US5440441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for protecting, monitoring, and managing an AC/DC electrical line or a telecommunication line using a microprocessor
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1993-10-18
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Granted: 1995-08-08
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Expires: 2013-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A NO-BLO-FUSE comprising a current sensing device is used to generate a voltage drop proportional to the current flowing through the device. When the voltage drop reaches a predetermined level, resulting from an over-current condition, it trips a control means that opens a solid state switch in the line. After a defined delay interval the circuit will automatically reset to close the solid state switch. If the over-current condition still exists, the control means will again open the solid state switch. This cycle is repeated at the delay interval until the over-current condition has subsided. Circuits are also disclosed which provide over-voltage protection, through detectors which trigger the control means when an over-voltage condition is detected. The application of the invention to lightning or surge protection is also disclosed, for single line and multi-line environments. Furthermore, disclosed is a micro computer based power line protection, monitoring and management system that manages one or more source(s) and one or more user(s) of the power.
Inventors
- 👤 Om Ahuja
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:04
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H3/00; H02H3/02; H02H3/06; H02H3/08; H02H9/00; H02H9/04; H02H9/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for protecting, monitoring and managing at least one AC/DC electrical line or a telecommunication line comprising: (a) at least one switch means serially connected to at least one of said line for enabling, disabling or interrupting the flow of an electrical current or a signal through said line in response to a control signal; (b) at least one means for monitoring at least two variables: a first variable signal, associated with said line, or said switch means, or a first predetermined value of a first predetermined parameter, and a second variable signal, associated with said line, or said switch means, or a second predetermined value of a second predetermined parameter; wherein said monitoring means generates said control signal, thereby enabling or disabling said flow through said line, when at least one of said variables or one of said predetermined values drops below or exceeds above its respective predetermined value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for protecting, monitoring and managing at least one AC/DC electrical line or a telecommunication line comprising: (a) at least one switch means serially connected to at least one of said line for enabling, disabling or interrupting the flow of an electrical current or a signal through said line in response to a control signal; (b) at least one means for monitoring at least two variables: a first variable signal, associated with said line, or said switch means, or a first predetermined value of a first predetermined parameter, and a second variable signal, associated with said line, or said switch means, or a second predetermined value of a second predetermined parameter; wherein said monitoring means generates said control signal, thereby enabling or disabling said flow through said line, when at least one of said variables or one of said predetermined values drops below or exceeds above its respective predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring means includes at least one programmable logic means, or at least one microprocessor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further adapted to include at least one secondary voltage protector means connected across the output of said switch means and earth ground, for providing secondary voltage protection from said line to said earth ground.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output terminal of said switch means is connected to a solid state over-voltage protection circuit means for providing a secondary transient voltage protection from said line to earth ground.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further adapted to include at least one primary voltage protector means connected across the input of said switch means and earth ground for providing protection from said line to said earth ground;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switch means includes an electro-mechanical switch means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switch means includes a solid state switch means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further adapted to include at least one voltage detector across the circuit being protected for measuring the voltage across said switch means, whereby said detector provides a second trip signal for said second means when the voltage across said switch means exceeds or falls, above or below a predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further adapted as an integrated circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switch means further comprises an over-voltage protective means connected in parallel across it.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, herein said over-voltage protective means connected in parallel across said switch means further comprises a triac and a bilateral zener diode in parallel with said switch means, with the gate of said triac conducted to its associated conductor through said bilateral zener diode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said primary surge protection means includes a multi-element gas tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, further adapted as an integrated circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further adapted for use in multi-line environment, including a plurality of lines to be protected, connected to a plurality of said switch means serially connected in each of said lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said monitoring means includes at least one programmable logic means, or at least one microprocessor means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, further adapted to include at least one secondary voltage protector means connected across the output of each of said switch means and across each of said switch means and earth ground, for providing secondary voltage protection from each of said line to line and each of said line to said earth ground.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the output terminals of said switch means are connected to a solid state over-voltage protection circuit means for providing a multi-path secondary transient voltage protection from line to line across each pair of lines and between each of said lines to ground.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, further adapted to include at least one primary voltage protector means connected across the input of said switch means and earth ground for providing protection from said line to said earth ground;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising at each of the input terminals of each of said switch means a multi-element gas tube providing a multi-path, primary, over voltage protection from line to line across each pair of lines and from each of said lines to ground.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said switch means includes an electro-mechanical switch means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said switch means includes a solid state switch means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said switch means further comprises an over-voltage protective means connected in parallel across said switch means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, further adapted to comprise: (a) at least one secondary voltage protector means connected across the output of said switch means and earth ground, for providing secondary voltage protection from said output lines to said earth ground. (b) at least one primary voltage protector means connected across the input lines of said switch means and earth ground for providing primary protection from said input lines to said earth ground.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, further adapted as an integrated circuit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
