G01R31/3277

System and method for self-testing a ground fault circuit interrupter

Self-test circuitry for testing a circuit interrupter includes an active element coupled to an operating mechanism, a first sub-circuit for temporarily disabling the active element, a second sub-circuit structured to generate a simulated ground fault condition, and a processing unit coupled to the ground fault detection circuitry. The first sub-circuit and the second sub-circuit, the processing unit being structured and configured to control the first sub-circuit to temporarily disable the active element and to control the second sub-circuit to generate the simulated ground fault condition when the active element is disabled. Also, self-test circuitry that includes a sub-circuit structured to generate a simulated ground fault condition and a processing unit structured and configured to control the sub-circuit to generate the simulated ground fault condition only during a predetermined portion of a half cycle of energy passing through the circuit interrupter.

VERIFYING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VERIFYING THE DISCONNECTING MEANS OF A DC/AC CONVERTER

Verifying system and method for verifying the disconnecting means of a DC/AC converter which are connected in series through a midpoint in each phase between the converter and a power grid. The system comprises voltage detectors and a control unit in communication with said detectors and configured for determining the status of the disconnecting means depending on said voltages. The detectors comprise a detector associated with each phase for measuring the voltages between the corresponding midpoint and the neutral of the power grid, and an additional detector for measuring the voltage between said neutral and a reference point of the converter.

Systems And Methods For Testing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Breakers
20170261558 · 2017-09-14 ·

A testing circuit assembly can include a first variable resistive load configurable for a range of electrical resistances, where the first variable resistive load is configured to couple to at least one first ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breaker and a current source. The testing circuit assembly can also include a first local controller coupled to the first variable resistive load, where the first local controller controls the first variable resistive load to simulate a range of fault currents, corresponding to the range of electrical resistances, flowing to the at least one first GFCI breaker to determine at least one actual trip point of the at least one first GFCI breaker. Each electrical resistance in the range of electrical resistances can correspond to a fault current in the range of fault currents.

Ground fault detector

An apparatus includes an interruption circuit in a power delivery path, and a fault detection circuit configured to provide a fault signal to selectively cause the interruption circuit to interrupt power delivery, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a fault detection integrated circuit and a sensing coil configured to sense a differential current between a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path in the power delivery path. A processor is configured to selectively control a fault simulation circuit to simulate a fault in the power delivery path, detect a response of the fault detection circuit to the simulated fault, and determine if the response of the fault detection circuit is an expected response. The processor provides an override signal to the interruption circuit to prevent the interruption circuit from receiving a fault signal from the fault detection circuit during, and for a predetermined time after, the simulated fault.

SOLID TESTING PLATFORM AND METHOD FOR FUNCTION TESTING OF INTELLIGENT PHASE-CHANGE SWITCH

The present invention relates to a solid testing platform and method for function testing of an intelligent phase-change switch. The testing platform includes a primary controller, a first module, a second module, a capacitor C, an intelligent phase-change switch, and a transformer. The primary controller is respectively connected to the first module and the second module, and is configured to control the operation of the first module and the second module. The first module and the second module are connected in parallel to the capacitor C. the first module is configured to feed back excess energy of the capacitor C to a distribution network. The second module is configured to control magnitude and direction of a current that flows through the intelligent phase-change switch. The capacitor C is configured to perform energy support, filtering, and smoothing. According to the present invention, not only all unbalanced operation conditions can be simulated, but also simulated power is equitably fed back to a power grid by using the testing platform, to achieve a test in a state of no power loss, without affecting a main power grid.

Power Contact Fault Clearing Device
20220044882 · 2022-02-10 ·

An electrical circuit includes a contact with a pair of switchable electrodes, the contact configured to cycle through make and break transitions while conducting current. The electrical circuit further includes an arc suppressor, at least one sensor, and a controller circuit. The arc suppressor is coupled across the pair of switchable electrodes and is to extinguish an arc formed across the pair of switchable electrodes during the make and break transitions of the contact. The at least one sensor is coupled to the pair of switchable electrodes and is configured to generate sensor data. The controller circuit includes a plurality of registers and is configured to detect a fault condition associated with the contact based on the sensor data. The controller circuit further sequences contact opening of the contact based on the detected fault condition and a timing value stored in at least one register of the plurality of registers.

Diagnosis Circuit of Parallel-Structure Mosfets Including Mux and Diagnosis Method Using the Same
20220229104 · 2022-07-21 · ·

A circuit and diagnosis method capable of individually diagnosing abnormality of a plurality of internal FETs constituting a MOSFET provided between a secondary battery pack and an electric vehicle. Voltage at both ends of each of the internal FETs is measured while individually turning ON/OFF the internal FETs, and is compared with a diagnosis table in order to determine abnormality thereof.

System and method for diagnosing contactor using sound sensor
11209486 · 2021-12-28 · ·

A system and a method of diagnosing a contactor through a sound sensor, which determines whether a contactor is erroneously operated based on a result of sensing a mechanical transition sound generated during an on/off operation of the contactor. The contactor diagnosis may be applied to a battery management system and may further include counting the number of transition operations of the contactor and/or may be used for diagnosing the life of the contactor.

Power supply assembly
11211818 · 2021-12-28 · ·

A power supply assembly including a load supply converter system and energy saving transfer route both connected electrically to a load connection. The energy saving transfer route bypasses the load supply converter system, and includes a bypass switch system having a first bypass switch and second bypass switch connected in series. A control system of the power supply assembly is adapted to provide a system diagnostic operation including providing a diagnostic state for the bypass switch system by controlling the first bypass switch into a non-conducting state, and controlling the second bypass switch into a conducting state, generating a diagnostic voltage in an output of the load supply converter system, and detecting a short circuit incident if an electric current flowing through the bypass switch system exceeds a predetermined short circuit threshold value.

Electronic circuit
11211924 · 2021-12-28 · ·

According to one embodiment, an electronic circuit includes: a current supply circuit, a detection circuit, a timing generation circuit, a sample hold circuit and a calculation circuit. The current supply circuit supplies a sine wave current for measurement to a gate terminal of a semiconductor switching device. The detection circuit detects a sine wave voltage generated in response to supply of the sine wave current to generate a detection signal. The timing generation circuit counts cycles of the sine wave voltage. The sample hold circuit samples the detection signal at a timing depending on a count value of the timing generation circuit. The calculation circuit calculates a gate resistance of the semiconductor switching device based on the sampled voltage.