With Multiple Timing Characteristics (e.g., Short, Long) Patents (Class 361/96)
  • Patent number: 11906599
    Abstract: An earth leakage detecting device comprises following elements. A first end of coupling capacitor is connected to a current path of power storage connected to load in a state of being insulated from a ground. Voltage output unit generates a periodic voltage that changes periodically, and applies the periodic voltage to a second end of coupling capacitor via impedance element. Voltage measurer measures a voltage at a connection point between coupling capacitor and impedance element. Earth leakage determiner determines presence or absence of an earth leakage between the current path of power storage and the ground on the basis of the measured voltage. Voltage output unit has a preparation period for constantly outputting a potential between a high-side potential and a low-side potential of the periodic voltage before a measurement period for outputting the periodic voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Nakayama, Tomonori Kunimitsu, Taisuke Hamada, Jun Asakura
  • Patent number: 11848557
    Abstract: A power restoration system comprising a feeder, a plurality of power sources available to provide power to the feeder, a plurality of normally closed reclosing devices electrically coupled along the feeder, at least one normally open recloser electrically coupled to the feeder, and a plurality of normally closed switches electrically coupled along the feeder between each adjacent pairs of normally closed reclosing devices. Each switch is assigned a position code having a value for each of the plurality of power sources that determines when the switch will open in response to the fault current and which power source the switch is currently receiving power from, where timing control between the reclosing devices and the switches allows the switch to be selectively opened to isolate the fault within a single feeder section between each pair of adjacent switches or between each switch and a reclosing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventors: David Porter, Michael Meisinger, Martin Bishop, Stephen Williams
  • Patent number: 11769999
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an open neutral condition in a split phase power system is described. The apparatus includes two powered lines providing output electricity to an electrical distribution system and a shared neutral line providing a grounded neutral to the first and second powered lines. The apparatus is configured for detecting when an open neutral condition is present in the split phase power system by determining when a power current is present on one or both of the first and second powered lines while a return current is not present on the neutral line; and in response to detecting that the open neutral condition is present, causing an interrupter to interrupt the power supplied by the first and second powered lines or to generate a signal indicating an open condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Paul Oldham, Jr., Hamze Moussa
  • Patent number: 11729937
    Abstract: An environment detecting module, for securing a shell of a server, includes a sensing module, configured to sense an environment status by a polling method and generate a sensing signal according to the environment status; a connection module, configured to electrically connect the environment detecting module to a host terminal with a first connection status or a second connection status; and a microcontroller unit, coupled to the sensing module and the connection module, configured to determine a power source of the environment detecting module according to the first connection status or the second connection status, and to determine a first mode or a second mode of the environment detecting module according to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Wiwynn Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Hao Chen, Cheng-Kuang Hsieh, Yung-Ti Chung, Jheng-Ying Jiang
  • Patent number: 11592486
    Abstract: A method for automatically testing a relay is provided. The method includes applying power to a testing device for automatically testing the relay, determining a position of a selector switch based on a user selection for testing, selectively energizing the relay based on the position of the selector switch, detecting, by a hardware processor, an energize status signal from the selector switch, testing, by the hardware processor and based at least on the energize status signal, a control coil or a contact of the relay to generate a test result, and displaying, using display, the energize status signal and the test result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Meshari Sulaiman Alnafi
  • Patent number: 11431167
    Abstract: A power restoration system comprising a feeder, a plurality of power sources available to provide power to the feeder, a plurality of normally closed reclosing devices electrically coupled along the feeder, at least one normally open recloser electrically coupled to the feeder, and a plurality of normally closed switches electrically coupled along the feeder between each adjacent pairs of normally closed reclosing devices. Each switch is assigned a position code having a value for each of the plurality of power sources that determines when the switch will open in response to the fault current and which power source the switch is currently receiving power from, where timing control between the reclosing devices and the switches allows the switch to be selectively opened to isolate the fault within a single feeder section between each pair of adjacent switches or between each switch and a reclosing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventors: David Porter, Michael Meisinger, Martin Bishop, Stephen Williams
  • Patent number: 11095108
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to protective wiring devices, and more particularly, to a protective wiring device that meets the prevailing electrical codes and is convenient for a homeowner to reset after it has tripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas N. Packard
