Patent ID: 8054590
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) device, comprising: a leakage current detection circuit; a electro-magnetic disconnect mechanism including a first silicon-control rectifier (SCR), wherein the actuation of the electro-magnetic disconnect mechanism is controlled by the leakage current detection circuit; a reset mechanism including a reset button, wherein the reset button is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the reset button is in the second position, the leakage current detection circuit generates a signal to actuate the electro-magnetic disconnect mechanism to move the reset button to the first position; a circuit condition detection and control circuit; and a selection switch, wherein circuit condition detection and control circuit includes a first control circuit and a second control circuit, the selection switch selectively electrically connecting the first control circuit to an anode of the first SCR, wherein when the selection switch electrically connects the first control circuit to the anode of the first SCR, the first control circuit provides a simulated leakage current to the leakage current detection circuit and the leakage current detection circuit provides a trigger signal to a control gate of the first SCR, wherein the first control circuit either generates the simulated leakage current intermittently or generates a first control signal for the second control circuit based the trigger signal, and wherein the second control circuit generates a second control signal, wherein the first control circuit includes a photo coupler device, a primary stage of the photo coupler device being selectively electrically connected to the anode of the first SCR via the selection switch, and a secondary stage of the photo coupler device being connected to the second control circuit to generate the first control signal for the second control circuit.