US 11,888,306 B1 · System for in-situ detection of electrical faults

Abstract

Electrical faults pose a significant risk to people and property. A system is described that deploys instrument devices with sensors to detect faults within an alternating current (AC) electrical distribution system. These sensors may detect electrical, optical, thermal, acoustic, radio frequency, and other phenomena associated with a fault. Data from different sensors may also be used to distinguish fault and non-fault status. Users are notified if a fault status is detected. Mitigating actions may be automatically taken, such as de-energizing a branch circuit associated with the fault status. Information about non-fault status may also be used to mitigate nuisance circuit breaker interruptions. In some situations, a nuisance interruption of a breaker may be automatically reset if all instrument devices connected to the breaker reported non-fault status before the interruption.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a device comprising:
a first terminal;
a plurality of sensors comprising a current sensor and one or more optical sensors;
a first hardware processor to:
acquire sensor data using the plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor data is indicative of:
a current value, and
one or more optical intensity values;
determine, based on the sensor data, first status data;
and
send the first status data;
and
a circuit breaker comprising:
a second terminal;
a third terminal, wherein the third terminal is electrically connected to the first terminal;
switching circuitry between the second terminal and the third terminal;
and
a second hardware processor to:
operate, at a first time, the switching circuitry to electrically disconnect the second terminal from the third terminal;
receive the first status data;
determine the first status data is indicative of a non-fault condition at the device before the first time;
and
operate, at a second time after the first time, the switching circuitry to electrically connect the second terminal to the third terminal.

19 more elements

A system comprising:

a first device comprising:
a first terminal;
a first plurality of sensors;
and
a first hardware processor to:
acquire first sensor data using the first plurality of sensors;
and
send at least a portion of the first sensor data;
and
a second device comprising:
a second terminal;
a third terminal, wherein the third terminal is electrically connected to the first terminal;
switching circuitry between the second terminal and the third terminal;
and
a second hardware processor to:
operate, at a first time, the switching circuitry to electrically disconnect the second terminal from the third terminal;
receive the first sensor data;
determine, based on the first sensor data, first status data indicative of a non-fault condition at the first device before the first time;
and
operate, at a second time after the first time, the switching circuitry to connect the second terminal to the third terminal.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for in-situ detection of electrical faults

Life of this patent

System for in-situ detection of electrical faults

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20