Patent Description:
The terminals of power devices may have low contact resistance to, for example, limit power losses and/or reduce heat generation. The terminal size/type and wire gauge may be determined by the maximum current rating. For low currents, thin wires and small terminals may be used, and for high currents, large wires and terminals may be used. Units are abbreviated here and throughout the disclosure as millimeter (mm), millimeter square (mm<NUM>), <NUM> circular mils (kcmil), meter (m), milli-ohm (mΩ), degrees centigrade (°C), and amperes (A). For example, a wire gauge of <NUM> American Wire Gauge (AWG) may have a maximum current rating of <NUM> A (when at <NUM> meters length) and may be connected to a terminal block, such as WAGO® model <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, a wire gauge of <NUM> AWG may have a maximum current rating of <NUM> A (when up to a length of <NUM> meters) and use a terminal having at least as a <NUM><NUM> wire cross section capability, such as Weidmüller® type WPE <NUM> part number <NUM>. Wire gauges may range from very small sizes to very large size, where some of the sizes are listed in the following table:.

For multiple terminals located adjacent to one another, terminal blocks attached to a support may be used. The terminal blocks comprise multiple terminals arranged in tiers or along rows, and may be mechanically coupled to a support, such as a rail, a printed circuit board, or an enclosure. When mechanically coupled to a wall of a structure or an enclosure, a Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) rail may be used. The DIN rail is a metal profile, usually from cold rolled steel with zinc plating, where the DIN rail is attached to a wall, cabinet, and/or a device enclosure, using bolts or screws, and the DIN rail holds terminal blocks in place. The terminal blocks may snap on to the DIN rail. Although made form a conducting metal, the DIN rail is not used as a busbar for conducting electrical current, but may be used as an electrical ground connection. DIN rails may have a top hat profile (such as top hat rail IEC/EN <NUM> - <NUM> × <NUM>), a C-section profile (such as AS <NUM> C20 or C30), or a G-section profile (such as EN <NUM>, BS <NUM>, or DIN <NUM>-<NUM>).

DIN rail terminal blocks may have one or more recesses for incorporation of jumpers, such as bridge jumpers, where the jumpers may be used to connect electrically between two otherwise electrically isolated terminals. A recess passes through the housing and internal conductor of each terminal block, and may have a shape and size with a cross section matching the current rating of the terminal block, a mechanical strength requirement. The recess through the internal conductor is sized slightly (such as <NUM>) smaller than the recess size of the housing. The terminals connected by the jumper may be adjacent, non-adjacent, consecutive, and/or alternating. In some configurations, additional terminals may be incorporated onto the jumper to allow electrical access to the main conductor of the terminal block.

The document <CIT> discloses an apparatus and a method for monitoring the status of a system.

The following summary is a short summary of some of the inventive concepts for illustrative purposes only and is not an extensive overview, and is not intended to identify key or critical elements, or to limit or constrain the inventions and examples in the detailed description. One skilled in the art will recognize other novel combinations and features from the detailed description.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus according to claim <NUM>, to a power device according to claim <NUM> and to a method according to claim <NUM>. Embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

According to aspects of the disclosure herein, an apparatus comprises one or more thermal conductors configured in size and shape to fit into one or more recesses of a DIN rail terminal block, and couple thermally with internal conductors of the terminal blocks. Temperature sensors are in thermal contact with the thermal conductors, and convert the sensed temperatures to electrical properties, such as a voltage, a current, a resistance, and/ or an impedance. Conductors may electrically couple the sensors to a circuit, transferring the electrical property to the circuit. The circuit may comprise a digital controller that may convert the electrical properties from the sensors to digital values. The circuit may comprise an analog controller circuit that may convert the electrical properties (analog values) from the sensors to a mitigating action using analog components. As used herein, the term controller circuit may mean an analog controller circuit, a digital controller circuit, or a combined analog and digital controller circuit, and the term controller may be used in lieu of controller circuit. The controller circuit may monitor the temperatures of the internal conductors of the terminal blocks, and when the temperatures of one or more internal conductors is abnormal, the controller may mitigate the abnormality, such as by sending a notification and/or lowering the current passing through that terminal.

