Electronic circuit breaker

Abstract

The electronic circuit breaker comprises an input (A, B) for connection to a power-supply network and an output (C, D) for connection to a load (Z). Set between the input and the output are a switch ( 7 ) and a limitation block ( 9 ) which controls the switch ( 7 ) to cause at least partial inhibition thereof in the event of overcurrent. Moreover provided is a microprocessor ( 13 ) connected to the limitation block ( 9 ) to inhibit power supply to the load (Z).

1 . An electronic circuit breaker with an input (A, B) for connection to a power-supply network and an output (C, D) for connection to a load (Z), comprising: 
 between said input and said output at least one switch ( 7 ) and a limitation block ( 9 ) which controls said switch ( 7 ) to cause at least partial inhibition thereof in the event of overcurrent; and    a microprocessor ( 13 ) connected to said limitation block ( 9 ) to cut off power supply to the load (Z).    
     
     
         2 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein said limitation block ( 9 ) comprises an operational amplifier ( 11 ), to a first input of which there is applied a signal proportional to the current that traverses said circuit breaker, and to the second input of which there is applied a reference voltage (V ref ).  
     
     
         3 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 2 , wherein said reference voltage is programmable by means of said microprocessor ( 13 ).  
     
     
         4 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 2  or  3 , wherein said microprocessor is connected to the inverting input of said operational amplifier ( 11 ).  
     
     
         5 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 2 , or  3  or  4 , wherein said switch ( 7 ) is connected to the output of said operational amplifier.  
     
     
         6 . The circuit breaker according  claim 5 , wherein a fuse is set between the output of said operational amplifier and said switch.  
     
     
         7 . The circuit breaker according to one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising at least one catastrophic-protection device ( 5 ) between its input and its output.  
     
     
         8 . The circuit breaker according to one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising at least one read resistor for determining the amount of current that flows through said circuit breaker.  
     
     
         9 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one catastrophic-protection device ( 5 ) is set in series to said at least one switch.  
     
     
         10 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 8 , wherein said at least one read resistor is set in series to that at least one switch.  
     
     
         11 . The circuit breaker according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein said microprocessor is programmable for intervening with a pre-set delay with respect to the partial inhibition of said switch.  
     
     
         12 . The circuit breaker according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein said microprocessor is connected to a temperature sensor and is programmed to cause opening of the circuit in the event of overheating.  
     
     
         13 . The circuit breaker according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein said microprocessor ( 13 ) comprises an input/output terminal ( 29 ) for programming and/or communication with the outside world.  
     
     
         14 . The circuit breaker according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein said microprocessor is associated to a memory for storing the parameters for operation of the circuit breaker.  
     
     
         15 . The circuit breaker according to one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising a plurality of switches ( 7 ), each of which is associated to a corresponding limitation block ( 9 ), said switches ( 7 ) being set in parallel with respect to one another.  
     
     
         16 . The circuit breaker according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein said microprocessor receives at input a signal proportional to the voltage at input to the circuit breaker and is programmed in such a way as to cause opening of the circuit by the circuit breaker when said voltage exceeds a pre-determined value.