Patent ID: 8284535

Claim:
A circuit breaker capable of microcontroller-based fault detection having a timing circuit for causing the circuit breaker to trip in response to the microcontroller being unresponsive or a failure of a power supply powering the microcontroller, comprising: a power supply that produces a regulated direct current (DC) voltage derived from an alternating current (AC) line voltage to which the circuit breaker is connected; a line-powered timing circuit and an electronic switch device connected in parallel with the timing circuit for causing the circuit breaker to trip in response to the electronic switching device being turned on; a drop resistor connected to the timing circuit, the drop resistor reducing a voltage presented to the power supply; and a microcontroller powered by the power supply and including a first pin coupled to the gate of the electronic switching device, wherein a resistor is connected between a first terminal of the electronic switching device and the gate, and a capacitor is connected between the gate and a second terminal of the electronic switching device.