EARLIEST PRIORITY DATE

This Application claims priority from a Complete patent application filed in India having Patent Application No. 202241013470, filed on March 11, 2022, and titled “A DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR ALERTING PRESENCE OF AN ELECTRIC FIELD.”

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of safety equipments and more particularly to a device and a method for alerting presence of an electric field.

BACKGROUND

Live electrical circuits pose a risk to persons including electricians, carpenters, plumbers, and other workers work on or around the live electrical circuits. The persons may be subjected to painful and fatal electric shocks when the persons come in contact with the live electrical circuits. In order to rule out such a scenario, prior to performing any operations on or around the live electrical circuits, the persons used to de-energize the live electrical circuits. However, electrical circuits may get re-energized during the operations due to various reasons causing the persons face the risk of electric shocks. The various reasons may include, a faulty switch, induction effects, static charges, and the like.

Equipments which are capable of detecting presence of an electric field on or around the live electrical circuits may be used to alert the persons regarding the live electrical circuits. But the equipments which are currently being used is inefficient in detecting the presence of the electric field on or around the live electrical circuits carrying alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). Also, the equipments are bulky and less portable. The equipments are energy intensive thereby restricting operational time of the equipments.

Hence, there is a need for an improved device and a method for alerting presence of an electric field to address the aforementioned issue(s). BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a device for alerting presence of an electric field is provided. The device includes an antenna unit adapted to provide a voltage signal upon detecting the electric field. The device also includes an amplifier unit operatively coupled to the antenna unit. The amplifier unit includes a plurality of transistors mutually coupled in a darlington pair configuration. The plurality of transistors are adapted to amplify the voltage signal provided by the antenna unit to provide an amplified voltage signal. The device further includes a switching unit operatively coupled to the amplifier unit.

The switching unit is adapted to switch supply voltage provided by a voltage source upon receiving the amplified voltage signal provided by the amplifier unit. The device also includes an oscillator unit operatively coupled to the switching unit. The oscillator unit is adapted to provide an oscillatory signal at a predefined frequency upon receiving the supply voltage switched by the switching unit. The device further includes an alert unit operatively coupled to the oscillator unit. The alert unit is adapted to provide one or more alerts to an operator by modulating output of one or more transducers corresponding to the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit, thereby alerting presence of the electric field.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for alerting presence of an electric field is provided. The method includes providing, by an antenna unit, a voltage signal upon detecting an electric field. The method also includes amplifying, by a plurality of transistors of an amplifier unit, the voltage signal provided by the antenna unit to provide an amplified voltage signal. The plurality of transistors are mutually coupled in a darlington pair configuration. The method further includes switching, by a switching unit, supply voltage provided by a voltage source upon receiving the amplified voltage signal provided by the amplifier unit. The method also includes providing, by an oscillator unit, an oscillatory signal at a predefined frequency upon receiving the supply voltage switched by the switching unit. The method further includes providing, by an alert unit, one or more alerts to an operator by modulating output of one or more transducers corresponding to the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit, thereby alerting presence of the electric field.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the disclosure will follow by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended figures. It is to be appreciated that these figures depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the appended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram representation of a device for alerting presence of an electric field in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the system of FIG. 1 depicting a top view and a bottom view of the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method for alerting presence of an electric field in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure. The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components preceded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices, sub-systems, elements, structures, components, additional devices, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures, or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.

In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a device and a method for alerting presence of an electric field. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a device and a method for alerting presence of an electric field is provided. The device includes an antenna unit adapted to provide a voltage signal upon detecting the electric field. The device also includes an amplifier unit operatively coupled to the antenna unit. The amplifier unit includes a plurality of transistors mutually coupled in a darlington pair configuration. The plurality of transistors are adapted to amplify the voltage signal provided by the antenna unit to provide an amplified voltage signal.

The device further includes a switching unit operatively coupled to the amplifier unit. The switching unit is adapted to switch supply voltage provided by a voltage source upon receiving the amplified voltage signal provided by the amplifier unit. The device also includes an oscillator unit operatively coupled to the switching unit. The oscillator unit is adapted to provide an oscillatory signal at a predefined frequency upon receiving the supply voltage switched by the switching unit. The device further includes an alert unit operatively coupled to the oscillator unit. The alert unit is adapted to provide one or more alerts to an operator by modulating output of one or more transducers corresponding to the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit, thereby alerting presence of the electric field.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram representation of a device (10) for alerting presence of an electric field in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The device (10) includes an antenna unit (20) adapted to provide a voltage signal upon detecting an electric field. In one embodiment, the antenna unit (20) may include, but not limited to, a wire probe antenna, a helical antenna, a microstrip patch antenna, a whip antenna and the like. In one embodiment, the voltage signal provided by the antenna unit (20) may be proportional to intensity of the electric field. The device (10) also includes an amplifier unit (30) operatively coupled to the antenna unit (20). The amplifier unit (30) includes a plurality of transistors (40) mutually coupled in a darlington pair configuration.

Further, in one embodiment, the plurality of transistors (40) may include, but not limited to, bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors, insulated gate bipolar transistors and the like. The plurality of transistors (40) are adapted to amplify the voltage signal provided by the antenna unit (20) to provide an amplified voltage signal. The device (10) further includes a switching unit (50) operatively coupled to the amplifier unit (30). The switching unit (50) is adapted to switch supply voltage provided by a voltage source (60) upon receiving the amplified voltage signal provided by the amplifier unit (30). In one embodiment, the switching unit (50) may include, but not limited to, thyristors, triode for alternating current (TRIAC), diode for alternating current (DIAC) and the like.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the switching unit (50) may include at least one of a semiconductor switch (90) adapted to operate in saturation region. In such an embodiment, the semiconductor switch (90) may be a transistor. In one embodiment, the voltage source (60) may include, but not limited to, at least one of a battery, solar cell, biofuel cell, super capacitors, thermo electric generators, piezo electric generators, triboelectric generators, and radio frequency energy harvesters. In an exemplary embodiment, the voltage source (60) may be a lithium-ion battery. In such an embodiment, the voltage source (60) may be charged via a charging port (140) associated with the voltage source (60).

