Patents by Inventor Joseph R. Beierschmitt

Joseph R. Beierschmitt 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).

  • Patent number: 11615934
    Abstract: A method for identifying a type of fault condition with a circuit breaker includes detecting by the circuit breaker a fault condition of a plurality of fault conditions, storing in a memory device a trip code representing a type of the detected fault condition, interrupting current flow through the branch circuit in response to detecting the fault condition, and receiving a reset of the circuit breaker. The trip code may then be displayed in response to a momentary press of a test button that is a short duration press, and activating an LED interface in the circuit breaker to indicate the trip code representing the type of the detected fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall James Gass, Joseph R. Beierschmitt
  • Publication number: 20220319790
    Abstract: A method for identifying a type of fault condition with a circuit breaker includes detecting by the circuit breaker a fault condition of a plurality of fault conditions, storing in a memory device a trip code representing a type of the detected fault condition, interrupting current flow through the branch circuit in response to detecting the fault condition, and receiving a reset of the circuit breaker. The trip code may then be displayed in response to a momentary press of a test button that is a short duration press, and activating an LED interface in the circuit breaker to indicate the trip code representing the type of the detected fault condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall James Gass, Joseph R. Beierschmitt
  • Patent number: 11385299
    Abstract: A system and method are provided to detect a fault on a circuit. A current sensor is provided for sensing current on at least one line conductor and/or a neutral conductor on a circuit, and a switch is operated between at least first and second positions to selectively control a signal pathway on the at least one line conductor or the neutral conductor in relations to the sensor. The sensor performs a first current measurement corresponding to current across one conductor from the at least one line conductor and the neutral conductor in the first position, and a second current measurement corresponding to a current balance or imbalance between the conductors in the second position. The current sensor outputs the first current measurement for detecting an arc fault in the first position, or the second current measurement for detecting a ground fault in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph R. Beierschmitt
  • Publication number: 20210173015
    Abstract: A system and method are provided to detect a fault on a circuit. A current sensor is provided for sensing current on at least one line conductor and/or a neutral conductor on a circuit, and a switch is operated between at least first and second positions to selectively control a signal pathway on the at least one line conductor or the neutral conductor in relations to the sensor. The sensor performs a first current measurement corresponding to current across one conductor from the at least one line conductor and the neutral conductor in the first position, and a second current measurement corresponding to a current balance or imbalance between the conductors in the second position. The current sensor outputs the first current measurement for detecting an arc fault in the first position, or the second current measurement for detecting a ground fault in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph R. BEIERSCHMITT
  • Patent number: 10333290
    Abstract: A single current transformer arc fault/ground fault sensing circuit utilizes a sense coil and an injection coil from the line conductor placed concentrically and overlapping on a common core. The injection coil is operated by an in-line switch to allow current flow into the injection winding to influence the sense coil. With both the line and return conductors of a single phase circuit being surrounded by the transformer, opening the switch allows a ground fault sampling period, while closing the switch allows an arc fault sampling period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph R Beierschmitt
  • Patent number: 10031173
    Abstract: Method and system for performing arc fault and ground fault detection in a dual function CAFI/GFCI circuit breaker uses two analog-to-digital converters (ADC), one for performing arc fault sampling and one for performing ground fault sampling. Each ADC operates independently of the other ADC and may be accessed as needed by the microcontroller without interfering with the operation of the other ADC. Such simultaneous use of multiple ADCs minimizes or eliminates the need for complex time slicing and similar control schemes, thus freeing up the microcontroller for other operations and fault detection related tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Brennan T. Lentz, Joseph R. Beierschmitt, Randall J. Gass, Issa V. Dramé
  • Publication number: 20180166874
    Abstract: A single current transformer arc fault/ground fault sensing circuit utilizes a sense coil and an injection coil from the line conductor placed concentrically and overlapping on a common core. The injection coil is operated by an in-line switch to allow current flow into the injection winding to influence the sense coil. With both the line and return conductors of a single phase circuit being surrounded by the transformer, opening the switch allows a ground fault sampling period, while closing the switch allows an arc fault sampling period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph R. Beierschmitt
  • Publication number: 20160334454
    Abstract: Method and system for performing arc fault and ground fault detection in a dual function CAFI/GFCI circuit breaker uses two analog-to-digital converters (ADC), one for performing arc fault sampling and one for performing ground fault sampling. Each ADC operates independently of the other ADC and may be accessed as needed by the microcontroller without interfering with the operation of the other ADC. Such simultaneous use of multiple ADCs minimizes or eliminates the need for complex time slicing and similar control schemes, thus freeing up the microcontroller for other operations and fault detection related tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Brennan T. Lentz, Joseph R. Beierschmitt, Randall J. Gass, Issa V. DRAMÉ