  • Patent number: 11050237
    Abstract: A circuit breaker failure protection relay includes an input circuit to which an opening command from a first circuit breaker is input, and a circuit breaker failure detection element configured to compare a magnitude of a current detection signal in a power system with a setting value to make a determination about an overcurrent. The circuit breaker failure detection element is capable of changing the setting value to a first value and a second value that is larger than the first value according to a switching signal. The circuit breaker failure protection relay is configured to, when the opening command is input and when the circuit breaker failure detection element determines that an overcurrent occurs, output an opening command for the second circuit breaker in a neighborhood of the first circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Takemura, Shigetoo Oda
  • Patent number: 10884068
    Abstract: A method of determining a prospective short circuit current for an electrical system including a source includes connecting a test load between either: (i) a first phase line and a second phase line of the electrical system or (ii) the first phase line and the neutral line of the electrical system, employing a sensor coupled to the electrical system to measure a voltage drop across the test load, determining a voltage value based on at least the measured voltage drop across the test load, determining a total effective impedance for the first phase line to the source, and determining the prospective short circuit current based on the voltage value and the total effective impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Charles J. Luebke, Amjad Hussain
  • Patent number: 10734179
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a circuit breaker in an electrical energy supply network. A switching signal is generated by a protective or control device of the energy supply network and the switching signal is transmitted to a control unit of the circuit breaker. The control unit is caused to open the switching contacts of the circuit breaker upon reception of the switching signal. In order to ensure a switching operation which is as fast as possible even in those energy supply networks in which phases of the current to be switched by a circuit breaker which are free of zero crossings can occur, a current flowing through the circuit breaker is recorded and is checked for the occurrence of zero crossings. The transmission of the signal for opening the switching contacts is prevented until at least one zero crossing has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Herrmann
  • Patent number: 10218167
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a tripping unit for interrupting an electrical circuit, and at least one current sensor for determining the electrical current flowing through the circuit breaker, connected to a control unit and configured such that the determined current is compared with current/period limit values. If a current/period limit value is exceeded, the tripping unit interrupts the electrical circuit. The current/period limit values include an adjustable first current limit value, present for a first period for an interruption; an adjustable second period, during which a second current limit value must be present to effect an interruption; and a range between the first current limit value and the second current limit value, the period decreasing with increasing current limit values in order to effect an interruption. The second current limit value can be adjusted at the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Wolfgang Fruth, Stefan Haebel, Rainer Huentemeier
  • Patent number: 9702939
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for charging or maintaining a battery that includes power conversion circuitry configured to provide output power for charging or maintaining the battery. The system also includes electrical conductors coupled to the power conversion circuitry and configured to be coupled to the battery for charging or maintaining the battery. Additionally, the system includes control circuitry coupled to the power conversion circuitry and configured to monitor charging or maintaining of the battery. The control circuitry is further configured to determine whether the battery may be defective or failing based upon the output power and a time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daryl C. Brockman, Joseph E. Liedhegner
  • Patent number: 9544405
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a terminal device that includes an antenna element and an interface component. The antenna element is mounted on a casing of the terminal device to transmit/receive electromagnetic waves. The interface component is configured to couple an external device with the terminal device for a wired transmission. The interface component includes a metal shell configured to have a fixed potential state to shield the wired transmission from noise when the interface component is active for the wired transmission, and to have a floating state to avoid affecting the antenna element for transmitting/receiving electromagnetic waves when the interface component is idle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kodama, Tomoo Kobayashi, Tomokazu Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9312679
    Abstract: Systems and methods for overvoltage protection are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation, an overvoltage protection device is provided having one or more overvoltage protection elements and a measuring device for monitoring the overvoltage protection elements. Further, the measuring device may include an evaluation device, which is designed to count pulse-like overvoltage events which are arrested by the overvoltage protection element, wherein the evaluation device is connected to the overvoltage protection element via a light-measuring device and/or a device for identifying a current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Meyer, Steffen Pfortner, Andrei Siegel, Friedrich-Eckhard Brand
