Wireless remote detector systems and methods

• US 8,368,001 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US13/406,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20120154140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.SW, 324/522
• US Class Current: 250/214.SW
• 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 system is provided that includes: a sensor device adapted to selectively monitor a plurality of sensors including an electrical sensor adapted to monitor at least one electrical parameter associated with a circuit and a heat sensor adapted to monitor heat, wherein the sensor device includes a wireless transceiver within the sensor device adapted to transmit measurement information from the selected sensor; and a receiver indicator device adapted to wirelessly receive the measurement information from the sensor device, and provide an indication based on the measurement information to a user operating the receiver indicator device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a sensor device adapted to selectively monitor a plurality of sensors including an electrical sensor adapted to monitor at least one electrical parameter associated with a circuit and a heat sensor adapted to monitor heat,

wherein the sensor device includes a wireless transceiver within the sensor device adapted to transmit measurement information from the selected sensor; and

a receiver indicator device adapted to wirelessly receive the measurement information from the sensor device, and provide an indication based on the measurement information to a user operating the receiver indicator device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical sensor is a non-contact sensor configured to removably clamp over an electrical line to monitor as an electrical parameter a current level and/or a voltage level, and wherein the receiver indicator device is adapted to be in communication with the sensor device to facilitate association of a circuit breaker operated by the user of the receiver indicator device with the circuit based on the measurement information received and the indication provided by the receiver indicator device.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the heat sensor is an infrared sensor.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a visible light sensor adapted to detect a visible light level parameter associated with the circuit for the sensor device to selectively provide as the measurement information, wherein the visible light sensor has a visible light sensitivity adjustment circuit to set an alarm/no alarm threshold.

5. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the heat sensor comprises an external probe including an infrared camera.

6. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of sensors includes an external probe adapted to detect a sound level parameter and/or a motion parameter associated with the circuit for the sensor device to selectively provide as the measurement information, and wherein the control information provided from the receiver indicator device to the sensor device controls settings and/or measurement modes of the sensor device.

7. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the external probe is wirelessly couplable to the sensor device, and wherein the sensor device includes an external probe light to indicate when the external probe is wirelessly coupled to the sensor device.

8. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the sensor device includes:

a mode switch for the user to select between the electrical sensor and the heat sensor;

a detect light adapted to provide a detection indication based on the measurement information; and

a wireless channel switch for the user to select between a plurality of wireless channels for communication between the sensor device and the receiver indicator device;

wherein the receiver indicator device for the indication provides a light and/or an audible indicator to indicate whether the circuit is active based on the measurement information.

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

10. A method, comprising:

actuating a switch on a sensor device to select from a plurality of sensor devices including an electrical sensor adapted to monitor at least one electrical parameter associated with a circuit and a heat sensor adapted to monitor heat associated with the circuit;

wirelessly transmitting measurement information from the selected sensor device to a remote location; and

positioning a receiver indicator device at the remote location to receive the measurement information, wherein the receiver indicator device provides an indication to a user based on the measurement information.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, comprising:

transmitting control information from the receiver indicator device to the sensor device to control settings and/or measurement modes of the sensor device;

wherein the electrical sensor is a non-contact sensor configured to removably clamp over an electrical line to monitor as the electrical parameter a current level and/or a voltage level; and

wherein the receiver indicator device is adapted to be in communication with the sensor device to facilitate association of a circuit breaker operated by the user of the receiver indicator device with the circuit based on the measurement information received and the indication provided by the receiver indicator device to the user.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the heat sensor comprises an infrared camera adapted to provide temperature information associated with the circuit for the sensor device to selectively provide as the measurement information.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a visible light sensor adapted to provide visible light level information associated with the circuit for the sensor device to selectively provide as the measurement information and includes a non-contact external probe is adapted to detect a sound level parameter and/or a motion parameter associated with the circuit for the sensor device to selectively provide as the measurement information, and wherein the method comprises:

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 provided by the receiver indicator device and operation of the circuit breaker.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, comprising:

setting a light sensitivity level if the visible light sensor is selected to provide visible light level information;

selecting a wireless channel from among a plurality of wireless channels for communication between the sensor device and the receiver indicator device; and

wherein the indication provided by the receiver indicator device to a user comprises a visual and/or an audible signal.

15. A sensor/transmitter device, comprising:

a processor;

an 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;

an external probe, coupled to and/or adapted to couple to the sensor/transmitter device, adapted to monitor heat associated with the circuit and provide an external probe signal to the processor; and

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

16. The device of claim 15, comprising:

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, wherein the wireless transmitter is adapted to transmit measurement information provided by the processor based on the visible light level signal;

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;

a mode switch adapted to allow a user to select between at least the visible light sensor and the electrical sensor; and

a detection indicator adapted to provide a detection indication based on the electrical parameter, the one or more parameters, and/or the visible light level signal being monitored.

17. The device of claim 15,

wherein the electrical sensor comprises a non-contact sensor configured to removably clamp over an electrical line to monitor a current level and/or a voltage level;

and

wherein the external probe comprises an infrared camera adapted to monitor the heat associated with the circuit.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the external probe comprises a non-contact probe adapted to detect a voltage level and/or a current level.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the electrical sensor comprises a non-contact sensor.

20. The device of claim 15, comprising a wireless receiver, coupled to the processor, adapted to receive control information from a remote device adapted to receive the measurement information, wherein the control information controls settings and/or measurement modes of the sensor/transmitter device, and wherein the external probe is wirelessly coupled to the sensor/transmitter device.