In-water voltage gradient detector
First Claim
1. A voltage gradient detector for use in water to detect the presence of a voltage gradient at least as large as a specified critical voltage gradient GMIN, the gradient detector comprising:
- a first pair of electrodes maintained at a separation S1 along a first axis;
at least one first LED with a known voltage characteristic such that said first LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT1;
means for electrically connecting said at least one first LED to said first pair of electrodes in series with a first LED resistor such that said at least one first LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said first pair of electrodes and which is at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT1 when said first pair of electrodes, spaced apart at the separation S1, are in contact with a voltage gradient at least as great as the critical voltage gradient GMIN,wherein the set voltage threshold value VT1 is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said at least one first LED and the voltage drop across said first LED resister that results from the current through said at least one first LED at that minimum voltage;
a second pair of electrodes maintained at a separation S2 along a second axis that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis;
at least one second LED with a known voltage characteristic such that said second LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT2;
means for electrically connecting said at least one second LED to said second pair of electrodes in series with a second LED resistor such that said at least one second LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said second pair of electrodes and which is at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT2 when said second pair of electrodes, spaced apart at the separation S2, are in contact with a voltage gradient at least as great as the critical voltage gradient GMIN,wherein the set voltage threshold value VT2 is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said at least one second LED and the voltage drop across said second LED resister that results from the current through said at least one second LED at that minimum voltage;
a third pair of electrodes maintained at a separation S3 along a third axis that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis and to the second axis;
at least one third LED with a known voltage characteristic such that said third LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT3;
means for electrically connecting said at least one third LED to said third pair of electrodes in series with a third LED resistor such that said at least one third LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said third pair of electrodes and which is at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT3 when said third pair of electrodes, spaced apart at the separation S3, are in contact with a voltage gradient at least as great as the critical voltage gradient GMIN,wherein the set voltage threshold value VT3 is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said at least one third LED and the voltage drop across said third LED resister that results from the current through said at least one third LED at that minimum voltage; and
means for providing a notice when said at least one of said LEDs is illuminated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A voltage gradient detector provides notice when a potentially hazardous voltage gradient is present in water, employing at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes connected to an LED. The electrode spacing is selected such that, when exposed to a sufficiently large voltage gradient, the voltage between the electrodes causes activation of the LED. The LED can provide visual illumination, or can be a part of a switching device such as a photoMOS relay that in turn activates an alarm device such as an audible sounder or a high-intensity light. Sensitivity in multiple directions can be attained by employing a pair of LEDs between the electrodes, and by employing three pairs of electrodes and associated LED pairs, with the pairs of electrodes being spaced apart along substantially orthogonal axes. These pairs may be discrete or may share an electrode in common.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A voltage gradient detector for use in water to detect the presence of a voltage gradient at least as large as a specified critical voltage gradient GMIN, the gradient detector comprising:
-
a first pair of electrodes maintained at a separation S1 along a first axis; at least one first LED with a known voltage characteristic such that said first LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT1; means for electrically connecting said at least one first LED to said first pair of electrodes in series with a first LED resistor such that said at least one first LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said first pair of electrodes and which is at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT1 when said first pair of electrodes, spaced apart at the separation S1, are in contact with a voltage gradient at least as great as the critical voltage gradient GMIN, wherein the set voltage threshold value VT1 is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said at least one first LED and the voltage drop across said first LED resister that results from the current through said at least one first LED at that minimum voltage; a second pair of electrodes maintained at a separation S2 along a second axis that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis; at least one second LED with a known voltage characteristic such that said second LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT2; means for electrically connecting said at least one second LED to said second pair of electrodes in series with a second LED resistor such that said at least one second LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said second pair of electrodes and which is at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT2 when said second pair of electrodes, spaced apart at the separation S2, are in contact with a voltage gradient at least as great as the critical voltage gradient GMIN, wherein the set voltage threshold value VT2 is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said at least one second LED and the voltage drop across said second LED resister that results from the current through said at least one second LED at that minimum voltage; a third pair of electrodes maintained at a separation S3 along a third axis that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis and to the second axis; at least one third LED with a known voltage characteristic such that said third LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT3; means for electrically connecting said at least one third LED to said third pair of electrodes in series with a third LED resistor such that said at least one third LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said third pair of electrodes and which is at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT3 when said third pair of electrodes, spaced apart at the separation S3, are in contact with a voltage gradient at least as great as the critical voltage gradient GMIN, wherein the set voltage threshold value VT3 is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said at least one third LED and the voltage drop across said third LED resister that results from the current through said at least one third LED at that minimum voltage; and means for providing a notice when said at least one of said LEDs is illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A voltage gradient detector for use in water to detect the presence of a voltage gradient at least as large as a specified critical voltage gradient GMIN, the gradient detector comprising:
-
a first pair of electrodes maintained at a separation S1 along a first axis; at least one first LED with a known voltage characteristic such that said first LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT1; means for electrically connecting said at least one first LED to said first pair of electrodes in series with a first LED resistor such that said at least one first LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said first pair of electrodes and which is at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT1 when said first pair of electrodes, spaced apart at the separation S1, are in contact with a voltage gradient at least as great as the critical voltage gradient GMIN, wherein the set voltage threshold value VT1 is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said at least one first LED and the voltage drop across said first LED resister that results from the current through said at least one first LED at that minimum voltage; a second pair of electrodes maintained at a separation S2 along a second axis that is inclined to the first axis by an angle of between 45° and
135°
;at least one second LED with a known voltage characteristic such that said second LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT2; means for electrically connecting said at least one second LED to said second pair of electrodes in series with a second LED resistor such that said at least one second LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said second pair of electrodes and which is at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT2 when said second pair of electrodes, spaced apart at the separation S2, are in contact with a voltage gradient at least as great as the critical voltage gradient GMIN, wherein the set voltage threshold value VT2 is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said at least one second LED and the voltage drop across said second LED resister that results from the current through said at least one second LED at that minimum voltage; a third pair of electrodes maintained at a separation S3 along a third axis that is inclined to the first axis by an angle of between 45° and
135°
, and is inclined to the second axis by an angle of between 45° and
135°
;at least one third LED with a known voltage characteristic such that said third LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT3; means for electrically connecting said at least one third LED to said third pair of electrodes in series with a third LED resistor such that said at least one third LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said third pair of electrodes and which is at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT3 when said third pair of electrodes, spaced apart at the separation S3, are in contact with a voltage gradient at least as great as the critical voltage gradient GMIN, wherein the set voltage threshold value VT3 is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said at least one third LED and the voltage drop across said third LED resister that results from the current through said at least one third LED at that minimum voltage; and means for providing a notice when said at least one of said LEDs is illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
Specification