Ground Detection Circuit and Method of Manufacturing the Same

• US 20110187552A1
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Garb, Jeffrey W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,742,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/001 in case of incorrect or interrupted earth connection disconnection by breaking of earth connection H02H5/105
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/04 with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned watching of pilot wires H02H1/0084; protection of protective arrangements H02H7/008; indication of the state of electronic switches H03K17/18
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/042 comprising means to limit the absorbed power or indicate damaged over-voltage protection device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

In some embodiments, a system including an electronic device. The electronic device includes an electric power input configured to receive an electric power signal and has an input line terminal and an input neutral terminal. In some embodiments, the electric power input can also have an input ground terminal. The electronic device includes a metal oxide varistor protection module configured to protect at least one of the system or the electronic device. The electronic device includes a ground detection module configured to indicate the presence of an electric ground. The electronic device includes an electric power output having an output line terminal and an output neutral terminal. In some embodiments, the electric power output can also have an output ground terminal. The electric power input, the metal oxide varistor protection module, the ground detection module, and the electric power output are electrically coupled in series with each other. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. ) A system comprising an electronic device, wherein:

the electronic device comprises;

an electric power input configured to receive an electric power signal, the electric power input comprising an input line terminal, an input ground terminal, and an input neutral terminal;

a metal oxide varistor protection module configured to protect at least one of the system or the electronic device;

a ground detection module configured to indicate the presence of an electric ground; and

an electric power output comprising an output line terminal, an output ground terminal, and an output neutral terminal;

wherein;

the electric power input, the metal oxide varistor protection module, the ground detection module, and the electric power output are electrically coupled in series with each other.

2. ) The system of claim 1 wherein:

the metal oxide varistor protection module comprises;

a circuit breaker comprising a first circuit breaker terminal and a second circuit breaker terminal;

a first thermal link comprising a first first thermal link terminal and a second first thermal link terminal;

a first fuse comprising a first first fuse terminal and a second first fuse terminal;

a first metal oxide varistor comprising a first first metal oxide varistor terminal and a second first metal oxide varistor terminal;

a second metal oxide varistor comprising a first second metal oxide varistor terminal and a second second metal oxide varistor terminal;

a second fuse comprising a first second fuse terminal and a second second fuse terminal;

a second thermal link comprising a first second thermal link terminal and a second second thermal link terminal;

a third thermal link comprising a first third thermal link terminal and a second third thermal link terminal;

a third fuse comprising a first third fuse terminal and a second third fuse terminal;

a third metal oxide varistor comprising a first third metal oxide varistor terminal and a second third metal oxide varistor terminal;

a first crowbar circuit comprising a first first crowbar circuit terminal, a second first crowbar circuit terminal, and a third first crowbar circuit terminal;

a first node electrically coupling the input line terminal and the first circuit breaker terminal;

a second node electrically coupling the second circuit breaker terminal and the first first thermal link terminal;

a third node electrically coupling the second first thermal link terminal, the first first fuse terminal, the first second metal oxide varistor terminal, the first first crowbar circuit terminal, and the output line terminal;

a fourth node electrically coupling the second first fuse terminal, the second first crowbar circuit terminal, and the first first metal oxide varistor terminal;

a fifth node electrically coupling the second second metal oxide varistor terminal and the second second fuse terminal;

a sixth node electrically coupling the first second fuse terminal and the first second thermal link terminal;

a seventh node electrically coupling the second second thermal link terminal, the second third thermal link terminal, the input ground terminal, and the output ground terminal;

an eighth node electrically coupling the first third thermal link terminal and the first third fuse terminal;

a ninth node electrically coupling the second third fuse terminal and the first third metal oxide varistor terminal; and

a tenth node electrically coupling the input neutral terminal, the third first crowbar circuit terminal, the second first metal oxide varistor terminal, the second third metal oxide varistor terminal, and the output neutral terminal.

