US 12,191,100 B2
Arc flash detection method
John J. Shea, Wake Forest, NC (US)
Assigned to Schneider Electric USA, Inc., Boston, MA (US)
Filed by Schneider Electric USA, Inc., Andover, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/559,769.
Prior Publication US 2023/0197391 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. H01H 83/20 (2006.01); G01R 31/52 (2020.01); H02H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 83/20 (2013.01) [G01R 31/52 (2020.01); H02H 1/0015 (2013.01); H01H 2083/201 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling operations of a circuit breaker for connecting or disconnecting a power supply to or from a circuit respectively, the method comprising:
monitoring, using at least one near-field radio frequency (RF) sensor of the circuit breaker, near-field RF signal at or around electrical contacts of the circuit breaker;
monitoring, using at least one far-field RF sensor of the circuit breaker, far-field RF signal away from the contacts of the circuit breaker;
monitoring, using at least one sensor of the circuit breaker, a rate of change of current over time on the circuit;
detecting an arc fault on the circuit based on the monitored near-field RF signal, the monitored far-field RF signal, and the monitored rate of change of current; and
implementing a tripping operation on the circuit breaker to disconnect the power supply from the circuit, in response to the detection of the arc fault.