Arc fault detection technique
US7227729B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/44
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and a method of detecting arc faults that have reduced susceptibility to nuisance tripping. The apparatus includes a current sensor, a differential current input sense circuit, a differential current (di/dt) characteristics sense circuit, an absolute current input sense circuit, an absolute current characteristics sense circuit, a power supply, a tripping circuit, a processing unit, and an electromechanical interface. The di/dt characteristics sense circuit provides information relating to the characteristic di/dt signature of a power line current. The absolute current characteristics sense circuit provides information relating to the absolute current waveform characteristics of the power line current. The processing unit correlates the di/dt characteristics to the absolute current characteristics to distinguish between electrical arc faults and nuisance loads, thereby reducing the susceptibility of the apparatus to nuisance tripping.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.