Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VOLTAGE
DETECTION FOR EQUIPMENT
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of United
States Serial No.
15/581,780, filed on April 28, 2017. This application claims the domestic
benefit of
United States Provisional Application Serial No. 62/491,697 filed on April 28,
2017 and
United States Provisional Application Serial No. 62/659,510 filed on April 18,
2018.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates a system and method used
to detect
voltage by an electric field detector on equipment.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Reliably detecting high voltage on distribution and transmission
voltage power
lines around equipment is critical to the jobs performed by the operators of
such
equipment. These jobs are performed more quickly and safely when the voltage
detection
is also convenient and easy to use.
SUMMARY
[0004] In an embodiment, a system and method used to detect voltage by an
electric
field detector on equipment is provided. The equipment includes a component
which is
configured to come into direct contact with, or come into proximity of, a
conductor of
electricity, and a control system which is in operative communication with the
component.
An electric field detector is provided on the equipment. The detector includes
field
detection circuitry configured to detect a voltage in an electric field in the
environment
which meets or exceeds a voltage threshold. When an overvoltage is detected by
the
electric field detector, the control system of the equipment is configured to
act by
performing one of 1) activating a warning module on the equipment and 2)
causing the
component of the equipment to act.
[0005] This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some
example
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embodiments so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the
disclosure.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above described example
embodiments are
merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of
the
disclosure in any way. Other embodiments, aspects, and advantages of various
disclosed
embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description taken
in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of
example, the
principles of the described embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the
disclosed
embodiments, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be
understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with
the
accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, wherein like
reference
numerals identify like elements in which:
[0007] FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic view of a piece of equipment and a
conductor
of electricity;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the piece of
equipment;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control apparatus of an electric
field detector of
the piece of equipment;
[0010] FIGS. 4-6 are flowcharts of example logic of the control
apparatus;
[0011] FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts of example logic of the control
system;
[0012] FIGS. 9 and 10 are block diagrams of communication apparatus;
[0013] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a housing for the electric field
detector on the
piece of equipment;
[0014] FIGS. 12-14 are side elevation views of the housing for the
electric field
detector on the piece of equipment;
[0015] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a piece of equipment;
[0016] FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of another piece of equipment;
[0017] FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of a further piece of equipment;
[0018] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of yet another piece of equipment;
[0019] FIG. 19 is an exemplary system in which the piece of equipment and
the electric
field detectors of FIGS. 1-18 can be used;
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[0020] FIG. 20 is a flowchart of an example logic of control of the
system shown in
FIG. 19;
[0021] FIG. 21 is another exemplary system in which the piece of
equipment and the
electric field detectors of FIGS. 1-18 can be used;
[0022] FIG. 22 is a flowchart of an example logic of control of the
system shown in
FIG. 21;
[0023] FIGS. 23A and 23B are example environments for positioning a
system of
electric field detectors;
[0024] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an example electric field
detector of FIGS. 23A
and 23B;
[0025] FIG. 25 is a block diagram of example control apparatus of the
electric field
detector of FIGS. 23A and 23B;
[0026] FIG. 26 is a flowchart of an example logic of the electric field
detector of FIGS.
23A and 23B;
[0027] FIG. 27 is a flowchart of an example logic of the system using the
electric field
detector of FIGS. 23A and 23B;
[0028] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of an example electric field
detector of FIGS. 23A
and 23B;
[0029] FIG. 29 is a side elevation view of the electric field detector of
FIG. 28;
[0030] FIG. 30 is a bottom plan view of the electric field detector of
FIG. 28;
[0031] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of an example stack of the electric
field detectors
of FIGS. 23A and 23B mounted onto a charging station to charge batteries of
the electric
field detectors of FIGS. 23A and 23B;
[0032] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of an example charging station;
[0033] FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the example stack of the
electric field
detectors of FIGS. 23A and 23B mounted onto the charging station;
[0034] FIG. 34 is a block diagram of a control apparatus of the charging
station;
[0035] FIG. 35 is an exemplary system in which the electric field
detectors of FIGS.
23-30 can be used, or the electric field detectors and the charging station of
FIGS. 23-33
can be used;
[0036] FIG. 36 is a flowchart of an example logic of control of the
system shown in
FIG. 35;
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[0037] FIG. 37 is another exemplary system in which the electric field
detectors and
the charging station of FIGS. 23-33 can be used; and
[0038] FIG. 38 is a flowchart of an example logic of control of the
system shown in
FIG. 37.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] While the disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different
forms, there
is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, a specific
embodiment
with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an
exemplification of
the principles of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit the disclosure
to that as
illustrated and described herein. Therefore, unless otherwise noted, features
disclosed
herein may be combined together to form additional combinations that were not
otherwise
shown for purposes of brevity. It will be further appreciated that in some
embodiments,
one or more elements illustrated by way of example in a drawing(s) may be
eliminated
and/or substituted with alternative elements within the scope of the
disclosure.
[0040] In an embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-22, the present disclosure
relates to
voltage detection by an electric field detector 120a-n provided on a piece of
equipment 22,
and more particularly relates to detecting the presence of voltage that meets
or exceeds
one or more voltage thresholds (herein defined as an "overvoltage") in a
vicinity around
the equipment 22. In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to voltage
detection by
an electric field detector 120a-n provided on a piece of equipment 22, and
more
particularly relates to detecting the presence of voltage that meets or
exceeds a voltage
threshold (herein defined as an "overvoltage") in a vicinity around the
equipment 22. In
response to the detection of the overvoltage, action is taken.
[0041] In an embodiment, the electric field detector 120a-n on the
equipment 22 is
configured to provide a warning, for example, a visual and/or audio warnings,
to operators
of the presence of the overvoltage. In an embodiment, the equipment 22 is
configured to
receive a warning notification from the electric field detector 120a-n and
provide a
warning, for example, a visual and/or audio warnings, of the presence of the
overvoltage
to an operator(s) of the equipment 22. In some embodiments, the equipment 22
is
configured to receive a warning notification from the electric field detector
120a-n and in
response, act. In some embodiments, the operator receives a warning and in
response,
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acts. In an embodiment, multiple electric field detectors 120a-n are provided
on the
equipment 22. As used herein, the term "operator" or "operators" means a
person or
persons proximate to, or within, the equipment 22. In an embodiment, the
voltage
threshold is 236 Volts or greater, e.g., at 50Hz/60Hz. In some embodiments,
the electric
field detectors 120a-n detect alternating current (AC) voltage. In an
embodiment, at least
one or more of the electric field detectors 120a-n is placed in clear view of
the operators
working in or around the equipment 22.
[0042] In an embodiment, the equipment 22 includes a body 24 which has
components
26 that come into direct contact with a conductor 28 of electricity or come
into proximity
of a conductor 28 of electricity. The equipment 22 has a control system 30
which is in
operative communication with the components 26 and configured to control
operation of
the components 26. In an embodiment, the components 26 includes a motor 32
which
activates other components 26 of the equipment 22 to cause the equipment 22 to
perform a
function. The motor 32 may, for example, include an electric motor, internal
combustion
engine, hydraulic motor, some combination thereof, or the like that is
suitable to supply
motive power to the equipment 22 and/or one or more moving components thereof.
In an
embodiment, the equipment 22 has wheels. In an embodiment, the equipment 22 is
mounted on the ground.
[0043] Attention is invited to FIG. 2 which illustrates a block diagram
of a control
system 30 of the equipment 22 in accordance with some example embodiments. It
will be
appreciated that the components, devices or elements illustrated in and
described with
respect to FIG. 2 below may not be mandatory and thus some may be omitted in
certain
embodiments. Additionally, some embodiments may include further or different
components, devices or elements beyond those illustrated in and described with
respect to
FIG. 2.
[0044] In an embodiment, the control system 30 of the equipment 22
includes
processing circuitry 34 that is configurable to perform actions in accordance
with one or
more example embodiments disclosed herein. The processing circuitry 34 may be
configured to perform data processing, application execution and/or other
processing and
management services according to one or more example embodiments.
[0045] The processing circuitry 34 includes a processor 36 and, in some
embodiments,
may further include memory 38. In this regard, the processing circuitry 34 may
be
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configured to perform and/or control performance of the components 26 in
accordance
with various example embodiments. It will be appreciated that the components,
devices or
elements illustrated in and described with respect to FIG. 2 may not be
mandatory and
thus some may be omitted in certain embodiments. Additionally, some
embodiments may
include further or different components, devices or elements beyond those
illustrated in
and described with respect to FIG. 2.
[0046] In some embodiments, the control system 30 or a portion(s) or
component(s)
thereof, such as the processing circuitry 34, may include one or more chipsets
and/or other
components that may be provided by integrated circuits.
[0047] The processor 36 may be embodied in a variety of forms. For
example, the
processor 36 may be embodied as various hardware-based processing means such
as a
microprocessor, a coprocessor, a controller or various other computing or
processing
devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC
(application specific
integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), some combination
thereof,
or the like. Although illustrated as a single processor, it will be
appreciated that the
processor 36 may comprise a plurality of processors. The plurality of
processors may be
in operative communication with each other and may be collectively configured
to
perform one or more functionalities of the control system 30 as described
herein. For
example, in some embodiments in which the processor 36 comprises a plurality
of
processors, the plurality of processors may comprise one or more on-board
controllers,
such as may be implemented on the activator of some embodiments. In some
example
embodiments, the processor 36 may be configured to execute instructions that
may be
stored in the memory 38 or that may be otherwise accessible to the processor
36.
Depending on the form of instructions that may be stored in the memory 38 or
otherwise
accessed by the processor 36, such execution of instructions may, for example,
include
execution of compiled executable code, translation or interpretation of stored
program
instructions, some combination thereof, or other method through which the
processor 36
may read and execute computer program instructions. As such, whether
configured by
hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the processor 36 is
capable of
performing operations according to various embodiments while configured
accordingly.
[0048] In some example embodiments, the memory 38 may include one or more
memory devices. Memory 38 may include fixed and/or removable memory devices.
In
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some embodiments, the memory 38 may provide a non-transitory computer-readable
storage medium that may store computer program instructions that may be
executed by the
processor 36. In this regard, the memory 38 may be configured to store
information, data,
applications, instructions and/or the like for enabling the control system 30
to carry out
various functions in accordance with one or more example embodiments.
[0049] Each electric field detector 120a-n includes a control apparatus
140. Attention
is invited to FIG. 3 which illustrates a block diagram of a control apparatus
140 that may
be implemented on each electric field detector 120a-n in accordance with some
example
embodiments. It will be appreciated that the components, devices or elements
illustrated
in and described with respect to FIG. 3 below may not be mandatory and thus
some may
be omitted in certain embodiments. Additionally, some embodiments may include
further
or different components, devices or elements beyond those illustrated in and
described
with respect to FIG. 3.
[0050] The control apparatus 140 of each electric field detector 120a-n
includes field
detection circuitry 142 which is configured to detect voltage in the electric
field in the area
around the electric field detector 120a-n and to determine whether the
detected voltage
meets or exceeds the voltage threshold, and in response to the detection by
the field
detection circuitry 142 of an overvoltage, is configurable to perform actions
in accordance
with one or more example embodiments disclosed herein. An example field
detection
circuitry 142 is manufactured by HD ELECTRIC COMPANY TM, for example, as used
in the WATCHMAN TM work area voltage detector, part number WM-01.
[0051] The field detection circuitry 142 may include a processor 144 and,
in some
embodiments, such as that illustrated in FIG. 3 may further include memory
146. The
field detection circuitry 142 may be configured to perform data processing,
application
execution and/or other processing and management services according to one or
more
example embodiments.
