FAULT DETECTOR FOR A TIP AND RING CIRCUIT, A METHOD OF PROTECTING SUCH A CIRCUIT AND A POWER SUPPLY INCLUDING THE FAULT DETECTOR
First Claim
1. A fault detector for use with a telephone wire-pair having a return conductor and an output conductor, comprising:
- a passive sensor coupled between Earth and said wire-pair to detect a ground fault thereon;
an amplifier having inputs coupled across said passive sensor and configured to characterize said ground fault in terms of a value; and
a controller configured to receive said value via an output of said amplifier and compare said value to a threshold to determine if said ground fault exceeds a safety limit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fault detector for use with a telephone wire-pair having a return conductor and an output conductor, a method of protecting a telecommunications network including the telephone wire-pair and a power supply for the telecommunications network. In one embodiment, the fault detector includes (1) a passive sensor coupled between Earth and the wire-pair to detect a ground fault thereon, (2) an amplifier having inputs coupled across the passive sensor and configured to characterize the ground fault in terms of a value and (3) a controller configured to receive the value via an output of the amplifier and compare the value to a threshold to determine if the ground fault exceeds a safety limit.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fault detector for use with a telephone wire-pair having a return conductor and an output conductor, comprising:
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a passive sensor coupled between Earth and said wire-pair to detect a ground fault thereon; an amplifier having inputs coupled across said passive sensor and configured to characterize said ground fault in terms of a value; and a controller configured to receive said value via an output of said amplifier and compare said value to a threshold to determine if said ground fault exceeds a safety limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of protecting a telecommunications network including a telephone wire-pair having a return conductor and an output conductor, comprising:
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detecting a ground fault on said wire-pair; characterizing said ground fault in terms of a value; determining, based on said value, if said ground fault is a fault of said return conductor or a fault of said output conductor; selecting a threshold based on said determining; and comparing said value to said selected threshold to determine if said ground fault violates a safety limit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A power supply for a telecommunications network, comprising:
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a power converter configured to provide power to a telephone wire-pair having a return conductor and an output conductor, and a fault detector including; a passive sensor coupled between Earth and said wire-pair to detect a ground fault thereof; an amplifier having inputs coupled across said passive sensor and configured to characterize said ground fault in terms of a value; and a controller configured to receive said value via an output of said amplifier and compare said value to a threshold to determine if said ground fault exceeds a safety limit, said controller further configured to direct said power converter to reduce power provided to said wire-pair based on said compare. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification