Thermal optical circuit interruption system

• US 20060044727A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Klinger, Rodney J., Bradley, James C., Marshall, Brian P., Aboyade, OJ
• Application Number:
  US10/929,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044727A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/103
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/00 Arrangement of monitoring devices for devices provided for in groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/045 using a thermal radiation sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/228 for covered wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

Electrical circuits are interrupted in response to temperature transients of the electrical conductors of the circuit. Temperature excursions are sensed using a thermo optical device. The circuit interruption device may be the same element as the circuit switching element.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

an electrical load;

an electrical conductor connected to the electrical load to form a circuit;

a circuit interruption device connected into the electrical conductor and responsive to a cutoff signal for opening the circuit;

an infrared optical sensor disposed with respect to the electrical conductor for measuring the temperature thereof and generating a signal proportional to the temperature; and

a logic element coupled to the receive the proportional signal and generating the cutoff signal for application to the circuit interruption device as a function of the proportional signal.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

the logic element being programmed to generate the cutoff signal if the proportional signal indicates that the temperature has exceeded a never exceed temperature.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

the logic element being programmed to generate the cutoff signal in response to the proportional signal indicating a rapid upward change in temperature.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

the logic element being programmed to generate the cutoff signal in response to the temperature of the electrical conductor exceeding a predetermined threshold for longer that a minimum time period, the predetermined threshold being lower than the never exceed temperature.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

the logic element being programmed to generate the cutoff signal if the proportional signal indicates that the temperature has exceeded a never exceed temperature, if the proportional signal indicates a rapid upward change in temperature or if the temperature of the electrical conductor exceeds a predetermined threshold for longer that a minimum time period, the predetermined threshold being lower than the never exceed temperature.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the electrical circuit is installed on a motor vehicle.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

the electrical load being a lamp.

8. An electrical power system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a plurality of electrical loads;

electrical conductors connected to the plurality of electrical loads to form a circuits;

circuit interruption devices connected into the electrical conductors and responsive to cutoff signals for opening the respective circuit;

at least a first infrared optical sensor disposed with respect to an electrical conductor for measuring the temperature thereof and generating a signal proportional to the temperature; and

a logic element coupled to the receive the proportional signal and generating the cutoff signal for application to the circuit interruption device as a function of the proportional signal.

9. An electrical power system for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 8, wherein the logic element is a programmable logic array.

10. An electrical power system for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 8, wherein the logic element is a body computer.

11. An electrical power system for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

the programmable logic array being programmed to generate the cutoff signal if the proportional signal indicates that the temperature has exceeded a never exceed temperature, if the proportional signal indicates a rapid upward change in temperature and if the temperature of the electrical conductor exceeds a predetermined threshold for longer that a minimum time period, the predetermined threshold being lower than the never exceed temperature.

12. An electrical power system for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

the body computer being programmed to generate the cutoff signal if the proportional signal indicates that the temperature has exceeded a never exceed temperature, if the proportional signal indicates a rapid upward change in temperature and if the temperature of the electrical conductor exceeds a predetermined threshold for longer that a minimum time period, the predetermined threshold being lower than the never exceed temperature.