Arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) with arc signature detection
AssigneeZe Chen
InventorsBoon Lum Lim, Samuel Raj
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one example, an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) is provided. The AFCI may include a plurality of current arc signature detection blocks configured to output a plurality of corresponding current arc signatures, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive each of the plurality of current arc signature from each of plurality of current arc signature detection blocks, respectively, and generate a first trigger signal. The processor may be further configured to assess each of the current arc signatures, determine whether an arc fault exists based on the assessment, and generate the first trigger signal if an arc fault is determined to exist. A method for detecting an arc fault is also provided.
Claims27
An arc fault circuit interrupter, comprising:
- a plurality of current arc signature detection blocks configured to output a plurality of corresponding current arc signatures;
- and
- a processor configured to receive each of the plurality of current arc signatures from each of plurality of current arc signature detection blocks, respectively, determine whether an arc fault exists by assessing each of the plurality of current arc signatures, and generate a first trigger signal if the arc fault is determined to exist,
- wherein:
- the plurality of current arc signature detection blocks includes a time domain signature block configured to generate a time-domain signature, a multi-pulse detection block configured to generate a pulse signature, and an RMS voltage/current measurement block configured to generate an RMS current signature;
- the plurality of corresponding current arc signatures includes the time-domain signature, the pulse signature, and the RMS current signature;
- and
- the processor is further configured to determine that an arc fault exists only if:
- a duty cycle of the time-domain signature is below a predetermined duty-cycle threshold;
- the RMS current signature exceeds a predetermined RMS current amplitude threshold for an RMS assessment period;
- and
- the pulse signature is characterized by a multi-pulse phenomenon for a pulse assessment period.
An arc fault circuit interrupter, comprising:
- a plurality of current arc signature detection blocks configured to output a plurality of corresponding current arc signatures;
- and
- a processor configured to receive each of the plurality of current arc signatures from each of plurality of current arc signature detection blocks, respectively, determine whether an arc fault exists by assessing each of the plurality of current arc signatures, and generate a first trigger signal if the arc fault is determined to exist,
- wherein:
- the plurality of current arc signature detection blocks includes an RMS voltage/current measurement block is configured to generate an RMS voltage signature;
- and
- if the processor determines that the arc fault exists, the processor is further configured to determine that the arc fault is a parallel arc fault if the amplitude of the RMS voltage signature is above a predetermined RMS voltage amplitude threshold and determine that the arc fault is a series arc fault if the amplitude of the voltage signature is below the predetermined RMS voltage amplitude threshold.
A method for detecting an arc fault, comprising:
- receiving a time-domain signature;
- receiving a pulse signature;
- receiving an RMS current signature;
- determining that an arc fault exists only if
- a duty cycle of the time-domain signature is below a predetermined duty-cycle threshold,
- the RMS current signature exceeds a predetermined RMS current amplitude threshold for an RMS assessment period, and
- the pulse signature is characterized by a multi-pulse phenomenon for a pulse assessment period;
- generating a trigger signal if an arc fault is determined to exist.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.