Patent · US Expired

Microcomputer driven fail-safe device with short circuit detection for electronic control circuitry

US4587590A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
6References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 15, 1984
Grant dateMay 6, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 15, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/0796
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A fail-safe device for removing power from controlled circuitry upon the occurrence of an undesired operating condition is disclosed. The fail-safe device includes means for detecting a short circuit in the controlled circuitry and for indicating the existence of an undesired operating condition if a short is detected. The fail-safe device further includes a non-volatile memory for retaining data through a power outage so that the existence of an undesired operating condition is remembered upon return of the power. The data stored in the non-volatile memory may also be useful in investigating an accident or malfunction. The fail-safe device still further includes a reset button which returns power after an undesired operating condition if it is momentarily depressed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.