  • Patent number: 9147546
    Abstract: A current switch self-calibrates when a reset control is actuated and displays an expected current in the monitored conductor, one or more trip points of the current switch and the last known current in the monitored conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Veris Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Edward Hart, Mark D. Rowan, Troy Earl Wecker
  • Patent number: 9054513
    Abstract: A circuit protection device includes an adjustment device configured to provide a selected voltage, a memory configured to store a selector, and a processor coupled to the memory and to the adjustment device. The processor is configured to receive the selector from the memory, select an operational parameter of the circuit protection device based on the selector, receive a voltage value representative of a selected voltage provided by the adjustment device, and set the selected operational parameter to a parameter value based on the voltage value received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John James Dougherty
  • Publication number: 20150130567
    Abstract: An overcurrent relay and a molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) including the same are provided. The MCCB includes: a switching mechanism unit; an overcurrent relay; a trip mechanism, wherein the overcurrent relay includes: a case body; a case cover coupled to the case body; a control unit installed within the case body and having an electronic circuit board; and a plurality of setting knobs disposed to be spaced apart from one another on the electronic circuit board, having an indication unit exposed to the outside to indicate a current reference value and a trip operation time marked on the case cover, respectively, and configured to be rotatable, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Yong JANG
  • Patent number: 8837103
    Abstract: A circuit breaker trip unit includes an input section receiving a phase current level signal. A processor is in communication with the input section and generates a first trip signal based on the phase current level signal and user-adjustable trip settings. The trip settings include long time and short time pickup and delay settings. An analog instantaneous trip circuit is in communication with both of the input section and the processor. The analog instantaneous trip circuit includes a digital potentiometer having a non-volatile memory. The potentiometer provides a reference signal corresponding to a resistance setting stored in the memory. The analog instantaneous trip circuit compares the phase current level and reference signals, and generates a second trip signal based on a result of the comparing. The processor programs the resistance setting stored in the memory according to a user-adjustable instantaneous current pickup setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Utility Relay Company
    Inventor: Helmut Weiher
  • Patent number: 8804973
    Abstract: In an example signal clustering apparatus, a feature of a signal is divided into segments. A first feature vector of each segment is calculated, the first feature vector having has a plurality of elements corresponding to each reference model. A value of an element attenuates when a feature of the segment shifts from a center of a distribution of the reference model corresponding to the element. A similarity between two reference models is calculated. A second feature vector of each segment is calculated, the second feature vector having a plurality of elements corresponding to each reference model. A value of an element is a weighted sum and segments of second feature vectors of which the plurality of elements are similar values are clustered to one class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Makoto Hirohata, Kazunori Imoto, Hisashi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8797720
    Abstract: A circuit protection system has a normal mode, and a maintenance mode with reduced potential arc flash energy. A downstream circuit breaker is mounted within a first enclosure comprising a first access panel. A locking mechanism locks the first access panel closed. An upstream breaker is mounted within a second enclosure comprising a second access panel. A current sensor senses current and is in communication with an electronic trip unit that controls current interruptions by the upstream breaker based on a trip setting. A user interface device is accessible when second enclosure is closed, and allows user selections of normal and maintenance modes. When maintenance mode is selected, the trip unit changes the trip setting such that potential arc flash energy is reduced. The system is configured to keep the first access panel locked closed based on normal mode being selected, and allow unlocking based on maintenance mode being selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Utility Relay Company, Kirk Key Interlock Company LLC
    Inventors: Helmut Weiher, Sean McGuinness
  • Patent number: 8605393
    Abstract: A compressor monitoring system includes current and voltage monitors, current and voltage averaging modules, a control module, and a switch. The current monitor measures a current drawn by a motor of a compressor. The current averaging module generates first and second average current values based on the current measured by the current monitor. The voltage monitor measures a utility power voltage. The voltage averaging module generates first and second average voltage values based on the voltage measured by the voltage monitor. The control module selectively generates a fault signal when a first ratio is greater than a first predetermined threshold and a second ratio is less than a second predetermined threshold. The first ratio is based on the first and second average current values. The second ratio is based on the first and second average voltage values. The switch deactivates the motor when the fault signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagaraj B. Jayanth, George Ramayya
