Patents by Inventor Carlos Restrepos

Carlos Restrepos has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20100085206
    Abstract: An arc fault detector includes a means for repeatedly measuring an elapsed time. The arc fault detector also includes at least one means to perform arc detection at each repeated elapsed time. Means for initiating a tripping mechanism is activated after the elapsed time. When a fault occurs, means for generating at least one fault code is activated. The fault code is stored in at least one non-volatile memory. The fault code is selected from a group consisting of an arc fault interrupt code, a ground fault interrupt code, and a push-to-test interrupt code. The arc fault detector includes at least one means to display the fault code such as at least one LED. At least a first LED indicates an arc fault interrupt code and at least a second LED indicates a ground fault interrupt code. At least a third LED indicates a push-to-test interrupt code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Nayak, Carlos Restrepo, Brian Timothy McCoy
  • Publication number: 20090248329
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an arc fault root-cause finder apparatus and method for determining the root-cause of an arc fault condition. In one embodiment, the arc fault root-cause finder apparatus has a sensing base module mounted to a load panel box having at least one circuit breaker that protects a corresponding branch circuit. The sensing base module has sensing electronics that are electrically connected to the at least one circuit breaker and are configured to sense the occurrence of arcing events in the branch circuit. The sensing base module includes wireless communication electronics to (i) effect transmission of electrical signals that provide information about the occurrence or absence of arcing events in the branch circuit, and (ii) to receive command signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos Restrepo
  • Publication number: 20090198459
    Abstract: An electrical fault detection device for use in a branch of a power circuit that utilizes signals from an AC line current sensor coupled to an electrical distribution line having a primary and neutral lines, a line high-frequency sensor coupled to the electrical distribution line, a differential current sensor coupled to the primary and neutral lines, and a ground fault current sensor coupled to the primary and neutral lines. A signal conditioner receives the signals outputted by AC current line current sensor, the line high frequency sensor, the differential current sensor and the ground fault current sensor and generates a signal indicative of the load current associated with a branch of the power circuit. Output of the signal conditioner is sampled and processed by a processing resource. The processing resource has stored therein data representing a plurality of time-versus-current curves that define a plurality of regions in which tripping may or may not occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Bilac, Carlos Restrepo, Hugh T. Kinsel, Amit Nayak
  • Patent number: 7492163
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can include an arc fault detection circuit. The arc fault detection circuit can include a zero crossing analysis sub-system including a counter configured to determine, for a first waveform, a count of dips that occur between a pair of predetermined zero crossings of a second waveform. The second waveform can be obtained from an electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Restrepo, Peter Spenlove Staley
  • Patent number: 7492562
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for thermally compensating a voltage signal for a circuit protection device. The circuit protection device is coupled to a powered circuit and having current flowing through it. A bus carries the power therethrough. A sense resistor is electrically coupled to a bus for sensing the current flowing through the bus. A temperature sensitive circuit is coupled to the sense resistor for compensating ambient temperatures. The invention is useful for providing an accurate sense resistor that supplies a temperature independent current in a power line and the related voltage output of the sense resistor at varying ambient temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Tery John Evans, Elton C. Johnson, Carlos Restrepo
  • Patent number: 7463037
    Abstract: A method for arc fault detection, includes automatically generating an output signal responsive to an input signal. The input signal is indicative of an arc fault. The output signal is configured to cause an electrical circuit to open. The output signal is generated responsive to a derived signal based upon a first threshold having a first amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Henson, Carlos Restrepo
  • Patent number: 7441173
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a system that comprises an application specific integrated circuit configured to provide an output signal. The output signal can be configured to trip a device in an electrical circuit responsive to a detected fault. The application specific integrated circuit can comprise a temperature sensor. The application specific integrated circuit can be configured to correct at least one measured electrical value responsive to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Restrepo, Bin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080239596
    Abstract: A circuit tests the health of a ground-neutral transformer within a ground fault circuit interrupter. This test can include testing both the ground-to-neutral detection circuitry and the differential current detection circuitry. The test circuit provides a conductive path through the respective cores of a differential transformer and the ground-neutral transformer of the GFCI device. A closed loop induces current from the differential transformer, which creates a current imbalance through the differential transformer. In a properly working device, the circuit breaker will trip, confirming the health of the ground-neutral transformer portion of the GFCI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Carlos Restrepo, Hugh Kinsel, Vaske Mikani, Joselito Endozo
  • Publication number: 20080106832
