Patent ID: 6972937

Claim:
An arc fault protective device comprising: a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal in response to an electrical current signal propagating in an electrical distribution system; a level detection circuit coupled to the electrical distribution system, the level detection circuit being configured to generate a first level detection signal if a magnitude of the electrical current signal is between a first predetermined threshold level and a second predetermined threshold level, the level detection circuit also being configured to generate a second level detection signal if a magnitude of the electrical current signal is greater than the second predetermined threshold level; an arc detection circuit coupled to the sensor and the level detection circuit, the arc detection circuit being configured to compare the sensor signal to a first arc fault signature and a second arc fault signature, the arc detection circuit being configured to provide an arc detection signal in response to the first level detection signal if the sensor signal corresponds to the first arc fault signature, and the arc detection circuit also being configured to provide an arc detection signal in response to the second level detection signal if the sensor signal corresponds to the second arc fault signature; and a response mechanism coupled to the arc detection circuit, the response mechanism being responsive to the arc detection signal.