Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Method and apparatus for authenticating and detecting circuit breaker integrity
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Application No.: US15809535Application Date: 2017-11-10
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Publication No.: US10141128B1Publication Date: 2018-11-27
- Inventor: Xin Zhou , Zhi Gao , James L. Lagree , Brian E. Carlson
- Applicant: Eaton Corporation
- Applicant Address: US OH Cleveland
- Assignee: Eaton Corporation
- Current Assignee: Eaton Corporation
- Current Assignee Address: US OH Cleveland
- Agency: Fox Rothschild LLP
- Main IPC: G08B21/00
- IPC: G08B21/00 ; H01H9/16 ; H02H1/00 ; H02H3/04

Abstract:
A circuit breaker apparatus may include a housing, a circuit inside the housing for protecting the conductors and the load of the circuit, a display attached to outside of the housing, a controller, and a power control device. The display may be an electronically-alterable display that does not require power in situations other than changing its state. The power control device may provide power to the controller and the display when the apparatus is being tampered with. When the controller is powered, it may cause the power control device to cause the display to change from a state that indicates that the apparatus is authenticated to another state that indicates that the apparatus has been tampered with. The power control device may include a battery and a switch, or a power harvester, which can be configured to provide power to the controller when the apparatus is being tampered with.
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