U.S. patent application number 10/412727 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-19 for method and apparatus for detecting and recording episodic overloads in a circuit.
Invention is credited to Parsadayan, Walter.
Application Number | 20040032336 10/412727 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27610625 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040032336 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parsadayan, Walter |
February 19, 2004 |
Method and apparatus for detecting and recording episodic overloads
in a circuit
Abstract
A apparatus for recording information on power surges in an
electrical or electronic system is disclosed. The apparatus has a
gas discharge tube connected between an input line of the
electrical or electronic circuit protected and ground. The gas
discharge tube is set to activate at a predetermined voltage. The
gas discharge tube has adjacent to it a light sensor that reacts to
discharges in the tube and the sensor in conjunction with enabling
circuitry generates a signal representative of discharge of the gas
discharge tube. The signal produced provides information on the
time, magnitude and duration of discharges in the gas discharge
tube, which are in turn representative of the power surge
experienced by the system.
Inventors: |
Parsadayan, Walter; (Lake
Forest, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEVIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
384 FORESET AVE, SUITE 13
LAGUNA BEACH
CA
92651
US
|
Family ID: |
27610625 |
Appl. No.: |
10/412727 |
Filed: |
April 10, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10412727 |
Apr 10, 2003 |
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10100642 |
Mar 19, 2002 |
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6600425 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/662 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01R 19/2513 20130101;
H01T 1/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/662 |
International
Class: |
G08B 021/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for detecting and recording episodic overloads in a
circuit, said apparatus comprising: a) a gas discharge tube with at
least a first and second terminal with said first terminal
connected to an input line of a circuit and said second terminal
connected to ground, said tube being configured to be activated
when a voltage in said security circuit reaches a threshold level
and at said threshold level and above said tube becomes active and
diverts power from said circuit to ground causing a discharge in
said gas discharge tube; b) a light sensitive sensor adjacent to
said discharge tube and encased with said gas discharge tube in
light impervious housing to thereby exclude ambient light and make
said light sensor subject to exposure only to light produced by
said gas discharge tube; and c) a diagnostic device connected to
said tight sensitive sensor wherein when said light sensitive
sensor reacts to light generated by activation of said gas
discharge tube said sensor reacts in concert and produces a signal
representative of the discharge of said gas discharge tube which
said diagnostic device records information derived from the signal
generated by said sensor.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information recorded by
said diagnostic device includes the luminosity of the discharge of
said discharge tube.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the information regarding
luminosity is analyzed to determine an average voltage of a voltage
level that causes said gas discharge tube to activate.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information recorded by
said diagnostic device includes the duration of any discharge of
said gas discharge tube.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said Light sensitive sensor is
selected from a group consisting of photodiodes, phototransistors,
photo-resistors and photo-detectors.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information derived from
the signal generated by said sensor and recorded by said diagnostic
unit with respect to a discharge in said gas discharge tube
includes a time of a discharge, an amplitude of said discharge and
a duration of said discharge.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein multiple events of discharge of
said gas discharge tube are recorded.
8. An apparatus for detecting and recording episodic overloads in a
circuit, said apparatus comprising: a) a gas discharge tube with at
least a first and second terminal with said first terminal
connected to an input line of a circuit and said second terminal
connected to ground, said tube being configured to be activated
when a voltage in said security circuit reaches a threshold level
and at said threshold level and above said tube becomes active and
diverts power from said circuit to ground causing a discharge in
said gas discharge tube; b) a tight sensitive sensor adjacent to
said discharge tube and encased with said gas discharge tube in
tight impervious housing to thereby exclude ambient light and make
said light sensor subject to exposure only to tight produced by
said gas discharge tube; c) a diagnostic device connected to said
light sensitive sensor wherein when said light sensitive sensor
reacts to tight generated by activation of said gas discharge tube
said sensor reacts in concert and produces a signal representative
of the discharge of said gas discharge tube which said diagnostic
device records information derived from the signal generated by
said sensor; and d) wherein the information derived from the signal
generated by said sensor and recorded by said diagnostic unit with
respect to a discharge in said gas discharge tube includes a time
of the discharge, an amplitude of the discharge and a duration of
the discharge.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said light sensitive sensor is
selected from a group consisting of photodiodes, phototransistors,
photo-resistors and photo-detectors.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein multiple events of discharge
of said gas discharge tube are recorded.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein information on an event of
discharge is sent to a computer that saves the information of the
discharge in an associated memory for later retrieval.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of
detecting the occurrence of overloads in circuit and more
particularly for detecting the time, duration and strength of an
overload or power surge.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The need to provide protection for electrical and electronic
circuits and systems has existed from the advent of these systems
in the late 1800's. To date a variety of devices have been
developed to protect a circuit, electric or electronic system from
damage or destruction by power or voltage surges.