  • Patent number: 8494178
    Abstract: Methods and techniques to implement a digital signal processor for avoidance of audio feedback are disclosed, in particular, audio signal processing systems that reduce the requirement for physical segregation of sound acquisition and diffusion zones. In a more general aspect, the components and techniques described herein provide a for a sound space and sound processing equipment such that sound travelling electronically in a loop through the sound processing equipment that is output into a physical sound diffusion zone, received at the input to the sound processing equipment, and then re-amplified, etc. is attenuated over that loop by frequency modification. The frequency modification is such that, at least for some signals, on each pass through the loop, the sound processing equipment will attenuate or amplify individual sub-bands of the frequency spectrum of the audio signal that is received at the input of the sound processing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: Loren Carpenter, Lanny Smoot, Alex Stahl
  • Patent number: 8422186
    Abstract: An improved programmable logic control device for monitoring the current of a circuit and for signalling a circuit control device, the programmable logic control device including electrical power circuitry for activating the circuit control device and electrical circuitry for monitoring the current in the electrical circuit, the electrical circuitry including: adjustable electrical signal input circuitry to monitor the electrical current in the circuit; adjustable pick-up circuitry for adjusting the level of the current monitored in the electrical circuit, the pick-up circuitry having a thermister means for improved stabilization; adjustable time circuitry to command the electrical power circuitry to activate the circuit control device when the electrical current in the electrical circuit reaches the selected level and time duration, the time circuitry having an increased time duration to minimize nuisance tripping; and a zener diode in reverse mode for controlling the level of voltage applied to the adjustab
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: William K. Penniston
  • Patent number: 8390973
    Abstract: A circuit breaker system and method having zone selective interlock features is provided. The system and method include the transmission of a selective interlock signal from a downstream circuit breaker to an upstream circuit breaker in the event a first or second fault condition is detected. The upstream circuit breaker upon receipt of this signal changes the response of the second circuit breaker depending on whether the first or second fault condition has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nataniel Barbosa Vicente, Mark Fredrick Culler, Brian Patrick Lenhart, Jr., Marcelo Esteban Valdes
  • Patent number: 8385038
    Abstract: The system of the invention includes a circuit breaker switching control section (100) and a setting control section (700) connected therewith through a communication network (500). The circuit breaker switching control section (100) transmits a circuit breaker state quantity acquired by a signal input section (120) through the communication network to a set value calculation section (740) of the setting control section (700). The set value calculation section (740) of the setting control section calculates a set value to be set in the switching control section (100) of the circuit breaker, using the state quantity of the circuit breaker that was transmitted thereto. The setting control section (700) transmits to the circuit breaker switching control section the set value calculated by the set value calculation section (730) through the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Minoru Saito, Hiroyuki Maehara, Osamu Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 8270136
    Abstract: A circuit breaker system and method having zone selective interlock features is provided. The system and method include the transmission of a selective interlock signal from a downstream circuit breaker to an upstream circuit breaker in the event a first or second fault condition is detected. The upstream circuit breaker upon receipt of this signal changes the response of the second circuit breaker depending on whether the first or second fault condition has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nataniel Barbosa Vicente, Mark Fredrick Culler, Brian Patrick Lenhart, Jr., Marcelo Esteban Valdes
  • Patent number: 8184419
    Abstract: A power supply (200) is provided having a plurality of independent current limiting circuits. A first current limiting circuit (6) provides protection against a short circuit or other extraneous load conditions, while a second current limiting circuit, using a trace on a PCB as a sensing element, is programmable on the basis of a time constant and a current level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: LHV Power, Corp
    Inventor: Chung-Hang Peng
  • Publication number: 20120092802
    Abstract: A circuit breaker trip unit includes an input section receiving a phase current level signal. A processor is in communication with the input section and generates a first trip signal based on the phase current level signal and user-adjustable trip settings. The trip settings include long time and short time pickup and delay settings. An analog instantaneous trip circuit is in communication with both of the input section and the processor. The analog instantaneous trip circuit includes a digital potentiometer having a non-volatile memory. The potentiometer provides a reference signal corresponding to a resistance setting stored in the memory. The analog instantaneous trip circuit compares the phase current level and reference signals, and generates a second trip signal based on a result of the comparing. The processor programs the resistance setting stored in the memory according to a user-adjustable instantaneous current pickup setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: UTILITY RELAY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Helmut Weiher
