Electronic circuit breaker
US5943203A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H9/001
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A monolithic electronic circuit breaker having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a controllable impedance connected between the input and output terminals. A current sensor generates a current magnitude signal indicative of the current flowing between the input and output terminals. In one embodiment, an over-current circuit generates an over-current signal when the current magnitude signal exceeds a threshold. In response to at least a first occurrence of the over-current signal, a control circuit controls the controllable impedance so as to reduce current through the controllable impedance for a period of time, and then automatically increase current through the controllable impedance. Further, in response to an N.sup.th (N>1) occurrence of the over-current signal, the control circuit controls the controllable impedance so as to reduce current through the controllable impedance and does not thereafter automatically increase current through the controllable impedance. In another embodiment, an over-current and control circuit controls the controllable impedance so as to reduce current through the controllable impedance when the current magnitude signal exceeds a threshold…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.