Patent ID: 7747354

Claim:
A power distribution system comprising: a circuit having a zone of protection, said circuit comprising a first circuit breaker and a second circuit breaker, said first circuit breaker being downstream of said second circuit breaker, said first circuit breaker having a first current running therethrough and first pickup settings and said second circuit breaker having a second current running therethrough and second pickup settings; and a control processing unit being communicatively coupled to said first and second circuit breakers, wherein said control processing unit monitors a topology of said zone of protection, wherein said control processing unit adjusts a zone protective function for said zone of protection based at least in part upon said topology, and wherein said control processing unit performs said zone protective function to detect a fault in said zone of protection, wherein said control processing unit operatively controls said first and second circuit breakers including instantaneous overcurrent protection, and wherein said control processing unit causes said second circuit breaker to enter a pickup mode as a function of said first current and said first pickup settings when said fault is detected downstream of said first circuit breaker.