  • Patent number: 8054605
    Abstract: A gate driver 28 performs a normal charging operation for a power MOSFET 14 by driving a charge pump 90 solely, when a low-level control signal S1 (ON signal) is received during a normal state. On the other hand, if a low-level control signal S1 (ON signal) is received during a load anomaly state, an urgent charge FET 92, as well as the charge pump 90, is turned on when a load current IL exceeds a second anomaly threshold current ILfc, so that a rapid charging operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Takahashi, Masayuki Kato, Masahiko Furuichi, Isao Isshiki
  • Patent number: 8018703
    Abstract: An auxiliary device for remote data transmission having processing means comprising a first input to receive a first data item of a state of the circuit breaker, and at least one command output to command transmission of data. The processing means comprise: a second input to receive at least one second data item representative of an electrical fault or of an auxiliary command, identification means to identify the type of electrical fault, and initialization means of the at least one command output. An auxiliary unit and a circuit breaker comprising the device. A method for implementing said device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Mustapha Chelloug
  • Patent number: 8014115
    Abstract: A circuit breaker system and method having zone selective interlock features with separate restrained and unrestrained setting capability is provided. The system and method include the transmission of a selective interlock signal from a downstream circuit breaker to an upstream circuit breaker in the event of a fault condition. The upstream circuit breaker upon receipt of this signal changes the tripping response of the second circuit breaker to a restrained mode. The circuit breakers include features enabling the user to modify and adjust both the restrained and unrestrained trip curves associated with both the restrained and unrestrained modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nataniel Barbosa Vicente, Mark Fredrick Culler, Brian Patrick Lenhart, Jr., Marcelo Esteban Valdes
  • Patent number: 7889474
    Abstract: A circuit protection system includes a normal mode and a maintenance mode. A current sensor senses current in the circuit. An enclosure includes an access panel that is movable between a closed position and open position. A circuit breaker is mounted within the enclosure. An electronic trip unit is in communication with the current sensor and controls interruptions of the current by the circuit breaker based on a trip setting. An interface device is accessible when said access panel is closed and allows selections of the normal and maintenance modes. A display, which is in communication with both of the user interface device and the electronic trip unit, monitors the interface device and transmits data to the trip unit that is based on the selected mode. The display receives data from the trip unit and displays information based on the received data. The display is viewable when the access panel is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Utility Relay Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Helmut Weiher, Richard C. Fleischer, Jeffrey W. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7696892
    Abstract: A protection device for an oscillating power circuit, namely for a demining coil, such device incorporating circuit breaking means positioned between an alternating current supply network and the power circuit, such device wherein it comprises at least one means to measure and analyze the current supplying the power circuit, means able to detect the appearance of a direct current and connected to triggering means ensuring the opening of the circuit breaking means when the alternating current ceases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Nexter Systems
    Inventors: Guillaume Huet, François Orquera
  • Publication number: 20100053833
    Abstract: A circuit protection system includes a normal mode and a maintenance mode. A current sensor senses current in the circuit. An enclosure includes an access panel that is movable between a closed position and open position. A circuit breaker is mounted within the enclosure. An electronic trip unit is in communication with the current sensor and controls interruptions of the current by the circuit breaker based on a trip setting. An interface device is accessible when said access panel is closed and allows selections of the normal and maintenance modes. A display, which is in communication with both of the user interface device and the electronic trip unit, monitors the interface device and transmits data to the trip unit that is based on the selected mode. The display receives data from the trip unit and displays information based on the received data. The display is viewable when the access panel is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: UTILITY RELAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Helmut Weiher, Richard C. Fleischer, Jeffrey W. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7646575
    Abstract: A circuit protection system includes a normal mode and a maintenance mode. A current sensor senses current in the circuit. An enclosure includes an access panel that is movable between a closed position and open position. A circuit breaker is mounted within the enclosure. An electronic trip unit is in communication with the current sensor and controls interruptions of the current by the circuit breaker based on a trip setting. An interface device is accessible when said access panel is closed and allows selections of the normal and maintenance modes. A display, which is in communication with both of the user interface device and the electronic trip unit, monitors the interface device and transmits data to the trip unit that is based on the selected mode. The display receives data from the trip unit and displays information based on the received data. The display is viewable when the access panel is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Utility Relay Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Helmut Weiher, Richard C. Fleischer, Jeffrey W. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20090257157
