Abstract:
A monitoring and response system including a monitoring device for detecting one or more conditions, a transmission system for sending control codes, and multiple devices for actively performing functions in response to the control codes. The monitoring device may consist of multiple detectors located in different geographic areas. The monitoring device may also be an external system. In the external monitoring device configuration, a centralized monitoring device detects and locates the conditions and transmits this information to the transmission system. The transmission system then transmits control commands to the devices.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/868,290 entitled “Lightning Protection Systems” filed Jun. 15, 2001, which is the national phase of International Application No. PCT/US00/00168 filed Jan. 5, 2000, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/114,832 filed Jan. 6, 1999, all of which are herein incorporated in the entirety by this reference. 
     
    
     RELATED FIELDS  
       [0002]     This invention relates to systems and devices for monitoring and automatically responding to detected conditions such as environmental conditions.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Environmental conditions can change suddenly, often with dramatic and potentially dangerous and/or harmful results. Lightning strikes can result in data loss and damage to electronic equipment. Excessive wind can damage windows. Large snowfalls can result in avalanches and roof collapses. Smog and other types of pollution can cause breathing problems. Clearly, environmental changes, when unanticipated or unprepared for, have the potential to cause damage throughout geographic areas affected by the changes.  
         [0004]     Various devices have been developed in an attempt to lessen or prevent harm resulting from such environmental changes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,899 (the “899 patent”) entitled “Lightning Protection Device,” which is incorporated herein by this reference, discloses a lightning protection device that physically interrupts the electrical connection between electrical and electronic equipment and the power grid when lightning is detected in the vicinity of the equipment by a radio frequency receiver tuned to a frequency that generates a voltage in response to radio frequency static in the general vicinity. U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,208 entitled “Incipient Lightning Detection and Device Protection,” which is incorporated herein by this reference, discloses several other detecting mechanisms for sensing electrical activity in the general vicinity of the device.  
         [0005]     An important concern with these prior lightning protection devices is that control of the device is typically limited to detection of dangerous atmospheric conditions such as disclosed in the above-referenced patents. Detection of dangerous atmospheric conditions at the precise location of the protection device may not be sufficient to protect the device from damage. For example, some electronic equipment may be located within structures where relevant radio frequencies are difficult to receive. In addition, because electrical storms tend to cover a large geographic area and tend to move quickly, they are very difficult to detect based on one geographical data point. Therefore, sensors located on protection devices may not have the range, sensitivity, or accuracy to detect distant atmospheric conditions that may still damage the equipment being protected. Even if more sensitive sensors were employed, the cost of such an approach could be cost prohibitive.  
         [0006]     Although lightning protection devices may permit users to manually disconnect equipment from external conductors, this is no different than merely unplugging the equipment. Additionally, commercial users of such devices may be inconvenienced by having to have multiples of such units distributed throughout the building to protect a variety of electronic devices. Likewise, a homeowner may be similarly inconvenienced by having to move about an entire house to trigger multiple devices attached to various outlets.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,404,880, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Delivering Critical Information” and issued Jun. 11, 2002 to Stevens, discloses a method and apparatus for alerting subscribers to severe weather. Stevens discloses using a cellular network to deliver a message to a subscriber&#39;s cellular phone warning of severe weather or traffic jams when these conditions are detected. Such a system however may be undesirable because subscribers still must take affirmative action to protect themselves and/or their property from the imminent severe weather. For example, if a subscriber received a cellular message that a thunder storm was approaching her area, the subscriber would still have to unplug all of her electronic devices to protect them from potential lightning strikes.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     Various embodiments of the present invention include monitoring and response systems for automatically taking actions in response to the detection of certain conditions, such as, but not limited to, the detection of lightning strikes, high winds, snow accumulation or other environmental conditions. The system may include a monitoring device, a regional transmission system, and a number of automatic response devices. The monitoring device may be adapted to monitor at least one condition, which may be an environmental condition or a precursor condition to an environmental condition. The monitoring device may also be adapted to cause the regional transmitter to transmit or cease transmitting a control signal into or throughout a geographic area. The automatic response devices may be located in the geographic area and adapted to receive the control signals and respond to the presence or absence of the control signals by performing a function.  
