# US 2025/0153571 A1 · Annunciating or power vending circuit breaker for an electric load

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2025/0153571 A1
- Document ID: US20250153571A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 19/020,721
- Filed: 2025-01-14
- Published: 2025-05-15
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-30
- Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Applicants: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Inventors: RONALD L. THOMPSON; JASON-DAVID NITZBERG; DAVID AUSTIN ELDRIDGE; BRANDON J. ROGERS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250153571A1

## CPC

- B60L 3/00: Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption (methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00)
- B60L 3/0069: {relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current}
- B60L 3/04: Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions (protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H)
- B60L 53/18: Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
- B60L 53/305: {Communication interfaces}
- B60L 53/51: Photovoltaic means
- B60L 53/665: {Methods related to measuring, billing or payment}
- B60L 53/68: Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
- H01H 9/548: {Electromechanical and static switch connected in series}
- H01H 83/02: operated by earth fault currents (H01H83/14 takes precedence)
- H02H 1/0061: {concerning transmission of signals (transmission of measured quantities or switching orders; sectionalised protection involving signal transmission between at least two stations H02H7/261; comparison of the voltage or current values at two spaced portions of a single system H02H3/28; transferring the output of a sensing member to another variable G01D5/00; electrical measuring arrangements using modulation of electromagnetic waves, e.g. light beams G01R15/24, G01R15/26)}
- H02H 3/006: {Calibration or setting of parameters}
- H02H 3/33: using summation current transformers (H02H3/347 takes precedence)
- H02J 3/008: Circuit arrangements for power supply or distribution technologies responsive to energy trading
- H02J 13/00: Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/167: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
- Y04S 30/12: Remote or cooperative charging
- Y04S 30/14: Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

A circuit breaker for an electric load includes first and second terminals; a number of first separable contacts each electrically connected between one of the first terminals and one of the second terminals; a first mechanism to open, close or trip open the first contacts; a number of second separable contacts each electrically connected in series with a corresponding one of the first contacts; a second mechanism to open or close the second contacts; a processor to cause the second mechanism to open or close the second contacts, annunciate through one of the second terminals a power circuit electrical parameter for the electric load, receive from a number of the second terminals a confirmation from or on behalf of the electric load to cause the second mechanism to close the second contacts, and determine a fault state operatively associated with current flowing through the second contacts.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A circuit breaker system for an electric load, said circuit breaker system comprising:
a power vending circuit breaker including:
a plurality of first terminals structured to electrically connect to a power source;
a plurality of termination points;
a first expansion port having a plurality of pins;
separable contacts electrically connected between one of said first terminals and one of said termination points;
a thermal-magnetic protection circuit electrically connected in series with said separable contacts between said one of said first terminals and said one of said termination points;
a mechanism structured to open or close said number of separable contacts;
a first processor structured to cause said mechanism to open or close said separable contacts; and
a communication mechanism cooperating with said first processor to communicate through the first expansion port;
an add-on module directly connected to the power vending circuit breaker and structured to expand functionality of the power vending circuit breaker, the add-on module including:
a plurality of stabs directly connected to the plurality of termination points and structured to receive power from the power source;
a second expansion port having a plurality of receptacles directly connected to the plurality of pins; and
a plurality of second terminals electrically connected to the plurality of stabs and structured to electrically connect to the electric load and provide power from the power source to the electric load,
wherein the circuit breaker system has a form factor of a miniature circuit breaker or a molded case circuit breaker.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The circuit breaker system of claim 1 wherein said electric load is an electric vehicle; and wherein said add-on module is an electric vehicle add-on module interfacing said electric vehicle, said electric vehicle add-on module being structured to communicate with said electric vehicle, detect a ground fault in a power circuit between said power vending circuit breaker and said electric vehicle, and control said separable contacts through said first and second expansion ports.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The circuit breaker system of claim 2, wherein said electric vehicle add-on module further comprises:
a pilot signal terminal structured to electrically connect to the electric vehicle and to communicate or receive a pilot signal with the electric vehicle; and
a DC, PWM output and sensor circuit structured to generate and communicate the pilot signal to the pilot signal terminal and to receive and interpret the pilot signal from the pilot signal terminal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The circuit breaker system of claim 2, wherein said electric vehicle add-on module is structured to allocate usage of power to an identifier associated with the electric vehicle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The circuit breaker system of claim 2, wherein said electric vehicle add-on module further comprises:
an external user interface having a reset button and a number of indicator lights.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The circuit breaker system of claim 1, wherein said electric load is an inverter; and wherein said add-on module is a solar or photovoltaic add-on module interfacing said inverter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The circuit breaker system of claim 6 wherein said solar or photovoltaic add-on module comprises a communication circuit structured to communicate with the power vending circuit breaker through the first and second expansion ports, with the inverter through an inverter communication port, and with an electric utility through a utility communication port.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The circuit breaker system of claim 6, wherein the solar or photovoltaic add-on module is structured to check a status of components of the inverter using artificial neural network based pattern recognition techniques.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The circuit breaker system of claim 6, wherein the solar or photovoltaic add-on module is structured to provide one or more of: (1) grid support communication functions; (2) self-configuration and self-healing; and (3) power quality monitoring.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The circuit breaker system of claim 1, wherein said electric load is HVAC equipment; and wherein said add-on module is an HVAC add-on module interfacing said HVAC equipment, said HVAC add-on module comprising a communication circuit interfaced to said second expansion port, a wireless communication circuit interfaced to said communication circuit, a thermostat, a plurality of solid state relays, a plurality of terminals for HVAC signals driven by said solid state relays, and a processor cooperating with said communication circuit, said thermostat and said solid state relays to control and monitor said HVAC equipment.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The circuit breaker system of claim 10, wherein said HVAC add-on module is structured to receive temperature input from one or more external temperature sensors.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The circuit breaker system of claim 10, wherein said HVAC add-on module is structured to set heating and cooling schedules.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The circuit breaker system of claim 1, wherein the add-on module is an input/output add-on module having a plurality of controllable general purpose input/output terminals and processor interfaced with the plurality of controllable general purpose input/output terminals, wherein the processor is structured to control at least one of direction, enable/disable, readability of input values, writability and readability of output values, and interrupt capabilities of the plurality of controllable general purpose input/output terminals.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The circuit breaker system of claim 1, wherein the power vending circuit breaker further comprises:
an external circuit breaker handle structured to cooperate with the thermal-magnetic protection circuit to open, close, and reset at least one of said number of separable contacts.

