Patents by Inventor William Vernon Miller

William Vernon Miller 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: 11940498
    Abstract: Passive monitoring the integrity of current sensing devices and associated circuitry in GFCI and AFCI protective devices is provided. A protection circuit interrupter employs a capacitively coupled noise signal obtained by an arrangement of one or both of line side arms relative to a Rogowski coil. The noise signal is monitored while the line and load sides of a protective circuit interrupter are disconnected, and the connection of the line and load sides disabled if the noise signal fails to correlate sufficiently to a reference noise cycle. When the line and load sides are connected, the RMS value of the observed current signal is monitored such that the line and load sides are disconnected if the observed current signal fails to meet an RMS threshold. The observed current signal is compensated by subtracting the reference noise cycle prior to monitoring for the fault condition applicable to the protective device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Michael Miller, William Vernon Miller, Edward Shi Chen
  • Patent number: 11894668
    Abstract: A wiring device including an interrupting device and a controller. The interrupting device electrically connecting one or more line terminals to one or more load terminals when the interrupting device is in a reset condition and disconnecting the line terminals from the load terminals when the interrupting device is in a tripped condition. The controller has an electronic processor and a memory. The controller is configured to monitor a current of the one or more line terminals, identify a presence of an in-rush condition, wherein an in-rush of the current exists when the one or more cycles of current conform with a decay progression envelope, and prevent the tripped condition upon identifying the in-rush condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: William Vernon Miller, III
  • Publication number: 20230349974
    Abstract: Passive monitoring the integrity of current sensing devices and associated circuitry in GFCI and AFCI protective devices is provided. A protection circuit interrupter employs a capacitively coupled noise signal obtained by an arrangement of one or both of line side arms relative to a Rogowski coil. The noise signal is monitored while the line and load sides of a protective circuit interrupter are disconnected, and the connection of the line and load sides disabled if the noise signal fails to correlate sufficiently to a reference noise cycle. When the line and load sides are connected, the RMS value of the observed current signal is monitored such that the line and load sides are disconnected if the observed current signal fails to meet an RMS threshold. The observed current signal is compensated by subtracting the reference noise cycle prior to monitoring for the fault condition applicable to the protective device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Gary Michael MILLER, William Vernon MILLER, III, Edward Shi CHEN
  • Patent number: 11644507
    Abstract: Passive monitoring the integrity of current sensing devices and associated circuitry in GFCI and AFCI protective devices is provided. A protection circuit interrupter employs a capacitively coupled noise signal obtained by an arrangement of one or both of line side arms relative to a Rogowski coil. The noise signal is monitored while the line and load sides of a protective circuit interrupter are disconnected, and the connection of the line and load sides disabled if the noise signal fails to correlate sufficiently to a reference noise cycle. When the line and load sides are connected, the RMS value of the observed current signal is monitored such that the line and load sides are disconnected if the observed current signal fails to meet an RMS threshold. The observed current signal is compensated by subtracting the reference noise cycle prior to monitoring for the fault condition applicable to the protective device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Michael Miller, William Vernon Miller, III, Edward Shi Chen
  • Publication number: 20230075542
    Abstract: A module of an AM/PD device including a PCB and a bus bar including one or more bus bar contacts. The module further including one or more contact arms having one or more moveable contacts configured to be in a first position and a second position, wherein when in the first position the one or more moveable contacts are in physical contact with the one or more bus bar contacts and when in the second position the one or more moveable contacts are physically separated from the one or more bus bar contacts. The module further including a coil assembly coupled to an actuating device, the actuating device coupled to the one or more contact arms. Wherein the coil assembly, via the actuating device, moves the one or more moveable contacts from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kenny Padro, John E. Brower, Brandon Pearce, Antonio Di Vita, Matthew Jared Varney, William Vernon Miller, III, Joseph Michael Meady, David Peck
  • Publication number: 20220385056
    Abstract: Method and system allowing more accurate detection and identification of unwanted arcing include novel processing of signal voltage representing recovered power-line current. In one implementation, arc-faults are detected based on numerical analysis where individual cycles of line voltage and current are observed and data collected during each cycle is processed to estimate likelihood of presence of arc-event within each individual cycle based on pre-defined number of arc-events occurring within pre-defined number of contiguous cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: William Vernon MILLER, III, Gary Michael Miller
  • Publication number: 20220357396
