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:
Mar. 23, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 11, 2002
Aaron L. Reynoso, San Jose, CA (US);
Zhe Wu, San Jose, CA (US);
Solidone USA Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A low current detector using magnetoresistive sensor is used in a ground fault detector that opens a current carrying circuit when an unbalanced or dangerous condition occurs in the circuit. The current circuit has windings wrapped around a toroidal member of magnetic material having a cross sectional gap. First magnetic flux lines induced in the toroidal member by the circuit project from the gap toward a permanent magnet having second emergent magnetic flux lines that bend the first flux lines in a flux line mesh zone when an unbalanced current exists in the current carrying circuit. The flux lines are non-existent in the gap of the toroidal member when the circuit is in a balanced or non-fault state. A magnetoresistive sensor is disposed in the mesh zone in a position producing a signal indicative of an unbalanced condition caused by a current fault. A circuit breaker, connected to flux sensor responds to the signal indicating an unbalanced condition by opening the circuit.