US 2026/0100570 A1 · USER INTERFACE

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes an air gap device having contacts that can be opened and closed to interrupt or connect electrical power to a downstream load, a solenoid coupled to the air gap device and configured to actuate the contacts, and a firmware state machine having at least four unique states (STANDBY, TRIP, OFF, ON) that controls the solenoid and opens/closes the contacts based on inputs received from a user interface element. The user interface element has a single lever with at least two positions and sends signals to the firmware state machine indicating the position of the lever. A sensor coupled to the user interface element detects when the lever is moved, sending a signal to the firmware state machine. At least one FET switch is coupled between the air gap device and the downstream load in response to a signal from the firmware state machine.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A circuit breaker comprising:

a user interface element configured to receive input from a user;
an air gap device having contacts that can be electrically opened and closed to interrupt or connect electrical power to a downstream load;
a firmware state machine having at least four unique states, including STANDBY, TRIP, OFF, and ON, wherein the firmware state machine is configured to open or close the contacts of the air gap device based on the current firmware state and inputs received from the user interface element;
and
at least one field-effect transistor (FET) switch coupled between the air gap device and the downstream load, wherein the FET switch is configured to open or close in response to a signal from the firmware state machine and when opening the FET switch ensure that the FET switch interrupts the flow of current prior to opening the air gap device.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

User interface

Life of this patent

User interface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23