Contact-input arrangement for power system devices
AssigneeSchweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
InventorMilind H. Joshi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A contact-input circuit for a power system device is described for processing a higher voltage signal from power system equipment or another power system device for use by a lower voltage circuit. The contact-input circuit generally includes a voltage threshold detection device adapted to allow current to flow therefrom when it detects that the higher voltage signal reaches a select threshold. An opto-isolator device, which is coupled to the voltage threshold detection device, provides a voltage signal suitable for use by the lower voltage circuit when the threshold detection device allows the current-flow through the opto-isolator.
Claims27
A contact-input circuit for high-speed communication among power system devices, for detecting and processing a higher voltage communication signal from a second power system device for use by a lower voltage circuit of a first power system device, the contact-input circuit of the first power system device comprising:
- a voltage threshold detection device adapted to detect presence of the higher voltage communication signal from the second power system device and to receive the higher voltage communication signal from a contact input;
- and,
- an opto-isolator device coupled to the voltage threshold detection device, wherein the voltage threshold detection device conducts current to the contact input, and only when the voltage threshold detection device detects that the higher voltage communication signal from the second power system device reaches a select threshold indicating presence of the higher voltage communication signal, the voltage threshold detection device allows current to flow through the opto-isolator thereby allowing said opto-isolator to provide a voltage signal suitable for use by the lower voltage circuit.
An input circuit of a first power system device, for high-speed communication among power system devices, for detecting a communication signal from a second power system device and producing an input signal suitable for use by an internal circuit of the first power system device, comprising:
- an opto-isolator device configured to provide the input signal to the internal circuit;
- and,
- a voltage threshold detection device to detect the communication signal from the second power system device, in communication with the opto isolator device and a contact input, allowing current to flow to the contact input, and only allowing current to flow through the opto-isolator for producing the input signal in response to detecting the communication signal from the contact input applied thereto above a predetermined threshold.
A contact-input circuit of a first power system device for high-speed communication between the first power system device and a second power system device, the contact-input circuit comprising:
- a voltage threshold detection device adapted to receive a higher voltage communication signal from the second power system device and to detect presence of the higher voltage communication signal;
- and,
- an opto-isolator device in electrical communication with the voltage threshold detection device, wherein the voltage threshold detection device conducts current to the contact input, and, only when the voltage threshold detection device detects that the higher voltage communication signal from the second power system device reaches a select threshold indicating presence of the higher voltage communication signal, the voltage threshold detection device allows current to flow through the opto-isolator thereby allowing said opto-isolator to provide a voltage signal suitable for use by a lower voltage circuit,
- wherein the contact-input circuit provides a voltage signal in less than 1 microsecond after the voltage threshold device receives the higher voltage communication signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.