The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 23, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1999
Andy A. Haun, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Robert F. Dvorak, Mt. Vernon, IA (US);
Brett E. Larson, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Brian Grattan, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Kon B Wong, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Square D Company, Palatine, IL (US);
Abstract
An arcing fault protection assembly in an electrical outlet, and a corresponding method determine whether arcing is present in circuits connected to the outlet. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, and a controller. The sensor detects a current and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present. The sensor, broadband noise circuit, and controller are mounted to the outlet receptacle or to an outlet box which houses the receptacle.