3. ) The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a second crowbar circuit comprising a first second crowbar circuit terminal, a second second crowbar circuit terminal, and a third second crowbar circuit terminal; and

a third crowbar circuit comprising a first third crowbar circuit terminal, a second third crowbar circuit terminal, and a third third crowbar circuit terminal;

wherein;

the first second crowbar circuit terminal is electrically coupled to the sixth node, the second second crowbar circuit terminal is electrically coupled to the fifth node, and the third second crowbar circuit terminal is electrically coupled to the tenth node; and

the first third crowbar circuit terminal is electrically coupled to the eighth node, the second third crowbar circuit terminal is electrically coupled to the ninth node, and the third third crowbar circuit terminal is electrically coupled to the tenth node.

4. ) The system of claim 2 wherein:

the first metal oxide transistor, the second metal oxide transistor, the third metal oxide transistor, and the first crowbar circuit are configured for at least one of;

a root-mean-squared voltage of 330 volts;

or

a root-mean-squared voltage of 130 volts.

5. ) The system of claim 1 wherein:

the ground detection module comprises;

a first diode comprising a first diode anode and a first diode cathode;

a first resistive element comprising a first first resistive element terminal and a second first resistive element terminal;

a second resistive element comprising a first second resistive element terminal and a second second resistive element terminal;

a first transistor comprising a first transistor base, a first transistor emitter, and a first transistor collector;

a third resistive element comprising a first third resistive element terminal and a second third resistive element terminal;

an indicator module comprising a first indicator module terminal and a second indicator module terminal;

a second transistor comprising a second transistor base, a second transistor emitter, and a second transistor collector;

a fourth resistive element comprising a first fourth resistive element terminal and a second fourth resistive element terminal;

a second diode comprising a second diode anode and a second diode cathode;

a first node electrically coupling the input line terminal, the first diode anode, the first second resistive element terminal, the first transistor emitter, the first indicator module terminal, and the output line terminal;

a second node electrically coupling the first diode cathode, the first first resistive element terminal, the second second resistive element terminal, and the first transistor base;

a third node electrically coupling the input ground terminal, the second first resistive element terminal, and the output ground terminal;

a fourth node electrically coupling the first transistor collector, the second transistor base, and the first third resistive element terminal;

a fifth node electrically coupling the second indicator module terminal and the second transistor emitter;

a sixth node electrically coupling the second transistor collector and the first fourth resistive element terminal;

a seventh node electrically coupling the second third resistive element terminal, the second fourth resistive element terminal and the second diode cathode; and

an eighth node electrically coupling the second diode anode, the input neutral terminal, and the output neutral terminal.

6. ) The system of claim 5 wherein:

the first resistive element comprises a first pair of resistors electrically coupled in series with each other;

the third resistive element comprises a second pair of resistors electrically coupled in series with each other; and

the fourth resistive element comprises a third pair of resistors electrically coupled in series with each other.

7. ) The system of claim 6 wherein:

the indicator module comprises a light emitting diode comprising a light emitting diode cathode and a light emitting diode anode;

the first indicator module terminal comprises the light emitting diode cathode; and

the second indicator module terminal comprises the light emitting diode anode.

8. ) The system of claim 5 wherein:

the indicator module comprises a light emitting diode comprising a light emitting diode cathode and a light emitting diode anode;

the first indicator module terminal comprises the light emitting diode cathode; and

the second indicator module terminal comprises the light emitting diode anode.