[0052] The processor 144 may be embodied in a variety of forms. For
example, the
processor 144 may be embodied as various hardware-based processing means such
as a
microprocessor, a coprocessor, a controller or various other computing or
processing
devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC
(application specific
integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), some combination
thereof,
or the like. Although illustrated as a single processor, it will be
appreciated that the
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processor 144 may comprise a plurality of processors. The plurality of
processors may be
in operative communication with each other and may be collectively configured
to
perform one or more functionalities of the control apparatus 140 as described
herein. In
some example embodiments, the processor 144 may be configured to execute
instructions
that may be stored in the memory 146 or that may be otherwise accessible to
the processor
144. Depending on the form of instructions that may be stored in the memory
146 or
otherwise accessed by the processor 144, such execution of instructions may,
for example,
include execution of compiled executable code, translation or interpretation
of stored
program instructions, some combination thereof, or other method through which
the
processor 144 may read and execute computer program instructions. As such,
whether
configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the
processor 144
is capable of performing operations according to various embodiments while
configured
accordingly.
[0053] The memory 146 can include one or more of a program memory, a cache,
random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard
drive, etc., and/or other types of memory. In some example embodiments, the
memory
146 may include one or more memory devices. Memory 146 may include fixed
and/or
removable memory devices. In some embodiments, the memory 146 may provide a
non-
transitory computer-readable storage medium that may store computer program
instructions that may be executed by the processor 144. In some embodiments,
the
memory 146 may be configured to store information, data, applications,
instructions (e.g.,
compiled executable program instructions, uncompiled program code, some
combination
thereof, or the like) and/or the like for enabling the control apparatus 140
to carry out
various functions in accordance with one or more example embodiments. In some
embodiments, the memory 146 may be in operative communication with the
processor 144
via one or more buses for passing information among components of the control
apparatus
140.
[0054] In
some embodiments, some of the control apparatus 140 can reside on a printed
circuit board assembly (PCBA) 148, or other type of electrical component
assembly, e.g.,
a 3D printer process assembly. It will be appreciated that where PCBA 148 is
described, it
is described by way of non-limiting example, such that alternative assemblies
on which
circuitry and/or other electronic components may be embodied may be
substituted for
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PCBA 148 within the scope of the disclosure, including but not limited to
variously
configured point-to-point constructed circuits, application-specific
integrated circuit
(ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. In some embodiments, the
field
detection circuitry 142 is located on the PCBA 148. Additional or fewer
components may
be included on the PCBA 148 depending on an implementation.
[0055] Signal conditioning circuitry 150 can turn signals into digital
signals before
being received by the field detection circuitry 142. Additionally, or
alternatively, the
control apparatus 140 may include an onboard analog-to-digital converter
and/or other
circuitry that may be configured to convert analog signals into digital
signals, e.g., for
processing.
[0056] In some embodiments, the control apparatus 140 or a portion(s) or
component(s) thereof, such as the field detection circuitry 142, may include
one or more
chipsets and/or other components that may be provided by integrated circuits.
[0057] In some embodiments, the control apparatus 140 includes a warning
module
152 in operative communication with the processor 144, and which includes one
or more
illumination sources 154 (to provide a visual warning to the operator) and/or
one or more
audible devices 156 (to provide an audio warning to the operator). Non-
limiting examples
of an illumination source 154 includes, but is not limited to, light emitting
diodes (LEDs),
incandescent bulbs, gas-based lamps, etc. Non-limiting examples of an audible
device 156
includes, but is not limited to, a speaker and/or a horn. The warning module
152 includes
the electrical components for energizing the one or more illumination sources
154 and/or
the one or more audible devices 156. The field detection circuitry 142 is
configured to
perform and/or control performance of the warning module 152, such as
illuminating the
one or more illumination sources 154 and/or activating the one or more audible
devices
156 in accordance with various example embodiments. In some embodiments, the
memory 146 may be in operative communication with one or more of the processor
144
and the warning module 152 via one or more buses for passing information among
components of the control apparatus 140.
[0058] In some embodiments, the control apparatus 140 includes a
communication
module 158. The communication module 158 may be configured to enable
communication between the control apparatus 140 and another electric field
detector 120a-
n and/or the equipment 22 (e.g., with control system 30 of equipment 22)
directly and/or
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via one or more computer networks. In this regard, the communication module
158 may
include one or more interface mechanisms for enabling communication with other
computing devices and/or networks 184. As such, the communication module 158
may
include, for example, an antenna (or multiple antennas), a transceiver(s),
other supporting
hardware and/or software for enabling wireless (for example, via a wireless
local area
network) and/or wireline communications (for example., via a communication
bus, such as
a controller area network (CAN) bus, or other wireline communication bus) with
another
computing device or network 184. Examples of communication technologies that
may be
supported by various embodiments of the communication module 158 are further
described herein below.
[0059] In an embodiment, the communication module 158 is configured to
support
wireless communication among the electric field detectors 120a-n. For wireless
communications, the communication module 158 may include a transceiver, for
example.
In an embodiment, the electric field detectors 120a-n may communicate via an
ad hoc
(e.g., mesh) network that may be formed among electric field detectors 120a-n
within
range of each other, e.g., as established by the communication module 158. An
example
chip that may be provided and/or that may be integrated into the communication
module
158 to enable communication over a radio frequency mesh network is provided by
a
Synapse Wireless, Inc. integrated circuit model number SM220UF1. However, it
will be
appreciated that other chips and controllers may be used within the scope of
the disclosure.
[0060] Some non-limiting example of wireless communication technologies
that may
be used to facilitate formation of an ad hoc network, structured network,
and/or direct
wireless communication (e.g., peer-to-peer, or P2P) links between two or more
electric
field detectors 120a-n and which may be supported by the communication module
158 of
various embodiments include one or more of an Institute of Electrical and
Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) 802.15 or other wireless personal area networking technology
(e.g.,
ZigBee TM, BLUETOOTH TM, and/or the like), near field communication (NFC),
IEEE
802.11 or other wireless local area networking communication technology (e.g.,
Wi-Fi),
Wi-Fi Direct, Z-wave, WirelessUSB, WirelessHD, Wireless HART, ultra-wide band
(UWB), Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN), ISA2120a, Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID), Infrared (IR), ISM Band, IEEE 1802.15.4, ANT+, 6LoWPAN,
Ultra-Wideband, satellite networks, cellular networks, etc. However, it will
be
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
appreciated that communication between two or more electric field detectors
120a-n may
be provided by any wireless communication technology that may be used to form
an ad
hoc or structured wireless local area network (LAN), personal area network
(PAN), direct
(e.g., P2P) communication link or the like within the scope of the disclosure.
[0061] In an embodiment, the electric field detectors 120a-n communicate
with each
other (e.g., to forward warning notifications) by a wired connection, such as
may be
provided by a communication bus 60 that may be implemented on the equipment 22
of
some embodiments. For example, in some embodiments described further herein,
the
electric field detectors 120a-n may communicate with each other via a
controller area
network (CAN) bus that may be implemented on the equipment 22 of some
embodiments.
In various embodiments, the wired connection may be implemented through
universal
serial bus (USB), FireWire, Thunderbolt, Lightning, serial communications
ports/connectors (e.g., D-subminiature serial connection), parallel
communications
ports/connectors, Ethernet (RJ-45 connector), and/or other wired communication
types
that may be used to physically interface the electric field detectors 120a-n.
[0062] The communication module 158 of some embodiments is configured to send
a
warning notification to another electric field detector 120a-n in the system
and/or receive a
warning notification from another electric field detector 120a-n in the
system. For
example, the communication module 158 of some embodiments is configured to
receive
the warning notification from one or more of the other electric field
detectors 120a-n in the
system, and is configured to communicate an indication of the warning
notification to its
field detection circuitry 142. In an embodiment, the communication module 158
is
configured to process or modify the received warning notification and forward
the
processed or received warning notification to its field detection circuitry
142.
[0063] In some embodiments, the electric field detectors 120a-n can act
as repeaters to
repeat the warning notifications of the overvoltage to other electric field
detectors 120a-n
within range even though the electric field detectors 120a-n are not within
range of the
electric field detector 120a-n originating the warning notification. In some
embodiments,
the electric field detectors 120a-n may connect and communicate with each
other via a
structured wireless local area network (LAN) and/or personal area network
(PAN)
network with an access point or master unit. A master unit of the structured
network, can,
for example, be one of the electric field detectors, e.g. 120a, designated as
a master. As
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another example, in some embodiments, the control system 30 and/or other
module or
device that may be implemented on the equipment 22 may provide a structured
wireless
network access point to which one or more electric field detectors 120 may
connect.
[0064] When implemented on each electric field detector 120a-n, the
control apparatus
140 enables each electric field detector 120a-n to detect the voltage in the
electric field in
the area around the electric field detector 120a-n and determine whether the
detected
voltage meets or exceeds the voltage threshold, to energize the one or more
illumination
sources 154 (if provided) and/or the one or more audible devices 156 (if
provided), to
provide the warning to the operators, to communicate with the other electric
field detectors
120a-n in the system, and to communicate with the control system 30 of the
equipment 22,
in accordance with one or more example embodiments.
[0065] The electric field detectors 120a-n can be provided in a variety
of places on the
equipment 22. For example, in an embodiment, the electric field detectors 120a-
n can be
positioned at a front of the equipment 22, at a rear of the equipment 22, on
the sides of the
equipment 22, in high, medium and/or low positions in and around the equipment
22
relative to the ground, and/or in other spatial arrangements that disperse the
electric field
detectors 120a-n to provide voltage detection coverage throughout the
equipment 22. In
this way, the electric field detectors 120a-n can detect voltage up above the
equipment 22,
down between the equipment 22 and the ground, and/or on all sides of the
equipment 22,
as determined by positioning the electric field detectors 120a-n. In some
embodiments,
the electric field detectors 120a-n can be placed at determined access points
and/or at
points of service on the equipment 22, including but not limited to engine
access points, a
hood covering the engine, power take offs, e.g., for connecting ancillary
tools, and/or
places for the operators to step onto or off of the equipment 22, etc. In some
embodiments, electric field detectors 20a-n are placed at the corners of the
equipment 22,
e.g., to provide visibility of warning signals from the electric field
detectors 120a-n to the
operators, as described in more detail below. In addition, in some
embodiments, an
electric field detector can be positioned in a cab of the equipment 22 where
the operator is
located for operating the equipment 22 and/or in an operating station of the
equipment 22
where the operator is located for operating the equipment 22. Additional and
alternative
positions to those described and/or shown herein can be used.
[0066] In some embodiments, e.g., if the equipment 22 is grounded, one
electric field
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detector 120d is placed under the equipment 22, or integrated into an assembly
of the
equipment 22, to measure a voltage potential between ground and equipment 22.
By
pointing the electric field detector 120d down toward the ground, the electric
field detector
120d can detect whether there is an electric field between the equipment 22
and the
ground, indicating that equipment 22 has become ungrounded. Other electric
field
detectors 120a-c and e-n may not be needed in this implementation, but others
can be
used.
[0067] Placement of the electric field detectors 120a-n in different
locations around the
equipment 22 can serve different purposes. For example, in an embodiment, the
electric
field detectors 120a-n can be positioned at a front of the equipment 22, at a
rear of the
equipment 22, on the sides of the equipment 22, in high, medium and/or low
positions in
and around the equipment 22 relative to the ground, and/or in other spatial
arrangements
that disperse the electric field detectors 120a-n to provide voltage detection
coverage
throughout the equipment 22 and the ability of operators to view/hear one or
more electric
field detectors 120a-n. For example, in an embodiment where the electric field
detectors
120a-n are positioned in the cab of the equipment 22 where the operator is
located for
operating the equipment 22 and/or in the operating station of the equipment 22
where the
operator is located for operating the equipment 22, and the electric field
detectors 120a-n
are positioned around the equipment 22, the electric field detector(s)
positioned in the cab
and/or in the operating station provides the operator with the ability to
view/hear the
electric field detector(s) positioned in the cab and/or in the operating
station. In some
embodiments, the electric field detectors 120b and 120c can be positioned near
the
components 26 to detect if the conductor 28 is ungrounded, e.g., became live
with respect
to the equipment 22. Additionally, or alternatively, the electric field
detector 120a-n
positioned on a front and side of the equipment 22, respectively, can detect
voltage from
downed lines on the front/side of the equipment 22.