         [0009]     For example, the monitoring and response system may be a lightning protection system adapted to protect electrical and electronic equipment by monitoring dangerous atmospheric conditions in a particular geographic area and transmitting control signals to electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices in the geographic area, which have a receiver for receiving the transmitted control signals and an interruption mechanism for automatically disconnecting and reconnecting the electrical equipment from external conductors in response to the presence or absence of the control commands.  
         [0010]     The monitoring device may consist of multiple detectors located in different geographic areas. In the external monitoring device configuration, a centralized monitoring device detects and locates conditions, such as dangerous atmospheric conditions, and transmits this information to the transmission system. The transmission system then transmits control commands to the automatic response devices, such as the electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices.  
         [0011]     The automatic response devices may be adapted to include “manual override” functionality. For example, to further enhance the protection of electrical equipment, an electrical circuit connection/disconnection device may also be controlled in a number of other ways than by the control signals. For example, the electrical circuit connection/disconnection device may be manually operated with the use of a “stomp” switch, which manually forces the disconnect process. Alternatively, a remote control may be used permitting the user to remotely activate the electrical circuit connection/disconnection device via a hand-held remote control unit, computer, modem, the Internet, telephone, wireless telephone, or any alternative means of remote communication. In a similar manner, multiple electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices may be connected together in a local area or large area network and controlled in a similar, remote manner. Manual triggering of the electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices may be desirable where certain structures interfere with lightning detection, thus rendering automated disconnection impractical; when normal sources of electrical power have failed; where dangerous, non-lightning related voltages may occur; when a user desires to have the protected equipment powered down; and when peace of mind or convenience dictates disconnection of the protected equipment.  
         [0012]     Accordingly, it is a feature of certain embodiments of this invention to provide a monitoring device with an accurate, sensitive, and precise detector capable of detecting and locating certain conditions.  
         [0013]     Another feature of certain embodiments of this invention is to provide an intelligent monitoring and response system that may detect and locate certain conditions in a specific geographic area and cause devices within the area to automatically respond to the detected conditions.  
         [0014]     Another feature of certain embodiments of this invention is to provide an improved electrical circuit connection/disconnection device for protecting electrical and electronic equipment from various electrical surges that may be controlled by geographically specific radio broadcasts.  
         [0015]     Another feature of certain embodiments of this invention is to provide an improved electrical circuit connection/disconnection device for protecting electrical and electronic equipment from various electrical surges, which has a disconnect mechanism with sufficient insulative capacity to prevent even extreme voltage surges from crossing the insulative barrier.  
         [0016]     Another feature of certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide automatic response devices for use in a monitoring and response system that may also be controlled manually.  
         [0017]     Yet another feature of certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide automatic response devices, which may be controlled remotely and in network fashion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a monitoring and response system of this invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a monitoring and response system of this invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a monitoring and response system of this invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a monitoring and response system of this invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of one automatic response device usable in systems shown in  FIGS. 1-4 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of another automatic response device usable in the systems shown in  FIGS. 1-4 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a schematic side elevation view a portion of a device similar to that shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  positioned in a connected state.  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  depicts the device shown in  FIG. 8  positioned in a disconnected state.  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of the external connectivity of a electrical circuit connection/disconnection device usable in the systems of  FIGS. 1-4 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of another electrical circuit connection/disconnection device usable in the systems illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of another electrical circuit connection/disconnection device usable in systems illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the device positioned in a connected state.  
         [0030]      FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit connection/disconnection device of  FIG. 12  positioned in a disconnected state.  
         [0031]      FIG. 14 . is a schematic diagram of another electrical circuit connection/disconnection device usable in the systems illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of another electrical circuit connection/disconnection device usable in the systems illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 16  is a schematic side elevation view of a portion of the device shown in  FIG. 15 , the device shown in a connected state.  