[0003] One popular type of surge protection device in current use
is the gas discharge tube. Gas discharge tubes are typically two
lead devices with an anode and cathode lead. Typically one of the
leads is connected to a power input lead of the system to be
protected and the other connected to ground. When a surge occurs at
the power input of the system to be protected the gas discharge
tube diverts the surge to ground. The tube does this by ionization
of gas within the tube. In effect the tube short circuits the surge
to ground.
[0004] One of the short comings of these surge protection systems,
in particular those that use a gas discharge tube is that no record
is retained of the occurrence of a power surge. Retaining a record
may be important in situations where the system to be protected is
located in a remote location such a security gate system. Frequent
power surges may indicate a variety of problems with the remote
system that need to be addressed to prevent injury or eventual
destruction of the system being protected.
[0005] Thus, what is needed is an efficient and economical system
to record and analyze the occurrence of power surges. There is a
further need to provide a system for recording and analyzing power
surges that is cost effective to fabricate and implement.
SUMMARY
[0006] It is an objective of the present invention to provide and
efficient and economical system to record and analyze the
occurrence of power surges in a system. It is a further objective
to provide a system for recording and analyzing power surges that
is cost effective to manufacture and easy to implement.
[0007] The present invention accomplishes these and other
objectives by providing an apparatus for detecting and recording
episodic overloads in a circuit, the apparatus having: a) a gas
discharge tube with at least a first and second terminal with the
first terminal connected to an input line of a circuit and the
second terminal connected to ground, the tube being configured to
be activated when a voltage in the security circuit reaches a
threshold level and at the threshold level and above the tube
becomes active and diverts power from the circuit to ground causing
a discharge in the gas discharge tube; b) a light sensitive sensor
adjacent to the discharge tube and encased with the gas discharge
tube in light impervious housing to thereby exclude ambient tight
and make the light sensor subject to exposure only to light
produced by the gas discharge tube; c) a diagnostic device
connected to the tight sensitive sensor wherein when the tight
sensitive sensor reacts to tight generated by activation of the gas
discharge tube the sensor reacts in concert and produces a signal
representative of the discharge of the gas discharge tube which the
diagnostic device records information derived from the signal
generated by the sensor; and d) wherein the information derived
from the signal generated by the sensor and recorded by the
diagnostic unit with respect to a discharge in the gas discharge
tube includes a time of the discharge, an amplitude of the
discharge and a duration of the discharge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention will be better understood by an examination of
the following description, together with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic block type of diagram of the major
functional components of a preferred embobodiment or implementation
of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2A is a graph representative of discharges in the gas
discharge tube over time;
[0011] FIG. 2B is a graph representative of a recording by the
system of events discharge in the gas discharge tube;
[0012] FIG. 3 is block diagram implementing one form of the
detection circuit;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a block diagram implementing another form of the
detection circuit;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one type of recording unit;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a block type of diagram of another variation of
the sensor gas discharge tube unit; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of one preferred method of operation
of the system of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] The present invention provides a method and apparatus for
monitoring the occurrence of overloads in an electrical or
electronic circuit and maintaining a record of the duration, extent
and time of a power surge or overload in the protected circuit.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the fundamental components
of the system. Gas discharge tube 21 connects in a preferred
embodiment of the invention to an input line 23 of a system 27 to
be protected at one of the terminals of tube 21 and to ground 25 at
its other terminal. Input line 23 supplies power to system 27.