[0068] A detection range of the electric field detectors 120a-n can
overlap each other
for full coverage of the area, or a partial area can be covered by the range
of the electric
field detectors 120a-n, based on an implementation. In some embodiments, a
range of the
electric field detectors 120a-n is about ten feet, depending on strength of
the voltage in the
vicinity. However, it will be appreciated that the range of an electric field
detector 120a-n
can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as, for example, the
particular form of
13
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
field detection circuitry 142 used and the threshold set for detecting the
overvoltage
condition. In some embodiments, at least the entirety of the equipment 22
interacted with
is within a detection range of the group of electric field detectors 120a-n.
[0069] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example logic 300 of an electric field
detector 120a-
n. For convenience in description relating to the flowchart of FIG. 4,
electric field
detector 120a is described, with the understanding that the other electric
field detectors
120b-n operate in the same manner. The electric field detector 120a detects
the voltage in
the electric field in the area around the electric field detector 120a (302).
The electric field
detector 120a waits for the voltage threshold in the electric field being
detected to be met
and/or exceeded and determines that there is an overvoltage in the electric
field (304). In
response to the determination that there is an overvoltage in the electric
field, the electric
field detector 120a activates its warning module 152 (306). In response to the
determination that there is an overvoltage in the electric field, the electric
field detector
120a communicates a warning notification to the other electric field detectors
120b-n in
the system (308).
[0070] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example logic 400 of a second electric
field detector
120a-n of some embodiments. For convenience in description relating to the
flowchart of
FIG. 5, electric field detector 120b is described, with the understanding that
the other
electric field detectors 120a, 20c-n operate in the same manner. In response
to receipt of
the warning notification (402), the second electric field detector 120b
activates its warning
module 152 (404).
[0071] In addition to or alternatively to communication between electric
field detectors
120a-n, in some embodiments, one or more electric field detectors 120a-n may
be
configured to communicate with the control system 30 of the equipment 22 to
cause the
equipment 22 to act in response to the detection of the overvoltage.
[0072] In this regard, the control system 30 of some embodiments includes
a
communication module 62, see FIGS. 2 and 8, configured to facilitate
communication
with one or more electric field detectors 120a-n directly and/or via one or
more computer
networks. In this regard, the communication module 62 may include one or more
interface mechanisms for enabling communication with other computing devices
and/or
networks 184. As such, the communication module 62 may include, for example,
an
antenna (or multiple antennas), a transceiver(s), other supporting hardware
and/or software
14
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
for enabling wireless (for example, via a wireless local area network) and/or
wireline
communications (for example, via a controller area network (CAN) bus or other
wireline
communication bus) with another computing device or network 184. Examples of
various
communication technologies that may be supported by various embodiments of the
communication module 62 are described herein with respect to various
embodiments.
However, it will be appreciated that the communication module 62 may be
configured to
support communication via any mode or technology by which the communication
module
158 may communicate in accordance with various embodiments.
[0073] In some embodiments, communication between the electric field
detectors
120a-n and the equipment 22 and which may be supported by the communication
modules
158, 62 of various embodiments may be configured to communicate with each
other
wirelessly. For wireless communications, the communication module 62 may
include a
transceiver, for example. In an embodiment, the communication module 158 of
the
electric field detectors 120a-n and the communication module 62 of the
equipment 22 may
communicate via an ad hoc (e.g., mesh) network. An example chip that may be
provided
and/or that may be integrated into the communication module 158 and the
communication
module 62 to enable communication over a radio frequency mesh network is
provided by
a Synapse Wireless, Inc. integrated circuit model number SM220UF1. However, it
will be
appreciated that other chips and controllers may be used within the scope of
the disclosure.
[0074] Some non-limiting example of wireless communication technologies
that may
be used to facilitate formation of an ad hoc network, structured network,
and/or direct
wireless communication (e.g., peer-to-peer, or P2P) links between the electric
field
detectors 120a-n and the equipment 22 of various embodiments include one or
more of an
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15 or other
wireless personal
area networking technology (e.g., ZigBee TM, BLUETOOTH TM, and/or the like),
near
field communication (NFC), IEEE 802.11 or other wireless local area networking
communication technology (e.g., Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Z-wave, WirelessUSB,
WirelessHD, Wireless HART, ultra-wide band (UWB), Wireless Regional Area
Network
(WRAN), ISA2120a, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared (IR), ISM
Band,
IEEE 1802.15.4, ANT+, 6LoWPAN, Ultra-Wideband, satellite networks, cellular
networks, etc. However, it will be appreciated that communication between the
electric
field detectors 120a-n and the equipment 22 may be provided by any wireless
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
communication technology that may be used to form an ad hoc or structured
wireless local
area network (LAN), personal area network (PAN), direct (e.g., P2P)
communication link
or the like within the scope of the disclosure.
[0075] In some embodiments, communication between the electric field
detectors
120a-n and the control system 30 of the equipment 22 may by operably via a
wired
connection. In an embodiment, the control system 30 of the equipment 22
includes the
communication bus 60, see FIGS. 2 and 10. The communication bus 60 may, for
example, be implemented as a controller area network (CAN) bus, but it will be
appreciated that other bus types and protocols may be used to implement the
communication bus 60. The electric field detector 120a-n, may in turn, include
a bus
connection 80, such as may be provided by the communication module 158 of
various
embodiments. The bus connection 80 may be physically coupled to the
communication
bus 60 via cable 82 so as to communicatively couple the electric field
detector 120a-n to
the equipment 22. The cable 82 may be implemented via any physical connection
that
may be used to communicatively couple a device to a bus, such as communication
bus 60.
Connections include any type of physical or electronic
connection/intercommunication
between components that supports appropriate interoperability of components.
In various
embodiments, the wired connection may be implemented through universal serial
bus
(USB), FireWire, Thunderbolt, Lightning, serial communications
ports/connectors (e.g.,
D-subminiature serial connection), parallel communications ports/connectors,
Ethernet
(RJ-45 connector), and/or other wired communication types that may be used to
physically
interface the electric field detector 120a-n with the equipment 22.
[0076] The communication module 62 of the equipment 22 of various
embodiments is
configured to receive the warning notification from one or more of the
electric field
detectors 120a-n in the system, and is configured to communicate an indication
of the
warning notification to the processing circuitry 34. In an embodiment, the
communication
module 62 is configured to process or modify the received warning notification
and
forward the processed or received warning notification to the processing
circuitry 34. In
an embodiment, in response to the receipt of the indication of the warning
notification, the
processing circuitry 34 of the equipment 22 propagates a warning notification
to the
electric field detectors 120a-n in the system.
[0077] In some embodiments, the equipment 22 includes a warning module 64
which is
16
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
in operative communication with the processor 36 and the communication module
62 and
which includes one or more illumination sources 66 (to provide a visual
warning to the
operator) and/or one or more audible devices 68 (to provide an audio warning
to the
operator). The warning module 64 includes the electrical components for
energizing the
one or more illumination sources 66 and/or the one or more audible devices 68.
In some
embodiments, the warning module 64 is provided in a cab of the equipment 22
such that
one or more illumination sources 66 flashes and/or the one or more audible
devices 68
provide an audible indication in the cab of the equipment 22. In some
embodiments, the
one or more illumination sources 66 are provided by the headlamps of the
equipment 22.
Non-limiting examples of an illumination source 66 includes, but is not
limited to, light
emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent bulbs, gas-based lamps, etc. Non-limiting
examples
of an audible device 68 includes, but is not limited to, a speaker and/or a
horn. In some
embodiments, the one or more audible devices 68 are provided in the cab and
the one or
more illumination sources 66 are provided by the headlamps of the equipment
22. The
processing circuitry 34 is configured to perform and/or control performance of
the
warning module 64 such as illuminating the one or more illumination sources 66
and/or
activating the one or more audible devices 68 in accordance with various
example
embodiments.
[0078] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example logic 500 of an electric field
detector 120a-
n of some embodiments. The electric field detector 120a-n detects the voltage
in the
electric field in the area around the electric field detector 120a-n (502).
The electric field
detector 120a-n waits for the voltage threshold in the electric field to be
met and/or
exceeded and determines that there is an overvoltage (504). In response to the
determination that there is an overvoltage in the electric field, the electric
field detector
120a-n communicates a warning notification to the control system 30 of the
equipment 22
(508).
[0079] In some embodiments, the equipment 22 includes a user interface 65
which is in
operative communication with the processor 36 and which receives the warning
notification and indicates a warning to the operator. In some embodiments, the
user
interface 65 is positioned in a cab of the equipment 22 and/or at any location
on the
equipment 22. In some embodiments, the user interface 65 is provided on an
associated
computing devices and/or networks 184, including but not limited to, smart
phones,
17
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
tablets, laptops, personal computers (PC). The user interface 65 may take the
form of a
display. The user interface 65 may display the warning, such as by display
text on screen,
a designated color (e.g., red), and/or other indicia, etc.
[0080] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example logic 600 of the equipment 22
of some
embodiments. In some embodiments, in response to the receipt of the warning
notification
from the electric field detector 120a-n from the flow chart of FIG. 6, the
control system 30
of the equipment 22 acts. In some embodiments, the control system 30 of the
equipment
22 acts by performing one or more of 1) activating its warning module 64, 2)
stopping
operation of the equipment 22 by shutting down operation of the components 26,
3)
causing the components 26 of the equipment 22 to act in a particular manner
(e.g., by
deactivating, limiting movement, or otherwise limiting activity of one or more
components
26), 4) sending a warning notification to the electric field detectors 120a-n,
and 5)
activating the warning on the user interface 65. In an embodiment where the
equipment
22 acts by sending a warning notification to the electric field detectors 120a-
n, in
response, the electric field detectors 120a-n perform the actions of the flow
chart of FIG.
5.
[0081] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example logic 700 of some embodiments.
In some
embodiments, in response to the receipt of the warning from the electric field
detector
120a-n in the flow chart of FIG. 4 (306) or FIG. 5 (404), the operator of the
equipment 22
acts. In some embodiments, the operator of the equipment 22 acts by performing
one or
more of 1) stopping operation of the equipment 22 by shutting down operation
of the
components 26, and 2) causing the components 26 of the equipment 22 to act in
a
particular manner (e.g., by deactivating, limiting movement, or otherwise
limiting activity
of one or more components 26). Such an action may be performed by an emergency
stop
button 67 located on the equipment 22 which is in communication with the
processing
circuity 34. In an embodiment, the emergency stop button 67 is located in the
cab of the
equipment 22. In an embodiment, the emergency stop button 67 is located at
access points
and/or at points of service on the equipment 22.
[0082] In an embodiment, if one electric field detector 120a detects
overvoltage, then
every electric field detector 120b-n indicates the same warning via the
warning modules
244. In an embodiment, if one electric field detector 120a detects
overvoltage, then every
electric field detector 120b-n and the equipment 22 indicates the same warning
via the
18
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
warning modules 244, 64.
[0083] In an embodiment, if one electric field detector 120a detects
overvoltage, then
the electric field detector 120a indicates a warning, but the other electric
field detector
120b-n indicate a different warning (e.g., different light color/pattern
and/or audible
tones/volumes/patterns, etc.) than the one indicated by the electric field
detector 120a. In
an embodiment, if one electric field detector 120a detects overvoltage, then
the electric
field detector 120a indicates a warning, but the other electric field detector
120b-n and the
equipment 22 indicate a different warning (e.g., different light color/pattern
and/or audible
tones/volumes/patterns, etc.) than the one indicated by the electric field
detector 120a.
[0084] In an embodiment, multiple electric field detectors 120a and 120c
detect the
overvoltage and provide a different warning (e.g., different light
color/pattern and/or
audible tones/volumes/patterns, etc.) than the electric field detectors 120b
and 120d that
do not detect the overvoltage, but receive the warning notification and/or
repeat the
warning. The type of warning can be based on both the received warning
notification as
well as the voltage detected by the particular electric field detector. In an
embodiment,
multiple electric field detectors 120a and 120c detect the overvoltage and
provide a
different warning (e.g., different light color/pattern and/or audible
tones/volumes/patterns,
etc.) than the equipment 22 and the electric field detectors 120b and 120d
that do not
detect the overvoltage, but receive the warning notification and/or repeat the
warning. The
type of warning can be based on both the received warning notification as well
as the
voltage detected by the particular electric field detector.
