Method and System for Diagnosing Degradation in Vehicle Wiring
First Claim
1. A system for diagnosing degradation of a plurality of wires in an electrical system having plurality of loads connected by the plurality of wires to a direct current power source, the plurality of wires arranged into a bundle near the power source, the system comprising:
- (a) a current sensor located proximate to the bundle for producing a signal representative of a current in the bundle;
(b) a signal processor coupled to the sensor to receive the signal from the current sensor;
(c) a pattern database coupled to the signal processor to provide the signal processor with expected patterns of currents drawn by the plurality of loads and patterns of arcs which may occur in the plurality of wires; and
, (d) an output device coupled to the signal processor to receive an indication of a location at which an arc occurred in the plurality of wires.
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Abstract
The invention provides a system for diagnosing degradation of a plurality of wires in an electrical system having plurality of loads connected by the plurality of wires to a direct current power source, the plurality of wires arranged into a bundle near the power source. The system comprises a current sensor located proximate to the bundle for producing a signal representative of a current in the bundle, a signal processor coupled to the sensor to receive the signal from the current sensor, a pattern database coupled to the signal processor to provide the signal processor with expected patterns of currents drawn by the plurality of loads and patterns of arcs which may occur in the plurality of wires, and, an output device coupled to the signal processor to receive an indication of a location at which an arc occurred in the plurality of wires.
41 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A system for diagnosing degradation of a plurality of wires in an electrical system having plurality of loads connected by the plurality of wires to a direct current power source, the plurality of wires arranged into a bundle near the power source, the system comprising:
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(a) a current sensor located proximate to the bundle for producing a signal representative of a current in the bundle;
(b) a signal processor coupled to the sensor to receive the signal from the current sensor;
(c) a pattern database coupled to the signal processor to provide the signal processor with expected patterns of currents drawn by the plurality of loads and patterns of arcs which may occur in the plurality of wires; and
,(d) an output device coupled to the signal processor to receive an indication of a location at which an arc occurred in the plurality of wires. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for diagnosing degradation of a plurality of wires in an electrical system having plurality of loads connected by the plurality of wires to a direct current power source, the plurality of wires arranged into a bundle near the power source, the method comprising:
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(a) placing a current sensor proximate to the bundle for producing a signal representative of a current in the bundle;
(b) monitoring a time-rate-of-change of the signal from the current sensor;
(c) comparing the time-rate-of-change of the signal from the current sensor to expected patterns of currents drawn by the plurality of loads and patterns of arcs which may occur in the plurality of wires; and
,(d) applying time domain reflectometry to produce an indication of a location at which an arc occurred in the plurality of wires. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A tool for diagnosing degradation of a plurality of wires in an electrical system having plurality of loads connected by the plurality of wires to a direct current power source, the plurality of wires arranged into a bundle near the power source, the tool comprising:
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(a) a current sensor located proximate to the bundle for producing a signal representative of a current in the bundle;
(b) a signal processor coupled to the sensor to receive the signal from the current sensor;
(c) a pattern database coupled to the signal processor to provide the signal processor with expected patterns of currents drawn by the plurality of loads and patterns of arcs which may occur in the plurality of wires; and
,(d) an output device coupled to the signal processor to receive an indication of a location at which an arc occurred in the plurality of wires.
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeHarry Orton
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Original AssigneeHarry Orton
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InventorsOrton, Harry
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Application NumberUS10/576,571Publication NumberTime in Patent OfficeDaysField of SearchUS Class Current324/523CPC Class CodesG01R 31/005 Testing of electric install...G01R 31/083 in cables, e.g. undergroundG01R 31/088 Aspects of digital computingG01R 31/1272 of cable, line or wire insu...
