# US 2013/0278274 A1 · Electrical interconnect 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 2013/0278274 A1 - Document ID: US20130278274A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/914,501 - Filed: 2013-06-10 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-23 - Assignees: Triune IP LLC - Applicants: Triune IP LLC - Inventors: Ross E. Teggatz; Wayne T. Chen; Brett Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278274A1 ## CPC - G01R 31/58: Testing of lines, cables or conductors (testing of electric windings G01R31/72) - 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)} - G01R 31/52: Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults - 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 basic, ASIC, AC, DC, and RF 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 at position 1 1-33. (canceled) ### Claim 34 A system comprising: main control circuitry coupled to a pair of conductors; a plurality of monitoring circuits, each coupled to a load and the pair of conductors, each of the monitoring circuits having a diagnostic mode, a disable mode and an operating mode, wherein only one of the plurality of monitoring circuits can be in the diagnostic mode at any given time, and each of the plurality of monitoring circuits can be in the disable mode or the operating mode at any given time, and wherein the disable mode disconnects the load associated with the monitoring circuit from the pair of conductors and the operating mode connects the load associated with the monitoring circuit to the pair of conductors; wherein the main control circuitry is configured to transmit a monitoring signal on the pair of conductors having known magnitude and frequency parameters measure reflected signals on the pair of conductors; and wherein each of the plurality of monitoring circuits is configured to change a reflection parameter to indicate the mode of operation of that monitoring circuit by a reflection of the monitoring signal. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 wherein the main control circuitry is configured to measure a pulse width of at least one of the reflected signals and to determine whether a fault condition exists by comparing the measured pulse width with an expected pulse width. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 wherein the main control circuitry is configured to transmit an AC signal on the pair of conductors, the AC signal having one or more sine wave signals of known amplitude, frequency, and phase parameters, to measure at least one or more parameters comprising an amplitude of a reflected signal, a time delay of the reflected signal, or a phase of the reflected signal, and to determine whether a fault condition exists by comparing the measured parameter with an expected parameter. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 wherein the main control circuitry is configured to analyze the monitored signals and determining fault conditions at the selected device load, isolate the faulty device load from the two conductors, and report load fault conditions. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 wherein the main control circuitry is configured to disable all but one load, transmit a DC signal on the two conductors, measure a voltage at the enabled load, and compare the measured voltage to an expected value. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 wherein the main control circuitry is configured to transmit an AC signal on the two conductors, measure a reflected AC signal on the two conductors, analyze characteristics of the reflected signal on the two conductors and determine whether fault conditions exist by comparing the characteristics of the reflected signal with expected characteristics. ### Claim 40 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 wherein the main control circuitry is configured to send command signals to command a selected load to enter a diagnostic mode, generate and transmit signals to the selected load operating in diagnostic mode, detect and receive a response signal, and analyzing and determining fault conditions at the selected load by comparing one or more of an amplitude, frequency, and phase of the response signals with an expected signal parameter. ### Claim 41 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 wherein one or more of the monitoring circuits comprises a diode bridge. ### Claim 42 The system wherein one or more of the monitoring circuits comprises a diagnostic register. ### Claim 43 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 wherein one or more of the monitoring circuits comprises a radio frequency detector. ### Claim 44 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 further comprising a third conductor coupled to the main control circuitry and each of the plurality of monitoring circuits, wherein at least one of the monitoring circuits comprises a test mode switch and the main control circuitry is configured to transmit a control signal to activate the test mode switch. ### Claim 45 A system for detecting faults, reporting faults, and detecting the locations of faults in an electrical interconnect system having a main line and a plurality of device loads, comprising: a main controller configured 1) to transmit an AC signal on the main line, the AC signal having known magnitude, width, and frequency parameters, 2) to measure reflected signals on the main line, 3) to measure a pulse width of the reflected signal, 4) to determine whether fault conditions exist by comparing the measured pulse width with an expected pulse width, 5) to use one or more additional wire lines connected to a selected device load to monitor current flow through the one or more additional wire lines, 6) to report the fault conditions, 7) to analyze the monitored signals and determine fault conditions at the selected device load, 8) to isolate the faulty device load from the main line, and, 9) to report load fault conditions, wherein if fault conditions exist in the selected device load, the current in the one or more additional wire lines increases or decreases relative to the main lines. