US 12,136,805 B2
Apparatus and method for arc fault protection
Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Troy, MI (US); Muhammad Hussain Alvi, Troy, MI (US); Chandra S. Namuduri, Troy, MI (US); Lyall Kenneth Winger, Waterloo (CA); James Morrison, Sebringville (CA); and Xinyu Du, Oakland Township, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/889,023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0063628 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. H02H 3/087 (2006.01); H02H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02H 3/087 (2013.01) [H02H 1/0015 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for mitigating an arc fault in an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:
measuring a current in the electrical system;
applying an algorithm to the measured current to generate a current signature from the measured current;
comparing the current signature to a first precursor threshold by performing a first comparison of the current signal to the first precursor threshold followed by a second comparison of the current signal to the first precursor threshold;
detecting a precursor phase of the arc fault from the first comparison and the second comparison of the current signature to the first precursor threshold, wherein the precursor phase indicates an onset of an arc flash phase of the arc fault; and
opening a switch in the electrical system to mitigate the arc fault during the arc flash phase.