         [0034]      FIG. 17  is a schematic side elevation view of the portion of the device shown in  FIG. 16  shown in a disconnected state.  
         [0035]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of another electrical circuit connection/disconnection device usable in the systems illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]      FIGS. 1-3  show monitoring and response systems  10 ,  11  and  13  respectively according to certain embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , monitoring and response system  10  includes a plurality of monitoring devices  14  adapted to detect or monitor at least one condition, a plurality of regional transmitters  12  communicatively associated with the monitoring devices  14 , and a plurality of automatic response devices  16  adapted to receive signals from the regional transmitters  12  and to perform certain functions. In other embodiments, such as the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a single monitoring device  20  replaces the plurality of monitoring devices  14  shown in  FIG. 1 . In still other embodiments, monitoring and response systems  10 ,  11  and/or  13  may include both types of monitoring devices  14  and  20 .  
         [0037]     Monitoring devices  14  and/or  20  may monitor any desired and/or appropriate condition, conditions, precursor condition or precursor conditions. For instance, monitoring devices  14  and/or  20  may monitor: lightning strikes, static electricity, potential or actual differences in electricity, rain clouds, storm clouds, other clouds, wind velocity, wind direction, barometric pressure, humidity, temperature, ground temperature, air temperature, water temperature, relative temperature, rain, snow, hail, sleet, ice, ozone, pollen, radiation, air quality, seismic activity, ocean levels, ocean currents, vehicular traffic, meteor showers, other space related occurrences, nuclear agents, biological agents, chemical agents, sulfur compounds, carbon compounds, natural gas emissions, oil or gas spills, pedestrian density, traffic density, migratory patterns, plant life density or simply monitor other monitoring devices, including Internet based weather monitoring services, that monitor these or other conditions. Monitoring devices  14  and/or  20  may also monitor the absence of any of the aforementioned conditions. Monitoring devices  14  and/or  20  may be any appropriate monitoring device capable of monitoring the desired condition. For instance, monitoring devices  14  and/or  20  may be a device sensitive to electrical disturbances useful for monitoring potential lightning strikes. In other embodiments, monitoring devices  14  and/or  20  may use any desired mechanism to detect a desired condition or conditions. For instance, monitoring devices  14  and/or  20  may be satellites, cameras, barometers, thermometers, rain gauges, wind speed gauges or any other desired monitoring device.  
         [0038]     Monitoring devices  14  and/or  20  may monitor these or other conditions in any desired geographic area. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the geographic area monitored by monitoring devices  14  is approximately equal to the geographic area covered by the effective range of the regional transmitters  12 . In other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , monitoring device  20  monitors a desired condition within or outside the geographic area covered by the effective range of the regional transmitters  12 . Monitoring conditions outside the effective range of the regional transmitters  12  may be useful for predicting conditions that may arise in the future inside the effective range of the regional transmitters  12 . For instance, monitoring device  20  may monitor a thunderstorm that is outside of the effective range of the regional transmitters, yet may in the future come within the geographic area defined by the effective range of the regional transmitters.  
         [0039]     Monitoring and response systems  10 ,  11  and/or  13  may be useful in a variety of situations. For instance, monitoring and response systems  10 ,  11  or  13  may monitor wind speeds and signal devices  16  to roll up storm shutters when the wind speeds exceed a defined limit. Alternatively, systems  10 ,  11  or  13  may monitor rain fall such that devices  16  are signaled to interrupt irrigation cycles when a defined amount of rain is predicted or occurs. In other embodiments, systems  10 ,  11  or  13  may monitor snowfall or predicted snowfall and activate avalanche-warning signs when dangerous snow accumulation is detected or predicted. In still other embodiments, systems  10 ,  11  and  13  may monitor pollution levels and signal devices  16  to introduce supplemental oxygen into the air handling systems of nursing homes when pollution levels exceed a defined limit. As one final example, which is described in more detail below, monitoring and response systems  10 ,  11  or  13  may monitor the potential for lightning strikes in a certain geographic area and signal disconnect devices  16  to disconnect electronic equipment  18  when there is a danger of lightning strikes in the area.  
         [heading-0040]     Lightning Protection Systems  
         [0041]     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , monitoring and response system  10  is a lightning protection system  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  10  comprises a plurality of lightning detectors  14 , which are associated with the regional transmitters  12 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , devices  16  comprise a plurality of electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices  16  for protecting electrical and electronic equipment  18 . Devices  16  may be adapted to respond to signals, or lack of signals, from regional transmitters  12  to connect or disconnect equipment  18  from electrical conductors, such as, but not limited to, power sources, datalines, coaxial cable, telephone lines, low-voltage control lines, and any other digital or analog electrical source or signal used as an external conductor in electrical or electronic equipment. System  10  may protect electrical and electronic equipment  18  by detecting and locating dangerous atmospheric conditions in a particular geographic area using lightning detectors  14  and transmitting broadcast control commands throughout the affected geographic area to devices  16 , which disconnect electrical and electronic equipment  18  from all or a portion of external conductors in response to the control commands from regional broadcast transmitters  12 . System  10  may send audible warnings to devices  16  prior to transmission of control signals, which may enable users of devices  16  to override disconnection of devices  16  from electrical and electronic equipment  18 . System  10  may also use the control signals to reconnect electrical and electronic equipment  18  to the disconnected external conductors. Since relatively few regional broadcast sites  12  and lightning detectors  14  are needed, it is economically feasible to design each lightning detector  14  to have substantial range, sensitivity, and accuracy for detecting and locating atmospheric conditions. Because electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices  16  need not incorporate their own lightning detectors, each device  16  may be small and inexpensive. Additionally, because central lighting detectors may be of a higher quality than may be affordable for a single user, more accurate control of devices  16  can be achieved.  
         [0042]     Devices  16  in system  10  may be assigned a control address based on the location of the device within the geographical area of the lightning protection system. For example, the entire geographical area of system  10  may be divided up into distinct regions with each device  16  in a particular region being assigned the same control address. Although in  FIG. 1  each distinct region corresponds to the transmission radius of regional broadcast sites  12 , the size and shape of each distinct region and corresponding control address in the lightning protection system may be independent of the size and shape of the transmission radius of sites  12 . In this manner, devices  16  within each distinct region may be controlled by transmission systems using any cellular, pager or any other suitable communications technology, including future systems not presently available that may transmit common control signals to devices having specific control addresses.  
         [0043]     Lightning detectors  14  may be provided on each site  12  to detect lightning activity in the vicinity of the region. Each site  12  broadcasts control signals using a common numerical code, such as, for example, a pager “capcode” or any alternative control command system that may activate only devices  16  within that particular region. Because regional lightning detectors  14  cover relatively small geographic areas, accurate control over devices  16  is possible. System  10  may also enable devices  16  to receive encoded broadcasts, such as, for example, the National Weather Service&#39;s Specific Area Message Encoded (SAME) broadcasts or any alternative encoded broadcast, in addition to those controlling the devices  16  to provide redundancy or to provide the user with specific weather information, including weather alarms. Moreover, each of sites  12  and detectors  14  may be linked together to form a network. In this manner, detection data from each of the detectors  14  may be compared to accurately track storm movement and activate devices  16  only in specific danger areas.  
         [0044]     As an alternative to the multiple lightning detectors  14  shown in  FIG. 1 , a centrally located detector within each distinct geographic region could control transmission from sites  12 .  
         [0045]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate alternative embodiments of lightning protection systems of this invention where the dangerous atmospheric conditions may be detected and located by a monitoring device  20  located outside the coverage area of sites  12 . Monitoring device  20  may be a centralized weather monitoring device, such as, for example, the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Service, the National Lightning Detection Network, which is owned and operated by Global Atmospherics, Inc., or any alternative centralized weather monitoring and location system. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in system  11 , sites  12  may receive relevant atmospheric data from monitoring device  20 , and sites  12  then retransmit broadcast control signals to devices  16  as described above.  
