APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND RESPONDING TO POWER SUPPLY AND/OR DETECTION CIRCUIT FAILURES WITHIN AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BREAKER

摘要

An electronic circuit breaker may include a monitoring circuit configured to monitor and respond to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure within the electronic circuit breaker. In some embodiments, the monitoring circuit may monitor a regulated DC voltage provided by the detection circuit within the electronic circuit breaker. A response to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure may include interrupting current flow between an electrical power source and an electrical circuit protected by the electronic circuit breaker. Methods of monitoring and responding to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure within an electronic circuit breaker are also provided, as are other aspects.

主权项

1. An electronic circuit breaker, comprising:
a trip switch configured to open and close a current path between an electrical power source and an electrical circuit; a detection circuit configured to detect and respond to a fault condition in the electrical circuit, the detection circuit configured to respond to a fault condition by causing the trip switch to open the current path between the electrical power source and the electrical circuit; a power supply configured to convert an AC voltage received from the electrical power source into a first DC voltage, the power supply providing the first DC voltage to the detection circuit; and a monitoring circuit configured to monitor and respond to a power supply or detection circuit failure within the electronic circuit breaker, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to respond to the power supply or detection circuit failure by causing the trip switch to open the current path between the electrical power source and the electrical circuit.