Computer-implemented systems and methods for detecting electrostatic discharges and determining their origination locations
First Claim
1. A computer system for determining the origination location of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) on a surface, the computer system comprising:
- at least one processor;
a data store in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the data store stores a plurality of ESD current profiles, each ESD profile corresponding to a different location on the surface; and
at least one memory unit in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one memory unit includes instructions that are executed by the at least one processor such that the at least one processor is programmed to;
receive actual current data indicative of time-varying current conducted by the surface;
compare the actual current data to the plurality of ESD current profiles; and
determine the origination location of the ESD on the surface based on the comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Computer-implemented systems and methods for detecting ESD on a surface and determining an origination location of the ESD. A programmed computer device monitors time-varying current data related to the surface to detect ESD on the surface. The current profile for the surface may be compared to a catalog of ESD current profiles, where each ESD current profile in the catalog corresponds to a different location on the surface. The location on the surface whose corresponding ESD current profile best matches the actual current profile from the ESD may be determined to be the origination location of the ESD. Moderately different processes may be used to determine the ESD origination location depending on whether the surface is symmetrical or irregular, flat or curved, etc.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer system for determining the origination location of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) on a surface, the computer system comprising:
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at least one processor; a data store in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the data store stores a plurality of ESD current profiles, each ESD profile corresponding to a different location on the surface; and at least one memory unit in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one memory unit includes instructions that are executed by the at least one processor such that the at least one processor is programmed to; receive actual current data indicative of time-varying current conducted by the surface; compare the actual current data to the plurality of ESD current profiles; and determine the origination location of the ESD on the surface based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one solar panel, the at least one solar panel comprising; a plurality of solar cells; and a power bus connected to strings of solar cells, wherein the power bus conducts current generated by the plurality of solar cells; at least one power bus current probe that senses current in the power bus of the at least one solar panel; an ESD detection/location system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory unit, wherein the ESD detection/location system is capable of receiving current data indicative of current on the at least one power bus, wherein the ESD detection/location system is programmed to determine an origination location of ESD on the at least one solar panel by comparing current data input from the at least one power bus current probe to a plurality of ESD current profiles that are stored in a data store of the ESD detection/location system, each ESD profile corresponding to a different location on the at least one solar panel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-implemented method for determining an origination location of electrostatic discharge (ESD) on a surface, the method comprising:
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receiving and storing actual current data indicative of time-varying current on the surface by a programmable computer device; comparing by the programmable computer device the received actual current data to a plurality of ESD current profiles stored in a data store for the programmable computer device, wherein each ESD profile corresponds to a different location on the surface; and determining by the programmable computer device the origination location of the ESD on the surface based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification