WIRELESS TRANSPONDER UNIT, ELECTRICAL JOINT MONITORING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF MONITORING ELECTRICAL JOINTS
First Claim
1. A wireless transponder unit having a maximum operating temperature and being structured to be disposed proximate to an electrical joint, the wireless transponder unit comprising:
- an integrated circuit configured to store identification information; and
a resonant circuit electrically connected to the integrated circuit, the resonant circuit having a damping factor, said resonant circuit including a capacitor, an antenna, and a resistor having a resistance and a positive thermal coefficient,wherein a change in temperature of the wireless transponder unit causes a change in the resistance of the resistor and the damping factor of the resonant circuit, andwherein the maximum operating temperature of the wireless transponder unit is based on the damping factor of the resonant circuit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless transponder unit having a maximum operating temperature and being structured to be disposed on an electrical joint includes: an integrated circuit configured to store identification information; and a resonant circuit electrically connected to the integrated circuit, the resonant circuit having a damping factor. The resonant circuit includes a capacitor, an antenna, and a resistor having a resistance and a positive thermal coefficient. A change in temperature of the wireless transponder unit causes a change in the resistance of the resistor and the damping factor of the resonant circuit. The maximum operating temperature of the wireless transponder unit is based on the damping factor of the resonant circuit.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A wireless transponder unit having a maximum operating temperature and being structured to be disposed proximate to an electrical joint, the wireless transponder unit comprising:
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an integrated circuit configured to store identification information; and a resonant circuit electrically connected to the integrated circuit, the resonant circuit having a damping factor, said resonant circuit including a capacitor, an antenna, and a resistor having a resistance and a positive thermal coefficient, wherein a change in temperature of the wireless transponder unit causes a change in the resistance of the resistor and the damping factor of the resonant circuit, and wherein the maximum operating temperature of the wireless transponder unit is based on the damping factor of the resonant circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for monitoring a plurality of electrical joints, the system comprising:
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a plurality of wireless transponder units, each of the wireless transponder units being disposed proximate to a corresponding one of the electrical joints, having a maximum operating temperature, and being configured to output identification information in response to being interrogated; a wireless interrogation unit structured to interrogate the wireless transponder units; and a processor having a routine structured to determine a fault of the electrical joints corresponding to a number of the wireless transponder units that fail to respond to being interrogated by the wireless interrogation unit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of monitoring a plurality of electrical joints, the method comprising:
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interrogating a plurality of wireless transponder units, each of the wireless transponder units being disposed proximate to a corresponding one of the electrical joints, having a maximum operating temperature, and being configured to output identification information in response to said interrogating; determining which of the wireless transponder units fail to respond to the interrogation; and determining a number of faults of a number of the electrical joints corresponding to a number of the wireless transponder units that fail to respond to said interrogating. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing one or more programs, including instructions, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method of monitoring a plurality of electrical joints, the method comprising:
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interrogating a plurality of wireless transponder units, each of the wireless transponder units being disposed proximate to a corresponding one of the electrical joints, having a maximum operating temperature, and being configured to output identification information in response to said interrogating; determining which of the wireless transponder units fail to respond to the interrogation; and determining a number of faults of a number of the electrical joints corresponding to a number of the wireless transponder units that fail to respond to said interrogating. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A wireless transponder unit having a maximum operating temperature and being structured to be disposed proximate to an electrical joint, the wireless transponder unit comprising:
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an integrated circuit configured to store identification information; and a resonant circuit electrically connected to the integrated circuit, the resonant circuit including a capacitor, an antenna, and a resistor having a resistance and a negative thermal coefficient, wherein a change in temperature of the wireless transponder unit causes a change in the resistance of the resistor, wherein the resistor is electrically connected in parallel with the capacitor, and wherein the maximum operating temperature of the wireless transponder unit is based on the resistance of the resistor.
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Specification