Arc fault detector with circuit interrupter and early arc fault detection
US6128169A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H1/0038
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An arc fault detector comprised as a stand alone unit and in combination with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) functions to provide protection from potentially dangerous arc fault conditions. When combined with a GFCI, the combination arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter (AFCI/GFCI) provides protection from both arc fault and ground fault conditions. A single transformer is used to detect faults between neutral and ground and arc faults. An impedance splits the current flow into two portions so as to generate differential current proportional to the current flowing through the conductors. An early arcing detector periodically tests the AC line for high impedance between the device and a main breaker panel. The AFCI/GFCI device detects both AC line frequencies and high frequencies associated with arcing. Both average and instantaneous values of both AC line frequency and high frequency arcing signals are processed to generate an arc fault signal. The device allows the arc detector to differentiate between destructive high level arcing and low level arcing such as generated by typical household appliances and equipment. This serves to decrease the occurrence of false t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.