Apparatus and method for simultaneously detecting the power state of a plurality of circuit breaker switches

• US 7,554,454 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hi-Tech Electronic Products & Mfg., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hi-Tech Electronic Products & Mfg., Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael E., Johnson, Glenn T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie
• Application Number:
  US11/111,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/635
• 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

An apparatus for detecting the power state of a circuit breaker switch is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a detector circuit, a processor and an indicator. The processor is coupled to the detector circuit. The indicator is coupled to the processor. In operation, the detector circuit senses an electronic signal at the circuit breaker switch and transmits a signal to the processor. The processor then transmits a signal to the indicator indicating the power state and location of the circuit breaker switch.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the location of at least one circuit breaker switch amongst a plurality of circuit breaker switches disposed within a circuit breaker box and associated with a plurality of electrical circuits each having at least one electrical receptacle, the system comprising:

a detection assembly including a processor and a plurality of detector circuits each having an associated sensor in communication with the processor;

the detection assembly mountable in relation to the circuit breaker box such that the sensor of each of the detector circuits is disposed adjacent to and independently associated with one of the circuit breaker switches; and

a transceiver capable of;

being plugged into the electrical receptacle of one of the plurality of electrical circuits;

transmitting a predetermined signal through one of the plurality of circuit breaker switches associated with the electrical circuit having the electrical receptacle into which the transceiver is plugged; and

receiving an indicator signal caused to be generated by the detector circuit adjacent the circuit breaker switch associated with the electrical circuit having the electrical receptacle into which the transceiver is plugged;

the indicator signal indicating the one of the plurality of circuit breaker switches associated with the electrical circuit having the electrical receptacle into which the transceiver is plugged.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to record and replay a mapping sequence of the location of each of the plurality of circuit breaker switches associated with each of the electrical receptacles of the electrical circuits within which the transceiver is plugged in a sequence.

3. A display panel mounted in a circuit breaker box for detecting the location of at least one circuit breaker switch amongst a plurality of circuit breaker switches disposed within a circuit breaker box and associated with a plurality of electrical circuits, the display panel comprising:

a circuit board including a processor, a memory, and an indicator;

a power source coupled to the circuit board;

a detector circuit coupled to the circuit board, the detector circuit including a sensor disposed in close proximity to one of the plurality of circuit breaker switches;

wherein the sensor of the detector circuit is capable of sensing a test signal transmitted within the electrical circuit associated with the circuit breaker switch; and

wherein the processor and the memory are configured to record and replay a mapping sequence of the plurality of circuit breaker switches associated with each of the plurality of electrical circuits within which the test signal is transmitted.

4. The display panel of claim 3, further comprising

a dead circuit detector coupled to the circuit board, wherein the dead circuit detector determines the level of activity within the electrical circuit associated with the circuit breaker switch.

5. A method for detecting the location of a circuit breaker switch associated with a particular electrical circuit having a transceiver plugged into an electrical receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting a sensor of a detector circuit in close proximity to the circuit breaker switch;

transmitting a test signal from the transceiver through the electrical circuit;

sensing the test signal at the sensor;

transmitting an indicator signal from the detector circuit to the transceiver indicating the location of the circuit breaker switch associated with the particular electrical circuit having the electrical receptacle into which the transceiver is plugged.

6. A detector assembly for detecting the location of at least one circuit breaker switch amongst a plurality of circuit breaker switches disposed within a circuit breaker box and associated with a plurality of electrical circuits, the assembly comprising:

a processor and an associated memory;

a plurality of detector circuits each having an associated sensor in communication with the processor;

a plurality of indicators in communication with the processor and each associated with one of the detector circuits;

the assembly mountable in relation to the circuit breaker box such that the sensor of each of the detector circuits is disposed adjacent to and independently associated with one of the circuit breaker switches;

the processor capable of activating the indicator associated with each of the detector circuits that detects a predetermined signal transmitted through the adjacent associated circuit breaker switch, the processor programmed with a recording function to allow recording of a testing sequence within the associated memory.

7. The detector assembly of claim 6, further comprising

a dead circuit detector in communication with the processor, wherein the dead circuit detector determines the level of activity within the electrical circuit associated with the adjacent associated circuit breaker switch.