US4187461A — Dynamic threshold impulse directivity indicator

Claim 1

Independent Claim 131 words

In a circuit for indicating the direction of origin of a transient impulse appearing on a power line by correlating the polarities of the transient current and transient voltage caused by the impulse, the improvement comprising: threshhold determining means for establishing the nominal amplitude of a transient whose direction of origin is to be indicated, means for initiating the ascertainment of transient current and voltage polarities at a transient amplitude exceeding approximately half said nominal amplitude established by said threshhold determining means, means controlled by said ascertainment means for correlating said transient polarities to indicate a direction of transient origin, and means responsive subsequent to said initiating of said ascertainment to the said transient equaling at least said nominal amplitude for validating the indication of the said direction of origin thereof.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 131 words

In a circuit for indicating the direction of origin of a transient impulse appearing on a power line by correlating the polarities of the transient current and transient voltage caused by the impulse, the improvement comprising: threshhold determining means for establishing the nominal amplitude of a transient whose direction of origin is to be indicated, means for initiating the ascertainment of transient current and voltage polarities at a transient amplitude exceeding approximately half said nominal amplitude established by said threshhold determining means, means controlled by said ascertainment means for correlating said transient polarities to indicate a direction of transient origin, and means responsive subsequent to said initiating of said ascertainment to the said transient equaling at least said nominal amplitude for validating the indication of the said direction of origin thereof.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means for validating includes means responsive to the peak value attained by said transient for temporarily increasing the threshhold of said threshhold determining means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means responsive subsequent to said initiating includes means for temporarily increasing the threshhold of said means for initiating said ascertainment.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 108 words

In a circuit for indicating the direction of origin of a transient disturbance appearing on a power line, the combination comprising, means for ascertaining the polarities of current and voltage accompanying said transient disturbance, first threshhold detecting means responsive to a transient voltage signal having a predetermined magnitude for rendering operable said ascertaining means, correlating means controlled by said ascertaining means for provisionally storing an indication of said direction of origin, output display means, and second threshhold detecting means responsive to the occurrence of a transient voltage signal having a magnitude in excess of said first threshhold for connecting said provisionally storing means to said output display means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 108 words

In a circuit for indicating the direction of origin of a transient disturbance appearing on a power line, the combination comprising, means for ascertaining the polarities of current and voltage accompanying said transient disturbance, first threshhold detecting means responsive to a transient voltage signal having a predetermined magnitude for rendering operable said ascertaining means, correlating means controlled by said ascertaining means for provisionally storing an indication of said direction of origin, output display means, and second threshhold detecting means responsive to the occurrence of a transient voltage signal having a magnitude in excess of said first threshhold for connecting said provisionally storing means to said output display means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 137 words

In a circuit for indicating the direction of origin of a transient impulse appearing on an electrical power line by correlating the polarities of the transient current and transient voltage caused by the impulse, the invention comprising: means (205) for storing a preliminary directivity determination when a first voltage threshhold (V 1 ) is exceeded by said transient, means (211) for receiving said directivity determination when a second voltage threshhold (V 2 ) higher than said first threshhold is exceeded by said transient, means (RST, 407-1, 407-2, A83, DIR) for reading and resetting said receiving means and for resetting said storing means at periodic intervals, and means (C30, 122 R61, VPO, R30, R23) for increasing said first and second threshhold in accordance with the peak value of the largest transient occurring during one of said periodic intervals.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 137 words

In a circuit for indicating the direction of origin of a transient impulse appearing on an electrical power line by correlating the polarities of the transient current and transient voltage caused by the impulse, the invention comprising: means (205) for storing a preliminary directivity determination when a first voltage threshhold (V 1 ) is exceeded by said transient, means (211) for receiving said directivity determination when a second voltage threshhold (V 2 ) higher than said first threshhold is exceeded by said transient, means (RST, 407-1, 407-2, A83, DIR) for reading and resetting said receiving means and for resetting said storing means at periodic intervals, and means (C30, 122 R61, VPO, R30, R23) for increasing said first and second threshhold in accordance with the peak value of the largest transient occurring during one of said periodic intervals.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 132 words