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The system of claim 45 wherein the main control circuitry is configured to transmit an AC signal on the main line, the AC signal having one or more sine wave signals of known amplitude, frequency, and phase parameters, to measure at least one or more parameters comprising an amplitude of a reflected signal, a time delay of the reflected signal, or a phase of the reflected signal, and to determine whether a fault condition exists by comparing the measured parameter with an expected parameter. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The system of claim 45 wherein the main control circuitry is configured to disable all but one load, transmit a DC signal on the main line, measure a voltage at the enabled load, and compare the measured voltage to an expected value. ### Claim 48 (depends on 45) The system of claim 45 wherein the main control circuitry is configured to transmit an AC signal on the main line, measure a reflected AC signal on the main line, analyze characteristics of the reflected signal on the main line and determine whether fault conditions exist by comparing the characteristics of the reflected signal with expected characteristics. ### Claim 49 (depends on 45) The system of claim 45 wherein the main control circuitry is configured to send command signals to command a selected load to enter a diagnostic mode, generate and transmit signals to the selected load operating in diagnostic mode, detect and receive a response signal, and analyze and determine fault conditions at the selected load by comparing one or more of an amplitude, frequency, and phase of the response signals with an expected signal parameter. ### Claim 50 (depends on 45) The system of claim 45 further comprising a plurality of monitoring circuits, each coupled to a load and the main line, each of the monitoring circuits having a diagnostic mode, a disable mode and an operating mode. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The system of claim 50 wherein one or more of the monitoring circuits comprises a diode bridge. ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The system of claim 50 wherein one or more of the monitoring circuits comprises a diagnostic register. ### Claim 53 A system comprising: main control circuitry coupled to at least one conductor; a plurality of monitoring circuits, each coupled to a load and the at least one conductor, each of the monitoring circuits having a diagnostic mode, a disable mode and an operating mode, wherein each of the plurality of monitoring circuits are controlled to allow only one of the plurality of monitoring circuits to be in the diagnostic mode, and each of the plurality of monitoring circuits can be controlled to simultaneously be in the disable mode or the operating mode, and wherein the disable mode disconnects the load associated with the monitoring circuit from the at least one conductor and the operating mode connects the load associated with the monitoring circuit to the at least one conductor; wherein the main control circuitry is configured 1) to transmit a monitoring signal on the at least one conductor having known magnitude and frequency parameters and to measure reflected signals on the at least one conductor, 2) to measure a pulse width of at least one of the reflected signals and to determine whether a fault condition exists by comparing the measured pulse width with an expected pulse width, 3) to transmit an AC signal on the at least one conductor, the AC signal having one or more sine wave signals of known amplitude, frequency, and phase parameters, to measure at least one or more parameters comprising an amplitude of a reflected signal, a time delay of the reflected signal, or a phase of the reflected signal, and to determine whether a fault condition exists by comparing the measured parameter with an expected parameter, 4) to analyze the monitored signals and determining fault conditions at the selected device load, isolate the faulty device load from the at least one conductor, and report load fault conditions, 5) to disable all but one load, transmit a DC signal on the at least one conductor, measure a voltage at the enabled load, and compare the measured voltage to an expected value, or 6) to send command signals to command a selected load to enter a diagnostic mode, generate and transmit signals to the selected load operating in diagnostic mode, detect and receive a response signal, and analyzing and determining fault conditions at the selected load by comparing one or more of an amplitude, frequency, and phase of the response signals with an expected signal parameter; and wherein each of the plurality of monitoring circuits is configured to change a reflection parameter to indicate the mode of operation of that monitoring circuit by a reflection of the monitoring signal, and one or more of the monitoring circuits comprises a diode bridge, a diagnostic register or a radio frequency detector.