# US 7,746,241 B2 · Magnetic probe apparatus and method for providing a wireless connection to a detection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,241 B2 - Document ID: US7746241B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/750,841 - Filed: 2007-05-18 - Published: 2008-01-17 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-05-19 - Assignees: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. - Inventors: Laurence Virgil Feight; Edmund O. Schweitzer, III; Witold R. Tellor; Donald C. Hicks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746241B2 ## CPC - G01D 3/08: with provision for safeguarding the apparatus, e.g. against abnormal operation, against breakdown - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A system for communicating information from a detection device is provided through a waterproof and wireless interface. The system generally includes a communication member having an inductor and coupled to the detection device. An interface including another inductor is in communicating relation with the communication member. Upon a signal from the detection device, a magnetic field is produced by the inductor of the communication member and is transmitted to the inductor of the interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for communicating information from a detection device, comprising: a communication member coupled to the detection device, said communication member including an inductor, and an interface in communicating relation with said communication member, said interface including another inductor, whereupon a signal from the detection device effectuates a magnetic field produced by the inductor of the communication member, said magnetic field being transmitted to the inductor of the interface; wherein the interface includes a differential inductor coil configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the detection device is one selected from the group consisting of: water, high voltage electric field, specific gravity, light, sound, a faulted circuit indicator, a gas sensors, a CO sensor, a CO2 sensor, a sulphur oxides sensor, nitrogen oxides sensor, an ammonia sensor, an arsine sensor, a bromine sensor, a chlorine sensor, a chlorine sensor, a dioxide sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor, a diborane sensor, an ethylene oxide sensor, a fluorine sensor, a formaldehyde sensor, a germane sensor, a hydrogen sensor, a hydrogen chloride sensor, a hydrogen cyanide sensor, a hydrogen fluoride sensor, a hydrogen selenide sensor, a hydrogen sulfide sensor, an oxygen sensor, an ozone sensor, a methane sensor, a phosgene sensor, a phosphine sensor, a silane sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an electromagnetic radiation sensor, a radiation sensor, a smoke sensor, a particulate matter sensor, a liquid phase sensor, a pH sensor, a turbidity sensor, a Br− sensor, a Ca2+ ensor, a CI− sensor, a CN− sensor, a Cu2+ sensor, a F− sensor, a I− sensor, a K+ sensor, a Na+ sensor, an NH4+ sensor, a NO3− sensor, a Pb2+ sensor, a S-(AG+) sensor, a conductivity sensor, a radio wave sensor, an electrical sensor, an under voltage sensor, an over voltage sensor, an under current sensor, an over current sensor, a frequency sensor, a power factor alarm, a demand overload indicator, a voltage detector, a sensor that determine if a sealed subsurface fuse has operated by sensing voltage on each side of fuse element with loss of load current, a sensor that senses the open or closed position of a subsurface switch, a voltage sensor that monitors status of a lead-acid battery, a power quality sensor, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the detection device is a faulted circuit indicator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the communication member is substantially self-contained. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is substantially self-contained. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a radio frequency transmitter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the communication member further comprises a magnet and the interface further comprises a magnetic field sensor for detecting whether the communication member is in communicating relation with the interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the communication member further comprises a magnet and the interface further comprises a magnetic field sensor for detecting the pole of the magnet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, comprising a first detection device coupled to a first communication member comprising a magnet with a first pole positioned toward a first magnetic field sensor, and a second detection device coupled to a second communication member comprising a magnet with a second pole positioned toward a second magnetic field sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the interface further includes a securing member for securing the communication member thereto. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the inductor of the interface is a coiled inductor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the inductor of the interface is implemented on a printed circuit board. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a change in the magnetic field signals a fault detected by the detection device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a change in the magnetic field signals a reset of the detection device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein differential inductor coil configuration reduces magnetic field interface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the interface includes two inductor coils connected in opposite directions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the communication member includes a differential inductor coil configuration for reducing magnetic field interference. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the communication member includes two probes each having one of the inductor coils contained therein. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the communication member includes two inductor coils connected in opposite directions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the communication member includes two inductors in serial inductor coil configuration. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the communication member includes two inductors in parallel inductor coil configuration. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the interface prevents false latching from ringing currents. ### Claim 23 A system for detecting whether a connection member of a detection device is in communicating relation with a device interface, comprising: a connection member including a magnet, said connection member being coupled to a detection device, and a device interface including a magnetic field sensor, wherein upon detection of a magnetic field produced by the magnet of the connection member, the magnetic field sensor produced by the magnet of the connection member, the magnetic field sensor produces a responsive signal indicative of the connection member being in communicating relation with the device interface; wherein the device interface includes a differential inductor coil configuration. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the magnetic field sensor is a hall-effect sensor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the magnetic field sensor is a Reed switch. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the detection device is a faulted circuit indicator. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the device interface is a radio frequency transmitter. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the device interface further includes a securing member for securing the connection member thereto. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the connection member includes two probes and the magnet is positioned between the two probes.