Apparatus for protecting electrical and electronic equipment and associated method
US5721659A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 25, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 25, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H9/04
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A protection apparatus includes a relay being switchable between a protected state and an operating state, a power consumption sensor, and a controller for permitting a user to switch the relay to the operating state, and for switching the relay to the protected state responsive to sensed power consumption of the electrical equipment indicating nonuse thereof. Accordingly, the apparatus protects the electrical equipment from disturbances carried by the external electrical conductors when the electrical equipment is not in use. The apparatus preferably includes a housing which also serves to mount a plurality of electrical connectors for interfacing between the electrical equipment and the external electrical conductors. In one embodiment, the apparatus also preferably includes a lightning sensor for switching the relay to the protected state responsive to sensing of lightning. Alternately, or in addition, the apparatus may also include a power loss sensor for sensing a loss of power from the power source to the electrical equipment and for switching the relay immediately to the protected state responsive to sensing a loss of power.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.