9. ) The system of claim 1 wherein:

the ground detection module comprises;

a first diode comprising a first diode anode and a first diode cathode;

a first resistive element comprising a first first resistive element terminal and a second first resistive element terminal;

a second resistive element comprising a first second resistive element terminal and a second second resistive element terminal;

a first transistor comprising a first transistor base, a first transistor emitter, and a first transistor collector;

a third resistive element comprising a first third resistive element terminal and a second third resistive element terminal;

an indicator module comprising a first indicator module terminal and a second indicator module terminal;

a second transistor comprising a second transistor base, a second transistor emitter, and a second transistor collector;

a fourth resistive element comprising a first fourth resistive element terminal and a second fourth resistive element terminal;

a second diode comprising a second diode anode and a second diode cathode;

a first node electrically coupling the input line terminal, the first diode anode, the first second resistive element terminal, the first transistor emitter, the second transistor emitter, the first indicator module terminal, and the output line terminal;

a second node electrically coupling the first diode cathode, the first first resistive element terminal, the second second resistive element terminal, and the first transistor base;

a third node electrically coupling the input ground terminal, the second first resistive element terminal, and the output ground terminal;

a fourth node electrically coupling the first transistor collector, the second transistor base, and the first third resistive element terminal;

a fifth node electrically coupling the second transistor collector, the second indicator module terminal, and the first fourth resistive element terminal;

a sixth node electrically coupling the second third resistive element terminal, the second fourth resistive element terminal and the second diode cathode; and

a seventh node electrically coupling the second diode anode, the input neutral terminal, and the output neutral terminal.

10. ) The system of claim 9 wherein:

the first resistive element comprises a first pair of resistors electrically coupled in series with each other;

the third resistive element comprises a second pair of resistors electrically coupled in series with each other; and

the fourth resistive element comprises a third pair of resistors electrically coupled in series with each other.

11. ) The system of claim 1 wherein:

the ground detection module comprises;

a first diode comprising a first diode anode and a first diode cathode;

a first resistive element comprising a first first resistive element terminal and a second first resistive element terminal;

a second resistive element comprising a first second resistive element terminal and a second second resistive element terminal;

a first transistor comprising a first transistor base, a first transistor emitter, and a first transistor collector;

a third resistive element comprising a first third resistive element terminal and a second third resistive element terminal;

an indicator module comprising a first indicator module terminal and a second indicator module terminal;

a second diode comprising a second diode anode and a second diode cathode;

a first node electrically coupling the input line terminal, the first diode anode, the first second resistive element terminal, the first transistor emitter, and the output line terminal;

a second node electrically coupling the first diode cathode, the first first resistive element terminal, the second second resistive element terminal, and the first transistor base;

a third node electrically coupling the input ground terminal, the second first resistive element terminal, and the output ground terminal;

a fourth node electrically coupling the first transistor collector and the first indicator module terminal;

a fifth node electrically coupling the second indicator module terminal and the first third resistive element terminal;

a sixth node electrically coupling the second third resistive element terminal and the second diode cathode; and

a seventh node electrically coupling the second diode anode, the input neutral terminal, and the output neutral terminal.

12. ) The system of claim 11 wherein:

the first resistive element comprises a first pair of resistors electrically coupled in series; and

the third resistive element comprises a second pair of resistors electrically coupled in series.

13. ) The system of claim 1 wherein:

the ground detection module comprises;

a first diode comprising a first diode anode and a first diode cathode;

a first resistive element comprising a first first resistive element terminal and a second first resistive element terminal;

a second resistive element comprising a first second resistive element terminal and a second second resistive element terminal;

a first transistor comprising a first transistor base, a first transistor emitter, and a first transistor collector;

a third resistive element comprising a first third resistive element terminal and a second third resistive element terminal;

an indicator module comprising a first indicator module terminal and a second indicator module terminal;

a second diode comprising a second diode anode and a second diode cathode;

a first node electrically coupling the input line terminal, the first diode anode, the first second resistive element terminal, the first transistor emitter, the first indicator module terminal, and the output line terminal;

a second node electrically coupling the first diode cathode, the first first resistive element terminal, the second second resistive element terminal, and the first transistor base;

a third node electrically coupling the input ground terminal, the second first resistive element terminal, and the output ground terminal;

a fourth node electrically coupling the first transistor collector, the second indicator module terminal, and the first third resistive element terminal;

a fifth node electrically coupling the second third resistive element terminal and the second diode cathode; and

a sixth node electrically coupling the second diode anode, the input neutral terminal, and the output neutral terminal.