    Abstract: Passive monitoring the integrity of current sensing devices and associated circuitry in GFCI and AFCI protective devices is provided. A protection circuit interrupter employs a capacitively coupled noise signal obtained by an arrangement of one or both of line side arms relative to a Rogowski coil. The noise signal is monitored while the line and load sides of a protective circuit interrupter are disconnected, and the connection of the line and load sides disabled if the noise signal fails to correlate sufficiently to a reference noise cycle. When the line and load sides are connected, the RMS value of the observed current signal is monitored such that the line and load sides are disconnected if the observed current signal fails to meet an RMS threshold. The observed current signal is compensated by subtracting the reference noise cycle prior to monitoring for the fault condition applicable to the protective device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Gary Michael MILLER, William Vernon MILLER, III, Edward Shi CHEN
  • Publication number: 20220337049
    Abstract: A circuit interrupting device including a phase conductor, a neutral conductor, an interrupter configured to disconnect the phase conductor and the neutral conductor from a load, and a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of current flowing through the phase conductor and the neutral conductor. The circuit interrupting device further includes a microcontroller that includes an electronic processor and is electrically connected to the first sensor and the interrupter. The microcontroller is configured to generate a reference signal, receive a first signal from the sensor, determine whether a difference between a voltage of the first signal and a voltage of the reference signal exceeds a threshold, determine whether the microcontroller has performed a ground fault self-test, and activate the interrupter when the difference exceeds the threshold and the microcontroller has not performed the ground fault self-test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: John E. Brower, James Casey Musson, William Vernon Miller, III, Joseph Michael Meady, Joseph Edgar Dupuis, Brian S. Chia
  • Patent number: 11408940
    Abstract: Passive monitoring the integrity of current sensing devices and associated circuitry in GFCI and AFCI protective devices is provided. A protection circuit interrupter employs a capacitively coupled noise signal obtained by an arrangement of one or both of the line side arms relative to a Rogowski coil. The noise signal is monitored while the line and load sides of a protective circuit interrupter are disconnected, and the connection of the line and load sides disabled if the noise signal fails to correlate sufficiently to a reference noise cycle. When the line and load sides are connected, the RMS value of the observed current signal is monitored such that the line and load sides are disconnected if the observed current signal fails to meet an RMS threshold. The observed current signal is compensated by subtracting the reference noise cycle prior to monitoring for the fault condition applicable to the protective device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Michael Miller, William Vernon Miller, III, Edward Shi Chen
  • Patent number: 11355910
    Abstract: Method and system allowing more accurate detection and identification of unwanted arcing include novel processing of signal voltage representing recovered power-line current. In one implementation, arc-faults are detected based on numerical analysis where individual cycles of line voltage and current are observed and data collected during each cycle is processed to estimate likelihood of presence of arc-event within each individual cycle based on pre-defined number of arc-events occurring within pre-defined number of contiguous cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: William Vernon Miller, III, Gary Michael Miller
  • Publication number: 20220085597
    Abstract: A wiring device including an interrupting device and a controller. The interrupting device electrically connecting one or more line terminals to one or more load terminals when the interrupting device is in a reset condition and disconnecting the line terminals from the load terminals when the interrupting device is in a tripped condition. The controller has an electronic processor and a memory. The controller is configured to monitor a current of the one or more line terminals, identify a presence of an in-rush condition, wherein an in-rush of the current exists when the one or more cycles of current conform with a decay progression envelope, and prevent the tripped condition upon identifying the in-rush condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventor: William Vernon Miller, III
  • Patent number: 11183831
    Abstract: A wiring device including an interrupting device, a fault detection device, and a controller. The interrupting device is configured to place the wiring device in a tripped condition in which the flow of power between one or more line terminals and one or more load terminals is interrupted. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect a fault condition and generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting the fault condition, the fault detection signal being provided to the interrupting device to place the interrupting device in the tripped condition. The controller is configured to monitor a current of the one or more line terminals, identify a presence of an in-rush condition or a steady-state condition, and prevent the output of the fault detection signal upon identifying either the in-rush condition or the steady-state condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: William Vernon Miller, III
  • Publication number: 20200332948
    Abstract: Method and system allowing more accurate detection and identification of unwanted arcing include novel processing of signal voltage representing recovered power-line current. In one implementation, arc-faults are detected based on numerical analysis where individual cycles of line voltage and current are observed and data collected during each cycle is processed to estimate likelihood of presence of arc-event within each individual cycle based on pre-defined number of arc-events occurring within pre-defined number of contiguous cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: William Vernon Miller, III, Gary Michael Miller
