Patent ID: 6584418
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: H04L,Y04S

Abstract:
Apparatus for monitoring power on an electrical DC power bus including at least first and second power leads comprising:a microprocessor coupled to said leads and receiving signals representative of the voltage across said leads, said microprocessor being programmed to periodically sample the voltage signals on said leads and to generate Vbus data representative of bus voltage; a plurality of visual indicator devices; said microprocessor being programmed to compute a first signal representative of an overvoltage condition when Vbus exceeds a predetermined overvoltage threshold value and to actuate one of said visual indicator devices to provide a visually distinctive signal for so long as said overvoltage condition is detected, and a second signal representative of a power surge condition when Vbus exceeds a predetermined level for a predetermined time period and then returns to a normal voltage range, said microprocessor thereupon latching said second signal while actuating one of said indicator devices in a second visually distinctive signal; said microprocessor being programmed to compute a third signal representative of an undervoltage condition when said Vbus signal is less than a predetermined undervoltage threshold, and to actuate one of said indicators with a third visually distinctive signal; said microprocessor being programmed to compute a fourth signal representative of a brownout condition when said Vbus signal falls below said undervoltage level for a predetermined period and thereafter returns to a normal voltage range, said microprocessor latching said fourth signal while actuating one of said indicator devices to display a fourth visually distinctive signal.