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:
Apr. 12, 2016
Filed:
Aug. 10, 2012
Overvoltage protection device with a measuring device for monitoring overvoltage protection elements
Thomas Meyer, Ottenstein, DE;
Steffen Pfortner, Springe, DE;
Andrei Siegel, Paderborn, DE;
Friedrich-eckhard Brand, Barntrup, DE;
Thomas Meyer, Ottenstein, DE;
Steffen Pfortner, Springe, DE;
Andrei Siegel, Paderborn, DE;
Friedrich-Eckhard Brand, Barntrup, DE;
PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG, Blomberg, DE;
Abstract
Systems and methods for overvoltage protection are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation, an overvoltage protection device is provided having one or more overvoltage protection elements and a measuring device for monitoring the overvoltage protection elements. Further, the measuring device may include an evaluation device, which is designed to count pulse-like overvoltage events which are arrested by the overvoltage protection element, wherein the evaluation device is connected to the overvoltage protection element via a light-measuring device and/or a device for identifying a current flow. In further implementations, overvoltage protection devices may comprise an evaluation device which, on the basis of the counted pulses and/or an identified current flow, may determine whether the overvoltage protection element is still operational, is previously damaged, or is unusable, and/or an alarm device, which indicates whether the overvoltage protection element is still operational, is previously damaged, or is unusable.