Claims
- 1. An overcurrent trip unit for an electrical circuit interrupting device comprising:
- current sensing means sensing an electrical current flowing through said electrical interrupting device;
- trip means responsive to said current sensing means generating a trip signal as an adjustable predetermined function of magnitude and time period of the electrical current flowing through said electrical circuit interrupting device;
- a user interface panel presenting a visual protection curve representation of said adjustable predetermined function;
- input means selectively adjusting said adjustable predetermined function; and
- indicator means associated on said user interface panel with said protection curve representation and having a first state in response to a trip signal generated by the trip means and having a second state associated wuth said visual protection curve representation in response to adjusting of said adjustable predetermined function through said input means.
- 2. The overcurrent trip unit of claim 1 wherein said input mean comprises means adjusting selected parameters of said adjustable predetermined function and means visually presenting values of said selected parameters, said input means having a viewing mode in which said values of said selected parameters are viewed, and an adjust mode in which said values of said selected parameters are adjusted, said indicator means having a first operating condition in said second state when said input means is in said viewing mode, and a second operating condition in said second state when said input means is in the adjust mode.
- 3. The overcurrent trip unit of claim 2 including means switching said indicator means out of said second state if no input is made through said input means during a predetermined time interval.
- 4. The overcurrent trip unit of claim 1, wherein said indicator means comprises light means having a first light output in said first state and a second light output in said second state.
- 5. The overcurrent trip unit of claim 4 wherein said first light output is a first color, and said second light output is a second color.
- 6. The overcurrent trip unit of claim 5 wherein said light means is a two color light emitting diode.
- 7. The overcurrent trip unit of claim 5 wherein said input means comprises means adjusting selected parameters of said adjustable predetermined function, and display means visually presenting values of said selected parameters, said input means having a viewing mode in which said values of said selected parameters are viewed, and a program mode in which said values of said selected parameters are adjusted, and wherein said second light output flashes in one mode of said input means, and is steady in the other mode of said input means.
- 8. The overcurrent trip device of claim 7 wherein said one mode is said program mode.
- 9. The overcurrent trip device of claim 7 including means switching said input means out of said viewing mode and program mode and turning off said second color light when no input is made through said input means during a predetermined time interval.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This case is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/907,131, filed Jun. 30, 1992, now abandoned, entitled Overcurrent Protection Device by James L. Lagree, Harry W. Wargo, Anthony Tomeo, and Josept C. Engel which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/636,634, filed Dec. 28, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,898, entitled Sure Chip Plus by Joseph C. Engel and John C. Schlotterer.
This application is related to concurently filed application entitled Overcurrent Trip Unit With Programmable Communications And Inactivity Feature by James L. Lagree and Joseph C. Engel and identified by Attorney Docket No. WE 54,218-1-3.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (4)
Entry |
"Interrupt-Driven Microprocessor Based Overcurrent Relay", by M. A. Manzoul, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 8-9, Feb. 1991. |
"Rule-Based Coordination Program Evaluates Distribution Transformer Overcurrent Protection Alternatives", by S. Mendis, M. Bishop, D. Gonzalez, IEEE Computer Applications in Power, pp. 31-36, Apr. 1991. |
"Modeling Overcurrent Relay Characteristics", by S. Chan, R. Maurer; Computer Applications in Power, vol. 5, No. 1; pp. 41-45, Jan. 1992. |
"Development and Application of Electronic Circuit Protection", by William E. May, P.E., and Monhar K. Patel; Conference Record of the 1997 IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting (87CH2499-2) pp. 1352-1357, Oct. 18-23, 1987. |
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
907131 |
Jun 1992 |
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Parent |
636634 |
Dec 1990 |
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