Circuit, system and/or method for detecting an electrical connection between an electrical device and a power supply

• US 9,019,113 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sennco Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sennco Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Groth, Jim, Marszalek, Christopher, Horvath, Daniel, Berland, Kerry, Ty, Try, Kmiecik, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACK-CHILDRESS, RAJSHEED O
• Application Number:
  US12/587,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• US Class Current: 340/657
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity

Abstract

A circuit, a system and/or a method detect a passive electrical connection and/or an active electrical connection between an electrical device and a power supply. An integrity of the electrical connection between the electrical device and the power supply is monitored to determine if the electrical device may have access to power and/or to determine if the electrical device may be secure while on display. A high frequency AC signal is modulated onto a positive power rail between the electrical device and the power supply. Capacitance circuitry of the electrical device may remove the high frequency signal from the positive power rail. An absence of the high frequency signal on the positive power rail indicates that the electrical connection exists between the electrical device and the power supply. A presence of the high frequency signal on the positive power rail indicates that the electrical connection does not exist between the electrical device and the power supply.

Claims

1. A system for detecting an electrical connection between an electrical device having a power port and a power supply wherein a disruption of the electrical connection between the power port of the electrical device and the power supply initiates an alarm condition wherein the system modulates a high frequency signal onto a positive power rail and a ground power rail wherein the positive power rail connects the power supply to the electrical device and the ground power rail connects the electrical device to the power supply and further wherein the system monitors the positive power rail to determine if the high frequency signal is removed from the positive power rail by the electrical device, the system comprising:

a microcontroller unit wherein the microcontroller unit generates the high frequency signal and;

a circuit defined by the positive power rail and the ground power rail wherein a capacitance circuit associated with the electrical device is located in between and connects to the positive power rail and the ground power rail wherein detection of the absence of the high frequency signal indicates that both the positive power rail and the ground power rail are electrically connected between the electrical device and the power supply wherein the circuit has a signal generation stage to generate the high frequency signal;

a modulation stage to connect the signal generation stage to the positive power rail to transmit the high frequency signal onto the positive power rail between the electrical device and the power supply;

a filter stage connected to the positive power rail to filter frequencies other than the high frequency signal from the positive power rail and to transmit the high frequency signal from the positive power rail; and

a rectifier stage to convert the high frequency signal transmitted from the positive power rail to a known DC level;

a tether having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is connected to the power supply; and

a head unit integrally formed with the second end of the tether wherein the head unit has a power port that attaches to the electrical device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal generation stage reduces a magnitude of the high frequency signal.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a short circuit between the signal generation stage and the positive power rail.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an open circuit between the signal generation stage and the positive power rail.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a multi-feedback band-pass filter associated with the filter stage wherein the multi-feedback band-pass filter has an op-amp to pass a range of frequencies to the rectifier stage wherein the range of frequencies has a frequency of the high frequency signal.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a gain stage between the filter stage and the rectifier stage wherein the gain stage has an active gain-only op-amp to amplify a magnitude of the high frequency signal.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an active full-wave rectifier associated with the rectifier stage.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a microcontroller unit to integrate the stages of the circuit.

20. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

a power cable attached to the power port of the head unit and the power port of the electrical device wherein the modulation stage modulates the high frequency signal onto the positive power rail between the power supply and the power port of the electrical device.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein the tether has a coiled portion between the first end and the second end.

9. A system for detecting an electrical connection between an electrical device and a power supply having a positive power rail and a ground power rail wherein the positive power rail connects the power supply to the electrical device and the ground power rail connects the electrical device to the power supply wherein the power supply transmits DC power to the electrical device and further wherein the electrical device has a capacitance circuit that removes a high frequency signal transmitted to the electrical device via the positive power rail when the electrical device is electrically connected to the power supply, the system comprising:

a head unit having a power port wherein the head unit attaches to the electrical device;

a tether attached to the head unit wherein the tethers connects the positive power rail and the ground power rail between the power supply and the power port of the head unit;

