Circuit breaker for detecting overload
AssigneeSeochang Electronic Communication Co., LTD
InventorsCheon Yeon Kim, Dong Sub Kim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit breaker for detecting overload is disclosed. The circuit breaker detects an overload condition electrically without using bimetal. The circuit breaker for detecting overload includes an arc fault detector and a discharge controller. If arc fault occurs, the discharge controller discharges voltage charged in a capacitor. Therefore, the circuit breaker does not trip the circuit when arc fault occurs although high current flows on a conductor. Further, the circuit breaker for detecting overload includes a charging time constant controller so that charging time is varied according to current flowing on the conductor.
Claims16
A circuit breaker for detecting overload of a circuit, comprising:
- a current detector configured to detect current flowing through a conductor and to output a current detection signal, the conductor being configured to electrically connect a source and a load in the circuit;
- a rectifier configured to rectify the current detection signal and to output a rectified signal;
- an overload indicative signal generator configured to integrate the rectified signal and to generate an overload indicative signal based on the rectified signal;
- an arc fault detector configured to detect whether an arc fault has occurred in the circuit based on the rectified signal;
- and
- a first discharge controller configured to control the overload indicative signal generator based on the detected arc fault such that the integrated signal is discharged,
- wherein the overload indicative signal generator comprises:
- an integrator configured to integrate the rectified signal, wherein the integrator comprises a resistor and a capacitor that is charged with the rectified signal;
- a reference voltage generator configured to generate a predetermined reference voltage;
- and
- a comparator configured to compare the reference voltage with the integrated signal to thereby generate the overload indicative signal,
- and wherein the first discharge controller comprises a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) turned on when the arc detection signal is input to the gate terminal of the SCR so that the capacitor is coupled to the ground.
A circuit breaker for detecting overload of a circuit, comprising:
- a current detector configured to detect current flowing through a conductor and to output a current detection signal, the conductor being configured to electrically connect a source and a load in the circuit;
- a rectifier configured to rectify the current detection signal and to output a rectified signal;
- an overload indicative signal generator configured to integrate the rectified signal and to generate an overload indicative signal based on the rectified signal;
- an arc fault detector configured to detect whether an arc fault has occurred in the circuit based on the rectified signal;
- a first discharge controller configured to control the overload indicative signal generator based on the detected arc fault such that the integrated signal is discharged;
- and
- a second discharge controller configured to discharge the integrated signal when the conductor is interrupted by electrical faults including an overload, an arc fault and a ground fault.
A circuit breaker for detecting overload of a circuit, comprising:
- a current detector configured to detect current flowing through a conductor and to output a current detection signal, the conductor being configured to electrically connect a source and a load in the circuit;
- a rectifier configured to rectify the current detection signal and to output a rectified signal;
- an overload indicative signal generator configured to integrate the rectified signal and to generate an overload indicative signal based on the rectified signal;
- an arc fault detector configured to detect whether an arc fault has occurred in the circuit based on the rectified signal;
- a first discharge controller configured to control the overload indicative signal generator based on the detected arc fault such that the integrated signal is discharged;
- and
- a charging time constant controller configured to change a charging time constant according to an amplitude of the rectified signal,
- wherein the charge time constant controller comprises a plurality of Zener diodes connected in parallel with one another and resistors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.