Input line could also be a data or command wire coming from a
detector or a control center. In one version of the preferred
embodiment the circuitry protected can be a security gate system;
however, the invention can be used in a wide variety of
systems.
[0018] Sensor 31 is placed adjacent to gas discharge tube 21 and
connects by lines 33 to a diagnostic unit 37. Gas discharge tube 21
and sensor 31, in the preferred embodiment are encased in light
impervious enclosure 40. Light impervious enclosure 40 shields gas
discharge tube 21 and sensor 31 from ambient light. This is
necessary since sensor 31, as will be discussed in more detail
below is positioned to detect discharges in gas discharge tube 21
and generate a signal that is transmitted over line 33 to
diagnostic unit 37. Diagnostic unit 37 analyzes the signal
generated by sensor 31 and saves the information on the signal and
its analysis for later retrieval.
[0019] As noted above, use of gas discharge tubes as power overload
or surge protectors is well known the art. Gas discharge tubes of
the type discussed herein are typically used to protect a circuit
from switching surges, contact with foreign circuits or tightening
induced surges. When a surge of electricity exceeds the breakdown
voltage of the tube (surge spike over voltage) the gap 21A becomes
intensely ionized and conduction takes place within a fraction of a
second. The ionized gas in gas discharge tube 21 becomes a short
circuit and remains so until the voltage returns to normal. Once
the voltage returns to normal levels, gas discharge tube 21 returns
to a high-impedance or off state. However, for use as a surge
protector, ionization and deionization of the gas in tube 21 needs
to be extremely fast. This is typically achieved by the type of gas
used in the tube and the configuration of the tube. A variety of
gases can be used including argon, kryton, helium etc. A detailed
discussion of the appropriate gases to be use, the pressure in the
tube and such other particulars of the gas discharge tube will not
be discussed in this specification since these are welt known in
the art.
[0020] Depending on the size of the surge, i.e., its voltage, it
will create a specific brightness and length of exposure in
discharge tube 21. Thus, measuring the brightness and length of
discharge in gas discharge tube 21 can be correlated to the voltage
of the surge and its duration. Gas discharge tube 21 can be
configured to activate when the circuitry it is attached to
experiences a voltage surge above a preset amount. The actual
threshold voltage can be set at a wide variety of voltages. In a
preferred embodiment of the present invention it might be from 110
volts to 220 volts, or whatever threshold voltage level the circuit
being protected by the gas discharge tube requires. A detailed
discussion of how to configure the gas discharge tube to react to a
specific power or voltage surge level will not be discussed herein
since how to do this is well known to those of ordinary skill in
this art.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, gas
discharge tube 21 will be used with a security gate system and the
threshold surge voltage level could be anywhere from 120 volts to
220 volts or even higher depending on the requirements of the
system. Most security gate systems are located outdoors often in an
exposed position that makes them potential locations for lightening
strikes.
[0022] A variety of light responsive sensors can be used with the
present system. Among those that would be appropriate are:
photodiodes, phototransistors, photo-resistors, photo-detectors, or
other type of photosensitive elements. As noted the sensors will be
enclosed in a light tight compartment or enclosure 40 to prevent
ambient light from creating false readings. FIGS. 2A and 2B provide
an example of how a preferred embodiment of the system would
function. FIG. 2A is a simple graph with time plotted along the
x-axis and voltage level plotted along the y-axis. FIG. 2A provides
examples of the actual recording of discharges occurring in gas
discharge tube 21 over a period of time. FIG. 2B provides an
example of detection of series of events by the sensor and the
recording of the event by the system. As noted above a preset
threshold voltage V.sub.T 47 would be set at which the gas
discharge tube would activate. Assuming a surge occurs it would
last for a period time, perhaps on the level of micro or mille
seconds and thus the sensor would detect the activation of the
discharge tube and generate a signal 51A FIG. 2A. In turn the
system would record an event T.sub.1 corresponding to the time of
the event 51A. The system would record that nothing has occurred in
time interval T.sub.2. In turn at a later time a second event
occurs 51B that activates the gas discharge tube and in turn the
sensor detects it and the system records the event as T.sub.3 FIG.
