Electrical fault detection system
US7079365B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/331
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A microcontroller-based system to detect ground-fault and grounded-neutral conditions in a monitored circuit of an electrical distribution system having line and neutral conductors. The system includes a single sensor producing an output signal responsive to current flow in both the line and neutral conductors of the monitored circuit, and a microcontroller receiving the sensor output signal and initiating the generation of a circuit status signal indicating one of a normal operating condition, a ground-fault condition or a grounded-neutral condition in the monitored circuit. The microcontroller is programmed to continuously test for ground-fault conditions by evaluating the sensor output signal and, at selected intervals, test for grounded-neutral conditions by evaluating the sensor's output signal response to a microcontroller initiated ping in the sensor circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.