[0085] In an embodiment, the electric field detectors 120a-n are
configured to detect
multiple voltage thresholds and the warnings provided by the warning modules
244
indicate field strength of the detected voltage. In an embodiment, the
electric field
detectors 120a-n are configured to detect multiple voltage thresholds and the
warnings
provided by the warning modules 244, 64 indicate field strength of the
detected voltage.
For example, if a first voltage threshold is met, then the electric field
detectors 120a-n
and/or the equipment 22 provides a warning in a first way; if a second voltage
threshold is
met, then the electric field detectors 120a-n and/or the equipment 22 provide
a warning in
a second way which is different (e.g., different light color/pattern and/or
audible
tones/volumes/patterns, etc.) from the first way; etc. For example, the first
way may use
the one or more illumination sources 154 and/or 66 to flash at a first rate
and/or the one or
19
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
more audible devices 156 and/or 68 to beep at a first rate; and the second way
may use the
one or more illumination sources 154 and/or 66 to flash at a second rate which
is different
from the first rate and/or the one or more audible devices 156 and/or 68 to
beep at a
second rate which is different from the first rate; etc. As a more particular
example, in
some such embodiments, there may be a first voltage threshold and a second
voltage
threshold, with the second voltage threshold being higher than the first
voltage threshold.
A first electric field detector, for example electric field detector 120a, may
detect a voltage
exceeding the first voltage threshold, but not the second voltage threshold,
and may
provide a first warning (e.g., an orange light, a light pattern blinking at a
first rate, and/or a
first audible tones/volumes/patterns, etc.) while a second electric field
detector, for
example electric field detector 120b, may detect a voltage exceeding the
second voltage
threshold and may provide a second warning different than the first warning
(e.g., a red
light, a light pattern blinking at a second rate, and/or a second audible
tones/volumes/patterns, etc.).
[0086] Voltage thresholds of the electric field detectors 120a-n can be
assigned or
dynamically chosen based on the current set of voltages observed in the
system. In an
embodiment, the operator uses the user interface 65 to assign voltage
thresholds of the
electric field detectors 120a-n for different applications in which the
equipment 22 is being
used. For example, the equipment 22 is being used for work on a transmission
line (long
haul lines, e.g., on towers which transmit higher voltage), in some
embodiments, the
operator might assign a higher voltage threshold versus if the equipment 22 is
being used
for work on distribution line (a shorter haul line to homes/neighborhoods,
e.g., on poles
which transmit lower voltage than the voltage transmitted on distribution
lines) where the
assigned voltage threshold may be lower.
[0087] In an embodiment, when one electric field detector, for example
electric field
detector 120a, detects one of the voltage thresholds, a warning notification
is sent to the
other electric field detectors 120b-n that do not detect the overvoltage, and
all of the
electric field detectors 120a-n provide the same warning. In an embodiment,
when one
electric field detector 120a detects one of the voltage thresholds, a warning
notification is
sent to the other electric field detectors 120b-n that do not detect the
overvoltage, and
electric field detector 120a provides a different warning than the warnings
provided by the
other electric field detectors 120b-n. In an embodiment, one electric field
detector 120a
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
detects one of the voltage thresholds and send a warning notification to the
other electric
field detectors 120b-n, and another one of the electric field detectors 120b
detects the same
or a different voltage threshold and sends a warning notification to the other
electric field
detectors 120a, c, d; wherein electric field detector 120a provides a
different warning than
electric field detector 120b, and the remaining electric field detectors 120c,
d provide
further different warnings.
[0088] In each embodiment, the different types of warnings can be
indicated by the
electric field detectors 120a-n using the warning module 152 to provide
varying lights,
sounds or a combination of lights and sounds, including but not limited to a
strength of the
light or sound (e.g., a luminous intensity of the light; a loudness, such as
may be measured
in decibels of the sound; or the like), different light colors, different
number of lights
illuminated, different audio warning (louder/softer, different tones), etc.,
that indicate
strength of voltage detected.
[0089] In an embodiment, the field detection circuitry 142 of each
electric field
detector 120a-n is configured to control the warning modules 244 such that one
or more
illumination sources 154 provides constant illumination, varying illumination,
and/or turn
them on and off in a pattern, etc., to catch the attention of an operators.
For example, the
electric field detector 120a-n can provide a heartbeat type pattern to
indicate that it is
actively checking for electric fields having voltage meeting or exceeding the
voltage
threshold, and a spinning pattern can indicate an electric field and nearby
energized
conductor 28.
[0090] In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 11, one or more of, or all
of, the electric
field detectors 120a-n are formed as separate members and are mounted onto the
equipment 22. In an embodiment, the one or more of the electric field detector
120a-n
includes a housing 170 having a transparent or translucent cover 172, and one
or more
illumination sources 154 mounted within the housing 170 under the cover 172 to
provide a
visual warning to the operators that the electric field detector 120a-n has
detected an
overvoltage. The cover 172 protects and diffuses light from the one or more
illumination
sources 154. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more electric field
detector 120a-n
includes one or more audible devices 156 to provide an audio warning to the
operators that
the electric field detector 120a-n has detected an overvoltage. In an
embodiment, the
electric field detector 120a-n includes a battery 174 for powering the
electric field detector
21
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
120a-n.
[0091] In some embodiments as shown in FIGS. 11-13, one or more of, or
all of, the
electric field detectors 120a-n are integrally formed with the equipment 22.
In some such
embodiments, the electric field detectors 120a-n may include the cover 172
affixed to the
equipment 22 and the one or more illumination sources 154 and/or the one or
more audible
devices 156.
[0092] In an embodiment, the control apparatus 140 includes a voltage
regulator 176,
see FIG. 3, which supplies a proper voltage from the battery 174 to the other
components
of the control apparatus 140. In an embodiment, a low voltage detector 178,
see FIG. 3,
can monitor a battery charge level of the battery 174 so that the electric
field detector
120a-n can notify the operators, e.g., by activating the warning module 152,
in a way that
varies from the warning of the overvoltage to indicate a low battery charge
level.
However, it will be appreciated that the electric field detector 120a-n may
additionally or
alternatively be powered by an electrical system of the equipment 22, and in
some
embodiments the battery 174 may be omitted. Depending on structural
implementation
and/or an operator selected deployment configuration, the electric field
detectors 120a-n
can be configured to be fixedly or removably be mounted on the equipment 22.
In some
embodiments, the electric field detectors 120a-n are configured to rest on the
equipment
22. Additionally, or alternatively, the electric field detectors 120a-n can be
removably
fastened to the equipment 22 using straps and/or magnets and other types of
fasteners.
Additionally, or alternatively, the housing 170 of the electric field detector
120a-n may be
fastened to the equipment 22 in a manner such that they are not readily
removable, such as
through riveting, welding, etc.
[0093] In an embodiment, the electric field detector 120a-n includes a
power button
178. In an example embodiment as shown in FIG. 11, the power button 178 is on
a top of
the housing 170. In an embodiment, the power button 178 is on a bottom of the
housing
170. The power button 178, if provided, can also be used to verify the battery
charge level
when held down. In an embodiment, the electric field detector 120a-n are
activated/deactivated via a user control on the equipment 22 (the power button
178 may be
eliminated). In an embodiment, the user control is provided by a button in the
cab of the
equipment 22 which is in operative communication with the electric field
detector 120a-n
to activate/deactivate the electric field detector 120a-n.
22
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
[0094] In some embodiments, the electric field detector 120a-n may
include mode
selection that can include independent mode select, coordinated mode select,
or a
selectable channel(s). The mode selection can be selected by a user depressing
a mode
select button 180 on the electric field detector 120a-n, or additionally or
alternatively the
mode selection can be selected via a user control panel of the equipment 22.
In an
example embodiment as shown in FIG. 11, the mode select button 180 is on a top
of the
housing 170. For example, the electric field detector 120a-n operating in
independent
mode may only provide a warning if that electric field detector, for example
electric field
detector 120a, itself, detects voltage, and may not communicate with other
electric field
detectors 120a-n within range or at least may not repeat warnings from other
electric field
detectors 120a-n within range. Coordinated mode may set the electric field
detector 120a-
n to repeat a warning from an electric field detector 120a-n within range that
has detected
overvoltage. Channel selection may be provided in addition to or in lieu of
coordinated
mode. In channel select, the electric field detector 120a-n may support
communication via
a plurality of selectable wireless channels, e.g., 1, 2, 3. For example,
electric field
detectors 120a-n within range of each other or that are connected to same
network that are
on channel 1 can display and/or sound warnings together. If one electric field
detector
120a-n on channel 1 detects voltage, all electric field detectors on channel 1
can sound
warnings, but electric field detectors 120a-n on channel 1 may not repeat any
warning
from an electric field detector 120a-n on channel 2 that detects overvoltage,
such that an
electric field detector, for example electric field detector 120a, on channel
2 in such
embodiments may only display and/or sound a warning if it or another electric
field
detector, for example electric field detector 120b, on channel 2 detects
overvoltage. The
channels can be used to group electric field detectors 120a-n together in the
equipment 22,
in which all electric field detectors 120a-n of a first portion of the
equipment 22 can
coordinate separately from electric field detectors 120a-n in a second portion
of the
equipment 22, as determined by the separate channels.
[0095] In an embodiment, the control apparatus 140 includes an emergency
stop circuit
182 which is automatically activated in response to detection of overvoltage
by the electric
field detector 120a-n. In some embodiments, in response to the receipt of the
indication of
the warning notification, the emergency stop circuit 182 is automatically
activated and the
motor 32 driving the components 26 is stopped or the motor 32 is shut down
thereby
23
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
stopping the components 26.
[0096] In some embodiments, in response to the receipt of the indication
of the warning
notification, the processing circuitry 34 of the equipment 22 causes the
components 26 to
act. As an example, in some embodiments, the processing circuitry 34 of the
equipment
22 causes the motor 32 driving the components 26 to stop or causes the motor
32 to shut
down thereby stopping the components 26. In some embodiments, when the
emergency
stop button 67 is activated, the motor 32 is stopped thereby stopping the
components 26,
or the motor 32 is shut down thereby stopping the components 26. In some
embodiments,
the engine of the cable puller 800 is shut down when the equipment 22 acts or
when the
operator activates the emergency stop button 67.
[0097] In some embodiments, the systems and methods describe electric
field detectors
120a-n applied to equipment 22 including but not limited to distribution and
transmission
line stringing and tensioning equipment 22. The equipment 22 can include, but
is not
limited to, pullers, tensioners, puller-tensioner, and
puller/tensioner/reconductorer, reel
stands, reel trailers, bucket trucks, backhoes, cranes, digger derrick trucks,
other types of
construction equipment, non-construction equipment, other equipment used in
the
presence of high voltage lines, etc., whether for servicing the lines, working
around the
lines, tree trimming near the lines, etc. In an embodiment, the equipment 22,
includes, but
is not limited to, equipment 22 that is above ground, underground, overhead.
In an
embodiment, the equipment 22 has a cab in which the operator sits and the
warning
module 64 is located in the cab. The voltage may be generated by power lines,
cable
television lines, telecommunication lines, metal structures in the presence of
storms, etc.
[0098] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the equipment 22 is a cable
puller 800
which pulls conductors 28 in the form a cable or wire, and the components 26
on the body
34 are a nose 802 of the cable puller 800 and a driven capstan 804 of the
cable puller 800
which come into direct contact with the conductor 28. The capstan 804 is
driven by motor
32 which is operatively connected to and controlled by the control system 30
of the
equipment 22. As is known in the art, the nose 802 and the capstan 804 are
connected by
a boom 808. At a minimum, the nose 802 and the capstan 804 of the cable puller
800
form the components 26 of the equipment 22 which come into direct contact with
the
conductor 28. The electric field detectors 120a-n are placed at various
locations on the
cable puller 800 or are integrated into the cable puller 800. As an example,
an electric
24
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
field detector may be placed on either side of the nose 802, on sides of the
boom 808,
under the boom 808, on top of the boom 808, proximate to or on the capstan
804.
