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US 8,576,074 B2Granted
Charged capacitor warning system and method
AssigneeGeneral Atomics
InventorsFrederick W. MacDougall, Mark Allen Schneider, Ross MacDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A capacitor warning circuit, and method of providing a warning are provided, the circuit comprising a capacitor capable of being charged to a charged state and a warning circuit coupled to the capacitor and adapted to provide an indication that the capacitor is in the charged state, wherein the warning circuit is powered by energy accumulated in the capacitor when the capacitor is in the charged state.
Claims25
A capacitor warning circuit comprising:
- a case;
- a high voltage high energy capacitor positioned and sealed within the case, wherein the capacitor is configured to be charged to at least a first charged state;
- and
- a warning circuit coupled to the capacitor, wherein the warning circuit is contained and sealed within the case and is adapted to provide an indication that the capacitor is in the first charged state and an indication of polarity with which a charging source is coupled across the capacitor in charging the capacitor, wherein the warning circuit is powered by energy accumulated in the capacitor when the capacitor is charged to the first charged state.
1 more element
A capacitor warning circuit comprising:
- a case;
- a high voltage high energy capacitor positioned and sealed within the case, wherein the capacitor is configured to be charged to at least a first charged state;
- and
- a warning circuit coupled to the capacitor, wherein the warning circuit is adapted to provide an indication that the capacitor is in the first charged state, wherein the warning circuit is powered by energy accumulated in the capacitor when the capacitor is charged to the first charged state;
- wherein the first charged state represents a stored energy level harmful to a human operator through inadvertent contact with terminals of the capacitor;
- wherein the capacitor is further configured to be charged to at least a second charged state, wherein the second charged state is higher than the first charged state;
- and
- wherein the warning circuit coupled to the capacitor is further adapted to provide an indication that the capacitor is in the second charged state, wherein the warning circuit is powered by the energy accumulated in the capacitor when the capacitor is charged to the second charged state, and the second charged state represents a stored energy level in which the capacitor is lethal to the human operator through contact with the terminals of the capacitor.
5 more elements
A capacitor warning circuit comprising:
- a case;
- a high voltage high energy capacitor positioned and sealed within the case, wherein the capacitor is configured to be charged to at least a first charged state;
- and
- a warning circuit coupled to the capacitor, wherein the warning circuit is adapted to provide an indication that the capacitor is in the first charged state, wherein the warning circuit is powered by energy accumulated in the capacitor when the capacitor is charged to the first charged state;
- wherein the warning circuit comprises a first circuit board and a second circuit board positioned within the case;
- wherein the first circuit board comprises a first relaxation oscillator circuit and a second relaxation oscillator circuit;
- wherein the second circuit board comprises a first indicator circuit coupled with and activated by the first relaxation oscillator circuit, and a second indicator circuit coupled with and activated by the second relaxation oscillator circuit.
4 more elements
A capacitor warning circuit comprising:
- a case;
- a high voltage high energy capacitor positioned and sealed within the case, wherein the capacitor is configured to be charged to at least a first charged state;
- and
- a warning circuit coupled to the capacitor, wherein the warning circuit is adapted to provide an indication that the capacitor is in the first charged state, wherein the warning circuit is powered by energy accumulated in the capacitor when the capacitor is charged to the first charged state;
- wherein the warning circuit comprises a first relaxation oscillator circuit and a second relaxation oscillator circuit;
- wherein the first relaxation oscillator circuit is adapted to provide the indication that the capacitor is in the first charged state;
- and
- wherein the second relaxation oscillator circuit is adapted to provide an indication that the capacitor is in a second charged state,
- wherein the warning circuit is powered by the energy accumulated in the capacitor and the second charged state is at a higher voltage than the first charged state.
6 more elements
A capacitor warning circuit comprising:
- a case;
- a high voltage high energy capacitor positioned and sealed within the case, wherein the capacitor is configured to be charged to at least a first charged state;
- and
- a warning circuit coupled to the capacitor, wherein the warning circuit is adapted to provide an indication that the capacitor is in the first charged state, wherein the warning circuit is powered by energy accumulated in the capacitor when the capacitor is charged to the first charged state;
- wherein the warning circuit comprises:
- a relaxation oscillator capacitor coupled in parallel with the high voltage high energy capacitor;
- a switch comprising a DIAC;
- and
- an indicator coupled in series with the switch such that the switch and the indicator are coupled in parallel with the relaxation oscillator capacitor.
6 more elements
A method of providing a warning for a capacitor comprising:
- charging a voltage of a capacitor to at least a first charged state;
- and
- powering a warning circuit coupled to the capacitor with energy accumulated in the capacitor when the capacitor is in a charged state;
- providing, by the warning circuit, an indication when the capacitor voltage has reached the first charged state;
- charging the capacitor to at least a second charged state, wherein the second charged state is higher than the first charged state;
- and
- providing, by the warning circuit, an indication that the capacitor is charged to at least the second charged state, wherein the second charged state represents a stored energy level in which the capacitor is lethal to a human.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.