RFID open fuse indicator, system, and method

An electrical fuse comprising:

• a protective body;
• terminal elements extending from said protective body;
• a primary fuse element extending within said protective body and electrically connected between said terminal elements, said primary fuse element constructed to open upon an occurrence of a predetermined current condition, thereby providing overcurrent protection to an electrical circuit completed through said terminal elements;
• a secondary fuse link electrically connected between said terminal elements, said secondary fuse link constructed to open upon operation of said primary fuse element;
• and
• an identification element coupled to the secondary fuse link, the identification element being configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote device when the primary fuse element is in an operational current carrying state;
• wherein the state of said primary fuse element affects the transmission of said wireless signal from said identification element;
• and
• wherein said identification element comprises an antenna coupled to said secondary fuse link in a manner that will render the antenna inoperable in the event of opening of said secondary fuse link, which results in the identification element not being able to transmit the wireless signal.

An electrical fuse comprising:

• a protective body;
• terminal elements extending from said protective body;
• a primary fuse element extending within said protective body and electrically connected between said terminal elements, said primary fuse element constructed to open upon an occurrence of a predetermined current condition, thereby providing overcurrent protection to an electrical circuit completed through said terminal elements;
• a secondary fuse link electrically connected between said terminal elements, said secondary fuse link constructed to open upon operation of said primary fuse element;
• and
• an identification element coupled to the secondary fuse link, the identification element being configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote device when the primary fuse element is in an operational current carrying state;
• wherein the state of said primary fuse element affects the transmission of said wireless signal from said identification element;
• and
• wherein said identification element comprises an antenna that broadcasts at an original central frequency while the primary fuse element is in an operational current carrying state;
• and
• wherein said antenna broadcasts at an altered central frequency upon opening of the primary fuse element.

A fuse state indication system comprising:

• a plurality of overcurrent protection fuses, each fuse comprising a primary fuse element and a secondary fuse link, the primary fuse element extending between terminal elements, said terminal elements configured for removable connection to line-side and load-side electrical circuitry and said terminal elements completing a current path through said primary fuse element, the current path of the primary fuse element opening upon a predetermined current flowing through the primary fuse element, the secondary fuse link electrically connected between said terminal elements in parallel with the primary fuse element, whereby current flows through said secondary fuse link when said current path of said primary fuse element has opened;
• a plurality of wireless identification elements, each wireless identification element respectively connected to said secondary fuse link in each fuse and responsive to current flow in said secondary fuse link;
• and
• an interrogation device configured to wirelessly communicate with said plurality of wireless identification elements to determine whether said current path in any of the primary fuse elements has opened.

A fuse state indication system comprising:

• a plurality of overcurrent protection fuses, each fuse comprising a primary fuse element and a secondary fuse link, the primary fuse element extending between terminal elements, said terminal elements configured for removable connection to line-side and load-side electrical circuitry and said terminal elements completing a current path through said primary fuse element, the current path of the primary fuse element opening upon a predetermined current flowing through the primary fuse element, the secondary fuse link electrically connected between said terminal elements, said secondary fuse link constructed to open upon operation of said primary fuse element;
• a plurality of wireless identification elements, each wireless identification element coupled to one of said fuses;
• and
• an interrogation device configured to wirelessly communicate with said plurality of wireless identification elements to determine whether each of said fuses is in a current carrying state or an opened state;
• wherein each said wireless identification element comprises an antenna configured to transmit a wireless signal to the interrogation device when the corresponding fuse is in the current carrying state;
• and
• wherein each said antenna is configured to be inoperable when the corresponding fuse is in the opened state.

A fuse state indication system comprising:

• a plurality of overcurrent protection fuses, each fuse comprising a primary fuse element and a secondary fuse link, the primary fuse element extending between terminal elements, said terminal elements configured for removable connection to line-side and load-side electrical circuitry and said terminal elements completing a current path through said primary fuse element, the current path of the primary fuse element opening upon a predetermined current flowing through the primary fuse element, the secondary fuse link electrically connected between said terminal elements, said secondary fuse link constructed to open upon operation of said primary fuse element;
• a plurality of wireless identification elements, each wireless identification element coupled to one of said fuses;
• and
• an interrogation device configured to wirelessly communicate with said plurality of wireless identification elements to determine whether each of said fuses is in a current carrying state or an opened state;
• wherein each said wireless identification element comprises an antenna configured to transmit a wireless signal to the interrogation device when the corresponding fuse is in the current carrying state;
• wherein each said antenna is configured to transmit an alternative wireless signal when the corresponding fuse is in the opened state.