Patent ID: 6141197
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: H01H,H02H

Abstract:
A residential circuit interrupter comprising:a pair of separable contacts arranged for connection within an electric circuit;an electronic trip unit including an electric switch and a magnetic switch for separating said contacts upon occurrence of an overcurrent condition within said electric circuit;a Hall effect or GMR element connecting with said electronic trip unit and in magnetic proximity to an electrical conductor arranged for carrying circuit current within one phase of said electric circuit, said Hall effect or GMR element provides a current signal to said trip unit representative of said circuit current;a power supply circuit connecting with the electrical conductor, said power supply circuit providing operating power to said trip unit and said Hall effect or GMR element; anda conditioner circuit connecting with said Hall effect or GMR element for receiving signal output from said Hall effect or GMR element representative of said circuit current and providing signal input to said electronic trip circuit.