### Claim 15

A circuit breaker system for an electric load, said circuit breaker system comprising:
a power vending circuit breaker structured to receive power from a power source, the power vending circuit breaker including:
a first housing;
a number of separable contacts;
a thermal-magnetic protection circuit electrically connected in series with said at least one of said number of separable contacts;
a metering circuit operatively associated with power flowing through at least one of said number of separable contacts;
a mechanism structured to open or close said number of separable contacts;
a first processor structured to cause said mechanism to open or close said number of separable contacts, to input a plurality of power values from said metering circuit and to determine a plurality of energy values; and
a communication mechanism configured to cooperate with said first processor to communicate said energy values; and
an add-on module having a second housing directly connected to the power vending circuit breaker, structured to receive power from the power source from the power vending circuit breaker, structured to provide power from the power source to the electric load, and structured to expand functionality of the power vending circuit breaker.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The circuit breaker system of claim 15 wherein said electric load is an electric vehicle; and wherein said add-on module is an electric vehicle add-on module interfacing said electric vehicle, said electric vehicle add-on module being structured to communicate with said electric vehicle, detect a ground fault in a power circuit between said power vending circuit breaker and said electric vehicle, and control said separable contacts.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The circuit breaker system of claim 16, wherein said electric vehicle add-on module further comprises:
a pilot signal terminal structured to electrically connect to the electric vehicle and to communicate or receive a pilot signal with the electric vehicle; and
a DC, PWM output and sensor circuit structured to generate and communicate the pilot signal to the pilot signal terminal and to receive and interpret the pilot signal from the pilot signal terminal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The circuit breaker system of claim 16, wherein said electric vehicle add-on module is structured to allocate usage of power to an identifier associated with the electric vehicle.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The circuit breaker system of claim 15, wherein said electric load is an inverter; and wherein said add-on module is a solar or photovoltaic add-on module interfacing said inverter.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The circuit breaker system of claim 19, wherein the solar or photovoltaic add-on module is structured to provide one or more of: (1) grid support communication functions; (2) self-configuration and self-healing; and (3) power quality monitoring.