Patents Assigned to Schneider Electric SA
  • Patent number: 6473862
    Abstract: An assembly comprising two micro-controllers (MC1, MC2) separately receiving specific and synchronous information (input states) in order to process it and supply respective outputs (S1, S2) and which are connected through links (C1, C2) to make the running of the programs consistent, and a comparator (K) receiving the outputs (S1, S2) from the micro-controllers (MC1, MC2) in order to transmit a signal in the event of nonconformity. A re-writable memory is respectively associated with each micro-controller (MC1, MC2). An interface common to the two micro-controllers (MC1, MC2) is connected to them through a common micro-controller MC3 in order to write the parameterization data for the functions of the two mic-o-controllers (MC1, MC2) by means of the common micro-controller (MC3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventor: Jean-Bernard Givet
  • Patent number: 6355924
    Abstract: Photoelectric cell with means of configuring the operating mode. The cell has several optosensitive zones 11, 12, D capable of outputting magnitudes that are activated or processed in different manners, by configuration and/or processing means 7, 19. The cell may thus be used in reflex mode, proximity mode or proximity with background elimination mode. Amplifying parts 16a, 16b are provided at the side of the optosensitive zones to amplify electrical magnitudes before routing them to the microcontroller 19 in the processing circuit 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Stéphane Even, Alain Guillot
  • Patent number: 6348685
    Abstract: An improved light barrier optical module including a system of one or more light blocking partitions. The partitions have different sized orifices configured to reduce the effects of parasitic light rays which would otherwise interfere with the reliable operation of the module. The module is suitable for both the transmission and reception of light barrier beams and for production using injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventor: Jean-Bernard Givet
  • Patent number: 6335673
    Abstract: The current transformer comprises a magnetic circuit and a secondary winding. The magnetic circuit is formed by stacked metal plates. Each plate comprises a cut-out without an air-gap. The magnetic circuit comprises a fixed first part enabling the secondary winding to be received and a flexible second part able to be momentarily deformed. The current transformer is advantageously used in protection relays and electronic trip devices of circuit breakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Pascal Houbre, Claude Rubbo
  • Patent number: 6304919
    Abstract: The fixed frame comprises, on a side wall, a communication module. The communication module acts as interface between an external communication bus and indicating contacts whose state is representative of the connected or disconnected positions of a switchgear apparatus on the frame. The communication module is preferably fixed onto the external face of the wall, by the same fixing means as the indicating contacts. The wiring is thus reduced to the minimum when the apparatus is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Patrice Louis, Jocelyn Lemoine
  • Patent number: 6294889
    Abstract: This invention relates to a control device for a motor output (DM) comprising electrical control and protection switchgear (CD) for a motor (M) receiving contact information (a1, a2, a3) connected to the electrical switchgear (CD) and its output controlling at least one control device (KM) that controls starting or stopping the motor (M) and also receiving information from a remote sensor (C) and communicating with a “master” network controller (PLC) through a communication bus (B), characterized by the fact that the electronics (E) comprises means of locally controlling the control device (KM) stopping the motor (M) as soon as the remote sensor (C) is activated during an operating phase of the motor output and means of sending information corresponding to this stop on the bus (B) to the “master” module (PLC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Joseph Briant, André Ganier, Alain Gerard
  • Patent number: 6283631
    Abstract: An electronic device for modeling the temperature of a motor by utilizing signals output from current sensors placed on motor power supply phases. Signals from the current sensors are sent to an interface that outputs a voltage which is an image of a summation a ratio of the motor currents sensed by each of the current sensors to a corresponding adjustment current for each of the phases. A calculation circuit utilizes the voltage as an input and outputs a charging current wave stream, the amplitude and the duration of the charging current being proportional to the summation the ratio. An RC type modeling circuit is provided to receive the charging current wave stream and to model the thermal state of the motor based on the charging current wave stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Alain Gousset, Philippe Guibert
  • Patent number: 6248971
    Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a plurality of pole compartments juxtaposed inside an insulating case, in each of which compartments there are arranged an arc extinguishing chamber and at least one pair of separable contact parts comprising at least one movable contact part, at least two of said pole compartments being contiguous and separated from one another by a partition. The separating partition of the twinned poles comprises a communicating aperture of dimensions and location such that it is able to appreciably influence the distribution of the arcing energy between the two compartments when the latter are connected in parallel. A circuit breaker with a high breaking capacity is thus obtained from a standard multipole circuit breaker of lower breaking capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Robert Morel, Marc Rival
