Ground fault interrupter with display circuit

The present invention relates to a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) device. More particularly, the invention relates to a ground fault circuit interrupter device that can directly indicate and display the working conditions of the interrupter to indicate whether the power-input terminal connections are correct.

In general, conventional GFCI devices only display whether the plug-in socket is connected with a power source. Generally, these devices have no means to show the user whether the internal of socket is connected correctly. Furthermore, the socket has only one output means—the plug-in socket; hence the application scope of conventional GFCI devices is narrow.

There are other GFCIs on the market, as shown in FIG. 1 . They typically include a cover plate 1 and main body 2 with power-input terminals 5 A and 5 B, output terminals 5 C and 5 D (terminals 5 B and 5 C are at the symmetrical position of 5 A and 5 D, located on the other side of main body 2 , not shown in FIG. 1 ), and one or more plug-in output sockets 3 . Internal to the main body of conventional GFCIs is a current monitoring circuit, set such that when the current difference between the hot and the neutral lines is larger than the pre-determined value, the GFCI will automatically cut off power output. The GFCI is also equipped with a simulated earth leakage test button (TEST) 6 and reset button (RESET) 7 . When RESET 7 is pressed on, output socket 3 and output terminals 5 C and 5 D receive electricity; when TEST 6 is pressed on, the output terminals are off.

The main drawback of these conventional GFCIs is the lack of a means to clearly indicate whether the power output terminals are charged. As the GFCI devices of this type typically have a pair of naked output terminals 5 C and 5 D, a careless user has the danger of being shocked, perhaps causing injury or death.

The general object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of GFCIs in prior art by providing a means to indicate the working conditions of the interrupter, and thus, whether or not its power-input terminals are connected correctly.

A second object of the present invention is simplicity and reliability of design and operations, enabling low cost manufacture and convenience of use.

To achieve these objectives, the present invention adopts the following design plan. The present invention comprises a cover plate and a main body, including two power-input terminals, one or more plug-in sockets, two power-output terminals, a reset button and a simulated earth leakage test button, an internal current monitoring circuit and internal display circuit. The display circuit is comprised of a variable-color display lamp (LED), a current limiting resistor, and a commutation diode. The variable-color display lamp has a two-color display lamp with three legs—one common leg, and two control legs. The two control legs of the variable-color display lamp are connected with a power-input terminal and a power-output terminal respectively. One of the control terminals and the common terminal of the variable-color display lamp (LED) are connected in series with a current-limiting resistor and a commutation diode to form a loop, and connected in parallel to one side of the power input terminals.

The variable-color display lamp in the display circuit of the present invention may be a common anode or a common cathode variable-color display lamp.

FIG. 1 is the diagram of the existing ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI); and

FIG. 2 is the diagram of the improved GFCI of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a display circuit diagram of an improved GFCI as described in one embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention consists of cover plate 1 and main body 2 . Main body 2 is fitted with power-input terminals 5 A and 5 B, plug-in sockets 3 , power-output terminals 5 C and 5 D, press-in earth leakage test button (TEST) 6 , reset button (RESET) 7 and variable-color display lamp (LED) 8 .

Plug-in sockets 3 , TEST button 6 , RESET button 7 , and the display lamp (LED) 8 are all located on the front side of the main body 2 , and thus are visible even when cover plate 1 is installed. A power monitoring circuit and a display circuit are situated inside the main body.

When the current difference between hot line L and neutral line N is larger than the pre-determined value, the power monitoring circuit works, cutting off output of the interrupter, and permitting no voltage output from power output terminals 5 C and 5 D and plug-in socket 3 , thus achieving the goal of protecting the electrical appliance. As this power monitoring circuit is the existing technology, it is not expounded upon here.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the display circuit features comprising the present invention. As shown in the diagram, the display circuit is comprised of a variable-color display lamp LED, current-limiting resistor R 1 , and commutation diode D. The variable-color display lamp is a two-color display lamp, in which legs 2 and 3 are connected with power-input terminal hot line L and power-output terminal 5 D respectively. The LED common leg 1 and control leg 2 form a loop along with R 1 and D, shunted to one side of the main return power input terminal.

When hot line L and neutral line N are correctly connected with power-input terminals of the GFCI, in other words, 5 A and hot line L, and 5 B and neutral line N are connected, the display lamp LED control leg 2 and common leg 1 receive electricity, and the display lamp turns red. When hot line L and neutral line N are not connected with the power input terminals 5 A and 5 B, but instead are connected with power output terminals 5 C and 5 D, the LED is not on, and emits no light. Thus, a red LED indicates that the power-input terminal connections are correct; and a LED emitting no light indicates that the power-input terminal connections are wrong.

Again, when power-input terminal connections of the GFCI are correct, the LED is red. When the LED shows a red color, pressing RESET 7 causes 7 A and 7 B to close, and brings electric current to output terminals 5 C and 5 D and output socket 3 , and simultaneously brings electric current to all three legs of the LED, whereupon the LED turns from red to green. Then, if the simulated earth leakage test button (TEST) 6 is pressed, switches 7 A and 7 B cut off, LED control leg 3 loses electricity, which causes the LED to turn from green to red, the result of output terminals 5 C and 5 D and plug-in output socket 3 not carrying electricity.

Therefore, a green LED indicates that power-output terminals of the GFCI device are carrying electricity, and user must be careful to prevent electric shock. A red LED indicates the input terminal connections of the GFCI device are correct, the power source is connected, but the output terminals do not carry electricity.

The variable-color display lamp LED in the display circuit described above can be a common anode or common cathode variable-color display lamp.

In summary, in the present invention, a well-designed and simple, single-structure display circuit is connected in parallel to the power-input terminals. This improvement to conventional GFCI devices enables the user to clearly identify, by observing color of the variable-color display lamp, whether the power-input terminal connections are correct, and whether or not there may be danger of electric shock.

What is described herein is intended to be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art shall be able to make numerous variations to it without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.