Patent · US Expired

Arc fault detection for SSPC based electrical power distribution systems

US7177125B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
15References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 12, 2003
Grant dateFeb 13, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 15, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02H3/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and a method detect arc faults in an electrical power distribution system of a vehicle. In one implementation, the apparatus (320) includes: a load current input (340) arranged to obtain a measurement of current being supplied to a load (140) via a solid state power switching device (310) of the electrical power distribution system; and an arc fault detector (330) arranged to compare the measured load current with a load signature, the load signature being a function of characteristics of the load (140) being supplied current via the solid state power switching device (310) and operating conditions of the solid state power switching device (310). The arc fault detector (330) outputs an arc fault indication signal when the measured current is outside an allowable range of the load signature to provide protection against arc faults.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.