Wireless remote detector systems and methods

• US 7,728,275 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blanchard, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Sohn; Seung C
• Application Number:
  US12/184,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20090033336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.SW, 324/522
• US Class Current: 250/214.0SW
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/155 Indicating the presence of voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/32 in circuits having distributed constants , e.g. having very long conductors or involving high frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3277 of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/67 Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits

Abstract

A device for associating a circuit breaker with a circuit may have one or more sensors for remotely sensing that a circuit is active. When a sensor senses that a circuit is active, a transmitter may transmit a signal to a receiver that alerts a user. In this manner, the user may determine which of a plurality of different circuit breakers is associated with a particular circuit. This device mitigates the contemporary need to repeatedly turn off circuit breakers, go to the room in which the circuit is being monitored, and check to see if the circuit is active.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a sensor device having at least one sensor adapted to monitor at least one parameter associated with a circuit and provide information on the parameter, wherein the at least one sensor includes;

a non-contact voltage sensor adapted to detect a voltage level of the circuit;

a visible light sensor adapted to detect a visible light level associated with the circuit, wherein the visible light sensor has a visible light sensitivity adjustment circuit to set an alarm/no alarm threshold; and

an external probe that is couplable to the sensor device and adapted to detect at least one of a voltage level, a current level, continuity, a heat level, a sound level, or motion associated with the circuit;

a wireless transmitter within the sensor device and coupled to the at least one sensor and adapted to transmit the information; and

a receiver device having a wireless receiver adapted to be in communication with the wireless transmitter of the sensor device to facilitate association of a circuit breaker with the circuit based on the information received on the parameter being monitored.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-contact voltage sensor is adapted to detect a current level of the circuit.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor device includes:

a mode switch for a user to select between the non-contact voltage sensor and the visible light sensor; and

a detect light adapted to provide a detection indication based on the parameter being monitored.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor device includes a wireless channel switch to select between a plurality of wireless channels for communication between the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the external probe comprises an infrared camera adapted to monitor the heat level of the circuit.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the external probe comprises a non-contact probe adapted to detect a voltage level and a current level of the circuit.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor device includes:

an interface to couple to the external probe; and

an external probe light to indicate when the external probe is coupled to the sensor device.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver device provides a light that changes state to indicate whether the circuit is active based on the information.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver device provides an audible indicator that changes state to indicate whether the circuit is active based on the information.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-contact voltage sensor comprises a voltage sensor having plastic prongs that are configured to attach the voltage sensor to a wall outlet.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-contact voltage sensor comprises a voltage sensor that is configured to clamp over an AC line.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor device includes a light sensitivity adjustment switch for use by an operator to control the visible light sensitivity adjustment circuit.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the circuit comprises a pipeline and the circuit breaker comprises a pipeline valve, and wherein the external probe comprises a thermal sensor suitable for sensing heat in the pipeline.

14. A method comprising:

positioning a sensor device adapted to provide information on whether a circuit is active, wherein the information is transmitted wirelessly to a remote location;

selecting on the sensor device whether to monitor an electrical parameter of the circuit or a visible light level parameter associated with the circuit to provide the information;

setting a light sensitivity level if the visible light level parameter is to be monitored based on the selecting;

positioning a receiver device at the remote location to receive the information, wherein the receiver device provides an indication to a user on whether the circuit is active based on the information;

switching selectively each circuit breaker from among a plurality of circuit breakers; and

determining which of the circuit breakers is associated with the circuit based on the indication and operation of the circuit breaker.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, comprising coupling an external probe to the sensor device to monitor at least one of a voltage level, a current level, continuity, a heat level, a sound level, or motion associated with the circuit.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the external probe comprises an infrared camera adapted to monitor the heat level of the circuit.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the electrical parameter comprises at least one of a current level, a voltage level, and a continuity.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, comprising selecting a wireless channel from among a plurality of wireless channels for communication between the sensor device and the receiver device.

19. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the indication to a user comprises a visual and/or an audible signal.

20. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the electrical parameter comprises a non-contact voltage level of the circuit.

21. A sensor/transmitter device comprising:

a processor;

a non-contact electrical sensor, coupled to the processor, adapted to monitor a state of an electrical parameter of a circuit and provide an electrical parameter signal to the processor;

a visible light sensor, coupled to the processor, adapted to monitor a visible light level associated with the circuit and provide a visible light level signal to the processor;

a visible light sensitivity adjustment circuit, coupled to the visible light sensor and the processor, adapted to set a visible light sensitivity level for the visible light sensor;

an external probe adapted to couple to the sensor/transmitter device to monitor at least one of a voltage level, a current level, continuity, a heat level, a sound level, or motion and provide an external probe signal to the processor; and

a wireless transmitter, coupled to the processor, adapted to transmit information provided by the processor based on the electrical parameter signal, the visible light level signal, and/or the external probe signal.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the external probe comprises an infrared camera adapted to monitor a heat level.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the external probe comprises a non-contact probe adapted to detect a voltage level and/or a current level.