Patent ID: 8462471
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: H01H,H02H

Abstract:
1. A circuit interrupting device having an input power terminal which is coupled to an input power source, an output power terminal which is coupled to an output load, and a user accessible load end which is electrically coupled to a user accessible load socket; said circuit interrupting device comprising a leakage current detection and protection circuit, which comprises a simulated leakage current generation circuit capable of automatically generating a simulated leakage current when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired; wherein said simulated leakage current generation circuit is coupled to a reset button and comprises a simulated leakage current generation switch, a current-limiting resistor and a solenoid coil; wherein said simulated leakage current generation switch comprises a normally closed switch and a normally open switch, each containing a conductive metal piece and sharing a common contact piece; wherein said common contact piece is coupled to a hot line or a neutral line of said input power terminal via said solenoid coil; wherein said conductive metal piece of said normally closed switch is coupled to said hot line or said neutral line of said input power terminal through differential transformers via said current-limiting resistor; wherein said conductive metal piece of said normally open switch is coupled to said neutral line or said hot line of said input power terminal via an anode of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR); wherein when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired and in a trip state, said simulated leakage current generation circuit automatically generates said simulated leakage current through an operation of said normally closed switch; whereby when components of said circuit interrupting device are working properly, a depression of said reset button allows said circuit interrupting device to reset; whereby when at least one of said components of said circuit interrupting device is damaged or not working properly, a depression of said reset button does not allow said circuit interrupting device to reset, wherein a reset switch is coupled to said reset button; wherein said reset switch is normally open unless for a period when said reset button is depressed by a user; wherein when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired and in a tripped state, before said reset button is depressed, said normally closed switch is in a closed state while said normally open switch and said reset switch are in an open state; wherein when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired and said reset button is depressed by a user and before said user releases said reset button, both said normally closed switch and said reset switch are in said closed state, while said normally open switch is in said open state; wherein when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired and said depression of said reset button causes said circuit interrupting device to trip, before said user releases said reset button, only said normally open switch is in said open state while both said normally closed switch and said reset switch are in said closed state; and wherein when said circuit interrupting device is in a reset state waiting for tripping, said normally open switch is in said closed state, while both of said normally closed switch and said reset switch are in said open state.