Patent ID: 8134445

Claim:
An electrical fuse comprising: a protective body; terminal elements extending from said protective body; a primary fuse element extending within said protective body and electrically connected between said terminal elements to define a primary current path, said primary fuse element constructed to open the primary current path upon an occurrence of a predetermined current condition, whereby electrical current can no longer be conducted in the primary current path and providing overcurrent protection to an electrical circuit completed through said terminal elements; a secondary fuse link electrically connected between said terminal elements in parallel with the primary fuse element, whereby when the primary current path is open electrical current is conducted through the secondary fuse link; and an identification element connected to the secondary fuse link, the identification element being configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote device, wherein electrical current conducted through the secondary fuse link after the primary current path is opened alters said identification element and allows a determination by the remote device of whether the primary current path has opened.