Patent ID: 7564667

Claim:
An electric circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit against excessive current loads, comprising: a switch to be arranged in said electrical circuit; a triggering device for causing said switch to break said electrical circuit in response to a tripping signal; a receiver for receiving and storing a programmable current threshold command that identifies a programmed first current threshold; a first current detector for detecting a current level in said electrical circuit; a processor for generating said tripping signal depending on said stored programmable current threshold command and said detected current level, wherein said processor is adapted to generate said tripping signal after said detected current level has exceeded said programmed current threshold for a first specified duration; a second current detector for causing said switch to break said electrical circuit if a current flowing in said electrical circuit exceeds a predetermined rated current for more than a second specified duration; and said receiver storing a second current threshold higher than said programmed current threshold, said first specified duration being a first duration, predetermined or programmed, if said detected current level is above said programmed current threshold and below said second current threshold, and a second duration, predetermined or programmed, and shorter than said first duration if said detected current level is above said second current threshold.