Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
340649000 | Condition of intentional grounding circuit | 10 |
20090167546 | Grounding Monitoring Device For Work Station Operator - The device detects whether an operator of a work station has properly worn a wrist strap or other ground mechanism. A major characteristic of the device is that a wireless energy transmission and detection mechanism is incorporated to sense if the operator is present in front of the work station. The device monitors the resistance of a discharge circuit composed of the operator's wrist strap. If the monitored resistance is not in a proper range, the device will automatically issue alarms, only if the wireless energy transmission and detection has sensed that the operator is indeed at the work station. Another characteristic of the device is that two or more of them could be signally connected to a centralized monitoring console through a network. As such, a user is able to remotely monitor the grounding conditions of all work stations. | 07-02-2009 |
20090251327 | Grounding Monitoring Device And System For Work - The present invention provides a device to monitor whether a work station operator has properly worn a grounding mechanism, and a novel cascading means to chain multiple devices into a chain for sharing electricity and ground. The present invention could achieve the following functions: (1) capable of monitoring both single-wire and two-wire grounding mechanisms; (2) providing backup grounding through the chain so that the static electricity discharging capability is maintained as long as a single device in the chain remains connected to the ground; (3) extending the ground through the chain so that grounding is not required to be previously prepared at every work station; (4) sustaining all devices on the chain by a single external power supply; and (5) providing networking connectivity through the chain's cascading cables so that the network cabling cost and effort is significantly reduced. | 10-08-2009 |
20100019914 | METHOD FOR TESTING PERSONNEL ESD GROUNDING DEVICES WITH FUNCTION OF NEAR-FAIL ALERT AND DEVICE FOR PERFORMING THE SAME - A method for testing personnel ESD grounding devices with a function of near-fail alert is disclosed. A near-fail range is set. When the measurement of the resistance for a wrist strap or a footwear is within the near-fail range; an alarm is actuated to alert the user that the static electricity prevention device worn by the user will fail soon. The near-fail range is provided so that the user can receive an alert when the wrist strap or the footwear being worn on will fail soon in the near future and thus to remind the user to adopt proper reactions to change or fix the personnel ESD grounding device to prevent its sudden failure during actual use. Furthermore, the test provides digital readouts and has higher precision to avoid faulty results. Moreover, the wrist strap and footwear are tested simultaneously and individual results can be derived so as to avoid errors in test. A device for performing the method is also provided. | 01-28-2010 |
20100045473 | NON-METALLIC ALERT SYSTEMS - Alert systems indicate removal of one or more protected portions of electrical grounding assemblies. An alert system can include a signal transmitter, a signal receiver, an alert device, and a communication cable. The signal transmitter can transmit a signal to be received by the signal receiver. The alert device can be coupled to the signal receiver, such that the alert device is activated when the signal is not received. A non-metallic communication cable can propagate the signal from the signal transmitter to signal receiver. The communication cable can be bound to a protected portion of the grounding assembly, such that disturbance of the protected portion can damage the communication cable. Because damage to the communication cable can cause an interruption in the signal, such damage can result in activation of the alert device. Accordingly, disturbance of the protected portion of the grounding assembly can activate the alert device. | 02-25-2010 |
20110254693 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONFIGURABLE GROUND MONITORING OF A WORKBENCH - The invention provides a method for configurable ground monitoring of a workbench, and the method comprises the steps as follows. The step of detecting if each of monitored objects of a monitor device is enable should be performed first. A digital value of each of the monitored objects according to detecting result is then calculated and accumulated. The step of detecting if each of the monitored objects reaches a predetermined number of samples is performed, and the step of calculating an average value of each of the monitored objects according to detecting result is followed. The average measured value is compared with a predetermined digital limit-value of each of the monitored objects; furthermore, a corresponding alarm will be sounded when the average measured value exceeds the predetermined digital limit-value. The digital value and a compared result are then sent, and then the step of detecting if the operator ground connection is enabled is performed. A timer counter is then renewed according to detecting result, and an alarm will be sounded when the operator did not maintain ground connection and is exceeding a predetermined time period. A device using the abovementioned method is also disclosed in the present invention. | 10-20-2011 |
20120032813 | GFCI with Overcurrent Protection and End-of-Life Warning and Tripping Functions - The invention relates to a GFCI that trips and provides indication at the end of its life. It comprises a leakage signal detection circuit (LSDC) and a failure alarm for providing indication in case of failure. The LSDC includes a leakage signal amplification circuit (LSAC) which amplifies the signal from test and neutral toroidal coils and controls a mechanical tripping mechanism through a silicon control unit and an igniter. The mechanical tripping mechanism is controlled by the LSDC through the silicon control unit by a forcible tripping coil connected thereto. This LSDC is powered by a power unit. Additionally, a failure alarm circuit which triggers and supplies visual indication through an optical display element in the event of failure is connected to the power unit of the LSDC. This alarm circuit also includes a forcible tripping coil to control the mechanical tripping mechanism at the end of the device life. | 02-09-2012 |
20120299740 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Automatic Electrical-Fault Detection - An automatic fault detector momentarily interrupts a provision of operating power to a load having a minimal forward-bias voltage requirement to thereby provide a testing window and then applies a test voltage during this window that is less than the minimal forward-bias voltage requirement to the load and monitors for a power-to-ground fault. By one approach the aforementioned momentarily interruption of power is neither frequent enough nor long enough in duration to substantially impair the provision of power to the load. Accordingly, load performance is not noticeably diminished. One can then responsively prohibit subsequent provision of the operating power to the load. One can then continue to monitor for the power-to-ground fault while continuing to prohibit provision of operating power to the load. If and when the fault disappears, these teachings will then accommodate automatically resuming an ordinary provision of power to the load. | 11-29-2012 |
20130135112 | ELECTROSTATIC CONDUCTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PREVENTION IN ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTION AREA - A method for electrostatic prevention in an electrostatic discharge protection area applicable to an electrostatic conducting device including a main body, an alert unit, a sensing unit and a grounding unit is disclosed. The electrostatic conducting device is used for sensing an external signal and externally coupling to a ground line, and the main body is used for being worn by a user. The sensing unit is coupled to the alert unit for sensing the external signal so as to enable the alert unit. The grounding unit and the alert unit form a loop when being in contact with the skin of the user and coupled to the ground line. The loop is opened when the ground line is coupled to the grounding unit, and the alert unit is thus disabled. Effective ESD protection is achieved. | 05-30-2013 |
20150371525 | POWER DISTRIBUTION UNIT AND ALARM METHOD APPLIED IN THE SAME - A power distribution unit including a base, at least one socket, at least one detecting unit and a management unit is provided. The socket is disposed at the base and has at least one power end and a ground end. The detecting unit is disposed at the base. When a plug is disposed at the socket, the detecting unit outputs an alarm signal if the plug is electrically connected to the power end of the socket but the plug is not electrically connected to the ground end of the socket. The management unit is electrically connected to the detecting unit and performs a predetermined operation in response to the alarm signal. | 12-24-2015 |
20160054367 | POWER DISTRIBUTION UNIT AND ALARM METHOD APPLIED IN THE SAME - A power distribution unit including a base, at least one socket, at least one detecting unit and a management unit is provided. The socket is disposed at the base and has at least one power end and a ground end. The detecting unit is disposed at the base. When a plug is disposed at the socket, the detecting unit outputs an alarm signal if the plug is electrically connected to the power end of the socket but the plug is not electrically connected to the ground end of the socket. The management unit is electrically connected to the detecting unit and performs a predetermined operation in response to the alarm signal. | 02-25-2016 |