Arc detection architecture based on correlation for circuit breakers
US6242922A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H1/04
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A low cost mixed analog digital application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) includes a standard central processing it (CPU) programmed to execute a correlation function for arc detection. Use of a standard CPU is possible because need for digital fourier analysis is eliminated by the ASIC architecture. The SIC includes a power supply configured to be coupled to an AC power line for supplying power to the ASIC components, and further includes a current sensor coupled to a current-carrying conductor for generating a signal representative of current in the conductor. A first analog-to-digital converter (ADC), coupled in series with the current sensor, has its output coupled to a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU supplies a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a digital signal representative of a portion of the sensed current. The DAC supplies this signal, in analog form, to a summer, which also receives an output signal from the current sensor. The summed analog output signal of the summer is converted to digital form by a second ADC and is supplied to the CPU. The CPU output is coupled to a trigger, e.g., a trigger of a circuit breaker.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.