As noted above, this Summary is merely a summary of some of the aspects and features described herein. It is not exhaustive, and it is not to be a limitation on the claims.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, claims, and drawings. The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and not limited by, the accompanying figures. In the drawings, like numerals reference similar elements.

The accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, show examples of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the examples shown in the drawings and/or discussed herein are non-exclusive and that there are other examples of how the disclosure may be practiced.

Disclosed herein are sensor devices for detecting and preventing overheating of terminal blocks. The sensor devices may comprise any of a sensor, a conducting probe, a controller, and a body. The conductor may be connected to an electrical conductor of the terminal block, such as the conductor inserted into one or more recesses of a multiple contact terminal block and/or the conductor clamped on a terminal lug. The controller may monitor the sensor, and when there is an abnormal sensor reading, the controller may initiate mitigating actions, notify a user, derate a power device, lower a current, and/or open a relay/switch. For example, when a sensor's value is above or below a threshold, the sensor's value may indicate that the resistance of the terminal block is above a threshold, thereby producing more heat, comprising an increased temperature.

As used herein, the term controller means any sensor signal processing circuit that may monitor the terminal block and when the sensor values comply with a monitoring rule, such as a rule associated with a hazardous condition, an action is initiated by the controller to mitigate the abnormal sensor values. For example, the controller may be a central processor, a hardware processor, a processing unit, a digital signal processor, a multicore processing unit, a field programmable gate array, an analog control circuit, and/or a digital control circuit.

The sensor may be a temperature sensor connected to a thermal conductor. When located within a recess of the terminal block, the thermal conductor contacts an internal electrical conductor of the terminal block. When there is overheating of the internal conductor, the controller monitoring the sensor may take appropriate action to reduce the overheating, such as lowering the current through the terminal block, notifying a user to tighten/replace the terminal block, and/or stopping operation of equipment attached to the terminal block.

The sensor may be a voltage sensor and the conductor contacts a terminal lug connected to the terminal block. By comparing the voltage drop across the terminal block and the current through the electrical conductor, the resistance of the terminal block may be monitored. The resistance and current may determine the heat generation within the terminal block, and therefore monitoring the resistance may be used to predict when a high current may generate an overheating of the terminal block. When the resistance is abnormal, such as above a threshold, an outlier relative to historic resistance values, and/or an outlier when compared to the resistance values of other terminal blocks, the controller monitoring the sensor may take appropriate action to reduce the resistance before the resistance causes the terminal block to overheat.

According to some aspects, the recess of the terminal block may be used for jumpers, such as bridges, that may short circuit between two terminal blocks. In some aspects, the recesses are on the forward facing (front) portion of the terminal block. In some aspects, the recesses are near the electrical wire insertion cavity of the terminal block. The sensor device may have a protruding structure configured to enter the recess, and a similar recess at the other side to accept a bridge or jumper for short circuiting between the terminal blocks. The combination of protruding structure and recess, such as a male-female arrangement, may allow the sensor device to operate as a pass-through conductor for the electrical connection and may talso allow thermally coupling a temperature sensor to the terminal block conductor. Multiple sensor devices may be configured to be inserted as a single unit into multiple recesses of one or more adjacent terminal blocks on the same DIN rail, such as multiple probes/sensors arranged in a comb-shaped structure. The multiple probes/sensors may be electrically and/or thermally isolated from each other so that a separate short-circuiting bridge device provides a short-circuit connection between terminal blocks. The temperature sensors may be used to monitor the temperature of the conductor (and the terminals) of each terminal block individually and/or separately.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, an example terminal block jumper pass-thru sensor apparatus <NUM>. Apparatus <NUM> comprises a conducting probe <NUM>, one or more sensors such as at <NUM>, an electrical connection <NUM> to a controller <NUM>, and the controller <NUM>. The conducting probe <NUM> may be sized and shaped to be inserted into a recess (not shown) of a terminal block, a terminal lug, and/or an electrical terminal. An insulating cover <NUM> may protect the conducting probe from coming in electrical or thermal contact with other components. A recess <NUM> may be included in the apparatus <NUM>, and the recess <NUM> may allow a terminal block bridge or jumper (not shown, such as WAGO® part number <NUM>-<NUM>, Phoenix Contact part number <NUM>, International Connector Inc. part number DSS4N-10P) to be inserted into the recess, and thereby electrically connect to one or more internal conductors of the terminal blocks. The controller <NUM> may comprise an analog to digital converter <NUM> (such as may be incorporated into embedded controllers), and an interface <NUM> for communicating commands to a power device, alerts to a power device, and/or notifications to a user interface. The controller <NUM> may be configured, such as using customized program code, to monitor the temperature or voltage values of the terminal block conductor, and/or terminal lug. When the sensors' <NUM> values (such as values representing a current, a voltage, a temperature, and/or an electromagnetic radiation) comply with an abnormality rule, the controller <NUM> may be configured to initiate/command a power device to lower the current flowing through the terminal block conductor (such as to lower the heat generated), send an alert to a power device using the interface <NUM>, and/or send an alert to a user interface (not shown) using the interface <NUM>.