Numerous other locations for positioning the electric field detectors 120a-n
are within the
scope of the disclosure and the positions shown in FIG. 15 are for example
purposes only.
As an example, in some embodiments, the processing circuitry 34 of the
equipment 22
causes the motor 32 driving the capstan 804 to stop rotating the capstan 804
or causes the
motor 32 to shut down thereby stopping rotation of the capstan 804; in some
embodiments, this occurs automatically by the emergency stop circuit 182 in
response to
the detection of overvoltage. In some embodiments, when the emergency stop
button 67
is activated by the operator, the motor 32 is stopped thereby stopping
rotation of the
capstan 804, or the motor 32 is shut down thereby stopping rotation of the
capstan 804. In
some embodiments, the engine of the cable puller 800 is shut down when the
cable puller
800 acts or when the operator activates the emergency stop button 67.
[0099] In an
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the equipment 22 is a puller/tensioner
vehicle 900 which pulls conductors 28 in the form a cable or wire, and the
components 26
on the body 34 is a driven cable reel 904, known as a bull wheel, of the
puller/tensioner
vehicle 900. The cable reel 904 is driven by a motor 32 which is operatively
connected to
and controlled by the control system 30 of the equipment 22. The electric
field detectors
120a-n are placed at various locations on the puller/tensioner vehicle 900 or
are integrated
into the puller/tensioner vehicle 900. As an example, electric field detectors
may be
placed proximate to the cable reel 904 on either side thereof, by a cab 908 of
the
puller/tensioner vehicle 900, on top of the puller/tensioner vehicle 900,
under the
puller/tensioner vehicle 900. Numerous other locations for positioning the
electric field
detectors 120a-n are within the scope of the disclosure and the positions
shown in FIG. 16
are for example purposes only. As an example, in some embodiments, the
processing
circuitry 34 of the equipment 22 causes the motor 32 driving the cable reel
904 to stop
rotating the cable reel 904 or the motor 32 is shut down thereby stopping
rotation of the
cable reel 904; in some embodiments, this occurs automatically by the
emergency stop
circuit 182 in response to the detection of overvoltage. In some embodiments,
when the
emergency stop button 67 is activated by the operator, the motor 32 is stopped
thereby
stopping rotation of the cable reel 904, or the motor 32 is shut down thereby
stopping
rotation of the cable reel 904. In some embodiments, the engine of the
puller/tensioner
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
vehicle 900 is shut down when the puller/tensioner vehicle 900 acts or when
the operator
activates the emergency stop button 67.
[00100] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the equipment 22 is a bucket
truck
1000, and the components 26 on the body 34 are a bucket 1002 mounted on a
driven boom
1004 that lifts the bucket 1002 into proximity to the conductor 28. The boom
1004 is
driven by a motor 32 which is operated by the control system 30 of the bucket
truck 1000.
The electric field detectors 120a-n are placed at various locations on the
bucket truck 1000
or are integrated into the bucket truck 1000. As an example, field detectors
may be placed
on the hood of the bucket truck 1000 and on the bed of the bucket truck 1000,
on the boom
1004, on the bucket 1002. Numerous other locations for positioning the
electric field
detectors 120a-n are within the scope of the disclosure and the positions
shown in FIG. 17
are for example purposes only. As an example, in some embodiments, the
processing
circuitry 34 of the equipment 22 causes the motor 32 to stop moving the bucket
1002 and
boom 1004, or to lower the bucket 1002 and boom 1004 away from the conductor
28 or
causes the motor 32 to shut down thereby stopping movement of the bucket 1002
and
boom 1004; in some embodiments, this occurs automatically by the emergency
stop circuit
182 in response to the detection of overvoltage. In some embodiments, when the
emergency stop button 67 is activated by the operator, the motor 32 is stopped
thereby
stopping movement of the bucket 1002 and boom 1004, or the motor 32 is shut
down
thereby stopping movement of the bucket 1002 and boom 1004. In some
embodiments,
the engine of the bucket truck 1000 is shut down when the bucket truck 1000
acts or when
the operator activates the emergency stop button 67.
[00101] While the electric field detectors 120a-n are described as being
provided on or
part of the equipment 22, additional electric field detectors 120a-n may be
provided
around the equipment 22 and communicate with the electric field detectors 120a-
n on the
equipment 22 and may communicate with the control system 30 of the equipment
22.
FIG. 18 illustrates this situation with the puller/tensioner vehicle 600 being
shown for
illustrative purposes only. As an example, additional electric field detectors
120a-n can be
positioned on the ground 1100 by the equipment 22, be placed on the ground
under the
equipment 22, be positioned on a pole or a cone and/or other stand 1002
surrounding the
equipment 22. The electric field detectors 120a-n can help to establish a safe
working
perimeter around the work area.
26
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[00102] While the voltage threshold is described herein as a voltage meeting a
certain
voltage, the system could be modified to provide a warning if no voltage is
detected.
[00103] In some embodiments, the electric field detectors 120a-n and/or
equipment 22
can additionally or alternatively communicate via the communication modules
158, 62
with various computing devices and/or networks 184 including but not limited
to, smart
phones, tablets, laptops, personal computers (PC), etc., with communication
capability and
which may operate on one of a variety of operating systems including but not
limited to
Microsoft Windows (a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation), Apple iOS
(a
registered trademark of Cisco), Apple OSX, Google Android (a registered
trademark of
Google Inc.), or Linux (a registered trademark owned by Linus Torvalds) to
provide
warnings to the operators. In some embodiments, the electric field detector
120a-n and/or
equipment 22 can communicate the detected overvoltage to computing devices
and/or
networks 184 not in the area, e.g., a supervisor working in an office located
away from the
work site, and/or an emergency response unit, etc. In such embodiments,
communication
between an electric field detector 120 or equipment 22 and another computing
device
and/or network 184 can be via any form of communication that may be supported
by
communication modules 158, 62, including various wireless communication
technology
(e.g., various WLAN, PAN, cellular technologies) and/or communication via
various
physical connections (e.g., USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt, etc.).
[00104] With reference to FIG. 19, there is illustrated an exemplary system in
which a
computing device and/or network 184 is in communication with the control
apparatus 140
of the master unit of the structured network, for example the electric field
detector 120a,
and is used to issue commands to control the master electric field detector
120a, and in
turn control the other electric field detectors 120b-n. In the illustrative
example of FIG.
19, commands may be issued by the control apparatus 140 of the master electric
field
detector 120a in response to signals 186 received from an app 188 resident on
the
computing device and/or network 184. The signals 186 may be sent from the
computing
device and/or network 184 by radio frequency ("RF"). While wireless
communication,
etc., between the computing device and/or network 184 and the master electric
field
detector 120a is illustrated herein as a direct link, it should be appreciated
that in some
instances such communication may take place via a local area network or
personal area
network, and as such may involve various intermediary devices such as routers,
bridges,
27
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
access points, etc. Since these items are not necessary for an understanding
of the present
disclosure, they are omitted from this and subsequent Figures for the sake of
clarity.
[00105] In an embodiment, the computing device and/or network 184 and the
master
electric field detector 120a are in bi-directional communication.
[00106] Since smart device remote control apps such as that contemplated in
the
computing device and/or network 184 are well known, for the sake of brevity
the
operation, features, and functions thereof will not be described in detail
herein.
[00107] A setup app 190 executing on the computing device and/or network 184
may be
utilized in conjunction with an Internet (192, 194) accessible server 196 and
associated
database 198 to initially configure the master electric field detector 120a
for operation
with the other the master electric field detectors 120b-n which are to be
controlled, i.e., to
communicate to the master electric field detector 120a a matching command code
set and
capability profile for each particular electric field detectors 120b-n to be
controlled.
[00108] FIG. 20 is a flowchart of an example logic 1100 of control by the
computing
device and/or network 184 of the system shown in FIG. 19. The computing device
and/or
network 184 sends a control command to the master electric field detector 120a
(1102).
The master electric field detector 120a receives this control command and
processes the
control command (1104). The master electric field detector 120a sends control
commands
to the other electric field detector(s) 120b-n (1106). The electric field
detector(s) 120b-n
receive this control command, processes the control command, and then act
(1108).
[00109] Alternatively, the computing device and/or network 184 may send
control
commands directly to each of the electric field detectors 120a-n.
[00110] With reference to FIG. 21, there is illustrated an exemplary system in
which the
computing device and/or network 184 is in communication with the control
system 30 of
the equipment 22 and is used to issue commands to control the electric field
detector 120a-
n. In the illustrative example of FIG. 21, an app 200 resident on the
computing device
and/or network 184 is used to send command signals 186 to the control system
30 of the
equipment 22. The command signals 186 may be sent from the computing device
and/or
network 184 by radio frequency ("RF"). While wireless communication, etc.,
between the
computing device and/or network 184 and the control system 30 of the equipment
22 is
illustrated herein as a direct link, it should be appreciated that in some
instances such
communication may take place via a local area network or personal area
network, and as
28
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
such may involve various intermediary devices such as routers, bridges, access
points, etc.
Since these items are not necessary for an understanding of the present
disclosure, they are
omitted from this and subsequent Figures for the sake of clarity.
[00111] In an embodiment, the computing device and/or network 184 and the
control
system 30 of the equipment 22 are in hi-directional communication.
[00112] Since smart device remote control apps such as that contemplated in
the
computing device and/or network 184 are well known, for the sake of brevity
the
operation, features, and functions thereof will not be described in detail
herein.
[00113] A setup app 202 executing on the computing device and/or network 184
may be
utilized in conjunction with an Internet (192, 194) accessible server 196 and
associated
database 198 to initially configure the control system 30 of the equipment 22
for operation
with the electric field detectors 120a-n which are to be controlled, i.e., to
communicate to
the control system 30 of the equipment 22 a matching command code set and
capability
profile for each particular electric field detectors 120a-n to be controlled.
[00114] FIG. 22 is a flowchart of an example logic 1200 of control by the
computing
device and/or network 184 of the system shown in FIG. 21. The computing device
and/or
network 184 sends a control command to the control system 30 of the equipment
22
(1202). The control system 30 of the equipment 22 receives this control
command and
processes the control command (1204). The control system 30 of the equipment
22 sends
control command(s) to the master electric field detector 120a (1206). The
master electric
field detector 120a receives this control command and processes the control
command
(1208) and then sends control commands to the other electric field detector(s)
120b-n
(1210). The electric field detector(s) 120b-n receive this control command,
processes the
control command, and then act (1212).
[00115] Alternatively, the computing device and/or network 184 may send
control
commands directly to each of the electric field detectors 120a-n.
[00116] In either embodiment shown in FIGS. 19-22, the commands may be, for
example, to turn individual ones, or all of, the electric field detectors 120a-
n on or off, to
assign voltage thresholds to individual ones, or all of, the electric field
detectors 120a-n, or
to otherwise control parameters of operation of the electric field detectors
120a-n.
[00117] The processing capability of the systems and processes described
herein may be
distributed among multiple system components, such as among multiple
processors and
29
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
memories, optionally including multiple distributed processing systems.
Parameters,
databases, and other data structures may be separately stored and managed, may
be
incorporated into a single memory or database, may be logically and physically
organized
in many different ways, and may implemented in many ways, including data
structures
such as linked lists, hash tables, or implicit storage mechanisms. Programs
may be parts
(e.g., subroutines) of a single program, separate programs, distributed across
several
memories and processors, or implemented in many different ways, such as in a
library,
such as a shared library (e.g., a dynamic link library (DLL)). The DLL, for
example, may
store code that performs any of the system processing described above. The
systems and
methods can be implemented over a cloud.
