Apparatus and method for monitoring, controlling, displaying and dissipating an electrostatic charge

An apparatus for dissipating an electrostatic charge from an object comprising:

• a first terminal electrically coupled to the object;
• a second terminal electrically coupled to a reference ground;
• circuit hardening means, electrically coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal, for providing voltage overload protection from an electrostatic event;
• and display means, electrically coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, for displaying the level of electrostatic charge dissipated.

An apparatus for dissipating an electrostatic charge from an object, comprising:

• a housing;
• a fastener for attaching the housing to a ground object, the ground object being electrically coupled to a reference ground and electrically insulated from the housing;
• a conductive element, the element being electrically coupled to the ground object and electrically insulated from the housing;
• a first terminal electrically coupled to the housing;
• a second terminal electrically coupled to the conductive element;
• a dissipating circuit electrically coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal, the circuit being operable to control dissipation of an electrostatic charge from the first terminal to the second terminal;
• and
• a display being operable to display a level of electrostatic charge being dissipated by the dissipating circuit.

An apparatus for dissipating an electrostatic charge from an object, comprising:

• a housing;
• a fastener for attaching the housing to the object;
• an electrical jack, the electrical jack comprising an output terminal;
• a first terminal electrically coupled to the housing;
• a second terminal electrically coupled to the output terminal;
• a dissipating circuit electrically coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal, the circuit being operable to control dissipation of an electrostatic charge from the first terminal to the second terminal;
• and
• a display being operable to display a level of electrostatic charge being dissipated by the dissipating circuit.

An apparatus for dissipating an electrostatic charge from an object, comprising:

• a housing;
• a fastener for attaching the housing to the object;
• a ground wire, the ground wire being electrically coupled to a reference ground of the object;
• a first terminal electrically coupled to the housing;
• a second terminal electrically coupled to the ground wire;
• a dissipating circuit electrically coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal, the circuit being operable to control dissipation of an electrostatic charge from the first terminal to the second terminal;
• and
• a display being operable to display a level of electrostatic charge being dissipated by the dissipating circuit.

An apparatus for dissipating an electrostatic charge from an object, comprising:

• a housing;
• an input/output jack, the input/output jack comprising an input terminal electrically coupled to the object and an output terminal electrically coupled to a reference ground;
• a first terminal electrically coupled to the input terminal and to the housing;
• a second terminal electrically coupled to the output terminal;
• a dissipating circuit electrically coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal, the circuit being operable to control dissipation of an electrostatic charge from the first terminal to the second terminal;
• and
• a display being operable to display a level of electrostatic charge being dissipated by the dissipating circuit.

A method for evaluating the electrostatic charge associated with an object, comprising:

• electrically coupling the object to a first terminal of an electrostatic dissipater, the electrostatic dissipater being operable to display a level of electrostatic charge being dissipated;
• electrically coupling a reference ground to a second terminal of the electrostatic dissipater;
• and
• observing a display of the electrostatic dissipater.

A method of dissipating electrostatic charge from an object comprising:

• coating the surface of the object with a conductive electrostatic solution;
• electrically coupling the object to an electrostatic dissipater;
• and
• displaying on a display an indication that is proportional to the level of electrostatic charge being dissipated by the electrostatic dissipater.

A method of displaying the level of electrostatic charge associated with an object, comprising:

• electrically coupling the object to a first terminal of an electrostatic dissipater, the electrostatic dissipater being operable to display a level of electrostatic charge being dissipated;
• electrically coupling a reference ground to a second terminal of the electrostatic dissipater;
• and
• displaying on a display an indication which is proportional to the level of electrostatic charge being dissipated between the first terminal and the second terminal.