Apparatus and method for detection of latent faults in redundant systems
US5325062A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 10, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 10, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/24
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and method are provided for fault detecting in an electrical system such as a redundant or fault-tolerant system. A current receiving device connected in shunt or in series in such a system draws electric current from the electrical system being monitored. During normal operation, while current is still flowing properly through the system being monitored, an appropriate indication such as a continued series of pulses is generated, which is interpreted as indicating proper operation. If that current flow is cut off, indicating a fault condition, then the apparatus and method provide an appropriate signal (such as cutoff of the series of pulses) to a communication system which provides an appropriate indication to an external location. The current receiving device can be a relaxation oscillator together with another device which can be a pulse generator, an L-C energy transfer arrangement, a bridge circuit including an inductor, a two-winding inductor or a capacitor. The latter such device can be connected in shunt or in series with the electrical system being monitored. The relaxation oscillator is connected in shunt with the system being monitored. The communication devic…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.