Sensor for detecting arcing faults

• US 20070014060A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Original Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Inventors: Fowler, Kim, Land, H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0023 sensing non electrical parameters, e.g. by optical, pneumatic, thermal or sonic sensors

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a sensor for detecting arcing faults, the sensor combining a photodetector, a pressure detector, and an accelerometer along with integrated circuitry. The circuitry controls each detector, operates the self-test circuitry, conditions the signals from the detectors, and communicates with the external network. The circuitry receives commands from the network and transmits the output decision from the sensor.

Claims

1. :

A photosensor comprising;

a photodetector,

an amplifier connected to said photodetector,

a filter connected to said amplifier,

a threshold comparator connected to said filter,

a storage element connected to said threshold comparator,

an amplifier having an amplifier input and two amplifier outputs, said amplifier input connected to said storage element and said amplifier output transmitting signals outside of said photosensor,

a differential receiver having two differential receiver inputs and one differential receiver output, said two differential receiver inputs connected to said two amplifier outputs, and said differential receiver output connected to said storage element.

2. :

A photosensor comprising;

a photodetector,

an amplifier connected to said photodetector,

a filter connected to said amplifier,

a threshold comparator connected to said filter,

a microcontroller connected to said threshold comparator,

a differential transceiver connected to said microcontroller and providing communication signals outside of said photosensor.

3. The photosensor of claim 2, wherein said microcontroller is a DSP.

4. The photosensor of claim 2, wherein said microcontroller is a FPGA.

5. The photosensor of claim 2, wherein said microcontroller is a ASIC.

6. :

A pressure sensor comprising;

a pressure-activated switch,

a filter circuit connected to said pressure-activated switch,

a storage element connected to said filter,

an amplifier having an amplifier input and two amplifier outputs, said amplifier input connected to said storage element and said two amplifier outputs transmitting signals outside of said pressure sensor,

a differential receiver having two differential receiver inputs and one differential receiver output, said two differential receiver inputs connected to said two differential receiver outputs from said amplifier, and said differential receiver output connected to said storage element.

7. :

A pressure sensor comprising;

a pressure-activated switch,

a filter connected to said pressure-activated switch,

a microcontroller connected to said filter,

a differential transceiver connected to said microcontroller and providing communication signals outside of said pressure sensor.

8. The photosensor of claim 7, wherein said microcontroller is a DSP.

9. The photosensor of claim 7, wherein said microcontroller is a FPGA.

10. The photosensor of claim 7, wherein said microcontroller is a ASIC.

11. :

A pressure sensor comprising;

a pressure-activated strain gauge,

a difference amplifier connected to said pressure-activated strain gauge,

a filter connected to said differential amplifier,

an analog-to-digital converter connected to said filter,

a microcontroller having an input and at least two outputs, connected at said microcontroller input to said analog-to-digital converter, connected at one output to said pressure-activated strain gauge, and providing signals to the outside of said pressure sensor;

a pressure pump connected to said microcontroller.

12. The pressure sensor as in any one of claims 11 and 25, in which said microcontroller is a DSP.

13. The pressure sensor as in any one of claims 11 and 25, in which said microcontroller is a FPGA.

14. The pressure sensor as in any one of claims 11 and 25, in which said microcontroller is a ASIC.

15. :

A pressure sensor comprising;

a nozzle,

a diaphragm connected to said nozzle, said diaphragm comprising a strain gauge or a built-in pressure switch,

an ambient chamber connected to said diaphragm,

a bleed tube connected to said ambient chamber,

a substrate on which said nozzle, said diaphragm, said ambient chamber and said bleed tube are mounted.

16. A sensor module for detecting arcing faults, said sensor module comprising:

a photodetector,

a pressure detector,

an accelerometer,

processing circuitry connected to each of said photodetector, said pressure detector and said accelerometer, and

wherein said photodetector, said pressure detector, said accelerometer and said processing circuitry are mounted to a single substrate.

17. The sensor module of claim 16, wherein said processing circuitry comprises:

photodetection circuitry comprising an amplifier connected to a threshold comparator,

accelerometer processing circuitry comprising a difference amplifier connected to a filter and an analog-to-digital converter connected to said filter, and

pressure detection processing circuitry comprising a difference amplifier connected to a filter and a analog-to-digital converter connected to said filter, wherein each of said photodetection circuitry threshold comparator, said accelerometer processing circuitry analog-to-digital converter, and said pressure detection processing circuitry analog-to-digital converter are connected to a microcontroller.

18. The sensor module of claim 17, wherein said microcontroller is a DSP.

19. The sensor module of claim 17, wherein said microcontroller is a FPGA.

20. The sensor module of claim 17, wherein said microcontroller is a ASIC.

21. A sensor for detecting arcing faults, said sensor comprising:

a plurality of photodetectors,

a plurality of pressure detectors,

a plurality of accelerometers,

processing circuitry connected to each of said photodetector, said pressure detector and said accelerometer.

22. The sensor of claim 21, wherein said microcontroller is a DSP.

23. The sensor of claim 21, wherein said microcontroller is a FPGA.

24. The sensor of claim 21, wherein said microcontroller is a ASIC.

25. A pressure sensor comprising:

a pressure-activated strain gauge,

a difference amplifier connected to said pressure-activated strain gauge,

a filter connected to said differential amplifier,

an analog-to-digital converter connected to said filter,

a microcontroller having an input and at least two outputs, connected at said microcontroller input to said analog-to-digital converter, connected at one output to said pressure-activated strain gauge, and providing signals to the outside of said pressure sensor,

a fan connected to said microcontroller.