Fault Indicator with permanent and temporary fault indication
First Claim
1. A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor, said fault indicator comprising:
- a housing;
a battery;
display means for displaying the occurrence of a temporary fault and for displaying the occurrence of a permanent fault;
means for determining whether a fault is a temporary fault or a permanent fault based on at least one determination of whether said conductor has power applied thereto after an occurrence of the fault; and
circuitry in communication with the means for determining whether a fault is a temporary fault or a permanent fault to activate the permanent fault display means if the fault is determined to be a permanent fault or to activate the temporary fault display means if the fault is determined to be a temporary fault.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor has a housing, a high capacity battery, a permanent fault display for indicating the occurrence of a permanent fault, a temporary fault display for indicating the occurrence of a temporary fault, a current sensor for sensing the load current in a monitored conductor, a microcontroller for determining when a fault condition occurs and for activating the permanent or temporary fault displays. Preferably, each display includes one or more LEDs. Upon detecting a fault, the microcontroller begins flashing the permanent fault LEDs. After a predetermined interval, the microcontroller again senses the load current. If the current is zero, the fault is permanent and the permanent LEDs continue to flash until a timed reset occurs. If the load current is present, the fault is temporary and the temporary LED is flashed until the timed reset. A light sensor is used to detect nighttime conditions, and microcontroller supplies reduced power to the LEDs at that time. Power to the LEDs is supplied in a repetitive pattern consisting of pulses followed by off time. Related methods are also disclosed.
82 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor, said fault indicator comprising:
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a housing; a battery; display means for displaying the occurrence of a temporary fault and for displaying the occurrence of a permanent fault; means for determining whether a fault is a temporary fault or a permanent fault based on at least one determination of whether said conductor has power applied thereto after an occurrence of the fault; and circuitry in communication with the means for determining whether a fault is a temporary fault or a permanent fault to activate the permanent fault display means if the fault is determined to be a permanent fault or to activate the temporary fault display means if the fault is determined to be a temporary fault. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of indicating the occurrence of a temporary fault or of a permanent fault in a fault indicator that monitors an electrical conductor, the fault indicator including a housing, a battery, a permanent fault display and a temporary fault display, means for determining if a fault is a permanent fault or a temporary fault, and circuitry in communication with the means for determining if the fault is permanent or temporary to activate the respective permanent fault display or the temporary fault display, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether the fault is a permanent fault or a temporary fault based on at least one determination of whether said conductor has power applied thereto after an occurrence of the fault; and activating the permanent fault display if the fault is a permanent fault;
oractivating the temporary fault display if the fault is a temporary fault. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor, said fault indicator comprising:
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a housing; a battery; a permanent fault display for indicating that a permanent fault condition has occurred; a temporary fault display for indicating that a temporary fault condition has occurred; a current sensor for sensing the load current in said conductor, and for providing a load current signal that is related to the load current; a microcontroller that is in communication with said load current signal from said current sensor to determine when a fault condition occurs; and
to determine whether the fault condition is permanent or temporary;said microcontroller activating the permanent fault display if the fault is permanent or activating the temporary fault display if the fault is temporary. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification