Abstract:
Systems and methods for providing end-of-life functionality in an electrical component using a count of plugging operations are shown. In some configurations, a GFCI counts plugging operations and then provides an LED end-of-life indication when a threshold of plugging operations is met.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of prior-filed, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/077,939, filed Nov. 12, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/725,303, entitled GFCI WITH CYCLE COUNTER by Shotey, et al., filed Nov. 12, 2012. The contents of all of these documents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The illustrative embodiments described in the present application are useful in systems including those for circuit interrupter capability and more particularly are useful in systems including those for end-of-life capability in a circuit interrupter. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Buildings including commercial and residential buildings often use common electrical components such as electrical outlets and ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets for connecting to a 120v, 240v or similar wiring in a building. Circuit interrupters are in common use and required by various building electrical codes. Accordingly, GFCI devices with certain end-of-life (EOL) functionality have been described. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,159,794, issued to Baldwin, et al., Apr. 17, 2012 and describes self testing ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) with end of life (EOL) detection that reject false EOL information, such patent incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0004]    However, end-of-life conditions may occur due to other conditions. Accordingly, there is a need, among other needs, for additional end-of-life capability in electrical components including circuit interrupters. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present application describes illustrative embodiments of systems and methods for providing end-of-life functionality in an electrical component using a count of plugging operations (or including unplugging operations, both or a representative parameter therefore). In certain illustrative embodiments, the systems and methods are useful in systems including those for providing end-of-life functionality in a GFCI. 
         [0006]    In one illustrative example, an electrical component has at least one receptacle for receiving an electrical plug. The electrical component also has a mechanism for counting plugging operations into the receptacle. The electrical component has a mechanism for indicating an end-of-life condition. 
         [0007]    In another illustrative embodiment, the electrical component includes a GFCI receptacle. The GFCI includes a counting mechanism for counting plugging operations in the GFCI. In some illustrative embodiments, a counting unit is utilized. Alternatively, a GFCI processor may be used to count plugging operations. 
         [0008]    In yet another illustrative embodiment, the electrical component includes a GFCI receptacle having a first electrical receptacle for receiving a first electrical plug and a second electrical receptacle for receiving a second plug. The GFCI receptacle has a first EOL indicator associated with the first electrical receptacle, a second EOL indicator associated with the second electrical receptacle. The counting mechanism may separately count plugging operations for each of the electrical receptacles. Additionally, the GFCI may optionally have a third EOL indicator associated with the entire GFCI receptacle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a representative electrical component system including a representative first electrical receptacle and a second representative receptacle according to an illustrative embodiment of the present application. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cutaway of the electrical component system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The illustrative embodiments of the present application describe systems and methods for providing end-of-life functionality in an electrical component using a count of plugging operations (or unplugging operations, both or a representative parameter therefore). In certain illustrative embodiments, the systems and methods are useful in systems including those for providing end-of-life functionality in a circuit interrupter such as a GFCI. 
         [0013]    In one illustrative example, an electrical component has at least one receptacle for receiving an electrical plug such as a 120v/20A plug with wiring attached. The electrical component also has a mechanism for counting plugging operations into the receptacle such as a contact pin switch that is activated upon the plugging in of the plug into the electrical receptacle. The electrical component has a mechanism for indicating an end-of-life condition such as one or more warning light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
         [0014]    In another illustrative embodiment, the electrical component includes a circuit interrupter such as a GFCI receptacle. The GFCI includes a processor with memory for storing logic instructions and with memory for scratch pad and other storage such as counting register storage. The GFCI includes a counting mechanism for counting plugging operations in the GFCI. In some illustrative embodiments, a counting unit is utilized. Alternatively, a GFCI processor may be used to count plugging operations. 
         [0015]    In yet another illustrative embodiment, the electrical component includes a GFCI receptacle having a first electrical receptacle for receiving a first electrical plug and a second electrical receptacle for receiving a second plug. The GFCI receptacle has a first EOL indicator associated with the first electrical receptacle, a second EOL indicator associated with the second electrical receptacle. The counting mechanism may separately count plugging operations for each of the electrical receptacles. Additionally, the GFCI may optionally have a third EOL indicator associated with the entire GFCI receptacle. 
         [0016]    In certain illustrative embodiments, the systems and methods are useful in systems including those for providing circuit interrupter capability and more particularly are useful in systems including those for end-of-life capability in a circuit interrupter. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a plan view of an electrical component system  100  including a representative first electrical receptacle  101  and a second representative receptacle  102  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present application is shown. The electrical component system in the illustrative embodiment is a GFCI. There are also three end-of-life indicators ( 110 ) that are LEDs in the face of the GFCI in this illustrative embodiment. Here, first LED indicator  111  is in the vicinity of the first electrical receptacle  101 , second LED indicator  112  is in the vicinity of the second electrical receptacle  102  and third LED indicator  115  is in the vicinity of the control buttons ( 141 ,  142 ) for the GFCI. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of a cutaway of the electrical component system  100  of  FIG. 1  is shown. Here, the cutaway shows contact pin switches  130 . In this configuration, there is one contact pin for each electrical receptacle, respectively. Here, contact pin  131  corresponds to first electrical receptacle  101  and second contact pin  132  corresponds to second electrical receptacle  102 . Similarly, the user accessible terminals  120  correspond to the electrical receptacles. Here, the electrical receptacles are typical 120v/15A single phase plugs with three terminals having hot/neutral/ground. User accessible terminal  121  is used in counting plugging operations for electrical receptacle  101  and user accessible terminal  122  is used in counting plugging operations for electrical receptacle  102 . 
         [0019]    Certain Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are required to have an end of life monitoring system. The end-of-life monitoring system may prevent the user from accessing active terminals by shutting off current flow through the device or by providing a user perceivable event. Either of these or other end-of-life actions may be taken herein. These events may include turning on or off a light or providing an audible tone. 
         [0020]    A common reason a GFCI ( 100 ) reaches its end-of-life condition is due to significant wearing at the user accessible terminals from continuous and regular plugging and unplugging of electrical device plugs. The illustrative embodiments of the present application provide representative GFCIs with LED end-of-life warning lights near each of the receptacle terminals and/or a centrally located LED. Alternatively, the electrical component system may cut off current or provide another additional or alternative user perceivable event than LED indication. 
         [0021]    Advantageously, the device may be arranged to warn the user that only one of the set of terminals ( 101 ,  102 ) has reached its end-of-life, but the other terminal, respectively is free to be used, such as by using LEDs ( 111 ,  112 ). Alternatively, a single LED ( 115 ) may be illuminated and warn the user that the entire device must be replaced. 
         [0022]    The GFCI ( 100 ) may include a contact pin ( 130 ) between the terminal opening and the terminal contacts which is activated each time an electrical prong is inserted through the opening. A contact pin ( 131 ,  132 ) may be provided for each respective electrical receptacle ( 101 ,  102 ). A counting unit ( 140 ) may also be incorporated to illuminate the LED once a predetermined threshold of insertions has been reached. In the alternative, the GFCI circuit board may include processing logic in a processor having memory (not shown) for counting the number of insertions prior to activating the end-of-life LED. 
         [0023]    In still another alternative implementation, the contact pins are operated by the user inserting a plug, which in turn flexes the GFCI terminals and operates a contact pin. The remainder of the operation remains consistent. 
         [0024]    While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.