing device to the processor, and a connection verification portion connected to the first node, the second node, and the processor, the connection verification portion operative to induce a current through the current sensing device. | 07-05-2012 |
20120182655 | Methods and Systems Involving Monitoring Circuit Connectivity - A circuit protection system includes a first current sensing device operative to measure a current of a first phase of a voltage source, a second current sensing device operative to measure a current of a second phase of a voltage source, and a logic portion communicatively connected to the first current sensing device and the second current sensing device, the logic portion operative to receive measured currents from the first current sensing device and the second current sensing device, determine whether the measured current of the first phase is less than a threshold current value during a time period, and output an indication that a short exists in the first phase of the voltage source responsive to determining that the measured current of the first phase is not less than the threshold current value during the time period. | 07-19-2012 |
20120185196 | DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A THERMISTOR AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT - A diagnostic system and a diagnostic method for a thermistor amplifier circuit are provided. The system includes a transistor electrically coupled to a controllable variable resistor having a predetermined resistance. The transistor applies a test voltage signal to the circuit indicative of a first temperature value. An amplitude of the test voltage value is indicative of a simulated thermistor temperature value. The microprocessor determines a test temperature value based on the amplitude of an output voltage of the circuit. The microprocessor also determines an inaccuracy value based on the test temperature value and the simulated thermistor temperature value. | 07-19-2012 |
20120226453 | CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIP UNIT - A trip unit for a circuit breaker having at least one sensor for monitoring a current in a protected circuit and a tripping system is provided. The trip unit includes a first controller operably coupled to receive a current signal from the at least one sensor and electrically coupled to the tripping system. The first controller includes a first processor that transmits a first signal to the tripping system in response to a detection of a first undesired condition. A second controller is operably coupled to receive the current signal from the at least one sensor and is electrically coupled to the tripping system in parallel with the first controller. The second controller includes a second processor that detects the first condition and transmits a second signal to the tripping system after a predetermined first time period. | 09-06-2012 |
20130073257 | METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A COMPONENT - A system includes a sensor configured to provide a signal related to an operating condition of a component, a memory for storing values representative of the operating condition, and a processor coupled to the sensor and to the memory. The processor is programmed to calculate a first value of the operating condition during a first period of time based on the stored values, calculate a second value of the operating condition during a second period of time using the first value, and determine a status of the component using the second value. | 03-21-2013 |
20130116955 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE IN MEASURING CURRENT THROUGH A CONDUCTOR - Systems, methods and devices for use in measuring current through a conductor are provided. One example current device includes a first sensor configured to measure a first magnetic flux provided from a conductor and to generate a first signal proportional to the first magnetic flux, and a second sensor configured to measure a second magnetic flux provided from the conductor and to generate a second signal proportional to the second magnetic flux. The second sensor is spaced apart from the first sensor by a predetermined distance. The current device further includes a processor configured to determine, based on the first signal, the second signal and the predetermined distance, a radius between the conductor and at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor. | 05-09-2013 |
20130271886 | METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING CURRENT PROVIDED TO A LOAD - A circuit protection device for monitoring a current flowing from an electrical distribution line through a trip mechanism to a load includes an input conductor configured to receive a current signal from a sensor. At least one resistor is arranged to receive the current signal from the input conductor, and provides a voltage signal proportional to the current signal. The circuit protection device includes a control circuit coupled in parallel with the resistor and a power supply that receives the current signal from the resistor and supplies power to the control circuit based on the current signal. The control circuit is configured to receive the voltage signal and determine an amplitude of the current flowing through the trip mechanism based on the voltage signal. The control circuit is also configured to determine whether a predetermined current threshold is exceeded and to generate a control signal to activate the trip mechanism. | 10-17-2013 |
20140111898 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POWER MANAGEMENT IN ETU WITHIN A CIRCUIT BREAKER WHEN USED AS A HOST CONTROLLER - A method for enabling an ETU to function as a host controller is provided. The ETU includes a power bus port, a current sensor input, and a power distributor coupled to the power bus port and the current sensor input. The method includes determining that a peripheral device is connected to the power bus port. The method further includes determining that sufficient input power is available to the ETU to provide an output power to the peripheral device through the power bus port. Additionally, the method includes providing the output power to the peripheral device through the power bus port. | 04-24-2014 |
20140117995 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING AN ELECTRONIC TRIP DEVICE - An electronic trip device is described that includes a test current generator and a leakage current detection circuit. The test current generator is coupled to a conductor and configured to provide a test current having a magnitude to the conductor in response to a selection to test the electronic trip device. The conductor is a line conductor or a neutral conductor. The leakage current detection circuit is configured to detect a current difference between the neutral conductor and the line conductor. The leakage current detection circuit is configured to provide, in response to the selection to test the electronic trip device, a tripless error indication if the detected current difference is less than a first threshold value. | 05-01-2014 |