Patent ID: 7190561
Filing Date: 2007-03-13
Classification: H02H

Abstract:
1. Arc fault detection apparatus, comprising: a power input; an input sense circuit configured to sense a signal associated with the power input, the sensed signal being indicative of at least one potential arcing event; an arcing sense circuit including an amplifying sub-circuit and an accumulating sub-circuit, the amplifying sub-circuit being configured to receive a representation of the sensed signal and to generate a respective pulse corresponding to the at least one potential arcing event, the accumulating sub-circuit being configured to receive respective pulses generated by the amplifying sub-circuit and to generate an accumulated signal over a predetermined time period; and a processor operative to receive the accumulated signal and the respective pulses from the arcing sense circuit, to generate first data representative of the accumulated signal and second data representative of the respective pulses, and to process at least one of the first and second data in accordance with at least one algorithm to determine whether the at least one potential arcing event is indicative of an arc fault or a nuisance condition.