Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Patent
1997-05-19
1998-10-13
Hofsass, Jeffery A.
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
340568, 340571, 340652, G08B 2100
Patent
active
058218688
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a monitoring device for computers with connected peripherals such as monitors, printers and the like, wherein all peripherals are connected with the computer by at least one ground line.
One such monitoring device is disclosed in DE-GM 91 10 174. In this monitoring device, which is called an anti-theft device, there are provided a light signal emitted transmitter and a receiver associated with the light signal transmitter for receiving the light signals emitting by the transmitter. In addition, a light waveguide, which connects the transmitter and the receiver and is formed as a locking element, is provided. The light waveguide is formed of several parts releasably connected with each other with couplings and counter couplings. In this way, a plurality of apparatuses such as computers with connected monitors, printers and the like can be connected with each other with a light waveguide formed as a locking element, i.e., they become interlinked and, thus, protected against theft. Thus, as soon the multi-part light waveguide is interrupted by an unauthorized release of a coupling from its counterpart or is manipulated in a similar way, no signal or a changed light signal is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver. A computer anti-theft device with a sensor unit, which includes a computer side and stationary sensor devices operationally electrically connected with each other, is disclosed in DE-GM 93 11034. The stationary sensor device is advantageously formed as conduit having, on one side, a contact point and, on the other side, a loop wound around a stationary part, e.g., a desk leg or a shelf rail. The severing of the conductor, loosening of the plug connection or the like generate an alarm signal.
The known devices are adapted more or less only to monitoring computers, while the conventionally connected peripherals such as monitors, printers or the like are not monitored and can be sealed (please see DE GM 93 11 034). On the other side, the known conventional monitoring devices formed as multi-part light waveguide locking elements are very-expensive. Here lies the invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,747 discloses a monitoring device for, e.g., a TV-set in which each ground line between a respective peripheral and, e.g., the TV-set has a looped-in common sensor device for monitoring the continuous ground connection. The sensor device is set for recording deviations of an electrical potential from a ground potential at a respective looped-in end of the sensor device. There is provided an alarm device, which is actuated by a sensor device upon recording of a deviation, for signaling ground connection interruption.
The subject of the invention is a monitoring device of the type described in the beginning which is simple and operationally reliable.
This object is achieved by a monitoring device having features of claim 1.
These features of the invention insure a simple and operationally reliable construction of the monitoring device because the invention is based on already available connections between the computer and usually connected therewith peripherals-such as monitors, printers and the like. Each such connection necessarily includes a ground line. The invention recognized that a computer with a connected peripheral can be monitored by monitoring the ground connection between the computer and the peripheral. This is effected with a sensor device looped in between the computer and the peripheral for monitoring a continuous ground connection therebetween. In this way, monitoring can be effected without any interference with the peripheral and without disturbing its function. Simultaneously, the monitoring device can be used even with any type of a peripheral and a computer. Overall, neither the operation of the computer nor that of a peripheral is disturbed because the measured ground connection does not have any active potential and, consequently, no disturbance in the data flow between the peripherals or between the computer and the peripherals occurs. The sensor device is
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The New England Journal of Medecine, 303, No. 10, 583 (Jul. 3, 1980).
Hofsass Jeffery A.
La Anh
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