CIRCUIT BREAKER, REMOVABLE DISPLAY, AND ELECTRONIC TRIP UNIT FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER

Abstract

The invention relates to a circuit breaker for a low-voltage circuit having input and output terminals for conductors of the low-voltage circuit. Within the circuit breaker, the low-voltage circuit can be interrupted or closed. The circuit breaker also has a current sensor which determines the level of the electrical current in the low-voltage circuit and is connected to an electronic trigger unit which has a display for displaying information and interrupts the low-voltage circuit if current limit values or current-time limit values are exceeded. The display is designed to be removable.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A circuit breaker for a low-voltage circuit having input connections and output connections for conductors of the low-voltage circuit, the circuit breaker comprising: a current sensor for determining a level of an electric current in the low-voltage circuit, said current sensor being connected to an electronic trip unit that has a display for displaying information and that is configured to interrupt the low-voltage circuit if current limit values or current/time limit values are exceeded; said display of said electronic trip unit being a removable display; said display having a sensor for determining an inclination or an angle of a horizontal or vertical position of said display, and being configured such that a content of displayed information is adjusted depending on a horizontal or vertical mounting of said display, thus enabling the displayed information to be read in a user-friendly manner; and said display having a display microcontroller, connected to said sensor, for controlling a display of the displayed information.

20. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, wherein said removable display is configured to snap or latch on to said electronic trip unit.

21. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, wherein said display has an input functionality in addition to a display functionality.

22. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, wherein said sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of an inclination sensor, an angle sensor, and a position sensor.

23. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, wherein said electronic trip unit comprises a first microcontroller and a second microcontroller.

24. The circuit breaker according to claim 23, wherein said first microcontroller is configured to monitor an exceedance of current limit values or current/time limit values, and said second microcontroller is configured to provide the information to be displayed on said display.

25. The circuit breaker according to claim 23, wherein said electronic trip unit and said display are configured such that, when the display is connected to said electronic trip unit, the information to be displayed is transmitted from said second microcontroller to said display and displayed thereon in a correct position.

26. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, which comprises a universal serial bus interface for an electrical connection between said electronic trip unit and said display.

27. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, wherein said display has an LCD display.

28. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, wherein said display has a power supply unit.

29. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, wherein said display has a keypad or a touchpad or touch control for an input functionality.

30. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, wherein the circuit breaker is configured to enable different orientations with which the information can be displayed.

31. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, wherein said electronic trip unit is configured to enable mutually different menu structures to be programmed, with the menu structures being stored in a second microcontroller of said electronic trip unit and, when said display is connected, to be displayed thereon.

32. The circuit breaker according to claim 19, wherein said electronic trip unit is configured to enable application tasks assigned to a second microcontroller of said electronic trip unit to be adjusted or changed.

33. A removable display for a circuit breaker, the removable display comprising: a sensor for determining an inclination or an angle of a horizontal or vertical position of the display, and wherein a content of a displayed information is adjusted depending on a horizontal or vertical mounting of the display, to enable the displayed information to be read in a user-friendly manner; and a display microcontroller connected to said sensor, for controlling a display of the displayed information.

34. The removable display according to claim 33, configured for connection by snap or latch onto an electronic trip unit.

35. The removable display according to claim 33, configured for mutually different types of electronic trip units or circuit breakers.

36. An electronic trip unit for a circuit breaker, the electronic trip unit comprising: a first microcontroller configured to monitor an exceedance of current limit values or current/time limit values; and a second microcontroller for providing information to be displayed on a display.

37. The electronic trip unit according to claim 36, further comprising a display configured to snap or latch on to the electronic trip unit.

Description

[0059] In the drawing:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration with circuit breakers for explaining the invention,

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a display for explaining the invention.

[0062] The upper region of FIG. 1 shows a first circuit breaker LS1, a second circuit breaker LS2 and a single display DISP. The first and second circuit breakers LS1, LS2 in the upper region do not have a display. By way of example, the first and second circuits breakers LS1, LS2 are low-voltage circuit breakers, such as molded case circuit breakers (MCCB) in the example according to FIG. 1. The first circuit breaker LS1 is a circuit breaker of a first type or of a first design. The second circuit breaker LS2 is a circuit breaker of a second type or of a second design that differs from the first circuit breaker LS1. By way of example, the second circuit breaker LS2 has adjusting elements ES on its front side, using which parameters such as threshold values or tripping characteristics of the second circuit breaker LS2 can be adjusted. The first circuit breaker LS1 does not have these adjusting elements.

[0063] In the lower region, a circuit breaker LSDISP is shown, such as a circuit breaker of the first or the second type LS1, LS2 for example, which has a mounted display DISP.

[0064] If the circuit breaker LSDISP is a circuit breaker of the second type LS2, the adjusting elements ES are hidden by the mounted display DISP. An adjustment is then possible via the display DISP, for example, which in this case has an input functionality.

[0065] If the circuit breaker LSDISP is a circuit breaker of the first type LS1, an input functionality is enabled for the circuit breaker by the mounted display DISP having said input functionality.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary display DISP. The display has a display microcontroller MC. Said display microcontroller is connected to a power supply unit NT for supplying energy to the display microcontroller MC or the display DISP. The power supply unit NT in turn has a connection PS for an (external) supply voltage. Alternatively or additionally, the power supply unit NT can be connected to an external or internal battery BAT, which enables or supports mobile and circuit-breaker-independent operation.

