Two wire combined power and data network system segment with fault protection device

Abstract

A segment of a two wire combined power and data network system for automation comprising a trunk, a spur mounted thereon and a fault protection device, in which said fault protection device comprises a control means adapted to monitor the current of said spur, and isolation means adapted to fully or partially isolate said spur from said trunk upon receipt of an activation signal from said control means, in which said control means comprises a failure status determination algorithm comprising an intermittent fault count over time step and a fault duration step, in which said intermittent fault count over time step is satisfied if a pre-determined number of separate faults are detected over a first pre-determined time period, in which said fault duration step is satisfied if a fault is detected which persists for longer than a second pre-determined time period, and in which said control means issues said activation signal upon determination of a failure status on said spur which satisfies the intermittent fault count over time step and/or the fault duration step of said algorithm.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.