Patent ID: 7616413

Claim:
A leakage current interrupter having a power line, a neutral line, and a ground line therein, which is connected to a power cable covered with an external metal cover, comprising: a leakage current detector having resistors connected to the external metal cover of the power cable, and generating a voltage corresponding to a leakage current through the resistors when the leakage current flows through the external metal cover of the power cable; a power source connected to the power line and the neutral line to generate direct current (DC) power when alternating current (AC) power is applied through the power line and the neutral line; a power interrupter opening the power line and the neutral line when the DC power is applied; a controller applying the DC power to the power interrupter when the leakage current detector generates a voltage; and a tester having a resistor and a switch connected in series between the external metal cover of the power cable and the power line, or between the external metal cover of the power cable and the neutral line, wherein, the controller comprises: a signal converter generating a leakage current detection signal in response to the voltage of the leakage current detector and outputting the leakage current detection signal to a first terminal; a signal latch and driver generating and latching a power interrupting signal in response to the leakage current detection signal and outputting the power interrupting signal to a second terminal; and a power interrupting controller applying the DC power to the power interrupter when the power interrupting signal is applied, and wherein the power source comprises: a full-wave rectifier full-wave rectifying the AC power transmitted through the power line and the neutral line to generate the DC power; a smoothing circuit for smoothing the DC power; and a regulator converting the DC power to an interior voltage of the controller.