In a circuit for indicating the direction of origin of a transient impulse appearing on an electrical power line by correlating the polarities of the transient current and transient voltage caused by the impulse, the invention comprising: means (325) for comparing said transient impulse with a first voltage threshhold (V 1 ), means (205) controlled by said comparing means (325) for storing a preliminary directivity determination, means (326) for comparing said transient impulse with a second voltage threshhold (V 2 ) higher than said first threshhold (V 1 ), means (211) controlled by said comparing means (326) for receiving said directivity determination, means (C30, 122, R61, VPO, R30, R23) for increasing said first and second threshhold in accordance with the peak value of the largest transient impulse occurring within a predetermined interval.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 132 words

In a circuit for indicating the direction of origin of a transient impulse appearing on an electrical power line by correlating the polarities of the transient current and transient voltage caused by the impulse, the invention comprising: means (325) for comparing said transient impulse with a first voltage threshhold (V 1 ), means (205) controlled by said comparing means (325) for storing a preliminary directivity determination, means (326) for comparing said transient impulse with a second voltage threshhold (V 2 ) higher than said first threshhold (V 1 ), means (211) controlled by said comparing means (326) for receiving said directivity determination, means (C30, 122, R61, VPO, R30, R23) for increasing said first and second threshhold in accordance with the peak value of the largest transient impulse occurring within a predetermined interval.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 119 words

A circuit for determining the direction of origin of a transient disturbance appearing on a power line during a predetermined interval, comprising: means for detecting and comparing the polarities of voltage and current transients on said power line to derive directivity indications pertaining to said disturbance; first storing means for storing during said interval and when said voltage transient is rising through a first threshhold the directivity indications derived by said means for detecting and comparing; second storing means for receiving from said first storing means said indications when said voltage transient is rising through a second voltage threshhold higher than said first threshhold; and means for displaying said indications stored during said interval in said second storing means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 119 words

A circuit for determining the direction of origin of a transient disturbance appearing on a power line during a predetermined interval, comprising: means for detecting and comparing the polarities of voltage and current transients on said power line to derive directivity indications pertaining to said disturbance; first storing means for storing during said interval and when said voltage transient is rising through a first threshhold the directivity indications derived by said means for detecting and comparing; second storing means for receiving from said first storing means said indications when said voltage transient is rising through a second voltage threshhold higher than said first threshhold; and means for displaying said indications stored during said interval in said second storing means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 71 words

In a circuit for indicating the direction of origin of a transient disturbance the combination comprising: means for preliminarily storing indications of the polarities of the transient current and voltage accompanying said disturbance while the magnitude of said disturbance is rising through a first threshhold; and means thereafter controlled while said magnitude of said disturbance is passing through a second threshhold higher than said first threshhold for displaying said stored indication.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 71 words

In a circuit for indicating the direction of origin of a transient disturbance the combination comprising: means for preliminarily storing indications of the polarities of the transient current and voltage accompanying said disturbance while the magnitude of said disturbance is rising through a first threshhold; and means thereafter controlled while said magnitude of said disturbance is passing through a second threshhold higher than said first threshhold for displaying said stored indication.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

In a circuit according to claim 8, the combination further comprising: means controlled in accordance with the peak magnitude attained by said transient for increasing during a predetermined interval said first and said second threshhold.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

In a circuit according to claim 9, the combination further including means operational after the expiration of said predetermined interval to re-establish said second threshhold at a predetermined value.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 92 words

In a circuit according to claim 9, the combination further comprising: fixed interval timing means for defining an interval shorter than the duration of a transient signal exceeding the low frequency response of said indicating circuit; means responsive to the initial appearance of a voltage transient exceeding a predetermined amplitude for starting said timing means; and means operative during the running of said timing means for maintaining said display means operative to display said stored indications and for terminating said display if said transient persists after the termination of said fixed interval.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1983-02-04	1983-08-06	1984-02-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1987-02-04	1987-08-06	1988-02-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1991-02-04	1991-08-06	1992-02-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Dynamic threshold impulse directivity indicator

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