    Abstract: A circuit breaker system and method having zone selective interlock features with separate restrained and unrestrained setting capability is provided. The system and method include the transmission of a selective interlock signal from a downstream circuit breaker to an upstream circuit breaker in the event of a fault condition. The upstream circuit breaker upon receipt of this signal changes the tripping response of the second circuit breaker to a restrained mode. The circuit breakers include features enabling the user to modify and adjust both the restrained and unrestrained trip curves associated with both the restrained and unrestrained modes of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nataniel Barbosa Vicente, Mark Fredrick Culler, Brian Patrick Lenhart, Jr., Marcelo Esteban Valdes
  • Patent number: 7538519
    Abstract: In a method and system for protecting a battery being charged by an electrical device, a current flowing through a cell stack of the battery is measured. If the measured current is greater than a predefined value the battery is isolated from the device. If subsequent current measurements made within a predefined time interval indicate that the measured current is less than or equal to the predefined value then the battery is recoupled to the device. If the measured current remains greater than the predefined value during the predefined time interval then a fuse is blown and the battery is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Youssef Daou, Andrew T. Sultenfuss
  • Publication number: 20080218924
    Abstract: An improved programmable logic control device for monitoring the current of a circuit and for signalling a circuit control device, the programmable logic control device including electrical power circuitry for activating the circuit control device and electrical circuitry for monitoring the current in the electrical circuit, the electrical circuitry including: adjustable electrical signal input circuitry to monitor the electrical current in the circuit; adjustable pick-up circuitry for adjusting the level of the current monitored in the electrical circuit, the pick-up circuitry having a thermister means for improved stabilization; adjustable time circuitry to command the electrical power circuitry to activate the circuit control device when the electrical current in the electrical circuit reaches the selected level and time duration, the time circuitry having an increased time duration to minimize nuisance tripping; and a zener diode in reverse mode for controlling the level of voltage applied to the adjustab
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: William K. Penniston
  • Patent number: 7218496
    Abstract: The voltage generator circuit includes a regulator, a first sensor circuit, and a second sensor circuit. The first sensor circuit includes a first transistor, a first resistor, and an error amplifier. When V1>Vth, the error amplifier senses an overcurrent condition to provide feedback to the operational amplifier to limit an output current. The second sensor circuit includes a second transistor, a second resistor, and a sensing transistor. When the output current exceeds a sense threshold current, the sensing transistor is turned ON to provide feedback to the operational amplifier 12 to limit the output current. The second sensor circuit has a higher setting of sense threshold current than does the first sensor circuit, while having a higher setting of sensing speed than does the first sensor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 7064946
    Abstract: An electronic fuse comprising an integrated circuit having a control output terminal coupled to a control electrode of a power semiconductor switching device, the power semiconductor switching device being coupled in series with a load between first and second potentials, the integrated circuit further comprising a current sense input for sensing the current through the power semiconductor switching device, the integrated circuit further comprising a driver circuit for driving the power semi-conductor switching device, the driver circuit being coupled to a current limiting circuit responsive to the sensed current in the power semiconductor switching device, the current limiting circuit controlling the driver circuit whereby if the current through the power semiconductor switching device exceeds a predetermined threshold, the current limiting circuit generates a command to pulse the power semiconductor switching device on and off in a period of pulsed operation to maintain the current in the power semiconducto
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Thiery, Bruno C. Nadd, Chik Yam Lee
  • Patent number: 6882511
    Abstract: An electronic leakage current device a low-voltage power line, comprising: a moving contact and a fixed contact which can be mutually coupled/uncoupled; first sensor means for detecting a earth leakage current and for generating an electric signal which is indicative of the value of the earth leakage current; first electronic means which are electrically connected to the first sensor means in order to generate an electric tripping signal depending on the electric signal which is indicative of the value of the earth leakage current, said first electronic means generating the electric tripping signal after a preset minimum time interval; and actuation means, operatively connected to the moving contact, in order to perform, in response to the electric tripping signal: the separation of the moving contact from the fixed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Service S.r.l.
