Patent ID: 6873161
Filing Date: 2005-03-29
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting accidental arcs (arc tracking) on a cable, in particular on a cable of an on-board electrical system of an aircraft or spacecraft, said method comprising the steps of: sampling an ascertained alternating current signal time-discretely to generate a discrete current signal; determining from the discrete current signal through interpolation of a number of sampling values a trigonometric function, which imitates an alternating current course; deriving an actual alternating current frequency from the trigonometric function; and comparing the actual alternating current frequency with a desired frequency to determine the presence of an accidental arc, wherein the actual alternating current frequency is derived from the number of sampling values by using a maximum sampling value and a first sampling value lying in time before the maximum sampling value and a second sampling value lying in time after the maximum value.