Invention Grant
- Patent Title: GFCI self test software for autonomous monitoring and fail safe power denial
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Application No.: US14577086Application Date: 2014-12-19
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Publication No.: US09696374B2Publication Date: 2017-07-04
- Inventor: Stephen Paul Simonin
- Applicant: Hubbell Incorporated
- Applicant Address: US CT Shelton
- Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
- Current Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
- Current Assignee Address: US CT Shelton
- Agency: Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP
- Main IPC: H02H3/00
- IPC: H02H3/00 ; G01R31/28 ; G01R31/327

Abstract:
A software code operates with a circuit interrupting device having an auto-monitoring circuit including a controller for automatically testing various functions and structures of the device. The auto-monitoring circuit initiates the software code which includes an auto-monitoring routine which, among other things, establishes a self-test fault during the positive or negative half-wave of an AC power cycle and determines whether the detection mechanisms within the device properly detect the self-test fault. Moreover, the software code executed by the controller compares sensed voltages from test signals with a determined or set maximum voltage value and compares the sensed voltages with a set or determined minimum voltage value. The sensed voltages must be greater than the maximum voltage value or lower than the minimum voltage value for a predetermined number of counts before an end-of-life state is determined for the circuit interrupting device. The number of counts reduces the likelihood of false detections of error conditions by the auto-monitoring circuit when determining whether the circuit interrupting device has reached the end of its useful life.
Public/Granted literature
- US20160178691A1 GFCI SELF TEST SOFTWARE FOR AUTONOMOUS MONITORING AND FAIL SAFE POWER DENIAL Public/Granted day:2016-06-23
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