Ground fault circuit interrupter with enhanced radio frequency interference suppression

Abstract

A ground fault circuit interrupter device having a feedthrough capacitor for substantially reducing interference from radio frequency signals such as those emitted from cell phones and 2-way radios. The ground fault circuit interrupter device includes a printed circuit board having a system ground terminal and a detection terminal for receiving a fault detection signal. A chip is provided having a ground pin connected to the system ground terminal and an input pin for receiving the fault detection signal. The feedthrough capacitor has a through conductor connected between the input pin and the detection terminal and a capacitor coupled between the through conductor and the system ground terminal.

1. A circuit interrupting device comprising:
 a housing; 
 a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path each disposed at least partially within said housing between a line side and a load side, said phase conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, and a second connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one load and a third connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one user accessible load, and said neutral conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one load and a third connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one user accessible load; 
 a first differential transformer coupled to said phase conductive path and said neutral conductive path for detecting a phase to ground fault and generating a phase to ground fault signal in a secondary winding having a first end and a second end; 
 a second differential transformer coupled to said phase and neutral conductive paths for detecting a neutral to ground fault and generating a neutral to ground fault signal in a secondary winding having a first end and a second end the first transformer; 
 a circuit interrupting portion disposed within said housing and configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths between said line side and said load side conductive path; 
 said circuit interrupting device further comprises a comprising an integrated circuit chip having a ground pin ( 4 ) connected to a system ground terminal and to the second end of said secondary winding of said second differential transformer, a pair of input pins ( 2 , 3 ) coupled to the first end and the second end respectively of said secondary winding of said first differential transformer, and an output pin ( 5 ) coupled to the first end of said secondary winding of said second differential transformer; and 
 a feedthrough capacitor having
 (i) a through conductor disposed in the interior of the feedthrough capacitor, the through conductor connected between the second end of said secondary winding of said first differential transformer and the input pin ( 3 ) coupled thereto, and 
 (ii) a capacitor coupled between said through conductor and said ground pin ( 4 ), 
 
 wherein said feedthrough capacitor effectively reduces interference from radio frequency signals. 
 
     
     
       2. The circuit interrupting device of  claim 1  wherein said input pins are connected to inputs of an operational amplifier. 
     
     
       3. The circuit interrupting device of  claim 1  wherein the feedthrough capacitor has attenuation characteristics that increase at approximately 20 decibels per decade from its cutoff frequency. 
     
     
       4. The circuit interrupting device of  claim 1  wherein the feedthrough capacitor has a cutoff frequency selected from a band of frequencies between 1 to 300,000 megahertz. 
     
     
       5. The circuit interrupting device of  claim 1  wherein the feedthrough capacitor has a cutoff frequency selected from a range of frequencies in the radio band for cell phone service. 
     
     
       6. The circuit interrupting device of  claim 1  wherein the feedthrough capacitor has a cutoff frequency selected from a range of frequencies in the 1850 megahertz band for cell phone service. 
     
     
       7. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said phase conductive path further terminating in a third connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one user accessible load. 
     
     
       8. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said neutral conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one load and a third connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one user accessible load. 
     
     
       9. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said first transformer generates a phase to ground fault signal in a secondary winding having a first end and a second end. 
     
     
       10. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said circuit interrupting portion disposed within said housing is further configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths between said line side and said load side. 
     
     
       11. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said ground pin is connected to said system ground terminal and to a second end of a secondary winding of said second transformer. 
     
     
       12. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said pair of input pins are coupled to a first end and a second end respectively of a secondary winding of said first transformer. 
     
     
       13. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said output pin is coupled to a first end of a secondary winding of said second transformer. 
     
     
       14. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said through conductor is connected between a second end of a secondary winding of said first transformer and the input pin.