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:
Sep. 23, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 09, 2000
Stefan Gies, Regensburg, DE;
Reinhard Schmid, Regensburg, DE;
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, DE;
Abstract
A fault or differential current detection system is provided. The detection system detects a fault or differential current generated on a conductive path supplying power to an electric device and prevents the fault or differential current from being supplied to the electric device. The detection system comprises a detector, a switch, and a controller. The detector detects a detected current generated on the conductive path and outputs a corresponding detection signal. The controller inputs the detection signal and determines if the detected current is greater than or equal to a first predetermined current threshold based on the detection signal. Then, the controller refrains from outputting a control signal to the switch for a predetermined delay period after the detected current becomes greater than or equal to the first predetermined current threshold. Then, the controller determines if the detected current is greater than or equal to a second predetermined current threshold when the predetermined delay period is over. After the detected current becomes greater than or equal to the second predetermined current threshold, the controller determines if the detected current is a fault or differential current. When the detected current is a fault or differential current, the controller outputs the control signal to the switch to instruct the switch to isolate the fault or differential current from the electric device. A software program executed by the controller is also provided.