Amit Nayak

US Patent:

8023235, Sep 20, 2011

Filed:

Mar 17, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/405340

Inventors:

Mario Bilac - Lawrenceville GA, US
Carlos Restrepo - Atlanta GA, US
Hugh T. Kinsel - Sugar Hill GA, US
Amit Nayak - Atlanta GA, US

Assignee:

Siemens Industry, Inc. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

H02H 3/00

US Classification:

361 42, 361 931, 361 94, 324500

Abstract:

An electrical fault detection device for use in a branch of a power circuit that utilizes signals from an AC line current sensor coupled to an electrical distribution line having a primary and neutral lines, a line high-frequency sensor coupled to the electrical distribution line, a differential current sensor coupled to the primary and neutral lines, and a ground fault current sensor coupled to the primary and neutral lines. A signal conditioner receives the signals outputted by AC current line current sensor, the line high frequency sensor, the differential current sensor and the ground fault current sensor and generates a signal indicative of the load current associated with a branch of the power circuit. Output of the signal conditioner is sampled and processed by a processing resource. The processing resource has stored therein data representing a plurality of time-versus-current curves that define a plurality of regions in which tripping may or may not occur.

US Patent:

8184011, May 22, 2012

Filed:

Oct 6, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/574449

Inventors:

Amit Nayak - Atlanta GA, US
Carlos Restrepo - Atlanta GA, US
Brian Timothy McCoy - Lawrenceville GA, US

Assignee:

Siemens Industry, Inc. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

G08B 21/00
H02H 7/00

US Classification:

340657, 340662, 340664, 340650, 361 42

Abstract:

An arc fault detector includes a means for repeatedly measuring an elapsed time. The arc fault detector also includes at least one means to perform arc detection at each repeated elapsed time. Means for initiating a tripping mechanism is activated after the elapsed time. When a fault occurs, means for generating at least one fault code is activated. The fault code is stored in at least one non-volatile memory. The fault code is selected from a group consisting of an arc fault interrupt code, a ground fault interrupt code, and a push-to-test interrupt code. The arc fault detector includes at least one means to display the fault code such as at least one LED. At least a first LED indicates an arc fault interrupt code and at least a second LED indicates a ground fault interrupt code. At least a third LED indicates a push-to-test interrupt code.

US Patent:

20080106832, May 8, 2008

Filed:

Oct 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/978969

Inventors:

Carlos Restrepo - Beaverton OR, US
Peter Staley - Kings Park NY, US
Amit Nayak - Atlanta GA, US
Vaske Mikani - Atlanta GA, US
Hugh Kinsel - Sugar Hill GA, US

International Classification:

H02H 3/16

US Classification:

361042000

Abstract:

In accordance with one aspect the present disclosure is directed toward a method for detecting arc faults on a power line. The method may include monitoring power signals associated with a power line and filtering the power signals to produce a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal. A mask signal may generated based on the low frequency signal, and the high frequency signal may be analyzed to extract a broadband portion of the high frequency signal. A fault counter may be incremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately greater than a first threshold level. A fault counter may be decremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately less than the first threshold level. A trip signal is provided to a switching device associated with the power line if the fault counter exceeds a predetermined fault limit.

US Patent:

20110249370, Oct 13, 2011

Filed:

Apr 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/081146

Inventors:

Amit Nayak - Atlanta GA, US
Hugh T. Kinsel - Sugar Hill GA, US

Assignee:

SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

H02H 3/08

US Classification:

361 42

Abstract:

In one aspect, a method of electrical arc fault detection when high frequency (e.g., RF noise) is present is disclosed. The method includes determining if first arcing criterion is met, determining if delay criterion is met, implementing a delay for a delay period if the delay criterion is met, and determining if second arcing criterion is met. If the second arcing criterion is met, then a trip signal may be sent to trip the circuit breaker. In another aspect, the method includes determining if first arcing criterion is met, starting delay period if the first arcing criterion is met, determining if delay criterion is met, and if the delay criterion is met, determining if second arcing criterion is met. An arc fault detection apparatus adapted to carry out the methods, and systems including the arc fault detection apparatus are disclosed, as are various other aspects.

US Patent:

20120229939, Sep 13, 2012

Filed:

Mar 11, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/045751

Inventors:

Vaske Mikani - Senoia GA, US
Amit Nayak - Atlanta GA, US

Assignee:

SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

H02H 9/02
H02H 3/02

US Classification:

361 55

Abstract:

In one aspect, a method for detecting arc faults with a dynamically-changeable slope threshold is disclosed. The method may include monitoring a current waveform to determine a peak amplitude of a half cycle and a slope at a zero crossing of a half cycle. An arc fault counter may be incremented if the maximum amplitude of the half cycle and the slope at a zero crossing are greater than a preset magnitude threshold level and the dynamically-changeable slope threshold, respectively. In another aspect, a decay of the amplitude of a predetermined number of half cycles of the current waveform is measured and an arc counter is not incremented, even if the conditions would otherwise indicate an arc counter increment, when the decay is above a decay threshold for greater than a predetermined number of half cycles. An arc fault detection apparatus adapted to carry out the methods, and systems including the arc fault detection apparatus are disclosed, as are various other aspects.