         [0046]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in system  13 , a monitoring device  20  may communicate broadcast control signals to devices  16  via a terrestrial paging network with satellite interconnectivity or via any alternative paging or radio configuration.  
         [0047]     It should be understood that lightning protection systems according to certain embodiments of this invention may be practiced using as connection/disconnection device  16  any appropriate apparatus for electrically disconnecting electric circuits from electrical and electronic equipment  18  and achieving sufficient insulation or physical separation to reduce the likelihood that a power surge by lightning or other electrical disturbance will travel from disconnected external conductors to electrical and electronic equipment  18 .  
         [heading-0048]     Service Provider/Subscriber System  
         [0049]     Monitoring and response systems  10  or  11  may be implemented according to certain embodiments of the present invention using a service provider/subscriber business scheme. For example, existing service providers, such as, for example, cellular service providers, personal communications service providers, paging service providers, or any alternative wireless or dataline service providers, may include automatic response services as described above separately or in their bundle of services. Because existing telecommunications service providers already have the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and subscribers, various systems of this invention may be implemented with very little cost to service providers. Costs for servicing a large number of subscribers may be limited to a single monitoring device  14  or  20 , an autodialing device, and nominal monthly telephone and pager service fees. Service providers may offer monitoring and response services to individuals and businesses based on a nominal monthly rate. Service providers may initially sell devices  16  to subscribers or they may give devices  16  away to new subscribers. This service provider/subscriber scheme enables service providers to leverage their existing infrastructure and subscriber base to provide inexpensive and valuable monitoring and response services.  
         [heading-0050]     Alternative Device Controls  
         [0051]     Devices  16  may also be controlled in a number of other ways.  
         [0052]      FIG. 4  illustrates devices  16  controlled using two remote control approaches for use in embodiments where devices  16  are connection/disconnection devices  16 . In installations where multiple power outlets must be protected with devices  16 , such as stores selling musical, audiovisual, or other consumer electronic appliances, it may be desirable to provide for remote actuation of devices  16 . For example, in a music store with multiple electronic instruments connected to a power source and positioned over a large area of floor space, it may be difficult or inconvenient for store personnel, upon learning of electrical storms in the area, to rapidly move about the store to disconnect all of the instruments or ensure that all electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices  16  affixed to each of the outlets in the store are activated to protect the sensitive musical equipment. Moreover, if many such devices  16  are in use, it may be possible for store personnel to inadvertently miss one or more of the devices  16 , thereby exposing expensive inventory to potential harm from severe electrical surges. In the system shown in  FIG. 4 , one remote activation device or transmitter  22  sends out a signal that is received by detectors  24 , each of which detectors  24  are connected to electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices  16 . The signal from transmitter  22  activates each of the electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices  16 , ensuring that all electrical connections between the equipment to be protected and the power grid are simultaneously severed. Devices  16  may be configured to be sensitive to only certain commands from transmitter  22  so that each device  16  can respond independently or in unison with other devices, depending on the signal from transmitter  22 . Transmitter  22  could use a variety of conventional technologies, including infrared signals like those used in television remote controls, radio frequency signal, laser beams, and any other control signal.  
         [0053]     Alternatively or additionally, each of the devices  16  may be connected to a common network which may be controlled by a central control device  26  such as a computer or a dedicated control terminal. In this manner, a user may directly control all of the devices  16  in unison, and may activate or deactivate devices  16  independently. Alternatively, the devices  16  may be connected to central control device  26  over the Internet, a local area network, or computer, wireless, cellular or other network topologies.  
         [0054]     The various features, control systems and network arrangements described above may be used in combination with each other or in combination with other detection systems such as those described in the &#39;899 patent or as otherwise may be known or later developed.  
