Methods for installing an antenna reception system

• US 7,969,154 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2010
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Lenzie, Kirk, Nguyen, Vincent, Gold, Casey, Chaisitti, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Dole; Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US12/955,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: 324508-511, 361/42, 361/45, 361/46, 361/49, 361/50
• US Class Current: 324/508
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/16 responsive to fault current to earth, frame or mass with balanced or differential arrangement H02H3/26 ; monitoring earth connection H02H5/105

Abstract

Various systems, methods and apparatus are described for detecting an excessive or faulty ground current in a conductive wire or electronic device. A ground current detector is coupled to a known earth ground to determine whether other ground lines are carrying excessive, faulty and/or leaking currents. If these types of unsafe conditions are detected, then a user can take appropriate action to locate and correct these problems.

Claims

1. A method for installing an antenna reception system, the method comprising:

providing an antenna electrically coupled to an earth ground through a first cable;

coupling a first input of a ground current detector to the first cable;

signally coupling a second input of the ground current detector to a receiver;

coupling a power plug of the receiver to an outlet of a power source;

utilizing the ground current detector to determine whether the power source is correctly wired;

decoupling the power plug of the receiver from the outlet of the power source responsive to determining that the power source is correctly wired;

connecting the receiver to at least one other electronic device responsive to determining that the power source is correctly wired;

powering on the at least one electronic device responsive to determining that the power source is correctly wired; and

utilizing the ground current detector to determine whether there is any current leakage into the receiver from the at least one other electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing the ground current detector to determine whether the power source is correctly wired further comprises:

determining whether a current from a ground line of the power source is above a threshold value based on the earth ground.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing the ground current detector to determine whether there is any current leakage from the at least one other electronic device into the receiver further comprises:

determining whether a current from a ground line of the power plug of the receiver is above a threshold value.