[0067] By way of example, the energy can be supplied by an interface on the front side of the electronic trip unit ETU.

[0068] A memory SP can also be provided, such as an EEPROM, which is connected to the display microcontroller MC.

[0069] The display DISP also has a display LCD, such as an LCD display or a dot matrix display. Light-emitting diodes can also be provided. This display LCD can in turn be connected to the display microcontroller MC.

[0070] The display DISP can also have an input functionality, such as a keypad KP, a touchpad/touch control, or the like. This can in turn be connected to the display microcontroller MC.

[0071] The removable display DISP has a sensor SEN for determining an inclination or an angle, in particular of a horizontal or vertical position of the display DISP.

[0072] Said sensor can in turn be connected to the display microcontroller MC. The sensor SEN can be an inclination sensor, an angle sensor or a position sensor.

[0073] The display or the display microcontroller MC can be designed in such a way that, in cooperation with the sensor SEN, the content of the displayed information is adjusted depending on a horizontal or vertical mounting of the display, such that the displayed information can be read in a user-friendly manner.

[0074] The display DISP also has an electrical connection VB, such as a wired or wireless interface, for example, such as a USB interface, Bluetooth interface or Zigbee interface, which can produce (or produces) a connection between the display DISP and the circuit breaker LS1, LS2, LSDISP, or the electronic trip unit ETU thereof.

[0075] Two electronic trip units ETU, 3xx, 9xx, are indicated in the example according to FIG. 2.

[0076] By way of example, the electronic trip unit 9xx can be incorporated in or assigned to the first circuit breaker LS1. By way of example, the electronic trip unit 3xx can be incorporated in or assigned to the second circuit breaker LS2.

[0077] According to the invention, a (secure) user interface BS can also be provided, via which customers can upload display presets. This user interface BS can in turn be connected to the display microcontroller MC, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0078] The display DISP can be designed to snap on (snap in) or latch. A snap-on display is therefore provided, which the user or the customer is able to remove and install.

[0079] If the customer intends to use the same display DISP for multiple circuit breakers/devices, the display should be reconfigured according to the invention.

[0080] In devices of the prior art, the display contents do not adapt to the orientation of the circuit breaker. That is to say, if the device is mounted horizontally (vertically), for example, the text on the display is always displayed in landscape format, for example.

[0081] If a customer would like to also see, for example, measured values of the circuit breaker in another format, for example a diagram instead of numbers, the display generally cannot be changed.

[0082] According to the invention, a dedicated application controller/(further) second microcontroller will or can be provided in each electronic trip unit ETU in addition to the (first) microcontroller responsible for the protection functions.

[0083] The electronic trip unit ETU has a protection control. Protection settings and protection algorithms are controlled by way of this protection control. The set protection parameters should generally not be changed during continuous operation.

[0084] According to the invention, a second microcontroller that in particular provides the information to be displayed on the display is therefore provided in addition to the first microcontroller for the protection parameters/that in particular monitors the exceedance of current limit values or current/time limit values.

[0085] The functions of this second microcontroller (application microcontroller) can be changed during operation by the user or customer.

[0086] If a display DISP (display module) is connected to a circuit breaker/electronic trip unit ETU, in one configuration, the display DISP (display module) can adopt the settings from the second microcontroller that are stored therein, for example.

[0087] If the display DISP is connected to another circuit breaker/another electronic trip unit ETU, the display or display presets change as a result.

[0088] In one configuration, the customer can download different presets to the second microcontroller/application controller. The customer can, for example, download templates for display configurations. These templates can be modified, wherein customer-specific displays are possible.

[0089] By way of example, the customer can also select the orientation of the displayed information on the display DISP.

[0090] The physical form factor of the display does not change, the formatting and the content of the display are changed so as to correspond to the form factor and the display preferences of the customer. This means that the dimensions of the display (e.g. 80 mm*35 mm) are maintained regardless of whether or not the circuit breaker is rotated by 90 degrees. The form factor also does not change (logically) if another device (circuit breaker) has been connected.

[0091] The way in which the information is displayed does change, however. If the switch is rotated, the display changes in such a way that it is still readable, but the ratio is now, for example, 35 mm*80 mm. It is therefore necessary for the information to be rearranged in the display in a manner according to the invention, e.g. automatically.

[0092] The idea is also for there to be a basic set of display images (for example 20 displays with predefined contents). The user/customer can partially deactivate them and in turn add newly created display images as desired.

[0093] For example, the customer can change the menu structure of the displayed information on the display DISP according to their wishes. By way of example, they can download a “menu mask”, using which the number of parameters of interest is set or reduced. Using said menu mask, they do not have to look through all the parameters and can just see the parameters that are of interest to them. They can reset this mask at any time, for example using external software.

[0094] According to the invention, a further/second microcontroller is used in the electronic trip unit, which microcontroller can be loaded with presets for displaying information on a display DISP and communicates with the display DISP (display module) without modifying the first (protection) microcontroller. A simple extension of existing electronic trip units is therefore possible.

[0095] The protection microcontroller is secure. The customer has the option to adjust the product/the display. The display DISP (display module) can automatically change its settings depending on which electronic trip unit ETU it is connected to. The information on the display is displayed in the correct position such that it can be read in a user-friendly manner.

[0096] Although the invention has been described and illustrated more specifically in detail by means of the exemplary embodiment, the invention is not restricted by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.