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US 10,845,395 B2Granted
Intrinsically safe Zener diode barrier with indication
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorMichael Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit device can be implemented, which includes a zener diode barrier composed of one or more zener diodes. The circuit device further includes one or more detection circuits electronically in series with the zener diode (or zener diodes) of the zener diode barrier. The zener diode barrier functions as an IS (Intrinsically Safe) barrier. The detection circuit (or circuits) facilitates the production of detailed information concerning different types of events detected by the detection circuit(s).
Claims12
A circuit device, comprising:
- a zener diode barrier having at least one zener diode among dual redundant zener diodes;
- at least one detection circuit that is connected electronically to a ground and which is electronically in series with said at least one zener diode of said zener diode barrier and provides a detection voltage, wherein said zener diode barrier comprises an IS (Intrinsically Safe) barrier having at least two redundant circuit paths, such that said at least one detection circuit facilitates a production of detailed information about events detected by said at least one detection circuit;
- wherein said at least one detection circuit comprises a current transformer based detection circuit that includes a current transformer that detects short pulses when said at least one zener diode initially turns on;
- and
- wherein said at least one detection circuit further comprises at least one of:
- a first detection circuit that detects long duration faults,
- a second detection circuit that detects surges over a length of time, and
- a third detection circuit that detects fast transients,
- wherein said first detection circuit, said second detection circuit and said third detection circuit are operable to detect different amounts of current, while providing information regarding said events including a severity of said long duration faults, said surges over said length of time, and said fast transients.
6 more elements
A circuit device, comprising:
- a zener diode barrier having at least one zener diode among dual redundant zener diodes, wherein said at least one zener diode is connected electronically to an inductor fuse and a resistor;
- at least one detection circuit that is connected electronically to a ground and which is electronically in series with said at least one zener diode of said zener diode barrier and provides a detection voltage, wherein said zener diode barrier comprises an IS (Intrinsically Safe) barrier having at least two redundant paths, such that said at least one detection circuit facilitates a production of detailed information about events detected by said at least one detection circuit;
- a processor that processes at least one output from said at least one detection circuit;
- wherein said at least one detection circuit comprises a current transformer based detection circuit that includes a current transformer that detects short pulses when said at least one zener diode initially turns on;
- and
- wherein said at least one detection circuit further comprises at least one of:
- a first detection circuit that detects long duration faults,
- a second detection circuit that detects surges over a length of time, and
- a third detection circuit that detects fast transients,
- wherein said first detection circuit, said second detection circuit and said third detection circuit are operable to detect different amounts of current, while providing information regarding said events including a severity of said long duration faults, said surges over said length of time, and said fast transients.
7 more elements
A method of operating a circuit device, said method comprising:
- providing a zener diode barrier having at least one zener diode among dual redundant zener diodes;
- and
- facilitating a production of detailed information about events detected by at least one detection circuit that is connected electronically to a ground and which is electronically in series with said at least one zener diode of said zener diode barrier having at least two redundant circuit paths, wherein said zener diode barrier comprises an IS (Intrinsically Safe) barrier;
- wherein said at least one detection circuit comprises a current transformer based detection circuit that includes a current transformer that detects short pulses when said at least one zener diode initially turns on;
- and
- wherein said at least one detection circuit further comprises at least one of:
- a first detection circuit that detects long duration faults,
- a second detection circuit that detects surges over a length of time, and
- a third detection circuit that detects fast transients,
- wherein said first detection circuit, said second detection circuit and said third detection circuit are operable to detect different amounts of current, while providing information regarding said events including a severity of said long duration faults, said surges over said length of time, and said fast transients.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.