    Inventors: Walter Patruno, Salvatore Brandonisio, Paolo Antonello, John Samuel Beniston, Willy Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6842322
    Abstract: The trip device comprises a system-powered power supply circuit comprising a capacitor for power supply of a trip coil. When the trip device is powered on, the capacitor charges and its voltage is regulated according to a first reference voltage sufficient to activate the trip coil if necessary. After a preset period, regulation of the voltage at the terminals of the capacitor is performed according to a second reference voltage, lower than the first voltage. The reference voltage reverts to the first value during the same preset period when the measured current reaches a preset threshold, which constitutes an indication of the presence of a fault that will lead to tripping being required. The capacitor is therefore generally charged at a lower voltage than that which is necessary for tripping, thus enabling its size to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Pascal Houbre
  • Patent number: 6747860
    Abstract: A power supply feedthrough protection circuit which solves the problem of voltage feedthrough from a bus cable charging a chip power-supply beyond acceptable transistor limits. The circuit continuously senses the chip power-supply, compares the supply to an acceptable threshold, and provides a low-impedance current path as soon as the power-supply exceeds the threshold. The circuit allows a driver to draw current from the cable, in a controlled manner, and provides that the power supply is therefore never allowed to exceed the maximum allowable limit for transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Braiman
  • Patent number: 6731487
    Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing the power consumption of a trip unit. The method comprises sensing a first output from a power system, the first output including a first current and a current-sensing signal; supplying a power supply with only the first current, or with a second current alone or in combination with the first current; powering a microprocessor from the power supply; inputting a second output to the microprocessor indicative of whether the power supply is receiving the second current; operating the microprocessor at a first state when the second output indicates the power supply is not receiving the second current; and operating the microprocessor at a second state when the second output indicates the power supply is receiving the second current alone or in combination with the first current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Fletcher, Gregory Lavoie
  • Patent number: 6721154
    Abstract: A method and apparatus generates an enhanced trip time curve capable of capturing both the non-sinusoidal energy and series effects. Relevant data including time, current, and energy is plotted on a three-dimensional set of axes. The resultant three-dimensional representation is useful for representing trip times for a protection device accounting for energy effects, and for determining selectivity in a multi-tier electrical distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas F. Papallo, Jr., Ahmed Elasser, Richard L. Hein
  • Patent number: 6696708
    Abstract: The present invention reveals an electrostatic discharge protection apparatus including a silicon controlled rectifier, a triggering voltage adapter network and a holding voltage adapter network. Additionally, the triggering voltage adapter network and the holding voltage adapter network are coupled to the silicon controlled rectifier. The present invention can change the characteristic of current vs. voltage by adjusting the triggering voltage and the holding voltage of the silicon controlled rectifier to meet the special requirement of various chips, and effectively prevent the chips from being damaged caused by the electrostatic discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Ti Hou, Fu-Chien Chiu, Wei-Fan Chen
  • Patent number: 6633474
    Abstract: The instantaneous tripping threshold of the selective tripping device is a decreasing function of a quantity representative of the time necessary for the current to reach the peak value. The variation curve is disposed between first and second curves, obtained experimentally, representative of envelopes of the peak current values. The first curve is obtained when the circuit breaker associated to the selective tripping device is alone and the second curve when it is connected in series with another circuit breaker connected down-line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SA
    Inventor: Dominique Boudaud
  • Patent number: 6552675
    Abstract: The electrical protection device comprises a plurality of sensors, a multiplexer and a sigma-delta type analog-to-digital converter. The converter comprises a sigma-delta modulator in series with a numerical decimation filter. The decimation filter comprises weighting coefficients ki, of level 1 to n, such that the product of the measuring range of the signals measured by the sensors and of the ratio ∑ l m ⁢ k i / ∑ l n ⁢ k i is less than the precision required for said signals, the coefficients of level 1 to m being the coefficients used during the stabilization time of the modulator. The coefficients of the filter of level 1 to m are preferably zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Patrice Allin, Jean-Paul Barjonnet, Eric Suptitz
  • Patent number: 6542345
    Abstract: In order to provide a circuit breaker, in particular a residual-current circuit breaker or residual-current device, having a variable time delay, which firstly has a stable no-trip response to short-term fault currents and secondly has a particularly short tripping time both in the event of sinusoidal fault currents and in the event of non-sinusoidal fault currents, a delay circuit is provided which comprises two series-connected comparators with a time-delay module connected between them. In this case, there is a smoothing module upstream of the first comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernhard Bauer
  • Patent number: 6534991
    Abstract: A trip unit connection tester (10) is arranged to test the electrical connections (12) and (14) between a trip unit (16) and actuator (18) mounted within a circuit breaker (20). Tester (10) includes a power source (64) including a positive lead (68), and a negative lead (70). The positive lead (68) is coupled to a two-loop switch (58). The two loop switch (58) toggles between a first loop (98), and a second loop (100). The first loop (98) includes the power source (64), the two-loop switch (58), and the energy storage element (82) wherein the energy storage element (82) stores energy coming from the power source (64). The second loop (100) includes the two-loop switch (58), and the energy storage element (82), connections (12) and (14), and the actuator (18), wherein energy stored within the energy storage element (82) is released to the actuator (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Arthur Marple, Michael Roger Koller