Integrated Circuit Breaker Display in Standard Panel Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Circuit breaker designs face a trade-off between adding features and maintaining a standard size, as traditional methods require extra space for additional components or pole widths.
Innovation Solution
A circuit breaker design that integrates a housing, display, logic module, mechanical handle, and trip light, allowing for advanced features like arc and ground fault protection, remote control, and a bistable display without increasing size, using a compact layout and line side power to maintain functionality during trips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If extra features and functions are added to circuit breakers, then functionality and protection capabilities are improved, but physical volume and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (arc fault protection, ground fault protection, thermal protection, magnetic protection, remote control, and display) into a single integrated circuit breaker device. The housing integrates the display assembly, logic module, and protection mechanisms into one compact unit, eliminating the need for separate add-on devices and reducing overall physical volume while maintaining advanced functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit breaker is designed as a multi-functional device that provides arc fault protection, ground fault protection, thermal protection, magnetic protection, remote control capability, and information display all within a single standard-size housing. This universal approach allows one device to replace multiple specialized devices, improving versatility without increasing physical volume
2Adaptability or versatility
If extra pole widths or add-on devices are used to add features, then functionality is improved, but space utilization in the panel decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protection functions and control features into a single standard-width circuit breaker, eliminating the need for additional pole widths or separate add-on devices. The integrated design ensures that all features fit within the original panel space allocation for a standard breaker, optimizing space utilization
3Loss of information
If a display and additional components are added, then information display capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical indicator systems with an electronic display assembly that uses a logic module and microprocessor to control information display. The display assembly includes a touch zone and variable image zone that can dynamically show different information states, reducing mechanical complexity while improving information display capability
Solution Approach 2:
The display assembly serves multiple functions: showing trip information, status information, label information, and providing touch input capability. The logic module controls the display to show different information based on breaker state, making the display a universal information interface that reduces overall device complexity by consolidating multiple indication functions into one system
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit breaker can include a housing configured to fit within a slot of a circuit panel and a display configured to display information. The display can include a touch zone configured to allow touch inputs, a variable image zone configured to display trip information, status information, and/or label information, and a fixed image zone configured to display fixed text that is at least partially coincident with the touch zone. Certain embodiments can include a remotely operated circuit breaker with thermal, magnetic, ground fault and arc fault protection.