2B. Likewise on the occurrence of events 51C and 51D the sensor
detects the occurrence of these events and the system records them
as T.sub.5 and T.sub.7. The system will also have recorded that no
events occurred during periods T.sub.4 and T.sub.6.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of circuitry that would implement
one form of the present invention. The gas discharge tube 61A and
sensor 61B form one unit. The diagnostic unit is made up of
enabling circuit 63 and recording unit 65. During operation when
gas discharge tube 61A becomes active and emits light as the result
of an overload, sensor 61B in response would go into a conductive
state and enabling circuitry 63 would process the signal generated
by sensor 61B. Enabling circuitry 61B would in turn produce a
readable signal such as a high voltage reading during discharge
that recording unit 79 can use to create the record of magnitude,
duration and time of the overload. The actual signal produced by
enabling circuit 63 and recorded by recording unit 65 would be
similar to those depicted in FIG. 2A or 2B. A detailed discussion
of the exact enabling circuitry 63 is not included since once the
concepts of the present invention are understood a person of
ordinary skill in the art could design such circuitry without undue
experimentation. The actual recording device could be a pen and
graph printer or any other similar type of recording device.
However, in the preferred embodiment it would be computer as will
be explained in more detail below.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an example of the circuitry that would be used to
enable a digital diagnostic unit. The circuitry of FIG. 4 is the
same as FIG. 3 with respect to gas discharge tube 61A and sensor
61B as well as enabling circuit 63. However, FIG. 4 includes and
analog to digital converter 77 that would convert the signal
generated by enabling circuit 63 from an analog to digital signal.
Analog to digital converter 77 in turn connects to a recording unit
79 that would record the signal with the information on the
magnitude, duration and time of the overload. Here again a detailed
discussion of the exact circuitry that would enable is not included
since once the concepts of the present invention are understood a
person of ordinary skill in the art could design such circuitry
without undue experimentation. The signal recorded by the unit for
analysis would be similar to those depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In
a preferred embodiment recording unit 79 would be a computer 81
that at a minimum would include an interface 83 that would receive
the signal for analog to digital converter 77 and in turn pass the
signal along to CPU 83. In turn CPU 83 in turn store information on
the time, duration and magnitude of the overload in memory 87.
Naturally, computer 81 would be running appropriate software for
this purpose. A detailed discussion of this aspect of the invention
is not included since the technique of using a computer as a
recording device of a sensor unit is well known in the art.
[0025] FIG. 6 provides an example of a variation of the gas
discharge tube sensor unit. In the version depicted in FIG. 6 gas
discharge tube 91 and sensor 93 are simply joined to each other in
a light communicative relation and are not placed in an enclosure
to eliminate interference from ambient light. Gas discharge tube is
covered with a light impervious coating 95 to prevent ambient light
from interfering with sensor 93. Sensor 93 it self has a light
impervious coating on its sensing surfaces that are not in a light
communicative relation with gas discharge tube 91.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a flow chart that depicts how the system of the
present invention would function in one preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The system will be constantly monitoring events
on a periodic basis, generally at the micro or mille second level.
If no event 103 occurs during a measuring time period the system
will note this and the fact will be noted in the memory of the
diagnostic unit. When an event occurs 107, as the result of the
sensor detecting a discharge in the gas discharge tube, the system
date and time stamps the event at the same time the diagnostic unit
starts an ultra fast stop watch 110 that times at the mine or even
micro second level. At the same time the ultra fast stopwatch is
started peak detector analog 112 starts and a record of the
intensity is created that is sent to the memory 105 of the system.
At the same time the record of the intensity of the event is being
recorded ultra fast stop watch 110 continues to run. While the
stopwatch is running the diagnostic unit periodically checks to see
if the event is still in progress 115. If it is 116 ultra stopwatch
continues to run. However, as soon as the event is not present 117
ultra fast stop watch stops 119 and the duration of the event 123
is recorded in memory together with the information on the
intensity of the event. This process can be implemented in a number
of ways, such as by hardwire circuitry or use of a computer in
conjunction with the sensors and appropriate software.
[0027] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and detail may be made to it without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
* * * * *