  • Publication number: 20200264234
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for passively monitoring the integrity of current sensing devices and associated circuitry in protective devices such as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are provided. A protection circuit interrupter employs a capacitively coupled noise signal obtained by an arrangement of one or both of the line side arms relative to a Rogowski coil. The noise signal is monitored while the line and load sides of a protective circuit interrupter are disconnected, and the connection of the line and load sides disabled if the noise signal fails to correlate sufficiently to a reference noise cycle. When the line and load sides are connected, the RMS value of the observed current signal is monitored such that the line and load sides are disconnected if the observed current signal fails to meet an RMS threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Gary Michael MILLER, William Vernon MILLER, III, Edward Shi CHEN
  • Patent number: 10707670
    Abstract: Method and system allowing more accurate detection and identification of unwanted arcing include novel processing of signal voltage representing recovered power-line current. In one implementation, arc-faults are detected based on numerical analysis where individual cycles of line voltage and current are observed and data collected during each cycle is processed to estimate likelihood of presence of arc-event within each individual cycle based on pre-defined number of arc-events occurring within pre-defined number of contiguous cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William Vernon Miller, III, Gary Michael Miller
  • Patent number: 10591546
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for passively monitoring the integrity of current sensing devices and associated circuitry in protective devices such as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are provided. A protection circuit interrupter employs a capacitively coupled noise signal obtained by an arrangement of one or both of the line side arms relative to a Rogowski coil. The noise signal is monitored while the line and load sides of a protective circuit interrupter are disconnected, and the connection of the line and load sides disabled if the noise signal fails to correlate sufficiently to a reference noise cycle. When the line and load sides are connected, the RMS value of the observed current signal is monitored such that the line and load sides are disconnected if the observed current signal fails to meet an RMS threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Michael Miller, William Vernon Miller, III, Edward Shi Chen
  • Publication number: 20200036183
    Abstract: A wiring device including an interrupting device, a fault detection device, and a controller. The interrupting device is configured to place the wiring device in a tripped condition in which the flow of power between one or more line terminals and one or more load terminals is interrupted. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect a fault condition and generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting the fault condition, the fault detection signal being provided to the interrupting device to place the interrupting device in the tripped condition. The controller is configured to monitor a current of the one or more line terminals, identify a presence of an in-rush condition or a steady-state condition, and prevent the output of the fault detection signal upon identifying either the in-rush condition or the steady-state condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventor: William Vernon Miller, III
  • Publication number: 20190222017
    Abstract: Method and system allowing more accurate detection and identification of unwanted arcing include novel processing of signal voltage representing recovered power-line current. In one implementation, arc-faults are detected based on numerical analysis where individual cycles of line voltage and current are observed and data collected during each cycle is processed to estimate likelihood of presence of arc-event within each individual cycle based on pre-defined number of arc-events occurring within pre-defined number of contiguous cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: William Vernon Miller, III, Gary Michael Miller
  • Patent number: 10243343
    Abstract: Method and system allowing more accurate detection and identification of unwanted arcing include novel processing of signal voltage representing recovered power-line current. In one implementation, arc-faults are detected based on numerical analysis where individual cycles of line voltage and current are observed and data collected during each cycle is processed to estimate likelihood of presence of arc-event within each individual cycle based on pre-defined number of arc-events occurring within pre-defined number of contiguous cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: William Vernon Miller, III, Gary Michael Miller
  • Publication number: 20180321318
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for passively monitoring the integrity of current sensing devices and associated circuitry in protective devices such as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are provided. A protection circuit interrupter employs a capacitively coupled noise signal obtained by an arrangement of one or both of the line side arms relative to a Rogowski coil. The noise signal is monitored while the line and load sides of a protective circuit interrupter are disconnected, and the connection of the line and load sides disabled if the noise signal fails to correlate sufficiently to a reference noise cycle. When the line and load sides are connected, the RMS value of the observed current signal is monitored such that the line and load sides are disconnected if the observed current signal fails to meet an RMS threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Gary Michael MILLER, William Vernon MILLER, III, Edward Shi CHEN