The interface <NUM> may comprise any of a digital data interface, an acoustic interface, a wireless interface, and/or a wired interface. The interface may be used to:.

Interface <NUM> may be implemented using electrical conductors, such as a data cable, a wireless interface, such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi™, RFID, and/or Zigbee. A single interface may be used for multiple sensors to lower costs (such as assembly and/or components), and/or improve reliability (fewer components, connections, etc.). Multiple interfaces, such as combining a wireless interface and a wired interface, may be used to provide power with a wired interface and transmit apparatus generated data, such as sensor readings, alerts, warnings, and/or messages.

One or more sensor apparatuses <NUM> may be incorporated into a terminal box, junction box, power device, power converter, a power generation system, a power transfer system, an electrical cabinet, and/or a vehicle electrical system. For example, sensor apparatuses may be incorporated into junction boxes between power devices of a power generation system, such as junction boxes between string inverters, parallel inverters, and/or power distribution systems. The sensor apparatus may send a message to a host device/system, when a monitored sensor reports an abnormal value. For example, the message may be a digital message comprising one or more values (such as a command code or value, a percentage value, etc.) signaling the host device to lower the current through the junction box.

A mechanical actuator may be controllable by the sensor apparatus <NUM>, such as a mechanical lever, that disconnects a conductor, thereby stopping a current flow through a terminal block. For example, an overcurrent protection device may be incorporated into a junction box terminal block, and the controller of the sensor apparatus <NUM> may send a signal to the overcurrent protection mechanism to trigger an electrical and/or mechanical disconnection of a mechanical lever. The mechanical actuator may be incorporated into a "fail-safe" terminal block, for example that incorporates the sensor monitoring and disconnects when overheating. For example, the apparatus comprising a sensor and/or a controller, may be incorporated in or on a mechanical element used to electrically and/or mechanical disconnect the terminal block internal conductor, such as using a knife blade disconnect element, a circuit breaker element, and/or an over-current protection element.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, an example terminal block jumper sensor apparatus <NUM>. Many elements of the figures, such as <FIG>, have similar corresponding elements in other figures, such as <FIG>, and for the sake of brevity in this document, at least some references to similar elements in other figures may be omitted but it may be identified that similar elements are set as alternative examples in different figures. The sensor apparatus <NUM> may comprise a sensor <NUM> located in contact with a probe <NUM>. Insulation <NUM> may cover probe <NUM> at least in part. A connector <NUM> may be used to transfer a sensor reading, such as a sensor output voltage, from the sensor <NUM> to the controller <NUM>. Controller <NUM> may convert the analog reading to a digital value, such as using an analog-to-digital converter <NUM> (A/D). The controller <NUM> may be configured to monitor sensor <NUM> readings, and when a sensor reading complies with an abnormal reading rule (such as stored on the controller, not shown) the controller <NUM> may initiate an action to warn or mitigate the abnormal reading, such as by sending a command to a host device using the interface <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, an example terminal block <NUM> including multiple recess sensor apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM>. The terminal block <NUM> may comprise multiple recesses as at 121A, 121B, and 121C. The sensor apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> may comprise conducting probes <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, each configured in shape and size to pass through one or more of the recesses 121A, 121B, and 121C. When the sensor apparatus <NUM> or <NUM> enters one of the recesses 121A, 121B, and 121C, a conducting probe <NUM> (or <NUM> for example), contacts an internal conductor <NUM> of the terminal block <NUM>, thereby conducting a physical property of the internal conductor <NUM> to the sensor <NUM>. The sensor apparatus <NUM> may comprise an electrical conductor <NUM> and a connector <NUM>, that together transfer the electrical signal from the sensor to a controller (not shown), such as a controller on a circuit board. The sensor apparatus <NUM> may comprise a controller <NUM>, such as an embedded controller. The controller <NUM> may be incorporated in a power device, a control system, and/or a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. The controller <NUM> may be configured to:.

