# US 10,312,680 B2 · Electrical line status monitoring system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,680 B2 - Document ID: US10312680B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/885,156 - Filed: 2018-01-31 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-20 - Assignees: Triune Systems, LLC - Applicants: Triune Systems, LLC - Inventors: Ross E. Teggatz; Wayne Chen; Brett Smith; James Kohout - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312680B2 ## CPC - H02H 11/005: {in case of too low isolation resistance, too high load, short-circuit; earth fault} - G01R 19/16552: {in I.C. power supplies} - G01R 31/2853: {Electrical testing of internal connections or -isolation, e.g. latch-up or chip-to-lead connections (G01R31/31717 takes precedence; test of chip-to-PCB or lead-to-PCB connections G01R31/66)} - H02H 3/08: responsive to excess current (responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04) - H02H 3/18: responsive to reversal of direct current - H02H 11/006: {in case of too high or too low voltage} - H02H 3/04: with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned {(watching of pilot wires H02H1/0084; protection of protective arrangements H02H7/008; indication of the state of electronic switches H03K17/18)} - H02H 3/40: responsive to ratio of voltage and current - H02H 3/42: responsive to product of voltage and current - H02H 7/267: {for parallel lines and wires} - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract Disclosed are advances in the arts with novel methods and apparatus for detecting faulty connections in an electrical system. Exemplary preferred embodiments include monitoring techniques and systems for monitoring signals at one or more device loads and analyzing the monitored signals for determining fault conditions at the device loads and/or at the main transmission lines. The invention preferably provides the capability to test and monitor electrical interconnections without fully activating the host system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical line status monitoring method comprising the steps of: monitoring voltage between a source and a load operably coupled to the line; upon detection of a voltage level above a first threshold, causing the load to be disconnected from the source, thereby indicating the existence and location of a fault; and absent a voltage level above the selected threshold, providing power to the load; and subsequently, monitoring voltage between the source and load operably coupled to the line; upon detection of a voltage level above a second threshold, causing the load to be disconnected from the source, thereby indicating the existence and location of a fault; and absent a voltage level above the second threshold, continuing to provide power to the load. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An electrical line status monitoring method according to claim 1 wherein the step of causing the load to be disconnected from the source upon detection of a voltage level above a first threshold coincides with system startup. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An electrical line status monitoring method according to claim 1 wherein the step of causing the load to be disconnected from the source upon detection of a voltage level above a second threshold coincides with a current level less than the anticipated peak voltage of the system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An electrical line status monitoring method according to claim 1 comprising the further step of monitoring one or more local parameters at the location of a load. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An electrical line status monitoring method according to claim 1 comprising the further step of monitoring, at the location of a load, one or more local parameters selected from the group: temperature; humidity; alkalinity; acidity; impedance; conductivity; viscosity; and density. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a visual display to indicate a fault. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an audio indication of a fault. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein causing the load to be disconnected from the source comprises latching the load to isolate the load from the source. ### Claim 9 An electrical line status monitoring system comprising: a circuit adapted for monitoring voltage between a power supply and a load operably coupled to a power line; wherein the circuit comprises one or more switches for causing the load to be disconnected from the power supply upon detection of a voltage level above a first threshold, and absent a voltage level above the first threshold, for providing power to the load; and wherein the circuit is adapted to indicate the existence and location of a fault upon detection of a voltage level above the first threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An electrical line status monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein the circuit is adapted to detect a voltage level above a second threshold, and wherein the circuit comprises one or more switches for causing the load to be disconnected from the power supply upon detection of a voltage level above the second threshold, and absent a voltage level above the second threshold, for providing power to the load; and wherein the circuit is adapted to indicate the existence and location of a fault upon detection of a voltage level above the second threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) An electrical line status monitoring system according to claim 9 further comprising a sensor for sensing local parameters. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) An electrical line status monitoring system according to claim 9 further comprising a sensor for sensing one or more local parameters selected from among the group: temperature; humidity; alkalinity; acidity; impedance; conductivity; viscosity; and density. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) An electrical line status monitoring system according to claim 9 wherein the circuit comprises an application-specific integrated circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising a circuit configured to generate a visual display to indicate a fault. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising a circuit configured to generate an audio indication of a fault. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of the circuits adapted for monitoring the voltage between the source and each of a corresponding plurality of different loads that are operably coupled to the power line, wherein each of the plurality of circuits comprises an indicator to generate a visual or audio indicator off fault associated with that circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of the circuits adapted for monitoring the voltage between the source and each of a corresponding plurality of different loads that are operably coupled to the power line, and a junction connector coupled to two or more of the plurality of circuits, wherein the junction connector comprises fault detection and indication circuitry. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising a system coupled to the circuitry and configured to perform impedance measurements at a plurality of outputs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising a signal conditioning interface having a look-up table to store fault indication data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising a data transmission system configured to transmit fault data to an operator.