Method and system for line current detection for power line cords
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorRandhir Singh Malik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects for detecting current flow in a power line cord are described. In these aspects, a line current detector circuit is provided for each input plug line of a power distribution box. A determination of whether line current is flowing in a system line cord plugged into the power distribution box is based on a light indicator from the line detector circuit. The line current detector circuit includes a magnetic device for detecting line current flowing in a power line cord, and a light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the magnetic device for outputting a light indicative of whether current is flowing in the power line cord.
Claims29
A method for detecting current flow in a power distribution box, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a line current detector circuit for each input plug line of a power distribution box;
- and
- (b) determining whether line current is flowing in each input plug line based on an indicator from the line detector circuit.
A system for detecting line current flow in a power line cord, the system comprising:
- a plurality of plug feeds for a power distribution box;
- a plurality of systems plugged into the plurality of plug feeds via separate line cords;
- and
- a plurality of line detector circuits coupled between the plurality of systems arid the plurality of plug feeds, each line detector circuit for indicating whether current is flowing in each of the separate line cords.
A line current detector circuit comprising:
- a magnetic device for detecting line current flowing in a power line cord;
- and
- a light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the magnetic device for outputting a light indicative of whether current is flowing in the power line cord.
A power distribution box comprising:
- a plurality of plug feeds;
- a plurality of input plug lines, each of the input plug lines coupled to one of the plurality of plug feeds;
- and
- a plurality of line detector circuits, each of the plurality of line detectors coupled in series with one of the plurality of input plug lines, each of the plurality of line detector circuits for indicating whether current is flowing in each of the separate input plug lines.
A power distribution box comprising:
- a plurality of plug feeds;
- a plurality of input plug lines, each of the input plug lines coupled to one of the plurality of plug feeds;
- and
- a plurality of line detector circuits, each of the plurality of line detectors coupled in series with one of the plurality of input plug lines, each of the plurality of line detector circuits for indicating whether current is flowing in each of the separate input plug lines, wherein each of the plurality of line detector circuits indicates whether current is flowing in the separate line cords by a light indicator, wherein a blinking light indicator indicates that current is flowing in the separate line cord, wherein each of the plurality line detector circuits further comprises a transformer to develop a voltage across a wiring when a current from a line current flows through, wherein the transformer is coupled to a comparator, the comparator is coupled to a timer, and the timer is coupled to a light emitting diode (LED), wherein the comparator provides a signal to the timer based on the voltage sensed by the transformer and the timer controls whether the LED appears to be blinking based on the signal provided by the comparator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.