Patent ID: 6618229
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: H02H

Abstract:
An aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter for monitoring the current within an electrical circuit and interrupting the electrical circuit, the electrical circuit having a line side and a load side with an electrical load connected thereto, the aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter comprising:a housing including electrical connector means for connecting to the electrical circuit line side and load side; a power supply disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the line side of the electrical circuit; a sensor disposed in the housing and configured to be powered by the electrical circuit being monitored for sensing a current imbalance in the electrical circuit and for providing a sensor signal indicating the existence of an undesirable current within the electrical circuit based on said sensing of said current imbalance; a logic controller disposed in the housing and configured to be powered by the electrical circuit being monitored, to receive the sensor signal from the sensor and to output a fault signal representing a fault; and a power controller disposed in the housing configured to receive said fault signal from the logic controller and to remove power to the load side of the electrical circuit responsive to the fault signal from the logic controller.