[00118] In some embodiments as shown in FIGS. 23A-33, the systems and methods
describe electric field detectors 2020a-d applied to an environment 2010,
which may be a
physical structure or may be a section of the ground. In some embodiments,
each electric
field detector 2020a-d is configured to detect voltage in an electric field in
the
environment 2010 and to determine whether the detected voltage meets or
exceeds a
voltage threshold. Directional terms, such as upper, lower, top, bottom,
vertical and
horizontal, are used herein for ease in description; this does not denote a
required
orientation during use.
[00119] In some embodiments, each electric field detector 2020a-d is
configured to
detect voltage in an electric field in the environment 2010 and to determine
whether the
detected voltage meets or exceeds one or more voltage thresholds. In response
to the
detection by the electric field detectors 2020a-d that the detected voltage
meets or exceeds
a voltage threshold (hereinafter called an "overvoltage"), the electric field
detectors
2020a-d provide a warning to the operators. In response to the detection of
overvoltage by
one or more of the electric field detectors 2020a-d, the electric field
detectors 2020a-d are
configured to communicate a warning notification of the detection of the
overvoltage to
the other electric field detectors 2020a-d in the system. In an embodiment,
the voltage
threshold is 236 Volts or greater, e.g., at 50Hz/60Hz. The electric field
detectors 2020a-d
are configured to receive the warning notification and provide a warning, for
example,
visual and/or audio warnings, to operators of the presence of the overvoltage
in the electric
field of the environment 2010. As used herein, the term "operator" or
"operators" means a
person or persons proximate to, or within, the environment 2010. In some
embodiments,
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
the electric field detectors 2020a-d detect alternating current (AC) voltage.
[00120] While a system providing four electric field detectors 2020a-d is
shown in
FIGS. 23A and 23B, this is not limiting. The system requires at least two
electric field
detectors for operation of communication and coordinated warnings, but as many
electric
field detectors as needed may be used. FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate example
environments 2010 for placing electric field detectors 2020a-d, e.g., in a
grouping to detect
voltage within the environment 2010.
[00121] The electric field detectors 2020a-d can be positioned in a variety of
places in,
on and around the environment 2010. At least one or more of the electric field
detectors
2020a-d can be placed in clear view of the operators working in the
environment 2010, for
example, by placing an electric field detector 2020a-d on each side of the
environment
2010. For example, in an embodiment, the electric field detectors 2020a-d can
be
positioned at a front of the environment 2010, at a rear of the environment
2010, on the
sides of the environment 2010, in high, medium and/or low positions in and
around the
environment 2010 relative to the ground, and/or in other spatial arrangements
that disperse
the electric field detectors 2020a-d to provide voltage detection coverage
throughout the
environment 2010 and the ability of workers to view/hear one or more electric
field
detectors 2020a-d throughout the environment 2010. In this way, the electric
field
detectors 2020a-d can detect voltage up above the environment 2010, down
between the
environment 2010 and the ground, and/or on all sides of the environment 2010,
as
determined by positioning the electric field detectors 2020a-d. Additional and
alternative
positions to those illustrated in FIGS. 23A and 23B can be used.
[00122] Depending on structural implementation and/or an operator selected
deployment
configuration, the electric field detectors 2020a-d can be configured to be
fixedly mounted
or removably mounted in the environment 2010.
[00123] In an embodiment, one or more of the electric field detectors 2020a-d
includes a
housing 2024 having a transparent or translucent cover 2026, and the one or
more
illumination sources 2028 mounted within the housing 2024 under the cover 2026
to
provide a visual warning to the operators that the electric field detector
2020a-d has
detected an overvoltage. Non-limiting examples of an illumination source 2028
includes,
but is not limited to, light emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent bulbs, gas-
based lamps,
etc. The cover 2026 protects and diffuses light from the one or more
illumination sources
31
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
2028. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the electric field
detectors 2020a-d
includes one or more audible devices 2030 to provide an audio warning to the
operators
that the electric field detector 2020a-d has detected an overvoltage. Non-
limiting
examples of an audible device 2030 includes, but is not limited to, a speaker
and/or a horn.
In an embodiment, the electric field detector 2020a-d includes a battery 2032
for powering
the electric field detector 2020a-d. In an embodiment, the electric field
detector 2020a-d
includes a power button 2034. In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 24, the power
button
2034 is on a top of the housing 2024. In an embodiment, the power button 2034
is on a
bottom of the housing 2024.
[00124] Each electric field detector 2020a-d includes a control apparatus
2036.
Attention is invited to FIG. 25 which illustrates a block diagram of a control
apparatus
2036 that may be implemented on each electric field detector 2020a-d in
accordance with
some example embodiments. In this regard, when implemented on each electric
field
detector 2020a-d, the control apparatus 2036 enables each electric field
detector 2020a-d
to energize the one or more illumination sources 2028 and/or the one or more
audible
devices 2030 to provide the warning to the operators, and to communicate with
the other
electric field detectors 2020a-d in the system to provide a warning
notification, in
accordance with one or more example embodiments. It will be appreciated that
the
components, devices or elements illustrated in and described with respect to
FIG. 25
below may not be mandatory and thus some may be omitted in certain
embodiments.
Additionally, some embodiments may include further or different components,
devices or
elements beyond those illustrated in and described with respect to FIG. 25.
[00125] The control apparatus 2036 includes field detection circuitry 2038
which is
configured to detect voltage in the electric field in the environment 2010 and
to determine
whether the detected voltage meets or exceeds the voltage threshold, and in
response to the
detection by the field detection circuitry 2038 of an overvoltage and is
configurable to
perform actions in accordance with one or more example embodiments disclosed
herein.
The field detection circuitry 2038 may include a processor 2040 and, in some
embodiments, such as that illustrated in FIG. 25 may further include memory
2042. An
example field detection circuitry 2038 is manufactured by HD Electric Company,
for
example, as used in the WATCHMAN work area voltage detector, part number WM-
01.
[00126] The processor 2040 may be embodied in a variety of forms. For example,
the
32
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
processor 2040 may be embodied as various hardware-based processing means such
as a
microprocessor, a coprocessor, a controller or various other computing or
processing
devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC
(application specific
integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), some combination
thereof,
or the like. Although illustrated as a single processor, it will be
appreciated that the
processor 2040 may comprise a plurality of processors. The plurality of
processors may
be in operative communication with each other and may be collectively
configured to
perform one or more functionalities of the control apparatus 2036 as described
herein. In
some example embodiments, the processor 2040 may be configured to execute
instructions that may be stored in the memory 2042 or that may be otherwise
accessible to
the processor 2040. Depending on the form of instructions that may be stored
in the
memory 2042 or otherwise accessed by the processor 2040, such execution of
instructions
may, for example, include execution of compiled executable code, translation
or
interpretation of stored program instructions, some combination thereof, or
other method
through which the processor 2040 may read and execute computer program
instructions.
As such, whether configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and
software,
the processor 2040 is capable of performing operations according to various
embodiments
while configured accordingly.
[00127] The memory 2042 can include one or more of a program memory, a cache,
random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard
drive, etc., and/or other types of memory. In some example embodiments, the
memory
2042 may include one or more memory devices. Memory 2042 may include fixed
and/or
removable memory devices. In some embodiments, the memory 2042 may provide a
non-
transitory computer-readable storage medium that may store computer program
instructions that may be executed by the processor 2040. In some embodiments,
the
memory 2042 may be configured to store information, data, applications,
instructions
(e.g., compiled executable program instructions, uncompiled program code, some
combination thereof, or the like) and/or the like for enabling the control
apparatus 2036 to
carry out various functions in accordance with one or more example
embodiments.
[00128] The control apparatus 2036 includes a warning module 2044 in operative
communication with the processor 2040 and a communication module 2046 in
operative
communication with the processor 2040. The warning module 2044 includes the
electrical
33
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
components for energizing the one or more illumination sources 2028 and/or the
one or
more audible devices 2030 to provide the warning to the operators. In some
embodiments,
the memory 2042 may be in operative communication with one or more of the
processor
2040 and the warning module 2044 via one or more buses for passing information
among
components of the control apparatus 2036.
[00129] In some embodiments, some of the control apparatus 2036 can reside on
a
printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) 2048, or other type of electrical
component
assembly, e.g., a 3D printer process assembly mounted in the housing 2024. It
will be
appreciated that where PCBA 2048 is described, it is described by way of non-
limiting
example, such that alternative assemblies on which circuitry and/or other
electronic
components may be embodied may be substituted for PCBA 2048 within the scope
of the
disclosure, including but not limited to variously configured point-to-point
constructed
circuits, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable
gate array
(FPGA), etc. In some embodiments, the field detection circuitry 2038 is
located on the
PCBA 2048.
[00130] Signal conditioning circuitry 2050 can turn signals into digital
signals before
being received by the field detection circuitry 2038. Additionally, or
alternatively, the
control apparatus 2036 may include an onboard analog-to-digital converter
and/or other
circuitry that may be configured to convert analog signals into digital
signals, e.g., for
processing. In some embodiments, a voltage regulator 2052 can supply a proper
voltage
from the battery 2032 to the other components of the control apparatus 2036.
In some
embodiments, a low voltage detector 2054 can monitor a battery charge level of
the
battery 2032 so that the electric field detector 2020a-d can notify the
operators, e.g., by
activating the warning module 2044, in a way that varies from the warning of
the
overvoltage to indicate a low battery charge level. A power button 2056, which
operators
can use to turn on and off the electric field detector 2020a-d, can also be
used to verify the
battery charge level when held down. Additional or fewer components may be
included
on the PCBA 2048 depending on an implementation.
[00131] In this regard, the field detection circuitry 2038 may be configured
to perform
and/or control performance of one or more functionalities of each electric
field detector
2020a-d, such as to energize and control operation of the warning module 2044,
in
accordance with various example embodiments. The field detection circuitry
2038 may be
34
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
configured to perform data processing, application execution and/or other
processing and
management services according to one or more example embodiments.
[00132] In some embodiments, the control apparatus 2036 or a portion(s) or
component(s) thereof, such as the field detection circuitry 2038, may include
one or more
chipsets and/or other components that may be provided by integrated circuits.
[00133] The communication module 2046 is configured to receive the warning
notification from one or more of the other electric field detectors 2020a-d in
the system,
and is configured to communicate an indication of the warning notification to
the field
detection circuitry 2038. In an embodiment, the communication module 2046 is
configured to process or modify the received warning notification and forward
the
processed or received warning notification to the field detection circuitry
2038. Therefore,
the electric field detectors 2020a-d provide a warning to operators positioned
in and/or
around the environment 2010 of an overvoltage, no matter which of the electric
field
detectors 2020a-d first detected the overvoltage, via the warning modules
2044.
[00134] In an embodiment, the electric field detectors 2020a-d communicate by
wireless
communication. For wireless communications, the communication module 2046 may
include a transceiver, for example. In an embodiment, the electric field
detectors 2020a-d
may communicate via an ad hoc (e.g., mesh) network that may be formed among
electric
field detectors 2020a-d within range of each other, e.g., as established by
the
communication module 2046. An example chip that may be provided and/or that
may be
integrated into the communication module 2046 to enable communication over a
radio
frequency mesh network is provided by a Synapse Wireless, Inc. integrated
circuit model
number SM220UF1. However, it will be appreciated that other chips and
controllers may
be used within the scope of the disclosure.
[00135] In some embodiments, the electric field detectors 2020a-d can act as
repeaters
to repeat the warning notifications of the overvoltage to other electric field
detectors
2020a-d within range even though the electric field detectors 2020a-d are not
within range
of the electric field detector 2020a-d originating the warning notification.
In some
embodiments, the electric field detectors 2020a-d may connect and communicate
with
each other via a structured wireless LAN/PAN network with an access point or
master
unit. A master unit of the structured network, can, for example, be one of the
electric field
detectors, e.g. 2020a, designated as a master.
