Wireless communication fuse state indicator system and method

• US 20050231320A1
• Filed: 04/20/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Ackermann, John Marvin
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/206
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/032 using RFID technology in switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/30 Means for indicating condition of fuse structurally associated with the fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/167 Circuits for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/168 making use of an electromagnetic wave communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

Abstract

An electrical fuse and method therefor includes a protective body, terminal elements extending from said protective body, and a primary fuse element extending within said protective body and electrically connected between the terminal elements, and an identification element configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote device for determining an operational state of said primary fuse element.

Claims

1. An electrical fuse comprising:

a protective body;

terminal elements extending from said protective body;

a primary fuse element extending within said protective body and electrically connected between said terminal elements, said primary fuse element providing overcurrent protection to an electrical circuit completed through said terminal elements; and

an identification element configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote device for determining an operational state of said primary fuse element.

2. A fuse in accordance with claim 1, wherein said identification element comprises a transponder.

3. A fuse in accordance with claim 1, wherein said identification element comprises a processor.

4. A fuse in accordance with claim 1, wherein said identification element comprises a memory.

5. A fuse in accordance with claim 1, wherein said identification element comprises a battery.

6. A fuse in accordance with claim 1, wherein said identification element is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal.

7. A fuse in accordance with claim 1 wherein said identification element comprises an antenna.

8. A fuse state indicator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body is cylindrical.

9. A fuse state identification system comprising:

at least one fuse comprising a protective body, terminal elements coupled to said protective body, a primary fuse element extending within said protective body and electrically connected between said terminal elements to provide overcurrent protection to an electrical circuit, and an identification element located between said terminal elements; and

a remote communicating device configured to communicate with said identification element through an air interface.

10. A fuse state identification system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said communicating device comprises a radio frequency interrogator device.

11. A fuse state identification system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said identification element comprises at least one of a transmitter, a responder, and a transponder.

12. A fuse state identification system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said identification element comprises a battery.

13. A fuse state identification system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said identification element comprises a memory.

14. A fuse state identification system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said identification element comprises a processor.

15. A fuse state indication system comprising:

an overcurrent protection fuse comprising a primary fuse element extending between terminal elements, said terminal elements configured for removable connection to line-side and load-side electrical circuitry and said terminal elements completing a current path through said primary fuse element;

a radio frequency identification tag comprising a transmitter, wherein said tag is connected to said fuse; and

a radio frequency interrogation device configured to transmit wireless communication with said tag to determine whether said fuse is in a current carrying state or whether said fuse is an opened state breaking an electrical connection through said primary fuse element between said terminal elements and to identify opened fuses for replacement.

16. A method for indicating an opened fuse in a fused system having at least one overcurrent protection fuse with a fuse state identification element therein and a communication device remote from the fuse, said method comprising:

transmitting a signal to the identification element of the fuse with the communication device through an air interface;

awaiting a response from the identification element to the communication device; and

determining the operational state of the overcurrent protection fuse based upon the response or lack thereof from the identification element.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising:

generating a transmission field with the communication device; and

powering the identification element with the transmission field.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein transmitting a signal comprises transmitting a radio frequency signal.