Systems, methods, and devices for controlling a serial arc fault in an electrical circuit
US7872839B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 12, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H1/04
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices for controlling a serial arc fault in an electrical circuit are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: a. measuring a current in the circuit; b. determining whether the current is below a predetermined value; c. if the current is below ten percent of the predetermined value, determining whether a countdown timer value indicated by a cell pointer value is equal to zero; d. if the countdown timer value is equal to zero, starting a countdown timer, advancing the cell pointer value by one, and restarting the method at step a.; e. if the countdown timer value is not equal to zero, determining whether the interruptions in the current are periodic; f. if the interruptions in the current are not periodic, checking whether an arc event countdown timer is running; and g. if the arc event countdown timer is running, tripping a circuit breaker.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.