Apparatus and method for detection of latent faults in redundant systems
First Claim
1. Apparatus for fault detection in an electrical system that includes a power source connected to at least one electrical component capable of failure, said apparatus comprising:
- test signal generation means, connected to the electrical system to form an electrical circuit path including the at least one component, for generating a first signal and for applying the first signal to the path such that the first signal passes through the at least one component; and
receiver means, connected to said test signal generation means via said path, for producing a second signal, indicative of whether the first signal is present in said path during a predetermined period of time,wherein failure of the at least one component prevents passage of the first signal on said path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method are provided for fault detecting in an electrical system such as a redundant or fault-tolerant system. A current receiving device connected in shunt or in series in such a system draws electric current from the electrical system being monitored. During normal operation, while current is still flowing properly through the system being monitored, an appropriate indication such as a continued series of pulses is generated, which is interpreted as indicating proper operation. If that current flow is cut off, indicating a fault condition, then the apparatus and method provide an appropriate signal (such as cutoff of the series of pulses) to a communication system which provides an appropriate indication to an external location. The current receiving device can be a relaxation oscillator together with another device which can be a pulse generator, an L-C energy transfer arrangement, a bridge circuit including an inductor, a two-winding inductor or a capacitor. The latter such device can be connected in shunt or in series with the electrical system being monitored. The relaxation oscillator is connected in shunt with the system being monitored. The communication device can, for example, be a photoemitter in combination with a photodetector, or could alternatively be a two-winding transformer.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. Apparatus for fault detection in an electrical system that includes a power source connected to at least one electrical component capable of failure, said apparatus comprising:
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test signal generation means, connected to the electrical system to form an electrical circuit path including the at least one component, for generating a first signal and for applying the first signal to the path such that the first signal passes through the at least one component; and receiver means, connected to said test signal generation means via said path, for producing a second signal, indicative of whether the first signal is present in said path during a predetermined period of time, wherein failure of the at least one component prevents passage of the first signal on said path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for providing electrical power to a load, comprising:
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a voltage source; a bus connected to said voltage source and adapted to be connected across the load; at least one electrical component incorporated into said bus and capable of failure resulting in an inoperable condition; sensing means for sensing presence of instantaneous current flow in said bus and for producing a sensing signal indicative thereof; first signal generating means, responsive to the sensing signal and connected to said bus, for generating a test signal on a circuit path through at least a portion of said bus including said at least one electrical component; and second signal generating means, connected to said circuit path and responsive to whether the test signal is present on said circuit path during a predetermined period of time, for producing a condition signal, indicative of whether said electrical system is operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for detecting failure of an electrical component connected in an electrical circuit, said apparatus comprising:
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test signal generation means connected to said electrical circuit, for generating a test signal; and receiver means, responsive to said test signal, for generating a no fault signal, said receiver means connected to said electrical circuit, said test signal generation means and said receiver means being connected in a closed circuit path including said electrical component so that said test signal travels from said test signal generation means around said circuit path through said electrical component to said receiver means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. Apparatus for detecting failure of an electrical component connected in an electrical circuit between a power source and a load, said apparatus comprising:
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a pulse generator connected to said electrical circuit between said power source and said electrical component, said pulse generator periodically generating test pulses; and pulse receiver means responsive to each of said test pulses for generating a no fault signal, said pulse receiver means connected to said electrical circuit between said load and said power source, so that said test pulses travel from said pulse generator through said electrical component to said pulse receiver means. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for fault detection in an electrical system that includes a power source connected to at least one electrical component capable of failure, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating a first signal and applying the first signal to an electrical circuit path that includes the at least one electrical component such that the first signal passes through the at least one electrical component; and producing a second signal, indicative of whether the first signal is present in the path during a predetermined period of time, wherein failure of the at least one component prevents presence of the first signal in the path. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for detecting failure of an electrical component connected in an electrical circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating a test signal; applying the generated test signal to a closed electrical path including said electrical component so that said test signal travels around said electrical path through said electrical component; and responsive to a success of said applying of said test signal, generating a no fault signal. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A method for detecting failure of an electrical component connected in an electrical circuit between a power source and a load, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating test pulses; applying said generated test pulses through said electrical component; and responsive to each of said test pulses, generating a no fault signal. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A system for detecting an open circuit condition created by failure of an electrical component in an electrical circuit which is not conducting power, comprising:
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a pulse generator connected to the electrical circuit and which applies a pulse signal to the circuit on one side of the electrical component; and a detector connected to the electrical circuit on another side of the electrical component and which provides a detection signal indicative of a detection of the pulse signal, wherein the pulse signal is not detected when the electrical component has failed.
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Specification