The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 18, 2005
Filed:
Jul. 17, 2002
Kevin B. Peck, Sonora, CA (US);
Noel H. Johnson, Sonora, CA (US);
William D. Mcentire, Sonora, CA (US);
Thomas J Berdner, Sonora, CA (US);
Kevin B. Peck, Sonora, CA (US);
Noel H. Johnson, Sonora, CA (US);
William D. McEntire, Sonora, CA (US);
Thomas J Berdner, Sonora, CA (US);
MRL Industries, Sonora, CA (US);
Abstract
A method for monitoring the condition of an electric current-carrying heating element involving installing the heating element in a location and setting the initial composition Cof the material as a reference baseline at an initial time Tcorresponding to said installation of the heating element. Data is then collected reflecting the subsequent composition Cof the heating element material after a subsequent time Tat the installed location and any change in the material composition of the heating element between Tand Tis monitored. An alarm is sent when the change reaches a threshold value indicating a possible failure condition. According to one embodiment, an impedance monitor is provided that calculates and compares impedance at the required levels of accuracy to determine changes in material composition. The impedance monitor, or portions thereof may be embedded within a microcontroller for increased portability and functionality.