The size of the conducting probe may be determined by the size of the terminal block recess (such as recesses 121A, 121B, and 121C), which in turn may be determined by the ampacity of the terminal block. For example, a terminal block for conducting <NUM> A may be configured for a <NUM> diameter conductor or a <NUM><NUM>) cross sectional conductor area. A recess for this example may be of the same size or slightly larger to allow for insulation. For example, a jumper recess may have a <NUM> by <NUM> rectangular shape, and/or a <NUM> by <NUM> square shape. The conducting probe tip may comprise a cross section of between <NUM> and <NUM><NUM>, depending on the terminal block ampacity.

Different makes and models of terminal blocks may have different shaped sizes of recesses, and have specially sized and shaped jumper bridges. Cross section area of the recess is controlled by the rated current, and may be substantially equivalent to the cross section of the internal conductor or the connecting wire rating of the terminal. A sensor apparatus may have a combined shape and size to fit multiple makes and models of terminal blocks. Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, a top view of an example three position terminal block jumper pass-through sensor apparatus <NUM>. The sensor apparatus <NUM> may comprise recesses <NUM> and a connecting bridge <NUM>, such as made from an insulating material. The probes (not visible in top view) may be configured with a cross-section shaped to enter a recess of a terminal block and connect to the internal conductor of the terminal block, such as comprising a cross-section shaped as a rounded rectangle, a squircle (i.e., a shape intermediate between a square and a circle), or a combination of square and round shapes. For example, a rounded polygon shape may be configured to contact the electrical conductor recess walls by pressing the rounded corners (such as for a round shaped recess) and/or sides (such as for a rectangular shaped recess) of the polygon against the internal conductor. This may have the benefit of a single probe configuration connecting to the internal conductors of multiple makes and models of terminal block recesses.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, a side view of an example three position terminal block jumper pass-through sensor apparatus <NUM>. The sensor apparatus <NUM> may comprise multiple probes <NUM> connected to a connecting bridge <NUM> of the sensor apparatus <NUM> and may be arranged in a linear array, such as a comb structure. Each probe element of the linear array fits into a recess or a terminal block arranged to match the comb/array structure (such as arranged in spacing, size and shape or probe elements). Recesses <NUM> may be located opposing the probe structures to allow connection of a jumper or bridge when needed. The sensor apparatus <NUM> may comprise multiple sensors <NUM>, such as one for each probe <NUM>, connected to a controller <NUM>, such as serially through a multiplexor <NUM> (MUX). For example, the MUX <NUM> may send multiple digital or analog values over one or more conductors by sharing the conductors for each sensor transfer. Once a first sensor transfer is complete, the MUX <NUM> may start sending the second sensor value. In this manner, multiple sensor values may be transferred serially. The controller <NUM> may comprise A/D converters <NUM> to convert the sensor measurements to digital values. The controller <NUM> may be configured to monitor the sensor <NUM> values, and when one or more values is abnormal, an action or message is initiated by the controller <NUM> using a data and/or communication interface <NUM>.