         [0055]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , device  16  may also be controlled by electrical or electronic equipment  19 . A communication line  27  may be provided between the electronic equipment (such as a television)  19  and the protection device  16 . In this manner, when electronic equipment  19  is switched on or off, it sends a signal to protection device  16  that commands device  16  to interrupt or reconnect the circuit between plug  50  and outlet  52  as appropriate. (Battery or other auxiliary power may be necessary to accomplish this switching when the equipment  19  is not connected to another power source). This approach is advantageous, because it assures that whenever electrical equipment  19  is turned off, its connection to the power grid is completely severed. In essence, this is a manual approach to activating device  16  that is coordinated with the operation of electrical equipment  19 . In the system of  FIG. 5 , device  16  may also be controlled by a detector circuit as described in the &#39;899 patent, other detection circuits and/or any of the other control approaches described below.  
         [0056]     Devices  16  may be supplemented by other devices providing additional functionality. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , device  16  may be supplemented with a surge suppressor  78 . Surge suppressor  78  may be any conventional surge suppression device, such as those using metal oxide varistors. Surge suppressor  78  attenuates variations in voltage supplied by plug  50 , thereby preventing transient voltages from passing through outlet  52  and damaging electronic equipment  19 . Surge suppressors  78  and protection devices  16  may be configured so that a suppressor  78  may be easily removed from device  16  when an indicator signals that suppressor  78  no longer exhibits surge suppressing characteristics and a new suppressor  78  may be inserted into device  16 . For example, this functionality may be enabled by housing surge suppressors  78  in a plug-in module.  
         [heading-0057]     Circuit Interruption Device  
         [0058]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate in detail an embodiment of an electrical circuit connection/disconnection device  17  of the type contemplated in this invention and described above as device  16 . Device  17  includes rotary block  28 , contact rods  30 , contact blocks  32  and  34 , side supports  36  and  38 , motor  40 , receiver circuit  42 , and batteries  44 . Rotary block  28  is a cylinder constructed of a material which is sufficiently insulative to prevent a voltage of 6,000 volts or more from passing through block  28 . Block  28  may be made of glass, nylon, plastic or any other appropriate insulative material. The diameter selected for block  28  will depend on the permittivity of the selected material. If block  28  is to be very small in diameter, a low permittivity must be used. In contrast, if block  28  is to be very large in diameter, the material used for block  28  may have a higher permittivity, although the acceptable diameter of block  28  will also be a function of the resulting length of the path (presumably through air or another gas around block  28 ).  
         [0059]     Contact rods  30  are positioned within and along a diameter of block  28 . Contact rods  30  extend from one side of rotary block  28  to another and are positioned generally in parallel with respect to each other. Contact rods  30  may be made of brass, aluminum, copper, or any other suitable conductive material. Contact blocks  32  and  34  are positioned adjacent to rotary block  28  such that contacts  31 , positioned within contact blocks  32  and  34 , correspond to the locations where contact rods  30  protrude slightly from either side of rotary block  28 . In this manner, when contact blocks  32  and  34  are adjacent to rotary block  28  and contact rods  30  are aligned with contacts  31 , electricity may pass from contacts  31  on block  28  through contact rods  30  to contacts  31  on block  32  and vice versa. As will be readily understood by one skilled in the art, many types of conductors through block  28  may be used, as well as a variety of brushes, springs or other suitable mechanisms acting as contacts  31  to complete the necessary circuits.  
         [0060]     Side supports  36  and  38  have holes  46  which receive pins  48  which extend from either side of rotary block  28 . Moreover, side supports  36  and  38  are affixed to contact blocks  32  and  34  thereby joining the assembly into one integrated unit as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Motor  40  is affixed to pin  48  via hole  46 , thereby allowing motor  40  to rotate rotary block  28  as described below. Block  28  could also be rotated through the 90° rotation necessary in other ways, such as by a solenoid acting on a lever arm attached to one of the pins  48 .  
         [0061]     Motor  40  is connected to and controlled by receiver circuit  42 , both of which in turn are powered by batteries  44 . Receiver circuit  42  receives control signals using one or more of the approaches described above.  
