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. 26, 2013
Filed:
Jan. 14, 2010
Robert Dimarco, Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Cecil C. Dishman, Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Eino A. Lindfors, Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Randhir S. Malik, Research Triangle park, NC (US);
Robert DiMarco, Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Cecil C. Dishman, Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Eino A. Lindfors, Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Randhir S. Malik, Research Triangle park, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and system are disclosed for protecting a power distribution unit from an electrical fault. A fuse interrupts a flow of electrical current in response to the electrical current rising above a current rating of the fuse. A current sensor measures the amplitude of the electrical current and outputs a current amplitude signal. A relay interrupts the flow of electrical current in response to an OFF signal. A fault module receives the current amplitude signal and sends the OFF signal to the relay in response to the amplitude of the electrical current exceeding a threshold value. The relay, the fuse, and the threshold value are selected so that a switching time of the relay is less than an opening time of the fuse for an amplitude of the electrical current between the threshold value and a maximum fault current value, so that the relay prevents the fuse from opening.