US-12620801-B2 - Leakage current detection and interruption device and related electrical connectors and electrical appliances

US12620801B2US 12620801 B2US12620801 B2US 12620801B2US-12620801-B2

Abstract

A leakage detection and interruption device includes a switch module to control power connection between input and output terminals of a power line; a leakage detection module to generates a leakage fault signal when the leakage current on the power line exceeds a threshold; a power module, including a first current limiting element, coupled in series between the power line and the leakage detection module, to supply power to the leakage detection module; the driving module includes a electromagnetic coil and a switching semiconductor device, to drive the switching module to disconnect the power connection in response to a leakage fault signal. The first end of the first current limiting element is coupled to the power line, and the second end is coupled to the first end of the switching semiconductor device through at least one first diode and/or second current limiting element.

Inventors

Chengli Li
Long Chen

Assignees

Chengli Li

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240205
Priority Date: 20240202

Claims (12)

1 . A leakage current detection and interruption device comprising: a power line having an input end and an output end; a switch module, configured to control a power connection between the input and output ends of the power line; a leakage detection module configured to detect a leakage current on the power line and to generate a leakage fault signal when the leakage current exceeds a predefined threshold; a power module, configured to supply power to a power input end of the leakage detection module, the power module including at least one first current limiting element coupled in series between the power line and the leakage detection module; and a driving module, configured to drive the switching module to disconnect the power connection in response to the leakage fault signal, the driving module including at least one first electromagnetic coil and at least one first switching semiconductor device, wherein a current flows through the at least one first electromagnetic coil when the at least one first switching semiconductor device is conductive, and wherein a first end of the first electromagnetic coil is coupled to the power line, a second end of the first electromagnetic coil is coupled to a first end of the first switching semiconductor device, a first end of the first current limiting element is coupled to the power line, and a second end of the first current limiting element is coupled to the first end of the first switching semiconductor device via at least one first diode or at least one second current limiting element or both.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising: a self-test module, coupled to the leakage detection module and the driving module, configured to generate a self-test signal and to generate a self-test fault signal when the leakage detection module or the driving module has a fault or both have faults.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein when the leakage detection module has a fault and the driving module is normal, the self-test module generates a self-test processing signal; and wherein the driving module drives the switching module to disconnect the power connection in response to the self-test processing signal.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein when the input end of the power line is powered off, the switch module maintains its original connected state.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first current limiting element includes a resistor, or a capacitor, or a combination thereof.
6 . An electrical power connection device, comprising: a body; and a leakage current detection and interruption device of claim 1 , disposed inside the body.
7 . An electrical appliance, comprising: an electrical load; and an electrical power connection device coupled between a power supply and the electrical load, configured to supply power to the electrical load, wherein the electrical power connection device includes a leakage current detection and interruption device of claim 1 .
8 . A leakage current detection and interruption device comprising: a power line having an input end and an output end; a switch module, configured to control a power connection between the input and output ends of the power line; a leakage detection module configured to detect a leakage current on the power line and to generate a leakage fault signal when the leakage current exceeds a predefined threshold, the leakage detection module including at least one leakage detection chip; a power module, configured to supply power to a power input end of the leakage detection module, the power module including at least one first capacitor coupled in series between the power line and the leakage detection module and configured to supply a power to the leakage detection chip; a driving module, configured to drive the switching module to disconnect the power connection in response to the leakage fault signal, the driving module including at least one first electromagnetic coil and at least one first switching semiconductor device; and a self-test module, coupled to the leakage detection module and the driving module, configured to generate a self-test signal and to generate a self-test fault signal when the leakage detection module or the driving module has a fault or both have faults.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein when the leakage detection module has a fault and the driving module is normal, the self-test module generates a self-test processing signal; and wherein the driving module drives the switching module to disconnect the power connection in response to the self-test processing signal.
10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein when the input end of the power line is powered off, the switch module maintains its original connected state.
11 . An electrical power connection device, comprising: a body; and a leakage current detection and interruption device of claim 8 , disposed inside the body.
12 . An electrical appliance, comprising: an electrical load; and an electrical power connection device coupled between a power supply and the electrical load, configured to supply power to the electrical load, wherein the electrical power connection device includes a leakage current detection and interruption device of claim 8 .

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electrical circuits, and in particular, it relates to a leakage current detection and interruption device, and related electrical connectors and electrical appliances. With increased consumer awareness of environmental and safety issues, there are increased demands for lower power consumption of household appliances in standby or off states (e.g., below 0.5 watts, etc.). Because many household appliances are equipped with leakage current detection and interruption devices (e.g., power plug with leakage current detection and interruption devices), this presents a challenge for reducing power consumption of the appliances. Conventional leakage current detection and interruption devices on the market have relatively high power consumption, and tend to have a single detection function, making it difficult to meet environmental conservation requirements. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To solve the above problems, embodiments of the present invention provides a leakage current detection and interruption device which employs a current limiting element to effectively reduce power consumption, and provides multiple detection capabilities to meet enhanced environmental requirements in energy consumption and to satisfy users' needs. In a first aspect, the present invention provides a leakage current detection and interruption device, which includes: a switch module, configured to control a power connection between the input and output ends of a power line; a leakage detection module configured to detect a leakage current on the power line and to generate a leakage fault signal when the leakage current exceeds a predefined threshold; a power module, configured to supply power to a power input end of the leakage detection module, the power module including at least one first current limiting element coupled in series between the power line and the leakage detection module; and a driving module, configured to drive the switching module to disconnect the power connection in response to the leakage fault signal, the driving module including at least one first electromagnetic coil and at least one first switching semiconductor device, and wherein a first end of the first electromagnetic coil is coupled to the power line, a second end of the first electromagnetic coil is coupled to a first end of the first switching semiconductor device, a first end of the first current limiting element is coupled to the power line, and a second end of the first current limiting element is coupled to the first end of the first switching semiconductor device via at least one first diode and/or second current limiting element. In some embodiments, the device further includes: a self-test module, coupled to the leakage detection module and the driving module, configured to generate a self-test signal and to generate a self-test fault signal when the leakage detection module and/or the driving module has a fault. In some embodiments, when the leakage detection module has a fault and the driving module is normal, the self-test module generates a self-test processing signal; and wherein the driving module drives the switching module to disconnect the power connection in response to the self-test processing signal. In some embodiments, when the input end of the power line is powered off, the switch module maintains its original connected state. In some embodiments, the first current limiting element includes a resistor, a capacitor, or an inductor, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first diode is integrated into the power module. The leakage current detection and interruption device in the above embodiments can effectively reduce the power consumption of the device. Moreover, it has the ability to detect both leakage current having AC characteristics and leakage current having pulsating DC characteristics. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a leakage current detection and interruption device, which includes: a switch module, configured to control a power connection between the input and output ends of a power line; a leakage detection module configured to detect a leakage current on the power line and to generate a leakage fault signal when the leakage current exceeds a predefined threshold; a power module, configured to supply power to a power input end of the leakage detection module, the power module including at least one first capacitor coupled in series between the power line and the leakage detection module; a driving module, configured to drive the switching module to disconnect the power connection in response to the leakage fault signal, the driving module including at least one first electromagnetic coil and at least one first switching semiconductor device; and a self-test module, coupled to the leakage detection module and the driving module, configured to generate a self-test signal and to generate a self-test fault signal when the leakage detection modul