Wiring arrangement ensuring all-or-none operation of a...

Details Wiring arrangement ensuring all-or-none operation of a... Wiring arrangement ensuring all-or-none operation of a...

2001-10-01

2003-09-09

Cuneo, Kamand (Department: 2827)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S775000, C361S823000, C361S828000, C307S012000, C307S029000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06618265

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
shows a schematic view of a conventional modular load element of an electrical device. Modular load element
100
comprises load element
102
having first node
104
and second node
106
. Application of a potential difference across nodes
104
and
106
creates a circuit and allows load element
102
to perform a useful function. Examples of load elements include heaters, motors, actuators, as well as any other devices that operate through receipt of an electrical signal.
It is frequently desired that a plurality of modular load elements function together. One conventional arrangement of modular load elements is illustrated in FIG.
2
. Specifically, series
200
of modular load elements
100
are in electrical communication with power source
204
via connector structures
202
a-c.
Specifically, terminals
206
of power source
204
are in respective communication with terminals
208
a
and
210
a
of first connector structure
202
a.
Terminals
208
a
and
210
a
of first connector structure
202
a
are in turn in communication with first and second nodes
104
a
and
106
a
respectively, of first load element
100
a,
and with terminals
208
b
and
210
b
of second connector structure
202
b.
Terminals
208
b
and
210
b
of second connector structure
202
b
are in turn in communication with first and second nodes
104
b
and
106
b
respectively, of second load element
100
b
and with terminals
208
c
and
210
c
of third connector structure
202
c.
Terminals
208
c
and
210
c
of third connector structure are in turn in communication with first and second nodes
104
c
and
106
c
of third load element
100
c.
The modular load elements of
FIG. 2
are connected in parallel. That is, failure to successfully connect the first modular load element of the series to the second modular load element does not prevent operation of the first modular load element. Such problems in establishing electrical communication between the modular load elements may occur where the connector structures are small and difficult to manipulate owing to their positioning within a larger apparatus.
The conventional parallel arrangement of the modular load elements shown in
FIG. 2
is advantageous in that one connection failure will not preclude the entire series from operating. However, in certain applications, it is desirable that either all or none of the load elements operate.
For example, in semiconductor fabrication processes, wafers may be heated by a plurality of lamps arranged as a series of modular load elements. Any amount of heat received by the wafer from the lamps can result in irreversible redistribution of dopants within the wafer. Accordingly, where one or more lamps fail to light because of an unsuccessful electrical connection between them, it is desirable that none of the lamps operate. In such an event, connection between all of the lamps can ultimately be established, and the wafers successfully heated, without having to scrap partially heated wafers.
Moreover, in many applications it is necessary to continuously monitor operation of the load elements, so that corrective action can quickly and effectively be taken in the event that connection between all of a series of modular load elements is not established. Since the load elements shown in
FIG. 2
receive power independent of each other, each load element requires a separate sensor in order to detect its operation. The provision of multiple sensors to the apparatus adds complexity and expense.
One possible approach to arranging a plurality of load elements to ensure all-or-none operation is shown in FIG.
3
. Modular load elements
300
of system
302
of
FIG. 3
are arranged serially, with the second node
306
of each load element
301
in communication with first node
304
of the succeeding load element, and the second node of the final modular load element in the series connected with the power source. Failure to properly connect modular load elements
300
will prevent all from operating, as the circuit will remain open.
However, the approach of
FIG. 3
requires complex design of the load elements, as each load element must account for differences in voltage and current resulting from operation of the preceding load elements in the series. Moreover, where power source
308
provides alternating current to the circuit, the first and second nodes of the devices will shift continuously over time, rendering compensation for cumulative voltage/current effects difficult or impossible.
Accordingly, new arrangements of a plurality of modular load elements are desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of circuits and methods in accordance with the present invention ensure all-or-none operation of a series of modular load elements. High and low voltage lines from a power source are routed through respective load element nodes positioned at opposite ends of the series of modular load elements. This arrangement prevents activation of only a portion of the load elements where electrical connection between each of them has not been successfully established.
An embodiment of a circuit in accordance with the present invention comprises a power source having a first terminal and a second terminal, a first modular load element having a first node and a second node, and a final modular load element having a first node and a second node. A first connector includes a first terminal in communication with the first terminal of the power source and with the first node of the first modular load element, and a second terminal in communication with the second node of the first modular load element. A second connector includes a first terminal in communication with the first node of the first modular load element and with the first node of the final modular load element, and a second terminal in communication with the second node of the first modular load element and with the second node of the final modular load element. A third connector includes a first terminal in communication with the first node of the final modular load element, and a second terminal in communication with the second node of the final modular load element and with the second node of the power source. Failure to establish electrical connection between the power source and at least one of the first and final modular load elements prevents operation of either of the first and final modular load elements.
An embodiment of a method of arranging a series of modular load elements in communication with a common power source comprises connecting a first node of a first modular load element of the series with a first terminal of the power source. A first node of a final load element of the series is placed in electrical communication with the first node of the first modular load element. A second node of a final load element of the series is connected with a second terminal of the power source. A second node of the first modular load element is placed in electrical communication with the second node of the final modular load element of the series, such that failure to establish a connection between any of the load elements of the series precludes all of the load elements of the series from experiencing a potential difference.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5216285 (1993-06-01), Hilsenteger et al.
patent: 5581130 (1996-12-01), Boucheron
patent: 5640055 (1997-06-01), Sugiyama et al.
patent: 5659206 (1997-08-01), Taguchi et al.
patent: 6268559 (2001-07-01), Yamawaki
patent: 6472770 (2002-10-01), Pohjola
patent: 6489693 (2002-12-01), Hetzler
patent: 6492745 (2002-12-01), Colley et al.
patent: 6528899 (2003-03-01), Saito et al.
patent: 3905772 (1990-09-01), None
patent: 4012307 (1991-10-01), None

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