Atom Power, Inc.

Michael J Harris

Denis Kouroussis

Ryan Kennedy

Davide Leoni

Binesh Kumar

Frederick C Miller

Michele L Davis

Logan Rosevear

A smart circuit system configured to enhance circuit protection by directly interfacing with a circuit breaker is disclosed. The system comprises a digital or wireless interface, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), a load control device, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) functionality, metering functionality, a diagnosis module, and a communication module. The system can be integrated within an existing panel or any other system requiring load control or EVSE functionality. The GFCI function can be externally added to any circuit breaker. The diagnosis module assesses circuit breaker health by comparing input voltage and voltage trends with voltages measured by other smart circuits within the same panel. The communication module establishes a network among smart circuits for data exchange, enabling local calculations and independent decision-making. The system also includes a load monitoring module for assessing load type and health.

Smart circuit system for an electric vehicle charging system

An electric vehicle (EV) charging system includes a plurality of electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) units, a plurality of associated EV charging stations, phase conductors coupled between the charging stations and corresponding bi-directional solid-state switches and a neutral conductor configured to complete charging circuits with associated ones of the phase conductors, and an EVSE communications bus. Each EVSE unit includes a microcontroller unit (MCU) and driver that control current flow through the bi-directional solid-state switches providing charging current to respective EV charging stations and connected plug-in EVs (PEVs). The MCUs communicate over the EVSE communications bus and, as PEVs plug into, charge, and unplug from the plurality of EV charging stations, reallocate or reapportion an available supply current among the plurality of EVSE units while also dynamically adjusting one or more circuit protection attributes provided by the EVSE units.

Electric vehicle supply equipment unit configured in an EV charging system

A solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) with self-diagnostic, self-maintenance, and self-protection capabilities includes: a power semiconductor device; an air gap disconnect unit connected in series with the power semiconductor device; a sense and drive circuit that switches the power semiconductor device OFF upon detecting a short circuit or overload of unacceptably long duration; and a microcontroller unit (MCU) that triggers the air gap disconnect unit to form an air gap and galvanically isolate an attached load, after the sense and drive circuit switches the power semiconductor device OFF. The MCU is further configured to monitor the operability of the air gap disconnect unit, the power semiconductor device, and other critical components of the SSCB and, when applicable, take corrective actions to prevent the SSCB and the connected load from being damaged or destroyed and/or to protect persons and the environment from being exposed to hazardous electrical conditions.

Solid-state circuit breaker with self-diagnostic, self-maintenance, and self-protection capabilities

An electric vehicle (EV) charging system includes a plurality of electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) units, a plurality of associated EV charging stations, electrical power distribution wires or cables for distributing electrical power from the plurality of EVSE units to the plurality of EV charging stations, and an EVSE communications bus. Each EVSE unit includes a microcontroller unit (MCU) and a solid-state switch that control whether electrical current is able to flow to an associated EV charging station and connected plug-in EV (PEV) load. The MCUs communicate over the EVSE communications bus and, as PEVs charge, plug into, and unplug from the plurality of EV charging stations, reallocate or reapportion an available supply current among the plurality of EVSE units while also dynamically adjusting one or more circuit protection attributes also provided by the EVSE units.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Michael J Harris