In some configurations, adjacent terminal blocks may be of different current ratings and/or sizes, and the conducting probes of the sensor apparatus may be arranged non-linearly, such a zigzag pattern, a traverse or diagonal pattern, or a matching pattern. For example, each probe of the sensor apparatus has a different location corresponding to the location of a recess in the terminal block that probe is configured to enter.

Abnormal sensor values may be determined based on rules, such as different from the other sensor values, different from previous sensor values, different from historically recorded sensor values, and/or above a threshold relative to the current passing through the terminal block associated with specific probe and sensor. For example, a sensor value of a temperature reading corresponding to a temperature of <NUM> may trigger a device shutdown. For example, six sensors monitor six terminal blocks, and five of the sensors report a value corresponding to a temperature of <NUM> and one sensor is <NUM> and as a result a warning is sent to a user interface indicated an abnormal temperature at the terminal block of the <NUM>th sensor.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, examples of sensor apparatuses <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Probes, shown as the "teeth" of the linear array, may be arranged in different configurations, such as a <NUM>-probe sensor apparatus <NUM> with electrical conductors leading to a controller, a three-probe apparatus <NUM> with an integrated controller, a two-probe sensor apparatus <NUM> configured for adjacent terminal blocks, a two-probe sensor apparatus <NUM> configured for non-adjacent terminal blocks (with a connector <NUM> to a printed circuit board <NUM> comprising a controller <NUM>). These examples show some of the different configurations of probes (such as matched to the spacing of the terminal blocks), and the integration between possible example sensor probes and configurations of the controller. For example, the controller may be on the probe, near the probe and connected with conductors to the sensors, integrated into a power device, and/or located on a remote server. Any of the example configurations of sensor probes may be matched to any of the examples of the controllers, as long as the controllers are configured to support the specific number of sensors on the probes.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, further examples of sensor apparatuses, such as number of probes, positions of probes, etc.:.