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
[00136] Some non-limiting example of wireless communication technologies that
may
be used to facilitate formation of an ad hoc network, structured network,
and/or direct
wireless communication (e.g., peer-to-peer, or P2P) links between two or more
electric
field detectors 2020a-d include one or more of an Institute of Electrical and
Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) 802.15 or other wireless personal area networking technology
(e.g.,
ZigBee TM, BLUETOOTH TM, and/or the like), near field communication (NFC),
IEEE
802.11 or other wireless local area networking communication technology (e.g.,
Wi-Fi),
Wi-Fi Direct, Z-wave, WirelessUSB, WirelessHD, Wireless HART, ultra-wide band
(UWB), Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN), ISA100a, Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID), Infrared (IR), ISM Band, IEEE 1802.15.4, ANT+, 6LoWPAN,
Ultra-Wideband, satellite networks, cellular networks, etc. However, it will
be
appreciated that communication between two or more electric field detectors
2020a-d may
be provided by any wireless communication technology that may be used to form
an ad
hoc or structured wireless local area network (LAN), personal area network
(PAN), direct
(e.g., P2P) communication link or the like within the scope of the disclosure.
[00137] In response to detection of an overvoltage by one or more of the
electric field
detectors 2020a-d, the electric field detectors 2020a-d provide a warning to
operators to
the presence of the overvoltage in the environment 2010 by activating its
warning module
2044 to provide the warning. In an embodiment, the field detection circuitry
2038 of the
electric field detectors 2020a-d activates the one or more illumination
sources 2028 to
provide a visual warning to the operators in the environment 2010 and/or
activates the one
or more audible devices 2030 to provide an audio warning, e.g., beeping, to
provide a
warning to operators around the electric field detectors 2020a-d.
[00138] In an embodiment, if one electric field detector 2020a detects
overvoltage, then
every electric field detector 2020b-d indicates the same warning via the
warning modules
2044.
[00139] In an embodiment, if one electric field detector 2020a detects
overvoltage, then
the electric field detector 2020a indicates a warning, but the other electric
field detector
2020b-d indicate a different warning (e.g., different light color/pattern
and/or audible
tones/volumes/patterns, etc.) than the one indicated by the electric field
detector 2020a.
[00140] In an embodiment, multiple electric field detectors 2020a and 2020c
detect the
overvoltage and provide a different warning (e.g., different light
color/pattern and/or
36
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
audible tones/volumes/patterns, etc.) than the electric field detectors 2020b
and 2020d that
do not detect the overvoltage, but receive the warning notification and/or
repeat the
warning. The type of warning can be based on both the received warning
notification as
well as the voltage detected by the particular electric field detector.
[00141] In an embodiment, the electric field detectors 2020a-d are configured
to detect
multiple voltage thresholds and the warnings provided by the warning modules
2044
indicate field strength of the detected voltage. Multiple voltage thresholds
can be assigned
or dynamically chosen based on the current set of voltages observed in the
system. For
example, if a first voltage threshold is met, then the electric field
detectors 2020a-d
provide a warning in a first way; if a second voltage threshold is met, then
the electric
field detectors 2020a-d provide a warning in a second way which is different
(e.g.,
different light color/pattern and/or audible tones/volumes/patterns, etc.)
from the first way;
etc. For example, the first way may use the one or more illumination sources
2028 to flash
at a first rate and/or the one or more audible devices 2030 to beep at a first
rate; and the
second way may use the one or more illumination sources 2028 to flash at a
second rate
which is different from the first rate and/or the one or more audible devices
2030 to beep
at a second rate which is different from the first rate; etc. As a more
particular example, in
some such embodiments, there may be a first voltage threshold and a second
voltage
threshold, with the second voltage threshold being higher than the first
voltage threshold.
A first electric field detector, for example electric field detector 2020a,
may detect a
voltage exceeding the first voltage threshold, but not the second voltage
threshold, and
may provide a first warning (e.g., an orange light, a light pattern blinking
at a first rate,
and/or a first audible tones/volumes/patterns, etc.) while a second electric
field detector,
for example electric field detector 2020b, may detect a voltage exceeding the
second
voltage threshold and may provide a second warning different than the first
warning (e.g.,
a red light, a light pattern blinking at a second rate, and/or a second
audible
tones/volumes/patterns, etc.).
[00142] In an embodiment, when one electric field detector, for example
electric field
detector 2020a, detects one of the voltage thresholds, a warning notification
is sent to the
other electric field detectors 2020b-d that do not detect the overvoltage, and
all of the
electric field detectors 2020a-d provide the same warning. In an embodiment,
when one
electric field detector 2020a detects one of the voltage thresholds, a warning
notification is
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CA 3002976 2018-04-26
sent to the other electric field detectors 2020b-d that do not detect the
overvoltage, and
electric field detector 2020a provides a different warning than the warnings
provided by
the other electric field detectors 2020b-d. In an embodiment, one electric
field detector
2020a detects one of the voltage thresholds and send a warning notification to
the other
electric field detectors 2020b-d, and another one of the electric field
detectors 2020b
detects the same or a different voltage threshold and sends a warning
notification to the
other electric field detectors 2020a, 2020c, 2020d; wherein electric field
detector 2020a
provides a different warning than electric field detector 2020b, and the
remaining electric
field detectors 2020c, 2020d provide further different warnings.
[00143] In each embodiment, the different types of warnings can be indicated
by the
electric field detectors 2020a-d using the warning module 2044 to provide
varying lights,
sounds or a combination of lights and sounds, including but not limited to a
strength of the
light or sound (e.g., a luminous intensity of the light; a loudness, such as
may be measured
in decibels of the sound; or the like), different light colors, different
number of lights
illuminated, different audio warning (louder/softer, different tones), etc.,
that indicate
strength of voltage detected.
[00144] In an embodiment, the field detection circuitry 2038 of each electric
field
detector 2020a-d is configured to control the warning modules 2044 such that
the one or
more illumination sources 2028 provides constant illumination, varying
illumination,
and/or turn them on and off in a pattern, etc., to catch the attention of
operators. For
example, the electric field detector 2020a-d can provide a heartbeat type
pattern to indicate
that it is actively checking for electric fields having voltage meeting or
exceeding the
voltage threshold, and a spinning pattern can indicate an electric field and
nearby
energized conductor.
[00145] In some embodiments, the electric field detectors 2020a-d can
communicate
with other computing devices and/or networks 184 via the communication module
2046,
whether or not located in the environment 2010, including but not limited to,
smart
phones, tablets, laptops, personal computers (PC), etc., with communication
capability and
which may operate on one of a variety of operating systems including but not
limited to
Microsoft Windows (a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation), Apple iOS
(a
registered trademark of Cisco), Apple OSX, Google Android (a registered
trademark of
Google Inc.), or Linux (a registered trademark owned by Linus Torvalds). In
some
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CA 3002976 2018-04-26
embodiments, the electric field detectors 2020a-d communicates a warning
notification to
the other computing devices and/or networks 184 to alert a person that is not
in the
environment 2010. In addition, the other computing devices and/or networks 184
may be
used to assign voltage thresholds to the electric field detectors 2020a-d.
[00146] In some embodiments, the electric field detector 2020a-d may include a
mode
selection button 2058 that can include independent mode select, coordinated
mode select,
or a selectable channel(s). For example, the electric field detector 2020a-d
operating in
independent mode may only provide a warning if that electric field detector,
for example
electric field detector 2020a, itself, detects voltage, and may not
communicate with other
electric field detectors 2020a-d within range or at least may not repeat
warnings from
other electric field detectors 2020a-d within range. Coordinated mode may set
the electric
field detector 2020a-d to repeat a warning from an electric field detector
2020a-d within
range that has detected overvoltage. Channel selection may be provided in
addition to or
in lieu of coordinated mode. In channel select, the electric field detector
2020a-d may
include a plurality of channels, e.g., 1, 2, 3. For example, electric field
detectors 2020a-d
within range of each other or that are connected to same network that are on
channel 1 can
display and/or sound warnings together. If one electric field detector 2020a-d
on channel
1 detects voltage, all electric field detectors on channel 1 can sound
warnings, but electric
field detectors 2020a-d on channel 1 may not repeat any warning from an
electric field
detector 2020a-d on channel 2 that detects overvoltage, such that an electric
field detector,
for example electric field detector 2020a, on channel 2 in such embodiments
may only
display and/or sound a warning if it or another electric field detector, for
example electric
field detector 2020b, on channel 2 detects overvoltage. The channels can be
used to group
electric field detectors 2020a-d together in the environment 2010, in which
all electric
field detectors 2020a-d of a first portion of the environment 2010 can
coordinate
separately from electric field detectors 2020a-d in a second portion of the
environment
2010, as determined by the separate channels.
[00147] FIG. 26 is a flowchart of an example logic 20100 of an electric field
detector,
for example electric field detector 2020a, in view of the environment 2010.
The electric
field detector 2020a, monitors an electric field in the environment 2010 that
the electric
field detector 2020a, is placed in (2020102) by detecting the voltage in the
area around the
electric field detector 2020a. The electric field detector 2020a, waits for
the voltage
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CA 3002976 2018-04-26
threshold to be met and/or exceeded in that environment 2010 (2020104).
Additionally, or
alternatively, the electric field detector 2020a, can receive a warning
notification from one
or more other electric field detector(s), for example electric field detector
2020b, 2020c
and/or 2020d, in the environment 2010 indicating that one or more other
electric field
detector(s) detected an overvoltage (2020106). Based on one or more of the
electric field
detectors detecting an overvoltage or receiving a warning notification from
another
electric field detector that an overvoltage was detected, the electric field
detector 2020a,
provides a warning to the operators via the warning module 2044, e.g. via the
one or more
illumination sources 2028 and/or via the one or more audible devices 2030
(2020108).
The electric field detector(s) that detected the overvoltage communicates a
warning
notification to the other electric field detectors (2020110).
[00148] FIG. 27 is a flowchart of an example logic 20200 of a second electric
field
detector, for example electric field detector 2020b, in view of the
environment 2010. The
second electric field detector 2020b, receives warning notification (20202)
from one of
more of the other electric field detectors and in response, provides a warning
to the
operators via its warning module 2044, e.g. via the one or more illumination
sources 2028
and/or via the one or more audible devices 2030 (20204).
[00149] The processing capability of the systems and processes described
herein may be
distributed among multiple system components, such as among multiple
processors and
memories, optionally including multiple distributed processing systems.
Parameters,
databases, and other data structures may be separately stored and managed, may
be
incorporated into a single memory or database, may be logically and physically
organized
in many different ways, and may implemented in many ways, including data
structures
such as linked lists, hash tables, or implicit storage mechanisms. Programs
may be parts
(e.g., subroutines) of a single program, separate programs, distributed across
several
memories and processors, or implemented in many different ways, such as in a
library,
such as a shared library (e.g., a dynamic link library (DLL)). The DLL, for
example, may
store code that performs any of the system processing described above. The
systems and
methods can be implemented over a cloud.
[00150] In an embodiment as shown in FIGS. 28-30, the housing 20224 is
generally
circularly-shaped housing 20224 and includes legs 20260 extending from a
central hub
20262. In some embodiments that shape can be oblong to provide an asymmetric
shape
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
around any vertical axis, e.g., to provide a more uniform voltage detection in
all directions.
Other shapes can be used, e.g., square, rectangular, triangular, rhombus, etc.
At the
bottom 20264 of the housing 20224, see FIG. 30, the legs 20260 can include
bars 20266,
e.g., for providing access points to mounting mechanisms to mount the electric
field
detector 2020a in the environment 2010. For example, straps or ropes can be
weaved
through the bars 20266 to strap the electric field detector 2020a to the
environment 2010.
Additionally, or alternatively, the bars 20266 can mate with corresponding
female
connectors attached in the environment 2010, etc., to secure the electric
field detector
2020a to the environment 2010. It will be appreciated, however, that
additional or
alternative mounting mechanisms can be used to mount an electric field
detector 2020a-d
within an environment 2010 within the scope of the disclosure. In an
embodiment, the
generally transparent or translucent covers 20226 are positioned between the
legs 20260,
and from a top 20268 to a side 20270 around the perimeter of the housing
20224, e.g., to
be visible from any direction. In some embodiments, the covers 20226 can be
angled, e.g.,
from the top 20268 to the side 20270, to provide a greater surface area of
visible light.