184 words
A secondary transient and over-voltage protector for protecting a plurality of telecommunication lines or electrical conductors comprising: (a) at least two lines or electrical conductors to be protected and a ground conductor for dissipating transient and surge voltages to ground, (b) a modified multi-line diode bridge circuit, connected to each line to be protected, and to said ground; said bridge circuit having a positive rail and a negative rail; said diode bridge circuit further comprising: a forward steering diode connecting across each of said lines and said positive rail, a reverse steering diode connecting across each of said lines and said negative rail, a forward steering diode Connecting across said ground and said positive rail, a reverse steering diode connecting across said ground and said negative rail, (c) at least one unilateral high speed secondary transient protection means connected across the positive and negative rails of said bridge circuit; whereby said unilateral high speed secondary transient protection means provides line to line and line to ground protection for each line to be protected in a multi-line environment by the adaptation of said bridge circuit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
184 words
A secondary transient and over-voltage protector for protecting a plurality of telecommunication lines or electrical conductors comprising: (a) at least two lines or electrical conductors to be protected and a ground conductor for dissipating transient and surge voltages to ground, (b) a modified multi-line diode bridge circuit, connected to each line to be protected, and to said ground; said bridge circuit having a positive rail and a negative rail; said diode bridge circuit further comprising: a forward steering diode connecting across each of said lines and said positive rail, a reverse steering diode connecting across each of said lines and said negative rail, a forward steering diode Connecting across said ground and said positive rail, a reverse steering diode connecting across said ground and said negative rail, (c) at least one unilateral high speed secondary transient protection means connected across the positive and negative rails of said bridge circuit; whereby said unilateral high speed secondary transient protection means provides line to line and line to ground protection for each line to be protected in a multi-line environment by the adaptation of said bridge circuit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A secondary transient and over-voltage protector as claimed in claim 25, wherein said transient voltage suppressor comprises an avalanche device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
A secondary transient and over-voltage protector as claimed in claim 25, wherein transient voltage suppressor comprises an SCR and a low voltage avalanche device series mounted between the positive and negative nodes, with a gate of the SCR connected with the positive node by avalanche device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
165 words
A secondary transient and over-voltage protector for protecting a plurality of telecommunication lines or electrical conductors comprising: (a) at least two lines or electrical conductors to be protected and a ground conductor for dissipating transient and surge voltages to ground, (b) a modified multi-line diode bridge circuit, connected to each line to be protected, and to said ground; said bridge circuit having a positive rail and a negative rail; said diode bridge circuit further comprising: a forward steering diode connecting across each of said lines and said positive rail, a reverse steering diode connecting across each of said lines and said negative rail, a first unilateral forward steering transient protection means connecting across said ground conductor and said positive rail, and a second unilateral reverse steering transient protection means connecting across said ground conductor and said negative rail, whereby said first and second unilateral high speed transient protection means provide secondary line to line and line to ground protection for each line to be protected.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
165 words
A secondary transient and over-voltage protector for protecting a plurality of telecommunication lines or electrical conductors comprising: (a) at least two lines or electrical conductors to be protected and a ground conductor for dissipating transient and surge voltages to ground, (b) a modified multi-line diode bridge circuit, connected to each line to be protected, and to said ground; said bridge circuit having a positive rail and a negative rail; said diode bridge circuit further comprising: a forward steering diode connecting across each of said lines and said positive rail, a reverse steering diode connecting across each of said lines and said negative rail, a first unilateral forward steering transient protection means connecting across said ground conductor and said positive rail, and a second unilateral reverse steering transient protection means connecting across said ground conductor and said negative rail, whereby said first and second unilateral high speed transient protection means provide secondary line to line and line to ground protection for each line to be protected.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A secondary transient and over-voltage protector as claimed in claim 28, wherein said transient voltage suppressor comprises an avalanche device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
112 words
A secondary transient and over-voltage protector for protecting a plurality of telecommunication lines or electrical conductors comprising: (a) at least two lines or electrical conductors to be protected and a ground conductor for dissipating transient and surge voltages to ground, and (b) a modified bridge circuit, comprising only one unilateral forward steering transient protection means connecting across each of said lines and said ground to a common point, wherein the unilateral forward steering transient protection means are placed in the circuit facing the same direction to the said common point, wherein all the anodes are connected together to the common point or all the cathodes are connected together to the common point.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
112 words
A secondary transient and over-voltage protector for protecting a plurality of telecommunication lines or electrical conductors comprising: (a) at least two lines or electrical conductors to be protected and a ground conductor for dissipating transient and surge voltages to ground, and (b) a modified bridge circuit, comprising only one unilateral forward steering transient protection means connecting across each of said lines and said ground to a common point, wherein the unilateral forward steering transient protection means are placed in the circuit facing the same direction to the said common point, wherein all the anodes are connected together to the common point or all the cathodes are connected together to the common point.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
A secondary transient and over-voltage protector as claimed in claim 30, wherein said transient voltage suppressor comprises an avalanche device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-08-07 | 1999-02-06 | 1999-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-07 | 2003-02-06 | 2003-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-07 | 2007-02-06 | 2007-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |