Appliance with integrated ground fault detection
AssigneeSharkNinja Operating LLC
InventorDamian Howard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure is generally directed to a GF detection circuit for use in blenders and other appliances that can detect current leak/GF events and selectively decouple/de-energize components of the blender that could bring a user in contact with dangerous electrical currents. Preferably, a blender consistent with the present disclosure includes at least one ground plane, e.g., in the form of conductive material/sections, disposed on the blender and/or blender jar that act as an input to a GF detection circuit that is at least partially implemented within the base of the blender.
Claims16
An appliance, the appliance comprising:
- a blender base comprising a receptacle, the receptacle being configured to removably receive a blender jar;
- a first ground plane disposed on an external surface of the blender base, the first ground plane being disposed at least partially in the receptacle;
- a second ground plane defined by an external surface of the blender jar, the second ground plane being electrically coupled to the first ground plane to define a ground plane interface when the blender jar is disposed in the receptacle;
- and
- a ground fault (GF) detection circuit configured to detect a ground fault event in response to a current in the ground plane interface and output an electrical signal indicating the ground fault event, wherein the GF detection circuit is configured for high-side current sensing whereby at least the first ground plane couples between a supply rail and a load of the appliance.
An appliance comprising:
- a blender base comprising a receptacle, the receptacle having an electrical interconnect;
- a blender jar, the blender jar being configured to be removably received in the receptacle with the electrical interconnect electrically coupling the blender jar to the blender base, the blender jar comprising a heating element;
- a power supply within the blender base;
- a switching arrangement to switchably electrically couple the heating element to the power supply;
- a first ground plane disposed on an external surface of the blender base and disposed at least partially in the receptacle;
- a second ground plane defined by an external surface of the blender jar, the second ground plane being electrically coupled to the first ground plane to define a ground plane interface when the blender jar is disposed in the receptacle;
- and
- a ground fault (GF) detection circuit, the GF detection circuit electrically coupled to the ground plane interface, wherein the GF detection circuit is configured to detect a ground fault event in response to a current in the ground plane interface, and in response to detecting the ground fault event, cause the switching arrangement to electrically decouple the heating element from the power supply, and wherein the GF detection circuit is configured for high-side current sensing whereby at least the first ground plane couples between a supply rail and a load of the appliance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.