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect the present disclosure is directed toward a method for detecting arc faults on a power line. The method may include monitoring power signals associated with a power line and filtering the power signals to produce a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal. A mask signal may generated based on the low frequency signal, and the high frequency signal may be analyzed to extract a broadband portion of the high frequency signal. A fault counter may be incremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately greater than a first threshold level. A fault counter may be decremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately less than the first threshold level. A trip signal is provided to a switching device associated with the power line if the fault counter exceeds a predetermined fault limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Carlos Restrepo, Peter Staley, Amit Nayak, Vaske Mikani, Hugh Kinsel
  • Patent number: 7368918
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments include a method, which can include automatically generating an output signal responsive to an input signal. The input signal can be indicative of an arc fault. The output signal can be configured to cause an electrical circuit to open. The output signal can be generated responsive to a derived signal based upon a first threshold having a first amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation
    Inventors: Jeremy Henson, Carlos Restrepo
  • Publication number: 20080091308
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method, which can comprise automatically generating an output signal responsive to an input signal. The input signal can be indicative of an arc fault. The output signal can be configured to cause an electrical circuit to open. The output signal can be generated responsive to a derived signal based upon a first threshold having a first amplitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Jeremy Henson, Carlos Restrepo
  • Publication number: 20080024140
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method, which can comprise automatically generating an output signal responsive to an input signal. The input signal can be indicative of an arc fault. The output signal can be configured to cause an electrical circuit to open. The output signal can be generated responsive to a derived signal based upon a first threshold having a first amplitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Jeremy Henson, Carlos Restrepo
  • Patent number: 7307820
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments described herein comprise a method comprising a plurality of activities comprising: discriminating an arcing condition from a non-arcing broadband signal, and, in response to detecting an arcing condition, outputting a trip signal to a circuit breaker controlling a predetermined alternating current circuit associated with the arcing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Henson, Carlos Restrepo
  • Publication number: 20070252603
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise an arc fault detection circuit. The arc fault detection circuit can comprise a zero crossing analysis sub-system comprising a counter configured to determine, for a first waveform, a count of dips that occur between a pair of predetermined zero crossings of a second waveform. The second waveform can be obtained from an electrical circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Carlos Restrepo, Peter Staley
  • Publication number: 20070208520
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a fault detection system, which can comprise a microprocessor. The microprocessor can be configured to automatically generate an output signal to an output pin responsive to an input signal indicative of an arc fault. The output signal can be configured to trip a circuit breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Bin Zhang, Carlos Restrepo, Mikhail Golod, Sandra Shields
  • Publication number: 20070208981
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a system that comprises an application specific integrated circuit configured to provide an output signal. The output signal can be configured to trip a device in an electrical circuit responsive to a detected fault. The application specific integrated circuit can comprise a temperature sensor. The application specific integrated circuit can be configured to correct at least one measured electrical value responsive to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Carlos Restrepo, Bin Zhang
  • Patent number: 7110864
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise method, the method comprising a plurality of activities comprising: for each of a plurality of potential arcing events associated with an alternating current: sensing the potential arcing event; identifying an amplitude-duration pair associated with the potential arcing event; assessing the plurality of amplitude-duration pairs; and determining if the plurality of potential arcing events corresponds to an arcing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Restrepo, Jeremy Henson
  • Publication number: 20050286185
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments described herein comprise a method comprising a plurality of activities comprising: discriminating an arcing condition from a non-arcing broadband signal, and, in response to detecting an arcing condition, outputting a trip signal to a circuit breaker controlling a predetermined alternating current circuit associated with the arcing condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Jeremy Henson, Carlos Restrepo
  • Publication number: 20050203672
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise method, the method comprising a plurality of activities comprising: for each of a plurality of potential arcing events associated with an alternating current: sensing the potential arcing event; identifying an amplitude-duration pair associated with the potential arcing event; assessing the plurality of amplitude-duration pairs; and determining if the plurality of potential arcing events corresponds to an arcing condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Carlos Restrepo, Jeremy Henson
  • Publication number: 20050052809
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for thermally compensating a voltage signal for a circuit protection device. The circuit protection device is coupled to a powered circuit and having current flowing through it. A bus carries the power therethrough. A sense resistor is electrically coupled to a bus for sensing the current flowing through the bus. A temperature sensitive circuit is coupled to the sense resistor for compensating ambient temperatures. The invention is useful for providing an accurate sense resistor that supplies a temperature independent current in a power line and the related voltage output of the sense resistor at varying ambient temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Tery Evans, Elton Johnson, Carlos Restrepo