[00151] In an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 31-33, the electric voltage
detectors
20320a-f can be stacked onto each other and onto a charging station 20300 to
charge the
batteries 20332. In an embodiment, the charging station 20300 incudes a base
20302 and
plurality of charge pads 20304 provided thereon. Each electric voltage
detectors 20320a-f
has at least one contact 20380 that extends through the housing 20324 and is
in electrical
communication with the battery 20332. During charging, the contact(s) 20380 on
the
lowermost electric voltage detector 20320a engages the charge pad(s) 20304 on
the
charging station 20300. The contact(s) 20380 on the stacked electric voltage
detectors
20320a-f engage one another to provide a continuous electrical path. When the
charging
station 20300 is activated, all of the batteries 20332 of the electric voltage
detectors
20320a-f are charged. The electric voltage detectors 20320a-f are removed from
each
other and the charging station 20300 for use in the environment 2010.
[00152] The systems and methods shown in FIGS. 23A-33 which describe electric
field
detectors 2020a-d applied to an environment 2010, can be controlled by using
the
computing device and/or network 184 like that shown in FIG. 19. In this
regard, in some
embodiments, the charging station 20300 incudes a control apparatus 20306, see
FIG. 34,
which is configured to receive commands from the computing device and/or
network 184
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CA 3002976 2018-04-26
and send commands to the electric field detectors 2020a-d.
[00153] The control apparatus 20306 of the charging station 20300 includes
processing
circuitry 20308 that is configurable to perform actions in accordance with one
or more
example embodiments disclosed herein. The processing circuitry 20308 may be
configured to perform data processing, application execution and/or other
processing and
management services according to one or more example embodiments.
[00154] The processing circuitry 20308 may include a processor 20310 and, in
some
embodiments, such as that illustrated in FIG. 21 may further include memory
20312.
[00155] The processor 20310 may be embodied in a variety of forms. For
example, the
processor 20310 may be embodied as various hardware-based processing means
such as a
microprocessor, a coprocessor, a controller or various other computing or
processing
devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC
(application specific
integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), some combination
thereof,
or the like. Although illustrated as a single processor, it will be
appreciated that the
processor 20310 may comprise a plurality of processors. The plurality of
processors may
be in operative communication with each other and may be collectively
configured to
perform one or more functionalities of the control apparatus 20306 as
described herein. In
some example embodiments, the processor 20310 may be configured to execute
instructions that may be stored in the memory 20312 or that may be otherwise
accessible
to the processor 20310. Depending on the form of instructions that may be
stored in the
memory 20312 or otherwise accessed by the processor 20310, such execution of
instructions may, for example, include execution of compiled executable code,
translation
or interpretation of stored program instructions, some combination thereof, or
other
method through which the processor 20310 may read and execute computer program
instructions. As such, whether configured by hardware or by a combination of
hardware
and software, the processor 20310 is capable of performing operations
according to
various embodiments while configured accordingly.
[00156] The memory 20312 can include one or more of a program memory, a cache,
random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard
drive, etc., and/or other types of memory. In some example embodiments, the
memory
20312 may include one or more memory devices. Memory 20312 may include fixed
and/or removable memory devices. In some embodiments, the memory 20312 may
42
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
provide a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that may store
computer
program instructions that may be executed by the processor 20310. In some
embodiments,
the memory 20312 may be configured to store information, data, applications,
instructions
(e.g., compiled executable program instructions, uncompiled program code, some
combination thereof, or the like) and/or the like for enabling the control
apparatus 20306
to carry out various functions in accordance with one or more example
embodiments.
[00157] The control apparatus 20306 includes a communication module 20314 in
operative communication with the processor 20310. In some embodiments, the
memory
20312 may be in operative communication with the processor 20310 via one or
more
buses for passing information among components of the control apparatus 20306.
[00158] In some embodiments, some of the control apparatus 20306 can reside on
a
printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), or other type of electrical component
assembly,
e.g., a 3D printer process assembly mounted in the base 20302. It will be
appreciated that
where PCBA is described, it is described by way of non-limiting example, such
that
alternative assemblies on which circuitry and/or other electronic components
may be
embodied may be substituted for PCBA within the scope of the disclosure,
including but
not limited to variously configured point-to-point constructed circuits,
application-specific
integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.
[00159] In this regard, the processing circuitry 20308 may be configured to
perform
and/or control performance of one or more functionalities of each electric
field detector
2020a-d, such as to energize the electric field detector 2020a-d and to set
voltage
thresholds, in accordance with various example embodiments. The processing
circuitry
20308 may be configured to perform data processing, application execution
and/or other
processing and management services according to one or more example
embodiments.
[00160] In some embodiments, the control apparatus 20306 or a portion(s) or
component(s) thereof, such as the processing circuitry 20308, may include one
or more
chipsets and/or other components that may be provided by integrated circuits.
[00161] The communication module 20314 is configured to receive commands from
the
computing device and/or network 184, and is configured to communicate command
signals to the electric field detectors 2020a-d for operation.
[00162] In an embodiment, the communication module 20314 communicate by
wireless
communication. For wireless communications, the communication module 2046 may
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CA 3002976 2018-04-26
include a transceiver, for example. Some non-limiting example of wireless
communication technologies that may be used to facilitate formation of
wireless
communication (e.g., peer-to-peer, or P2P) links between the communication
module
20314 and the electric field detectors 2020a-d include one or more of an
Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15 or other wireless personal
area
networking technology (e.g., ZigBee TM, BLUETOOTH TM, and/or the like), near
field
communication (NFC), IEEE 802.11 or other wireless local area networking
communication technology (e.g., Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Z-wave, WirelessUSB,
WirelessHD, Wireless HART, ultra-wide band (UWB), Wireless Regional Area
Network
(WRAN), ISA100a, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared (IR), ISM
Band,
IEEE 1802.15.4, ANT+, 6LoWPAN, Ultra-Wideband, satellite networks, cellular
networks, etc. However, it will be appreciated that such communication may be
provided
by any wireless communication technology that may be used to form an ad hoc or
structured wireless local area network (LAN), personal area network (PAN),
direct (e.g.,
P2P) communication link or the like within the scope of the disclosure.
[00163] As shown in FIG. 35, there is illustrated an exemplary system in which
the
computing device and/or network 184 is in communication with the control
apparatus
2036 of a master unit of the structured network, for example the electric
field detector
2020a, and is used to issue commands to control the master electric field
detector 2020a,
and in turn control the other electric field detectors 2020b-d. In the
illustrative example of
FIG. 35, commands may be issued by the control apparatus 2036 of the master
electric
field detector 2020a in response to signals 186 received from an app 188
resident on the
computing device and/or network 184. The signals 186 may be sent from the
computing
device and/or network 184 by radio frequency ("RF"). While wireless
communication,
etc., between the computing device and/or network 184 and the master electric
field
detector 2020a is illustrated herein as a direct link, it should be
appreciated that in some
instances such communication may take place via a local area network or
personal area
network, and as such may involve various intermediary devices such as routers,
bridges,
access points, etc. Since these items are not necessary for an understanding
of the present
disclosure, they are omitted from this and subsequent Figures for the sake of
clarity.
[00164] In an embodiment, the computing device and/or network 184 and the
master
electric field detector 2020a are in bi-directional communication.
44
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
[00165] Since smart device remote control apps such as that contemplated in
the
computing device and/or network 184 are well known, for the sake of brevity
the
operation, features, and functions thereof will not be described in detail
herein.
[00166] A setup app 190 executing on the computing device and/or network 184
may be
utilized in conjunction with an Internet (192, 194) accessible server 196 and
associated
database 198 to initially configure the master electric field detector 2020a
for operation
with the other the master electric field detectors 2020b-d which are to be
controlled, i.e., to
communicate to the master electric field detector 2020a a matching command
code set and
capability profile for each particular electric field detectors 2020b-d to be
controlled.
[00167] FIG. 36 is a flowchart of an example logic 1300 of control by the
computing
device and/or network 184 of the system shown in FIG. 35. The computing device
and/or
network 184 sends a control command to the master electric field detector
2020a (1302).
The master electric field detector 2020a receives this control command and
processes the
control command (1304). The master electric field detector 2020a sends control
commands to the other electric field detector(s) 120b-n (1306). The electric
field
detector(s) 2020b-n receive this control command, processes the control
command, and
then act (1308).
[00168] With reference to FIG. 37, there is illustrated an exemplary system in
which the
computing device and/or network 184 is in communication with the control
apparatus
20306 of the charging station 20300 and is used to issue commands to control
the electric
field detectors 2020a-d. In the illustrative example of FIG. 37, an app 204
resident on the
computing device and/or network 184 is used to send command signals to the
control
apparatus 20306 of the charging station 20300. The command signals may be sent
from
the computing device and/or network 184 by radio frequency ("RF"). While
wireless
communication, etc., between the computing device and/or network 184 and the
control
apparatus 20306 of the charging station 20300 is illustrated herein as a
direct link, it
should be appreciated that in some instances such communication may take place
via a
local area network or personal area network, and as such may involve various
intermediary devices such as routers, bridges, access points, etc. Since these
items are not
necessary for an understanding of the present disclosure, they are omitted
from this and
subsequent Figures for the sake of clarity.
[00169] In an embodiment, the computing device and/or network 184 and the
control
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
apparatus 20306 of the charging station 20300 are in bi-directional
communication.
[00170] Since smart device remote control apps such as that contemplated in
the
computing device and/or network 184 are well known, for the sake of brevity
the
operation, features, and functions thereof will not be described in detail
herein.
[00171] A setup app 206 executing on the computing device and/or network 184
may be
utilized in conjunction with an Internet (192, 194) accessible server 196 and
associated
database 198 to initially configure the control apparatus 20306 of the
charging station
20300 for operation with the electric field detectors 2020a-d which are to be
controlled,
i.e., to communicate to the control apparatus 20306 of the charging station
20300 a
matching command code set and capability profile for each particular electric
field
detectors 2020a-d to be controlled.
[00172] FIG. 38 is a flowchart of an example logic 1400 of control by the
computing
device and/or network 184 of the system shown in FIG. 37. The computing device
and/or
network 184 sends a control command to the control apparatus 20306 of the
charging
station 20300 (1402). The control apparatus 20306 of the charging station
20300 receives
this control command and processes the control command (1404). The control
apparatus
20306 of the charging station 20300 sends control command(s) to the master
electric field
detector 2020a (1406). The master electric field detector 2020a receives this
control
command and processes the control command (1408) and then sends control
commands to
the other electric field detector(s) 2020b-d (1410). The electric field
detector(s) 2020b-d
receive this control command, processes the control command, and then act
(1412).
[00173] Alternatively, the control apparatus 20306 of the charging station
20300 may
send control commands directly to each of the electric field detectors 2020a-
d.
[00174] In either embodiment shown in FIGS. 35-38, the commands may be, for
example, to turn individual ones, or all of, the electric field detectors
2020a-d on or off, to
assign voltage thresholds to individual ones, or all of, the electric field
detectors 2020a-d,
or to otherwise control parameters of operation of the electric field
detectors 2020a-
d.While the control apparatus 20306 is descried as being in the charging
station 20300, the
control apparatus 20306 can be located in a separate apparatus.
[00175] While the voltage threshold is described herein as a voltage meeting a
certain
voltage, the system could be modified to provide a warning if no voltage is
detected.
[00176] While particular embodiments are illustrated in and described with
respect to
46
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
the drawings, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise
various modifications
without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will
therefore be
appreciated that the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims is not
limited to the
specific embodiments illustrated in and discussed with respect to the drawings
and that
modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the
scope of the
disclosure and appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions
and the
associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain
example
combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that
different
combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative
embodiments
without departing from the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims.
47
CA 3002976 2018-04-26
