A multi-level over-current protection circuit includes: a signal amplification circuit configured to receive a set of detection signals and output a first signal; a comparison circuit to compare the first signal with a first reference signal and a second reference signal respectively; and a time delay counting circuit. The time delay counting circuit adjusts a first count value when the first signal is higher than or equal to the first reference signal and smaller than the second reference signal, and the time delay counting circuit activates a protection mode when the first count value reaches a first protection time delay. The time delay counting circuit adjusts a second count value when the first signal is higher or equal to the second reference signal, and activates the protection mode when the second count value reaches a second protection time delay.

According to an embodiment, a current monitoring circuit includes a signal shaping unit configured to receive a current sense signal and provide a modified current signal; a filter configured to receive the modified current signal and to provide a respective filtered signal; a comparator configured to receive the filtered signal and a threshold value and to indicate when the filtered signal exceeds the threshold value. The signal shaping unit is configured to calculate a level of the modified current signal from a corresponding level of the current sense signal in accordance with non-linear function.

A disconnect device includes a mounting plate having a thermally conductive substrate applied onto the mounting plate. A first layer of an electrically conductive material is applied onto the substrate. A semiconductor switch supported on the first layer connects or disconnects an input power source to or from a load. A second layer of an electrically conductive material applied onto the substrate is electrically isolated from the first layer. An electronic sensing, control and protection circuit is supported on the second layer and is connected to the semiconductor switch to control operation of the semiconductor switch. A control unit in communication with the electronic sensing, control and protection circuit via an electrically isolated control path provides control and communication between the electronic sensing, control and protection circuit and the semiconductor switch.

A disconnect device includes a mounting plate having a thermally conductive substrate applied onto the mounting plate. A first layer of an electrically conductive material is applied onto the substrate. A semiconductor switch supported on the first layer connects or disconnects an input power source to or from a load. A second layer of an electrically conductive material applied onto the substrate is electrically isolated from the first layer. An electronic sensing, control and protection circuit is supported on the second layer and is connected to the semiconductor switch to control operation of the semiconductor switch. A control unit in communication with the electronic sensing, control and protection circuit via an electrically isolated control path provides control and communication between the electronic sensing, control and protection circuit and the semiconductor switch.

A system and method for estimating fault current using a sliding observation window that is shorter than one cycle. The method may also include providing a pickup level that defines a current threshold for opening a switch in response to detecting the fault current; estimating the fault current from current measurement signals; accumulating time from a reset zero position during the time that the estimation of the fault current is greater than the pickup level; subtracting time from the accumulated time during the time that the estimation of the fault current is less than the pickup level after time has been accumulated from when the estimation of the fault current is greater than the pickup level; detecting the fault current if the accumulated time reaches a predetermined accumulation time; and opening the switch if the fault current is detected.

An information processing apparatus includes a power processor, an interface, a detector that detects at least one of a voltage value and a current value on an electric power line that connects the power processor and the interface, and a controller. The controller transmits warning information to an external device via the interface in a case where a detection value of the detector indicates an abnormal value while electric power is supplied to the external device via the interface.

An electronic device having an overcurrent protection function is provided. The electronic device includes at least one power converter, the at least one power converter including a power conversion unit to convert input voltage or input current to supply output current, a control unit to adjust the output current, and an overcurrent protection unit to detect the output current and transmit a detection result to the control unit, and wherein the overcurrent protection unit includes an overcurrent extraction module to output a difference between the output current exceeding designated first reference current and the first reference current; a calculation module to calculate an accumulative value obtained by integrating the difference with respect to time, and a first comparison module to compare the accumulative value with a designated critical value and to transmit a first detection result in which the accumulative value exceeds the critical value to the control unit.

A circuit interrupter including a current sensor having a normal sensor output and an over current detection output, a solid state switch module structured to have a closed state to allow current to flow through the circuit interrupter and an open state to interrupt current flowing through the circuit interrupter, a gate driver structured to control the solid state switch module including a desaturation function output, wherein the gate driver is structured to cause the solid state switch module to interrupt current flowing through the circuit interrupter when the DESAT function output changes to the on state, and an electronic trip circuit structured to output a trip signal to the gate driver when the normal sensor output reaches a first threshold level or the overcurrent detection output changes to the on state.

Systems and methods for providing information about thermal overload conditions and near-miss tripping events in a circuit interrupter are disclosed. The systems and methods provide a user with detailed information about thermal overload and near-miss tripping events, including how much time remains until a trip will be initiated due to a thermal overload, and what the real-time thermal capacity of the circuit interrupter is after a thermal overload condition ends.

Systems and methods for providing detailed information about high load events in a circuit interrupter are disclosed. The systems and methods provide a user with information such as the maximum high load current reached during a high load event and the average high load current calculated for the duration of the event. In addition, detailed waveform and metered data captures are generated in order to provide a comprehensive cycle-level and/or sub-cycle level overview of the event.