The sensor probes may be inserted into recesses of terminal lugs, such as terminal lugs connected to the terminal blocks. For example, a high terminal block rated for <NUM> A may use electrical cable connections of terminal lugs, such as mechanical lugs. The terminal lug may include a hole or recess, into which a conducting probe may be inserted with associated sensor, controller, etc. Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, examples of terminal lugs <NUM> and <NUM> with monitoring sensor recesses. The terminal lug <NUM> comprises a flange 401A and a terminal connection recess 401B. A bolt or screw is inserted through terminal connection recess 401B and tightened to electrically connect flange 401A to a terminal block. An electrical cable or wire is connected to the terminal lug <NUM> by inserting the bare conductor (such as after removal of insulation) into a cable recess <NUM> and crimping the terminal lug body <NUM> around the conductor. A sensor recess <NUM> is positioned along flange 401A and the sensor apparatus probe inserted through recess <NUM> to allow the sensor attached to the probe to receive a physical property of the terminal, such as voltage and/or temperature. Terminal lug <NUM> is similar to terminal lug <NUM>, but sensor recess 411B is located within a dedicated body element 411A protruding from the body of terminal lug <NUM>. A sensor recess on the terminal lug may be used for measuring the voltage or temperature before the conductor reaches the terminal block (thus enabling the calculation of a temperature or voltage drop across the terminal block). In this configuration, the terminal block does not require a recess (such as a bridge or jumper recess). Since the probe and sensor may be incorporated into the terminal lug, fewer connections may be needed to connect during installation and hence the reliability may be improved over sensor apparatuses incorporated into the terminal blocks. Illustrated in <FIG> is a ring lug or eyelet lug, but similar aspects, with appropriate modification, may incorporate a fork lug, a pin lug, and/or a flange lug.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, an example of a terminal sensor clamp apparatus <NUM>. Some figures herein contain multiple similar parts, and where relevant, the references have been made to one of the parts. It may be understood that due to the analogous nature of the multiple parts, the description of one of the parts may apply to the other corresponding parts. For example, when multiple lugs are arranged in a parallel manner to one of the lugs, as at <NUM>. Apparatus <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> and a clamp <NUM> that may clamp around a terminal lug (similar or identical to terminal lug <NUM> or <NUM> of <FIG>) as at <NUM>, thereby connecting sensors (as at <NUM> and <NUM>) to the series of terminal lugs (as at <NUM>). Body <NUM> and clamp <NUM> may comprise conducting probes for transferring a physical property from the terminal lugs <NUM> to sensors <NUM> and <NUM>, such as comprising a conducting material (electrically conducting and/or thermally conducting). The clamp <NUM> may have clamping teeth <NUM>, one for each terminal lug <NUM>. The clamp <NUM> may be pressed against the lugs using a spring or elastic device <NUM>. The clamp <NUM> may be separated from terminal lugs <NUM> by using a level <NUM> operating around pivot <NUM>, that when opened away from body <NUM> uses link arm <NUM> operating through pivots <NUM> to pull the clamping teeth <NUM> away from terminal lugs <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, another example of a terminal sensor clamp apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> comprises two sliding parts <NUM> and <NUM>, where part <NUM> comprises a handle <NUM> and clamping appendages <NUM>, and part <NUM> comprises a handle <NUM> and clamping appendages <NUM>. Clamping appendages <NUM> and <NUM> may be conducting probes for transferring a physical property from terminal lugs <NUM> to sensors <NUM>, such as comprising a conducting material (electrically conducting and/or thermally conducting). An elastic member <NUM> pulls clamping appendages <NUM> and <NUM> towards each other thereby applying pressure to terminal lugs <NUM> between them and pressing sensors <NUM> against terminal lugs <NUM>. Operating handles <NUM> and <NUM> by grasping and pulling the handles towards each other, may allow inserting terminal lugs <NUM> between clamping appendages <NUM> and <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, an example of flexible terminal sensor clamp apparatus <NUM>. Similarly to clamping appendages <NUM> and <NUM> of <FIG>, apparatus <NUM> comprises clamps as at <NUM> and <NUM> which press sensors as at <NUM> and <NUM> against terminal lugs <NUM>. Clamps <NUM> and <NUM> may be conducting probes for transferring a physical property from terminal lugs <NUM> to sensors <NUM> and <NUM>, such as comprising a conducting material (electrically conducting and/or thermally conducting). Elastic members <NUM>, such as a spring, forces clamps <NUM> and <NUM> (and sensors <NUM> and <NUM>) against terminal lugs <NUM>. Handle <NUM> may be attached to part <NUM>, handle <NUM> may be attached to part <NUM>, part <NUM> may be attached as at <NUM> to one opening cable as at <NUM> per clamp pair, and cable <NUM> may penetrate first clamp <NUM> and may be anchored as at <NUM> on second clamp <NUM>. To open the clamps, handles <NUM> and <NUM> may be pressed together, which may pull cables <NUM> such that the distal end of clamps <NUM> and <NUM> are pulled together, thereby opening the clamp for encompassing terminal lugs <NUM>. Each clamp pair may be connected to part <NUM> with a flexible neck <NUM>, so that small variations in positions of terminal lugs <NUM> have minor effect on the clamping strength and mechanism. Flexible neck <NUM> may comprise a lateral flexibility (side-to-side motion), and a longitudinal stiffness (along the length), enabling motion to the sides but allowing the opening clamp mechanism to operate.

The following <FIG>, and <FIG> depict example devices and systems that may incorporate aspects of a sensor apparatus coupled to an electrical terminal, and as such, the terminal is depicted in these examples already incorporated into the AC or DC terminal, as the case may be. Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, a combiner box <NUM> with terminal sensor probes. Combiner box <NUM> may comprise terminals with sensors probes 702A, 702B, 702C, 702D, 702E, and 702F, such as AC terminals (alternatively, the AC terminals may be configured for DC electrical power combining), each comprising a probe and sensor (not shown), such as the probes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> described in previous figures. Power sources 703A, 703B, 703C, 703D, and 703E each connect to one of input terminals 702A, 702B, 702C, 702D, and 702E, and for example output terminal 702F may be connected to an electrical grid <NUM> and/or other power device (not shown). Combiner box <NUM> may comprise a controller (not shown - such as or similar to controllers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>) that monitors the sensors (such as or similar to sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>), and when a sensor value exceeds a threshold, such as an over-temperature threshold, an over-resistance threshold, an over/under-voltage threshold, a overpower dissipation threshold, and/or an abnormal terminal sensor value threshold (by comparing to other sensor values), the controller may send a message to a host system or user interface indicating the exceeded threshold and the terminal identifier (for assistance in initiating a repair of the faulty terminal).

