Other

Texas Instruments Corporation

Zlan, Ltd.

Robert Henry Clunn

George Auther Spencer

LeRoy Blanton

Charles K Harris

Joseph F Borchard

Walter E Marrable

James R Maunder

A vector impedance measurement system () includes a first radio frequency (RF) source () for providing energy to a test circuit. A measurement device () is used for providing a first network measurement based upon the voltage and current at the terminals of the test circuit. A second RF source () is used for down converting the first network measurement to a second network measurement that is lower in frequency. The vector impedance system () operates to calculate a complex impedance using both the magnitude and phase angle of the second network measurement as determined by a processor (). In that the lower frequency at which signal processing is performed is a fixed frequency, many sensitive parameters of the band pass filters, such as gain and phase shift, can be easily calibrated and do not change during operation, resulting in a simpler calibration process and very accurate data measurements.

Vector impedance measurement system and method of using same

A circuit switching device or circuit breaker with integrated self-test enhancements is disclosed having separable contacts operable under processor control to control power to a circuit responsive to at least one of a plurality of fault conditions and operable according to a method for testing, including the steps of: controlling the switching device during a sampling cycle, to input one or more operating parameters sensed in the circuit to an A/D converter for measurement wherein the operating parameters enable detection of the fault conditions; determining whether to read a select one of the operating parameters from an output of the A/D converter into a first memory; and reading pre-determined parameter values from a second memory into the first memory during the sampling cycle instead of the operating parameters read from the A/D converter if a self-test has been invoked during the sampling cycle.

Circuit breaker with integrated self-test enhancements

There is disclosed and claimed herein apparatus and a method for testing an electronic circuit breaker having separable contacts and arc fault and/or ground fault interrupting capability responsive to differential currents in the line and neutral conductors, wherein the circuit breaker under test is connected in a test circuit, comprising the steps of: supplying operating power to the source terminals of the circuit breaker wherein the test circuit provides for connecting the neutral conductor source terminal to a ground in the test circuit; coupling testing signals from a test generator in the test circuit to the neutral conductor load terminal of the circuit breaker; and monitoring the condition of the separable contacts in the circuit breaker during the supply of testing signals to the neutral conductor load terminal. In one aspect, the test generator is operated under program control to provide a testing signal sequence to the neutral conductor load terminal of the circuit breaker, which sequence may include a command signal for setting a precondition in the circuit breaker prior to applying testing signals to the circuit breaker under test.

Method and apparatus for testing an AFCI/GFCI circuit breaker

An apparatus and method is disclosed for retaining parameter information generated or received in an electronic circuit breaker (,). The electronic circuit breaker (,) includes a controller and is connected in a branch circuit coupled to a power source via a power line and powered by the power source. Upon occurence of a power fault, a control signal responsive to the power fault is generated and coupled to a control input of the circuit breaker. The control signal causes retention of parameter information generated or received in the electronic circuit breaker (,). Means for retaining the data representing parameter information include charging a storage capacitor to a predetermined value corresponding to the parameter information being retained, writing the parameter information being retained to an EEPROM and writing the data containing the parameter information being retained into a Static RAM. Power signals that can be monitored to provide or initiate the retention of data include sensing the AC voltage input to the branch circuit in which the circuit breaker is connected, sensing the unregulated DC voltage in the power supply that powers the circuit breaker and sensing the charging current of a filter capacitor in the power supply of the circuit breaker.

Data retention in a circuit breaker

A system including a load center monitor (,) connected to a plurality of digitally enhanced circuit breakers (,) by a communication bus (,) forms a network of reconfigurable circuit breakers which provides advanced monitoring and control of an electrical power distribution system. A user port (,) and a service port (,) provide a communication interface with an external computer. Visual indicators (,) and an audible alarm (,) provide for alerting persons to certain conditions in the system. Buttons are provided for CLEAR (,), RESET (,), and TEST functions, and a diagnostic port (,) is also provided. The load center monitor (,) is operable to monitor the operation of the circuit breakers (,) and download information therefrom for storage in the load center monitor (,) as in the form of historical data. Further, the load center monitor (,) is operable to adaptively configure the trip profiles of individual circuit breakers (,) in the network by uploading the alternate selection or revision to the trip profile to an individual circuit breaker (,) in order to change the operation thereof.

