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:
Dec. 27, 2011
Filed:
Jul. 11, 2008
Applicant:
Bruce G. Armstrong, San Mateo, CA (US);
Inventor:
Bruce G. Armstrong, San Mateo, CA (US);
Assignee:
Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, South Portland, ME (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H02H 3/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) includes a GFCI controller configured to detect for ground faults and to periodically perform a self test. The self test may be performed during a positive half cycle of an AC line voltage coupled to a load by the GFCI. The self test may include testing of a critical component of the GFCI without opening load contacts coupling the AC line voltage to the load. The self test may further include testing of monitoring coils in the GFCI.