         [0062]     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , to operate device  17 , a control signal is received by receiver circuit  42 . When the appropriate control signal is received, thereby indicating that the external conductors to electrical equipment  18  and  19  connected to outlet  52  should be interrupted, receiver circuit  42  controls motor  40  (or another rotation mechanism), which rotates rotary block  28  so that contact rods  30  are aligned perpendicularly to a line connecting contacts  31  of block  32  and contacts  31  of block  34 . In this manner, the only path between contacts  31  of block  32  and contacts  31  of block  32  is interrupted by the insulative material making up rotary block  28 . If and when a control signal indicating that the external conductors may be reconnected to electronic equipment  18  and  19  connected to outlet  52 , receiver circuit  42  may activate motor  40  to rotate rotary block  28  into a position where contact rods  30  connect contacts  31  of block  32  and contacts  31  of block  34 , thereby providing a direct conductive path between contacts  31  of blocks  32  and  34 .  FIG. 8  illustrates the relationship between rotary block  28 , contact rod  30  and contacts  31  in a connected state.  FIG. 9  illustrates this relationship in a disconnected state. Rotary block  28  may have a hand lever  56  which, when pulled, would allow for manual operation of rotary block  28 .  
         [heading-0063]     Controlling Power and Other Circuits  
         [0064]     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , device  16  may be connected to conventional plugs  50  and conventional outlets  52  in order to access and control conventional home power supplies and allow conventional electronic devices to be plugged into device  16 . In addition, additional lines  53  may be provided to protect modem, cable television, computer network or other electrical paths as may be desired and appropriate.  
         [heading-0065]     Gas or Vacuum Relay Disconnect/Connect Mechanism  
         [0066]     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the systems of this invention may use a vacuum or gas-filled relay  58 . The gas  60  present (or the relative absence of gas in a “vacuum”) in relay  58  are sufficiently insulative that the gap  62  between contacts  64  and  66  of relay  58  when it is open cannot be bridged by voltages of 6,000 volts or more. To operate relay  58 , receiver circuit  42  receives a control signal in one of the alternative ways described above and activates a relay  58  to separate contacts  64  and  66 , thereby interrupting the electrical contact between plug  50  and outlet  52 .  
         [heading-0067]     Manual Activation  
         [0068]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , connection and disconnection may be achieved manually. Contact rods  33  housed within insulation block  68  are normally in contact with contacts  30 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , depressing plunger  70  forces compression spring  72  and displacement of insulation block  68  and contact rod  33 . Insulation block  68  includes a detente, which at maximum displacement is engaged and held by latch  74 . Releasing latch  74  allows device  16  to be reset.  
         [heading-0069]     Uninterruptible Power Supply  
         [0070]     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , a device  16  may be combined with an uninterruptable power supply  80 . Uninterruptable power supply  80  may be any conventional device for providing continued power to an electronic device when the power normally provided through plug  50  to outlet  52  is interrupted either by activation of lighting protection device  16  or failure of power delivery to the local electronic grid. Such power can be provided, for instance, by batteries, an auxiliary generator, and other energy storage or supply devices, including fuel cells, flywheels, any electromagnetic storage device, or any other alternative method of providing auxiliary power. The combination of uninterruptible power supply  80  and protection device  16  is advantageous because it allows use of device  16  even with electrical equipment  18  that is sensitive to unanticipated interruptions in the power supply. Upon detecting lightning storms in the area or otherwise receiving control signals, device  16  may interrupt the circuit between electrical equipment  18  and  19  and the power grid, thereby eliminating the risk of lightning induced power surges from entering the circuit and damaging the electronic equipment. At the same time, uninterruptable power supply  80  will sense the loss of power and will begin providing continued power to the electronic device thereby avoiding harm that might arise from the sudden and unanticipated deprivation of electrical power. Uninterruptable power supply  80  may operate in a conventional manner, for instance, or activation of the uninterruptable power supply  80  may also trigger software which commands the electronic device to begin a shut-down procedure, thereby assuring that the device is properly shut down rather than shut down by the power failure.  