Method and apparatus for adaptive configuration and control in a network of electronic circuit breakers

A novel toroidal core current sensor for an AFCI/GFCI Circuit Breaker and a test circuit configuration based thereon is disclosed. The current sensor has a plurality of load current conductors extending therethrough. One of the conductors carrying a load current has a portion of the load current shunted outside the core through a shunt conductor which is connected in parallel with one of the load current conductors. The secondary of the transformer outputs a current value proportional to and substantially less than the load current which may be, for example, detected by a control circuit which compares the current value against predetermined stored criteria and operates a circuit breaker accordingly. In the test circuit a power source and a waveform generator are provided for operating an AFCI&bsol;GFCI circuit breaker having the shunted current sensor and injecting test signals into a terminal of the circuit breaker. The unique properties of the shunted current sensor permit a wide range of fault conditions to be applied at low signal power because of the relatively high sensitivity the shunted current sensor provides to the AFCI&bsol;GFCI circuit breaker.

Test circuit for an AFCI/GFCI circuit breaker

A method of communicating data with a plurality of electronic circuit breakers operatively connected in a power distribution system is disclosed and claimed herein. Each circuit breaker includes a communication port coupled to a network. The method comprises coupling a communication terminal, having a processing circuit and a first communication port coupled to the processing circuit, to the network via the first communication port; operating a first communication protocol for automatically addressing individual ones of the circuit breakers and for controlling message traffic on the network; and transmitting and receiving data on the network under control of the first communication protocol relating to the monitoring and control of the individually addressable ones of the plurality of electronic circuit breakers coupled to the network. In another aspect, the method includes coupling a second communication port of the communication terminal via a communication link to a controller remote from the network and operating a second communication protocol for controlling message traffic relating to monitoring and control of the plurality of electronic circuit breakers between the controller and the communication terminal via the communication link.

Load center monitor and digitally enhanced circuit breakers system for

A communication terminal (10) is coupled to and operable in a power line network with at least one of plurality of intelligent circuit breakers (40) wherein each such circuit breaker (40) has a communication port. The terminal (10) includes a housing and connection means (12, 14) for connecting the terminal (10) to the power line network. The terminal (10) includes a processing circuit (76) and communication ports (24, 22, 20) for communicating over communication links with the circuit breakers (40) or other external devices according to a message protocol defined for the system.

Communication terminal for electrical power line distribution system

A system including a load center monitor (10) connected to a plurality of digitally enhanced circuit breakers (40) by a communication bus (26) provides monitoring and control of an electrical power distribution system. A user port (20) and a service port (22) provide a communication interface with an external computer. Visual indicators (34) and an audible alarm (30) provide for alerting persons to certain conditions in the system. Buttons are provided for CLEAR (38) and RESET (36) functions, and a diagnostic port (24) is also provided. The load center monitor (10) is operable to monitor the operation of the breakers (40) and download information therefrom in the form of historical data. Also, the load center monitor (10) can upload operating information to a breaker (40) in order to change the operation thereof.

Load center monitor and digitally enhanced circuit breaker system for

A digitally controlled circuit breaker includes a conventional thermal circuit breaker (10) which is controlled by a solenoid (16) to override the thermal aspect thereof. The solenoid (16) is controlled by a digital processing section (20). The digital processing section (20) has a digital control module (22) with multiple profile tables associated therewith. The profile tables allow the digital control module (22) to compare a sensed current from a sensor (24) with a predetermined current value as a function of time and to generate the control signal for the solenoid (16) if the sensed current exceeds that in the profile. The profiles can optionally be downloaded to the module (22) through a serial communication port (36). The digital control module (22) is also operable to sense the voltage of the circuit breaker to determine zero crossing points and phase angle, which phase angle can be utilized to determine the type of load and, therefore, can alter the profile to be utilized. Display (30) provides a visual communication device for the control module (22). Various self-test features including generating a simulated current to the digital control module (22) and automatic recovery if the execution of the stored program in the digital control module (22) is disrupted.

Circuit breaker with integrated control features

An inspection system utilizes an image doubler design that includes a plurality of mirrors that effectively folds the object distance by reflecting the image along a folded path. Strobed illumination is used in conjunction with a shutterless camera. Increased image resolution results from an optional anamorphic lens with vertical magnification. The lens assembly includes concentric toroidal lens that are produced from a single piece of machineable optical material.

Semiconductor device lead inspection system

An apparatus and method for locating a pattern within a digital representation of an image. A video camera scans an image of light reflected from the surface of an object. The analog output of the video camera is digitized to form the digital representation. In order to digitize the analog output a threshold signal is provided. A comparator receives both the threshold signal and the analog output. When the difference between the threshold signal and analog exceeds a certain value the comparator changes its output from one digital level to another until the difference is less than the certain value. The threshold signal is produced by an adaptive threshold circuit which integrates the analog output over one scan of the image to form an integrated signal. This integrated signal is the normalized and stored into a sample and hold circuit for use in a subsequent scan as the threshold signal.

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Richardson, TX, United States of America

Robert Henry Clunn