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, a power device <NUM> with terminal sensor probes. Power device <NUM> may comprise terminals with sensor probes 712A, 712B, 712C, and 712D, which may be AC or DC terminals, each comprising a probe and a sensor (not shown - such as or similar to controllers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>). Power sources/sinks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, may be connected to input terminals with sensor probes 712B, 712C, 712A, respectively. For example, device <NUM> may be a wind power generator connected to AC terminal 712A. For example, device <NUM> may be a solar power generator connected to DC terminal 712B. For example, device <NUM> may be an energy storage device, such as a residential home lithium ion battery, connected to DC terminal 712C. Power device <NUM> may comprise an output terminal 712D connected to an electrical grid <NUM>. Power device <NUM> may comprise a controller (not shown) that monitors the sensors, and when a sensor value exceeds a threshold, such as an over-temperature threshold, an over-resistance threshold, an over/under-voltage threshold, a overpower dissipation threshold, and/or an abnormal terminal threshold (by comparing to the other sensor values), the controller may send a message to a host system or user interface indicating the exceeded threshold and the terminal identifier (for assistance in initiating a repair of the faulty terminal).

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows, schematically, a power generation system <NUM> with terminal sensor probes. Power generation system <NUM> may comprise an inverter <NUM>, a wind power generator <NUM>, solar panels <NUM> (each connected using a junction box or optimizer 726A), and/or electrical energy storage <NUM> (such as a battery). Inverter <NUM> may comprise terminals with sensor probes 722A, 722B, 722C, and 722D, which may be AC or DC terminals, each comprising an integrated probe and sensor (not shown explicitly). Various power devices (such as wind power generator <NUM>, electrical energy storage <NUM>, and solar panels <NUM> using devices 726A), may be connected to input terminals with respective sensor probes 722B, 722C, and 722D. Inverter <NUM> via output terminal with sensor probe 722A may be connected to electrical grid <NUM>. Inverter <NUM> may comprise a controller (not shown) that monitors the sensors, and when a sensor value exceeds a threshold, such as an over-temperature threshold, an over/under-voltage threshold, an over-resistance threshold, a overpower dissipation threshold, and/or an abnormal terminal threshold (by comparing to the other sensor values), the controller may send a message to a host system or user interface indicating the exceeded threshold and the terminal identifier (for assistance in initiating a repair of the faulty terminal).

Here, as elsewhere in the specification and claims, ranges can be combined to form larger ranges.

Specific dimensions, specific materials, specific ranges, specific resistivities, specific voltages, specific shapes, and/or other specific properties and values disclosed herein are example in nature and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The disclosure herein of particular values and particular ranges of values for given parameters are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values that may be useful in one or more of the examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is envisioned that any two particular values for a specific parameter stated herein may define the endpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the given parameter (for example, the disclosure of a first value and a second value for a given parameter can be interpreted as disclosing that any value between the first and second values could also be employed for the given parameter). For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>.

In the description of various illustrative features, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various features in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other features may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the claims.

Claim 1:
An apparatus comprising:
a conducting probe (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to couple with an electrical conductor of an electrical terminal of a power device;
a sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>) in contact with the conducting probe; and
a controller circuit (<NUM>, <NUM>) electrically coupled to the sensor, wherein the controller circuit is configured to monitor values of the sensor, and the controller circuit is configured to, when the values of the sensor are determined to be abnormal, initiate/command the lowering of the current flowing through the electrical conductor;
wherein the conducting probe (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a recess (<NUM>) configured to receive a jumper bridge, wherein the jumper bridge is inserted in the recess, the conducting probe (<NUM>, <NUM>) is electrically coupled to the electrical terminal and the jumper bridge, thereby electrically coupling the electrical terminal and the jumper bridge.