Patent ID: 8310213

Claim:
A motive unit comprising: a moving part comprising a first electrical component connected to a circuit; a fault transmitter connected to the first electrical component and configured to transmit an optical status signal indicating a status of the first electrical component; and a stationary part comprising a receiver configured to receive the optical status signal from the fault transmitter and to generate a status indication of the first electrical component based on the optical status signal, wherein the unit is a generator, the moving part comprises a rotor, and the stationary part comprises a stator, wherein the first electrical component comprises a rectifier diode connected between an exciter armature and a generator field winding, and wherein the first electrical component includes a series pair of rectifier diodes connected between the exciter armature and the generator field winding, and the fault transmitter is configured to transmit the optical status signal in response to correct operation of both diodes.