14. ) The system of claim 13 wherein:

the first resistive element comprises a first pair of resistors electrically coupled in series; and

the third resistive element comprises a second pair of resistors electrically coupled in series.

15. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second electric power outlet;

wherein;

the second electric power outlet is electrically coupled in series with the electric power input, the metal oxide varistor protection module, and the ground detection module.

16. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second metal oxide varistor protection module;

a second ground detection module; and

a second electric power output;

wherein;

the second power output is electrically coupled in series with the electric power input, the second metal oxide varistor protection module, and the second ground detection module.

17. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an enclosure comprising a power receptacle array; and

a power plug configured to electrically couple with an electric power outlet;

wherein;

the enclosure houses at least a portion of the electronic device;

the power plug is electrically coupled to the electric power input; and

the electric power output is electrically coupled to the power receptacle array.

18. ) The system of claim 5 further comprising:

an enclosure comprising a power receptacle array and an indicator interface; and

a power plug configured to electrically couple with an electric power outlet;

wherein;

the enclosure houses at least a portion of the electronic device;

the power plug is electrically coupled to the electric power input;

the electric power output is electrically coupled to the power receptacle array; and

the indicator module is located at the indicator interface.

19. ) The system of claim 1 wherein:

the metal oxide varistor protection module comprises a metal oxide varistor protection module input and a metal oxide varistor protection module output;

the ground detection module comprises a ground detection module input and a ground detection module output;

the electric power input is electrically coupled to the metal oxide varistor protection module input;

the metal oxide varistor protection module output is electrically coupled to the ground detection module input; and

the ground detection module output is electrically coupled to the electric power output.

21. ) The method of claim 19 further comprising:

providing an enclosure comprising a power receptacle array; and

providing a power plug configured to electrically couple with an electric power outlet;

enclosing the electronic device at least partially inside of the enclosure;

coupling electrically the power plug to the electric power input; and

coupling electrically the electric power output to the power receptacle array.

24. ) The system of claim 2 wherein:

the first means is configured to protect the at least one of the system or the electronic device from voltages greater than at least one of;

a 330 volt root-mean-squared voltage;

or

a 130 volt root-mean-squared voltage.

25. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an enclosure comprising a power receptacle array; and

a power plug configured to electrically couple with an electric power outlet;

wherein;

the enclosure houses at least a portion of the electronic device;

the power plug is electrically coupled to the electric power input; and

the electric power output is electrically coupled to the power receptacle array.

20. ) A method of manufacturing a system, the method comprising:

providing an electronic device, the system comprising the electronic device, wherein providing the electronic device comprises;

providing an electric power input configured to receive an electric power signal, the electric power input comprising an input line terminal, an input ground terminal, and an input neutral terminal;

providing a metal oxide varistor protection module configured to protect at least one of the system or the electronic device;

providing a ground detection module configured to indicate the presence of an electric ground;

providing an electric power output comprising an output line terminal, an output ground terminal, and an output neutral terminal; and

coupling electrically in series with each other the electric power input, the metal oxide varistor protection module, the ground detection module, and the electric power output.

22. ) A system comprising an electronic device, wherein:

the electronic device comprises;

an electric power input configured to receive an electric power signal, the electric power input comprising an input line terminal, an input ground terminal, and an input neutral terminal;

a metal oxide varistor protection module configured to protect at least one of the system or the electronic device;

a ground detection module configured to indicate the presence of an electric ground; and

an electric power output comprising an output line terminal, an output ground terminal, and an output neutral terminal;

the metal oxide varistor protection module comprises;

a circuit breaker comprising a first circuit breaker terminal and a second circuit breaker terminal;

a first thermal link comprising a first first thermal link terminal and a second first thermal link terminal;

a first fuse comprising a first first fuse terminal and a second first fuse terminal;

a first metal oxide varistor comprising a first first metal oxide varistor terminal and a second first metal oxide varistor terminal;

