Power on reset GFCI
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorsRobert F. Fanzutti, Gaetano Bonasia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit interrupting device, such as a GFCI receptacle device, is provided that automatically resets itself when power is initially applied to the device, for example, when the device is first installed or when power is reapplied after a power outage occurs. When power is applied correctly to the line side of the device, as opposed to the load side, a voltage is generated that turns on a switching device. Turning on the switching device allows a low level of electric current to flow which, in turn, allows a higher level electric current to flow which closes the latching mechanism of the device and places the device in the reset condition.
Claims20
A circuit interrupting device that automatically resets itself upon power up, comprising:
- first and second input terminals adapted to connect to line and neutral sides, respectively, of an AC power source;
- first and second output terminals;
- a first conductive path extending between said first input terminal and said first output terminal;
- a second conductive path extending between said second input terminal and said second output terminal;
- a third conductive path independent from said first and second conductive paths and passing through a sense transformer;
- a power-on reset circuit adapted to direct an electrical current on said third conductive path when AC power is applied to said input terminals;
- a sensing circuit adapted to generate a fault detection signal in response to a net electrical current flowing through said sense transformer;
- a latching mechanism that closes in response to generation of the fault detection signal, wherein said first and second conductive paths are electrically connected when said latching mechanism is in a closed state;
- and
- a holding circuit adapted to maintain the latching mechanism in the closed state.
A circuit interrupting device comprising:
- hot and neutral line terminals adapted to electrically connect to a source of AC power;
- hot and neutral load terminals adapted to electrically connect to a remote electrical load;
- hot and neutral face terminals adapted to electrically connect to a user accessory, said hot line, load and face terminals being electrically connected to each other, and said neutral line, load and face terminals being electrically connected to each other when said circuit interrupting device is in a reset condition, and said hot line, load and face terminals being electrically isolated, and said neutral line, load and face terminals being electrically isolated when said circuit interrupting device is in a tripped condition, wherein said circuit interrupting device is automatically placed into the reset condition when said circuit interrupting device is initially in the tripped condition and AC power is applied to said line terminal.
A method of operation of a circuit interrupting device comprising the steps of:
- applying power to the line side of the circuit interrupting device,
- activating a GFCI circuit upon application of AC power to the line side of the circuit interrupting device,
- generating a voltage at a first output of the GFCI circuit when the GFCI circuit is activated,
- activating a first switching device when the voltage is generated at the first output of the GFCI circuit,
- conducting a low level current through a solenoid when the first switching device is activated,
- generating a device turn-on signal at a second output of the GFCI circuit when the low level current is conducted through the solenoid,
- deactivating the first switching device and activating a second switching when the turn-on signal is generated at the second output of the GFCI,
- conducting a high level current larger than the low level current through the solenoid when the second switching device is activated, and
- closing a latching mechanism when the high level current is conducted through the solenoid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.