Patent ID: 8526145

Claim:
A circuit interrupting device that automatically resets itself upon power up, comprising: first and second input terminals adapted to connect to line and neutral sides, respectively, of an AC power source; first and second output terminals; a first conductive path extending between said first input terminal and said first output terminal; a second conductive path extending between said second input terminal and said second output terminal; a third conductive path independent from said first and second conductive paths and passing through a sense transformer; a power-on reset circuit adapted to direct an electrical current on said third conductive path when AC power is applied to said input terminals; a sensing circuit adapted to generate a fault detection signal in response to a net electrical current flowing through said sense transformer; a latching mechanism that closes in response to generation of the fault detection signal, wherein said first and second conductive paths are electrically connected when said latching mechanism is in a closed state; and a holding circuit adapted to maintain the latching mechanism in the closed state.