a second metal oxide varistor comprising a first second metal oxide varistor terminal and a second second metal oxide varistor terminal;

a second fuse comprising a first second fuse terminal and a second second fuse terminal;

a second thermal link comprising a first second thermal link terminal and a second second thermal link terminal;

a third thermal link comprising a first third thermal link terminal and a second third thermal link terminal;

a third fuse comprising a first third fuse terminal and a second third fuse terminal;

a third metal oxide varistor comprising a first third metal oxide varistor terminal and a second third metal oxide varistor terminal; and

a first crowbar circuit comprising a first first crowbar circuit terminal and a second first crowbar circuit terminal;

the ground detection module comprises;

a first diode comprising a first diode anode and a first diode cathode;

a first resistive element comprising a first first resistive element terminal and a second first resistive element terminal;

a second resistive element comprising a first second resistive element terminal and a second second resistive element terminal;

a first transistor comprising a first transistor base, a first transistor emitter, and a first transistor collector;

a third resistive element comprising a first third resistive element terminal and a second third resistive element terminal;

a light emitting diode comprising a light emitting diode cathode and a light emitting diode anode;

a second transistor comprising a second transistor base, a second transistor emitter, and a second transistor collector;

a fourth resistive element comprising a first fourth resistive element terminal and a second fourth resistive element terminal; and

a second diode comprising a second diode anode and a second diode cathode;

the electronic device comprises;

a first node electrically coupling the input line terminal and the first circuit breaker terminal;

a second node electrically coupling the second circuit breaker terminal and the first first thermal link terminal;

a third node electrically coupling the second first thermal link terminal, the first first crowbar circuit terminal, the first first fuse terminal, the first second metal oxide varistor terminal, the first diode anode, the first second resistive element terminal, the first transistor emitter, the light emitting diode cathode, and the output line terminal;

a fourth node electrically coupling the second first fuse terminal, the second first crowbar circuit terminal, and the first first metal oxide varistor terminal;

a fifth node electrically coupling the input neutral line, the third first crowbar circuit terminal, the second first metal oxide varistor terminal, the second third metal oxide varistor terminal, and the second diode anode;

a sixth node electrically coupling the input ground terminal, the output ground terminal, the second second thermal link terminal, the second third thermal link terminal, and the second first resistive element terminal;

a seventh node electrically coupling the second second metal oxide varistor terminal and the second second fuse terminal;

an eighth node electrically coupling the first second fuse terminal and the first second thermal link terminal;

a ninth node electrically coupling the first third thermal link terminal and the first third fuse terminal;

a tenth node electrically coupling the second third fuse terminal and the first third metal oxide varistor terminal;

an eleventh node electrically coupling the first diode cathode, the first first resistive element terminal, the second second resistive element terminal, and the first transistor base;

a twelfth node electrically coupling the first transistor collector, the second transistor base, and the first third resistive element terminal;

a thirteenth node electrically coupling the light emitting diode anode and the second transistor emitter;

a fourteenth node electrically coupling the second transistor collector and the first fourth resistive element terminal; and

a fifteenth node electrically coupling the second third resistive element terminal, the second fourth resistive element terminal, and the second diode cathode; and

the first metal oxide transistor, the second metal oxide transistor, the third metal oxide transistor, and the first crowbar circuit are configured for at least one of;

a root-mean-squared voltage of 330 volts;

or

a root-mean-squared voltage of 130 volts.

23. ) A system comprising an electronic device, wherein:

the electronic device comprises;

an electric power input configured to receive an electric power signal, the electric power input comprising an input line terminal, an input ground terminal, and an input neutral terminal;

a first means for protecting at least one of the system or the electronic device;

a second means for indicating the presence of an electric ground; and

an electric power output comprising an output line terminal, an output ground terminal, and an output neutral terminal;

wherein;

the electric power input, the first means, the second means, and the electric power output are electrically coupled in series with each other.