Work station monitor
First Claim
1. A device for indicating the grounding ability of both an electrically dissipative surface and a conductive wrist strap having a grounding tether, comprising:
- housing means;
first jack means located in said housing means for receiving the grounding tether;
second jack means located in said housing means for receiving a wire attached to the electrically dissipative surface;
first means for monitoring the ground path resistance of the conductive wrist strap and grounding tether, said first means performing said monitoring periodically on a continual basis in response to timing means which pulses an input to said first means, said input also being connected to the tether and wrist strap;
second means for continually monitoring the ground path resistance of the dissipative surface; and
means for electrically connecting said first and second monitor means to an external power supply and an external ground.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for monitoring the grounding characteristics of both an electrically dissipative work surface and a conductive wrist strap having a grounding tether. The device includes a mat monitor and a strap monitor. The mat monitor checks the resistance of the mat ground path and alerts the user if this resistance exceeds a predetermined resistance. The strap monitor checks the resistance of the wrist strap and tether ground path, and employs a timer to send electrical pulses to the wrist strap rather than having a constant voltage output to the strap. The strap monitor establishes a resistance window for the strap ground path, and alerts the user if the strap ground path resistance falls outside of the resistance window.
65 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for indicating the grounding ability of both an electrically dissipative surface and a conductive wrist strap having a grounding tether, comprising:
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housing means; first jack means located in said housing means for receiving the grounding tether; second jack means located in said housing means for receiving a wire attached to the electrically dissipative surface; first means for monitoring the ground path resistance of the conductive wrist strap and grounding tether, said first means performing said monitoring periodically on a continual basis in response to timing means which pulses an input to said first means, said input also being connected to the tether and wrist strap; second means for continually monitoring the ground path resistance of the dissipative surface; and means for electrically connecting said first and second monitor means to an external power supply and an external ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A dual workstation monitor which alerts its user to the existence of unacceptable resistances in the ground paths of both an electrically dissipative surface and a conductive wrist strap having a grounding tether, comprising:
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a housing; a first jack located in said housing for receiving the grounding tether; a first wire for attachment to the electrically dissipative surface; a second jack located in said housing for receiving said first wire; a second wire for attachment to ground; a third jack located in said housing for receiving said second wire; a fourth jack located in said housing for connection to an external DC power supply; strap monitor means for monitoring the resistance of the ground path of the conductive wrist strap and grounding tether, said strap monitor means being connected to said first, third and fourth jacks, and performing said monitoring periodically on a continual basis in response to timing means which pulses an input to said strap monitor means, said input also being connected to said first jack; and surface monitor means for continually monitoring the resistance of the ground path of the dissipative surface, said surface monitor means being connected to said second, third and fourth jacks. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An electrostatic discharge monitoring system comprising:
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an electrically dissipative mat having first and second wires connected thereto at different locations, said first wire being for attachment to an external ground; a wrist strap having two conductive portions; a two wire tether connected to said wrist strap; a DC power supply; a housing; a first jack located in said housing for receiving said tether; a second jack located in said housing for receiving said second wire; a third jack located in said housing for connection to the external ground; a fourth jack located in said housing for connection to said power supply; a strap monitor connected to said first, third and fourth jacks, and including; timing means for pulsing the output of said strap monitor to said first jack, first voltage comparison means for establishing a maximum strap resistance threshold for the grounding path through said wrist strap and said tether, and second voltage comparison means for establishing a minimum strap resistance threshold for the grounding path through said wrist strap and said tether; means for establishing said timing means when the ground path resistance through said wrist strap and said tether exceeds said maximum strap resistance, said disabling means thereby causing said strap monitor to latch to a constant non-pulsed output until the ground path resistance through said wrist strap and said tether falls below said maximum strap resistance; a mat monitor connected to said second, third and fourth jacks and including third voltage comparison means for establishing a maximum mat resistance threshold for the grounding path through said dissipative mat; first indicator means responsive to said first and third voltage comparison means for indicating contemporaneous acceptable ground path resistances of both said wrist strap and said dissipative mat; second indicator means responsive to said first voltage comparison means for indicating an unacceptably high ground path resistance through said wrist strap and said tether; third indicator means responsive to said second voltage comparison means for indicating an unacceptably low ground path resistance through said wrist strap and said tether; fourth indicator means responsive to said third voltage comparison means for indicating an unacceptably high ground path resistance through said dissipative mat. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A device for indicating the grounding ability of a conductive strap having a ground tether, comprising:
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housing means; jack means located in said housing means for receiving the grounding tether; means for monitoring the ground path resistance of the conductive strap and grounding tether, said means performing said monitoring periodically on a continual basis in response to timing means which pulses an input to said means, said input also being connected to the tether and strap; and means for electrically connecting said monitoring means to an external power supply and an external ground.
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Specification