Patent ID: 6678132
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B60L,G01R,H02H,H03F

Abstract:
A fault detection system for detecting an unwanted electrical path between a reference potential and at least one of: a) a floating power source, b) a first power conductor coupled to a first terminal of the power source, and c) a second power conductor coupled to a second terminal of the power source, the system comprising:an impedance network electrically coupled to the first and second power conductors and having an output terminal for providing a first voltage signal with respect to the reference potential, an amplifier circuit responsive to the first voltage signal and to a reference voltage for generating an amplified signal indicative of the existence of the unwanted electrical path when the difference between the first voltage signal and the reference voltage exceeds a predetermined value, a compensating circuit having an input path for coupling to the amplified signal, and output paths for coupling to the first and second power conductors, for providing a compensating signal to at least one of the first and second power conductors for reducing the difference between the first voltage signal and the reference voltage.