Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Safety and protection of systems and devices – With specific voltage responsive fault sensor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-30
2003-06-24
Jackson, Stephen W. (Department: 2836)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Safety and protection of systems and devices
With specific voltage responsive fault sensor
C361S058000, C361S093100, C361S103000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06583973
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a vehicular electrical systems.
2. Background Art
The use of a microelectronic-based monitor to detect fault conditions in a vehicle electrical circuit, such as a signal lamp circuit, is well known. In such an application, the monitor typically includes a very low impedance element inserted in series in the vehicle electrical circuit as a sensing element. The voltage across the sensing element is detected by the monitor microelectronics and then compared to a profile of voltage states to determine status of the vehicle electrical circuit, e.g., one of four lamps in a signal lamp circuit has burnt out. Response, such as notifying the vehicle operator or disconnecting the circuit, may then be initiated by the monitor based on the status of the signal lamp circuit. The impedance presented by the monitor microelectronics in parallel with the sensing element is typically much greater than the impedance of the sensing element.
The vehicle electrical circuit typically includes a protective element sized to open the circuit in the event of over-current. However, these protective elements are typically sized to protect the vehicle electrical circuit, not the monitor microelectronics. Fault conditions in the vehicle electrical circuit, such as an over-current brought on by a short circuit, could damage monitor microelectronics before the vehicle electrical circuit's protective element opens the circuit.
Typically, the sensing element is integrated into the monitor as one or more discrete electrical elements, e.g., resistor(s) soldered onto a printed circuit board in the monitor. In that case, should the sensing element be damaged by conditions in the vehicle electrical circuit, maintainability and cost considerations usually dictate removal and replacement of the entire monitor, as opposed to removal and replacement of the sensing element.
In view of the above described deficiencies associated with the use of known designs for automatic climate control systems, the present invention has been developed to alleviate these drawbacks and provide further benefits to the user. These enhancements and benefits are described in greater detail hereinbelow with respect to several alternative embodiments of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a modular interface device used in place of an integrated sensing element. The interface device contributes to increased vehicle maintainability by reducing mean time to repair and reducing the cost of replacing a failed integrated sensing element or monitor.
In one embodiment, the current invention is an interface device adapted to be connected between an electrical circuit and a monitor. The interface device consists of a common terminal, “n” number of sensing terminals, “n” number of sensing impedances, and “n” number of load terminals. Each load terminal is in electrical communication with the common terminal through a separate sensing impedance. Each sensing impedance is substantially less than the aggregate electrical circuit load side impedance between the sensing impedance and ground when the interface device is connected in series between the supply side and load side of the electrical circuit. Each load terminal is substantially the same electrical point as only one sensing terminal.
In a further embodiment, the interface device incorporates various protective elements including: a supply side electrical circuit protective element; a load side electrical circuit protective element; and a monitor circuit protective element.
In a further embodiment conductive elements of the interface device are formed as a continuous resistance-calibrated conductor fabricated from a single piece of electrically conductive material. In that embodiment the conductor is substantially enclosed in a non-conductive case exposing only the common terminal, each load terminal, and each sensing terminal. Additionally, each terminal is formed into substantially flat tabs adapted for concurrent releasable mechanical engagement in electrical communication with corresponding electrical circuit and monitor terminals.
In another embodiment, the invention is shown installed as an interface between a vehicle electrical circuit and a monitor at a terminal block. Several interface devices are shown interconnecting electrical circuits and corresponding monitors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5235317 (1993-08-01), Sutterlin et al.
Howrey Simon Arnold & White , LLP
Jackson Stephen W.
Volvo Car Corporation
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