Load status indicator

• US 7,439,874 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Sotiriou
• Original Assignee: George Sotiriou
• Inventors: Sotiriou, George
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/456,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20060244620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/635, 340/650, 340/657, 340/661, 340/664, 340/638, 361/93.1, 361/88, 361/90, 361/42, 361/79
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A load status indicator is disclosed for determining whether power is available to, and current is flowing through, a load. A first visual status indicator may light up when power is available to the load but current is not flowing through the load. A second visual status indicator may light up when power is available to the load and current is flowing through the load. A bi-color light-emitting diode may comprise the first and second visual status indicators. Transistors may be used to permit or prevent current from flowing through the visual status indicators. In some embodiments, a reed switch or a hall-effect sensor may be used to determine whether current is flowing through the load.

Claims

1. A load status indicator comprising:

a first visual status indicator configured to indicate when power is available to a load but current is not flowing through the load; and

a second visual status indicator configured to indicate when power is available to the load and current is flowing through the load;

wherein the visual status indicators are not connected in series with the load; and

wherein a threshold current is determined by a ratio of two resistors.

2. The load status indicator of claim 1 further comprising:

a first field-effect transistor and a second field-effect transistor;

wherein a drain-source channel of the first field-effect transistor is connected in series with the first visual status indicator; and

the second visual status indicator is connected to a terminal of the second field-effect transistor, the terminal being selected from the group consisting of a drain and a source.

3. The load status indicator of claim 2 wherein a bi-color light-emitting diode comprises the first and second visual status indicators.

4. The load status indicator of claim 3 wherein a hall-effect sensor is connected in series with a power source and the load.

5. The load status indicator of claim 1 wherein:

the two resistors comprise a first resistor and a second resistor;

the first resistor is connected to a first input of a first comparator and to a first input of a second comparator; and

the second resistor is connected to a second input of the first comparator and to a second input of the second comparator.

6. A load status indicator comprising:

a current-sensing component connected in series with a load;

an indicating circuit connected in parallel with the series of load and current-sensing component, the indicating circuit comprising;

a first visual status indicator configured to turn on when power is available to the load and indicating circuit, but a threshold current is not flowing through the current-sensing component, and to turn off when the threshold current is flowing through the current-sensing component;

wherein the threshold current is determined by a ratio of two resistors; and

a second visual status indicator configured to turn on when power is available to the load and indicating circuit, and the threshold current is flowing through the current-sensing component, and to turn off when the threshold current is not flowing through the current-sensing component.

7. The load status indicator of claim 6 wherein the indicating circuit farther comprises:

a first transistor configured to control whether current can flow through the first visual status indicator; and

a second transistor configured to control whether current can flow through the second visual status indicator.

8. The load status indicator of claim 7 wherein a bi-color light-emitting diode comprises the first and second visual status indicator.

9. The load status indicator of claim 8 wherein the current-sensing component comprises a hall-effect sensor.

10. The load status indicator of claim 9 wherein:

the two resistors comprise a first resistor and a second resistor;

the first resistor is connected to a first input of a first comparator and to a first input of a second comparator; and

the second resistor is connected to a second input of the first comparator and to a second input of the second comparator.

11. The load status indicator of claim 6 wherein the current-sensing component comprises a hall-effect sensor.

12. The load status indicator of claim 11 wherein the threshold current is determined by the ratio of two resistors.

13. The load status indicator of claim 12 wherein:

the two resistors comprise a first resistor and a second resistor;

the first resistor is connected to a first input of a first comparator and to a first input of a second comparator; and

the second resistor is connected to a second input of the first comparator and to a second input of the second comparator.

14. A load status indicator comprising:

a current-sensing component;

a first transistor and a second transistor;

a first visual status indicator and a second visual status indicator;

wherein the load status indicator is configured to bias the first transistor to high impedance and to bias the second transistor to low impedance when a threshold current is not flowing through the current-sensing component;

wherein the load status indicator is configured to bias the first transistor to low impedance and to bias the second transistor to high impedance when the threshold current is flowing through the current-sensing component;

wherein the load status indicator is configured to cause the first visual status indicator to turn on when the first transistor is biased to low impedance; and

wherein the load status indicator is configured to cause the second visual status indicator to turn on when the second transistor is biased to low impedance.

15. The load status indicator of claim 14 wherein:

the current-sensing component is a hall-effect sensor.

16. The load status indicator of claim 15 further comprising:

a first resistor, a second resistor, and a third resistor;

wherein the hall-effect linear sensor comprises an output terminal and a ground terminal;

wherein the first resistor, second resistor, and third resistor are connected in series between the output terminal and the ground terminal; and

wherein the threshold current is determined by a ratio between the second resistor and the third resistor.

17. The load status indicator of claim 16 further comprising:

a first comparator and a second comparator;

wherein an input of the first comparator is connected to a node at which the first resistor and second resistor are connected to each other; and

wherein an input of the second comparator is connected to a node at which the second resistor and third resistor are connected to each other.

18. The load status indicator of claim 17 further comprising:

a third transistor;

wherein the output of the first comparator and the output of the second comparator are connected to the third transistor;

wherein a voltage potential of the output of the third transistor determines whether the first transistor and second transistor are biased high or low.