a microcontroller unit that generates the high frequency signal; and

a circuit having the capacitance circuit located in between and connected to the positive power rail and the ground power rail wherein the capacitance circuit removes a high frequency signal transmitted to the electrical device through the positive power rail when the electrical device is electrically connected to the power supply wherein detection of the absence of the high frequency signal indicates that the positive power rail and the ground power rail are electrically connected between the electrical device and the power supply wherein the circuit is integrated with the microcontroller unit wherein the circuit changes a magnitude of the high frequency signal and modulates the high frequency signal onto the positive power rail between the power supply and the electrical device wherein the circuit removes frequencies other than the high frequency signal from the positive power rail wherein the circuit converts the high frequency signal on the positive power rail to a known DC level and outputs the known DC level to the microcontroller unit wherein the circuit outputs a nominal level to the microcontroller unit when the high frequency signal is removed by the capacitance circuitry of the electrical device wherein the microcontroller unit detects an absence of the electrical connection between the power supply and the electrical device when the output of the circuit is the known DC level wherein the microcontroller unit detects a presence of the electrical connection between the power supply and the electrical device when the output of the circuit is the nominal level.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a threshold value between the known DC level and the nominal level programmed into the microcontroller unit for detecting the electrical connection between the power supply and the electrical device.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the circuit amplifies the high frequency signal on the positive power rail before converting the high frequency signal to the known DC level.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the high frequency signal has a peak-to-peak magnitude that is less than a nominal value of the DC voltage transmitted from the power supply to the electrical device.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

an alarm initiated by the microcontroller unit following detection of the electrical connection between the power supply and the electrical device.

14. A method for detecting an electrical connection between a power supply and an electrical device wherein a positive power rail extends from the power supply to the electrical device and a ground power rail extends from the electrical device to the power supply wherein a capacitance circuit is situated between and connected to the positive power rail and the ground power rail wherein the electrical device has a first power port wherein a microcontroller unit monitors the positive power rail, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching a head unit having a second power port to a surface of the electrical device;

attaching a power cable between the second power port of the head unit and the first power port of the electrical device;

tethering the head unit to the power supply wherein the electrical connection between the electrical device and the power supply is maintained while the electrical device is moved within an area around the power supply;

generating a high frequency signal;

modulating the high frequency signal onto the positive power rail and the ground power rail;

filtering the high frequency signal on the positive power rail to detect the high frequency signal on the positive power rail;

rectifying the high frequency signal to convert the high frequency signal to a first DC level;

removing the high frequency signal from the positive power rail by the capacitance circuit; and

detecting the absence of the high frequency signal to indicate that both the positive power rail and the ground power rail are electrically connected between the electrical device and the power supply.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

amplifying the high frequency signal.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

smoothing the high frequency signal.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

outputting the first DC level wherein the first DC level provides an indication that the electrical connection does not exist between the power supply and the electrical device.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

outputting a second DC level if the high frequency signal is removed by the electrical device wherein the second DC level provides an indication of the electrical connection between the power supply and the electrical device.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

initiating an alarm after detecting the first DC level.

21. A method for monitoring an electrical connection between a power supply and an electrical device having a first power port wherein a positive power rail and a ground power rail connect the power supply to the electrical device wherein a capacitance circuit associated with the electrical device is situated in between and connects to the positive power rail and the ground power rail, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching a head unit having a second power port to a surface of the electrical device;

attaching a power cable between the second power port of the head unit and the first power port of the electrical device;

tethering the head unit to the power supply wherein the electrical connection between the electrical device and the power supply is maintained while the electrical device is moved within an area around the power supply;

generating a high frequency signal;

passing the high frequency signal to the electrical device;

monitoring the electrical connection for the capacitance circuitry of the electrical device by detecting filtering of the high frequency signal;

removing the high frequency signal from the positive power rail by the capacitance circuit; and

detecting the absence of the high frequency signal to indicate that both the positive power rail and the ground power rail are electrically connected between the electrical device and the power supply.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

smoothing the high frequency signal.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

amplifying the high frequency signal.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

generating an alarm in response to the detection of the high frequency signal.

25. A system having a circuit used for detecting an electrical connection between a consumer electronic device and a power supply, the system comprising:

a positive power rail and a ground power rail wherein the positive power rail and the ground power rail form the circuit that electrically connects the consumer electronic device to the power supply wherein a capacitance circuit associated with the consumer electronic device is located in between and connects to the positive power rail and the ground power rail wherein the capacitance circuit removes a high frequency signal transmitted to the electrical device via the positive power rail when the electrical device is electrically connected to the power supply wherein detection of the absence of the high frequency signal indicates that both the positive power rail and the ground power rail are electrically connected between the electrical device and the power supply;

a head unit with a power port wherein the head unit is attached to the consumer electronic device;

a tether attached to the head unit wherein the tether transmits power from the power supply to the consumer electronic device through the power port of the head unit;

a power cable connected to the power port of the head unit wherein the power cable establishes the electrical connection between the head unit and the consumer electronic device;

a signal generation stage on the circuit that generates a high frequency signal wherein the high frequency signal is modulated onto the electrical connection; and

a microcontroller unit which monitors the electrical connection for the capacitance circuitry of the consumer electronic device by detecting filtering of the high frequency signal.

26. The circuit of claim 25 further comprising:

an alarm activated by detection of the high frequency signal.

27. The circuit of claim 25 further comprising:

a display between the electrical device and the power supply.