  • Patent number: 6246928
    Abstract: The interruption device, circuit breaker or contactor, comprises a communication module arranged in one of the locations designed for auxiliary contacts. The module is connected to the auxiliary contacts and to a communication bus to enable transmission of the states of the device to a supervision device, by means of the bus. The module can also act as interface between the bus and opening an closing control relays of the device, so as to enable remote control thereof by means of the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Patrice Louis, Jocelyn Lemoine
  • Patent number: 6238254
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a case designed for housing an electrical apparatus such as a circuit breaker. This case includes terminal compartments for housing connection strips and component(s) for fixing the strips to external conductors, such as a bar, a cable etc., respectively. The fixing components include for at least one of the compartments, a first opening provided in the case and a second opening provided in the connection strip and situated facing the first opening(s), and at least one screw passing through two orifices facing one another and provided, respectively, in the case and in the strip to perform fixing of a conductor onto the connection strip, the first opening is shaped in such a way as to receive and guide in rotation at least one screw head of a circular shape, and block in rotation with respect to the case at least one screw head of a non-circular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric, SA
    Inventors: Laurent De Pourquoy, Tim Faber
  • Patent number: 6236038
    Abstract: An optical barrier is provided by an optical barrier unit that is made up of one or more emitter element modules and one or more receiver element modules. The emitter modules present are controlled by a control circuit to emit modulated beams encoded in a particular manner. In this regard, a particular beam of each emitter module is encoded with one of a pair of unique words that both indicate the identity of the module emitting that beam and further indicate a different binary word value depending on which of the pair is used as part of a further code that will identify the barrier unit. If more than one emitter module is part of the optical barrier, a corresponding number of particular beams, one for each emitter module present, are modulated with appropriate ones of other pairs of unique words to both identify those modules and to provide the proper binary word value as a further part of the optical barrier unit's identification number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventor: Jean-Bernard Givet
  • Patent number: 6231405
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection accessory and to a terminal equipped with such an accessory. This accessory is designed to perform connection of an electrical conductor such as an aluminum cable to a contact strip of an electrical apparatus such as a circuit breaker. This accessory is characterized in that it comprises a pad made of a conducting material and presenting an appreciably U-shaped transverse cross section, said pad being able to be fixed in removable manner onto the contact strip and to receive a conductor designed to be clamped against the pad by a clamping means in order to establish the electrical contact between the contact strip and the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Robert Diconne, Bernard Lepretre, Didier Philippe
  • Patent number: 6233375
    Abstract: The component comprises structures, achieved in integrated optics, exerting predetermined stresses on a light wave guiding waveguide so as to maintain or modify in predetermined manner the polarization state of an incident light wave. These structures are formed by at least one segmented plane waveguide arranged laterally with respect to the light wave guiding waveguide and formed by parallel lateral waveguides perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the light wave guiding waveguide. These structures are achieved at the same time as the light wave guiding waveguide, the segmented plane waveguides having refractive indexes lower than or equal to those of the light wave guiding waveguide. Such structures can be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically, alternately on each side of the light wave guiding waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Thiemo Lang, Pierre Benech
  • Patent number: 6204915
    Abstract: The probe comprises at least one optic fiber and an electronic circuit comprising a securing device for securing the optic fiber in optic connection with signal conversion means. The electronic circuit comprises a removable electrical connector connected to the signal conversion means such as a light-emitting diode and/or photo-detector to supply or receive electronic signals used by a processing circuit. A measuring device comprises at least one optic fiber probe connected by means of the removable connector to a processing circuit. Application in particular to temperature measurement probes and devices which comprise optic fibers and to installations comprising electrical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Dominique Persegol, Vincent Minier, Jean-Louis Lovato, Christian Petit, Pierre Amblard, Alain Hermil-Boudin
  • Patent number: D438176
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventor: Pierre Yves Cornu
  • Patent number: D443496
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventor: Jean DeCosse
  • Patent number: D444049
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventor: Jean Decosse
  • Patent number: D444695
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventor: Jean Decosse
  • Patent number: D459261
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventor: Jean DeCosse
  • Patent number: D469411
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventor: Jean Decosse