Abstract: A digitally controlled circuit breaker includes a conventional thermal circuit breaker (10) which is controlled by a solenoid (16) to override the thermal aspect thereof. The solenoid (16) is controlled by a digital processing section (20). The digital processing section (20) has a digital control module (22) with multiple profile tables associated therewith. The profile tables allow the digital control module (22) to compare a sensed current from a sensor (24) with a predetermined current value as a function of time and to generate the control signal for the solenoid (16) if the sensed current exceeds that in the profile. The profiles can optionally be downloaded to the module (22) through a serial communication port (36). The digital control module (22) is also operable to sense the voltage of the circuit breaker to determine zero crossing points and phase angle, which phase angle can be utilized to determine the type of load and, therefore, can alter the profile to be utilized.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 8, 1996
Date of Patent:
February 23, 1999
Assignee:
George A. Spencer
Inventors:
George Auther Spencer, LeRoy Blanton, Robert Henry Clunn