MICHAEL J LAVADO
Engineering in Norwich, CT

7408750, Aug 5, 2008

Mar 29, 2006

11/391954

Christian V. Pellon - Norton MA, US
Michael J. Lavado - Griswold CT, US
Jeffrey B. Ting - New York NY, US

Sensata Technologies Massachusetts, Inc. - Attleboro MA

H02H 3/00

361 42, 361 931, 361 94

An apparatus and method for detecting electrical arc faults that has reduced susceptibility to nuisance tripping. The apparatus includes a current sensor, an input sense circuit, an arcing sense circuit, a power supply, a tripping circuit, a processing unit, and an electromechanical interface. The processing unit measures multiple voltage levels provided by the arcing sense circuit during a specified number of consecutive time periods. Next, the processing unit determines the number of consecutive time periods during which the voltage levels exceeded a specified minimum value, take on successively lower or higher values, or fall outside a predetermined normal range of values. Based upon the results of this determination, the processing unit either trips the electromechanical interface to interrupt power to a load, or inhibits tripping of the electromechanical interface, thereby reducing the occurrence of nuisance tripping.

7190561, Mar 13, 2007

Sep 9, 2004

10/937486

Christian V. Pellon - Norton MA, US
Mark D. Rabiner - Cambridge MA, US
Michael Parker - Camarillo CA, US
Christopher A. Nicolls - North Attleboro MA, US
Keith W. Kawate - Attleboro Falls MA, US
Robert Zanelli - Rehoboth MA, US
Roger D. Mayer - Attleboro MA, US
Lucien Fontaine - Lincoln RI, US
Michael J. Lavado - Griswold CT, US
Lynwald Edmunds - Mansfield MA, US
Jeffrey B. Ting - Boston MA, US

Sensata Technologies, Inc. - Attleboro MA

H02H 3/00

361 5, 360648

An apparatus and method for detecting arc faults that have reduced susceptibility to nuisance tripping. The apparatus includes a current sensor, an input sense circuit, an arcing sense circuit, a power supply, a tripping (firing) circuit, a processor, and an electromechanical interface. The current sensor monitors a power input comprising an AC current, and provides high frequency components of the. AC current to the input sense circuit. The input sense circuit filters and rectifies the AC signal, and provides the rectified signal to the arcing sense circuit. The arcing sense circuit provides a voltage level accumulated over a predetermined time period, and digital signals indicative of possible electrical arcing occurring during the sampling period, to the processor. The processor measures the voltage level, stores information relating to measured voltages and the digital signals, and processes the stored information using one or more algorithms, thereby determining whether the signals resulted from an arc fault or a nuisance load. In the event the signals resulted from an arc fault, the processor activates the firing circuit to trip the electromechanical interface, thereby interrupting the power output to the load.

7190562, Mar 13, 2007

Sep 9, 2004

10/937487

Christian V. Pellon - Norton MA, US
Mark D. Rabiner - Cambridge MA, US
Michael Parker - Camarillo CA, US
Christopher A. Nicolls - North Attleboro MA, US
Keith W. Kawate - Attleboro Falls MA, US
Robert Zanelli - Rehoboth MA, US
Roger D. Mayer - Attleboro MA, US
Lucien Fontaine - Lincoln RI, US
Michael J. Lavado - Griswold CT, US
Lynwald Edmunds - Mansfield MA, US
Jeffrey B. Ting - Boston MA, US

Sensata Technologies, Inc. - Attleboro MA

H02H 3/00

361 5, 360648

An apparatus and method for detecting arc faults that have reduced susceptibility to nuisance tripping. The apparatus includes a current sensor, an input sense circuit, an arcing sense circuit, a power supply, a tripping (firing) circuit, a processor, and an electromechanical interface. The current sensor monitors a power input comprising an AC current, and provides high frequency components of the. AC current to the input sense circuit. The input sense circuit filters and rectifies the AC signal, and provides the rectified signal to the arcing sense circuit. The arcing sense circuit provides a voltage level accumulated over a predetermined time period, and digital signals indicative of possible electrical arcing occurring during the sampling period, to the processor. The processor measures the voltage level, stores information relating to measured voltages and the digital signals, and processes the stored information using one or more algorithms, thereby determining whether the signals resulted from an arc fault or a nuisance load. In the event the signals resulted from an arc fault, the processor activates the firing circuit to trip the electromechanical interface, thereby interrupting the power output to the load.

7210970, May 1, 2007

Mar 22, 2006

11/386370

Christian V. Pellon - Norton MA, US
Michael J. Lavado - Griswold CT, US
Jacky C. Chan - Framingham MA, US

Sensata Technologies, Inc. - Attleboro MA

H01R 4/36

439810, 335132, 335 83, 335 6, 335202

A shouldered connector pin socket () is shown having an open channel () formed in the face surface of a wall member of a circuit breaker housing. An electrically conductive spring member (′) is received over the channel and is formed with a first set of spring fingers () that are adapted to engage a connector pin along a first axial length () of the channel making electrical engagement with the pin and urging the pin against the channel surface as the pin is slidingly inserted into the channel. The spring fingers urge the flange of the connector pin into a recess formed by a stepped shoulder defining the entrance to a second axial length () with the stepped shoulder and the spring fingers cooperating to retain the connector pin in the channel. A second set of spring contact fingers () can also be used to engage the connector pin along a third axial length () and thereby provide a redundant contact system.