         [heading-0071]     Circuit Interruption Device  
         [0072]      FIG. 15  illustrates in detail a rotating disk embodiment  90  of an electrical circuit connection/disconnection device of the type contemplated in this invention and described above as device  16 . Cam  92  includes disc portion  120  having center hole  122 , a plurality of disengagement ridges  124 , and a plurality of alternating dielectric tabs  126  and gaps  127 . Ridges  124  are integrally attached along the perimeter of disc portion  120  and extend transverse to disc portion  120 . Tabs  126  are integrally attached to ridges  124  and extend radially from disc portion  120 . Cam  92  may be constructed of a material similar to rotary block  28  of device  17 .  
         [0073]     Contact blocks  94  and  96  are parallel to each other and positioned above and below cam  92 . Contact block  96  has a center hole  97  and an array of external conductor contacts  98  positioned generally in a plane. Contact block  94  has corresponding equipment side contacts  100  positioned normally to contacts  98 .  
         [0074]     Cam  92  is secured between blocks  96  and  98  on shaft  118  such that tabs  126 , gaps  127 , and the ends of contacts  98  and  100  define circles having an equal radius with respect to holes  122  and  97 . As will be appreciated by reference to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , rotation of cam  92  alternatively permits contacts  100  to mate with contacts  98 , or break such contacts when the tabs  126  are between the pairs of contacts  98  and  100 .  
         [0075]     Interface  104  includes electrical input connections for electrical conductors such as, for example, power sources, datalines, coaxial cable, telephone lines, low voltage control lines, and any other digital or analog electrical source or signal used as an external conductor in electrical and electronic equipment. Each of the plurality of electrical connections are electrically connected to one of the external conductor contacts  98 . Interface  106  includes output connections electrically connected to one of the plurality of equipment side contacts.  
         [0076]     Referring to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , device  90  operates similar to device  17  described above in detail.  FIG. 16  illustrates device  90  in a connected state. In the connected state, contacts  100  are positioned between adjacent tabs  126  within gaps  127  such that the elastic force enables contacts  100  and contacts  98  to be in electrical contact.  
         [0077]      FIG. 17  illustrates device  90  in a disconnected states. When the appropriate disconnect control signal is received, receiver circuit  112  controls motor  108 , which rotates shaft  118 , which in turn rotates cam  92 . As cam  92  is rotated, ridges  124  rotate thereby forcing contacts  100  to move away from contacts  98 . At the same time, tabs  128  are interposed between contacts  98  and  100  thereby providing sufficient separation to prevent voltages of  6 , 000  volts or more from passing through tabs  128 . When the appropriate reconnect control signal is received, receiver circuit  112  controls motor  108 , which rotates cam  92 . As cam  92  is rotated to the connected state shown in  FIG. 16 , ridges  124  and tabs are removed from between contacts  98  and  100  and the pair of contacts again mate.  
         [heading-0078]     Multiple Pole Single Throw Relay Disconnect/Connect Mechanism  
         [0079]     As illustrated in  FIG. 18 , a disconnect, connect device  16  may also use a multiple pole single throw relay for the disconnect/connect mechanism. In the connected state, the relay provides electrical connectivity between the electrical or electronic equipment  18  and  19  and all external conductors that are electrically connected to equipment side contacts  132 . Equipment side contacts  132  are connected to external contacts  134 , which make electrical contact with lever member  136  when the relay is in the closed position. Lever member  136  may be pivotally attached to plunger  138 , which moves in and out of solenoid  140  in response to activation of solenoid  140 . When the receiver circuit receives a control signal as described above, movement of plunger  138  along the axis of solenoid  140  causes lever member  136  to separate contacts  134  from contacts  132  a distance sufficient to prevent at least 6,000 volts from bridging the gap between contacts  132  and  134 .  
         [0080]     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, numerous modifications can be made in this invention without departing from the spirit of the invention as described and illustrated herein and the following claims.