Moreover, the device (10) also includes an oscillator unit (70) operatively coupled to the switching unit (50). The oscillator unit (70) is adapted to provide an oscillatory signal at a predefined frequency upon receiving the supply voltage switched by the switching unit (50). In one embodiment, the predefined frequency of the oscillator unit (70) may be adjusted by means of a resistor (150) connected across terminals of the oscillator unit (70). In one embodiment, the oscillator unit (70) may include a voltage stabilizer (130) connected across the terminals of the oscillator unit (70). In such an embodiment, the voltage stabilizer (130) may be adapted to provide stable voltage to the oscillator unit (70).

Also, in one embodiment, the voltage stabilizer (130) may include a capacitor. In an exemplary embodiment, the oscillator unit (70) may include an oscillator chip. The device (10) further includes an alert unit (80) operatively coupled to the oscillator unit (70). The alert unit (80) is adapted to provide one or more alerts to an operator by modulating output of one or more transducers corresponding to the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit (70), thereby alerting presence of the electric field. In a specific embodiment, the alert unit (80) may be adapted to receive the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit (70) via a booster unit (120) adapted to boost signal strength of the oscillatory signal.

Additionally, in such an embodiment, the booster unit (120) may include an amplifying element (160) adapted to be operated in active region. In such an embodiment, the amplifying element (160) may be a transistor. In one embodiment, the one or more transducers may include an audio speaker (100) adapted to provide an audio alert corresponding the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit (70). In some embodiments, the one or more transducers may include one or more light emitting diodes (110) adapted to provide a visual alert corresponding the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit (70). In a specific embodiment, the one or more transducers may include a vibration motor adapted to provide a vibration alert corresponding the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit (70).

Further, in one embodiment, the alert unit (80) may include a control switch adapted to disable the one or more transducers for a predefined time. In such an embodiment, the predefined time may be administered by a timer circuit. In some embodiments, the alert unit (80) may include a test button adapted to test operational readiness of the one or more transducers. Top view (170) and bottom view (180) of the device (10) is shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the system of FIG. 1 depicting a top view (170) and a bottom view (180) of the device (10) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the device (10) may be a wearable device. In such an embodiment, the device (10) may be secured to body parts of the operator by one or more fasteners (190). In one embodiment, the one or more fasteners (190) may include, but not limited to, one or more snaps, one or more straps, a hook and a loop fastener and the like. In some embodiments, the device (10) may get activated when the one or more fasteners (190) are in a closed position. In a specific embodiment, the device (10) may get deactivated when the one or more fasteners (190) are in an open position.

Further, in some embodiments, the antenna unit (20) may be capable of sensing the electric field generated by alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). In one embodiment, the one or more light emitting diodes (110) may constitute a display (200) for providing visual alerts. In some embodiments, the amplifier unit (30), the switching unit (50), the oscillator unit (70), the stabilizer (130), and the booster unit (120) may be embedded in a printed circuit board (210). In such an embodiment, the printed circuit board (210), the voltage source (60) and the audio speaker (100) may be provided on a platform (220) coupled to the one or more fasteners (190) along with the antenna unit (20), the audio speaker (100) and the voltage source (60).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method (500) for alerting presence of an electric field in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method (500) includes providing a voltage signal upon detecting an electric field in step 510. In one embodiment, providing a voltage signal upon detecting an electric field includes providing a voltage signal upon detecting an electric field by an antenna unit. In one embodiment, the antenna unit may include, but not limited to, a wire probe antenna, a helical antenna, a microstrip patch antenna, a whip antenna and the like. In some embodiments, the device may be a wearable device. In such an embodiment, the device may be secured to body parts of an operator by one or more fasteners.

Further, in one embodiment, the one or more fasteners may include, but not limited to, one or more snaps, one or more straps, a hook and loop fastener and the like. In some embodiments, the device may get activated when the one or more fasteners are in a closed position. In a specific embodiment, the device may get deactivated when the one or more fasteners are in an open position. In some embodiments, the antenna unit may be capable of sensing the electric field generated by alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). In one embodiment, the voltage signal provided by the antenna unit may be proportional to intensity of the electric field. The method (500) also includes amplifying the voltage signal provided by the antenna unit to provide an amplified voltage signal in step 520. In one embodiment, amplifying the voltage signal provided by the antenna unit to provide an amplified voltage signal includes amplifying the voltage signal provided by the antenna unit to provide an amplified voltage signal by a plurality of transistors of an amplifier unit. In one embodiment, the plurality of transistors may include, but not limited to, bi-polar junction transistors, field effect transistors, insulated gate bipolar transistors and the like. The plurality of transistors are adapted to amplify the voltage signal provided by the antenna unit to provide an amplified voltage signal.

The method (500) further includes switching supply voltage provided by a voltage source upon receiving the amplified voltage signal provided by the amplifier unit in step 530. In one embodiment, switching supply voltage provided by a voltage source upon receiving the amplified voltage signal provided by the amplifier unit includes switching supply voltage provided by a voltage source upon receiving the amplified voltage signal provided by the amplifier unit by a switching unit. In one embodiment, the switching unit may include, but not limited to, thyristors, triode for alternating current (TRIAC), diode for alternating current (DIAC) and the like. In some embodiments, the switching unit may include at least one of a semi-conductor switch adapted to be operated in saturation region. In such an embodiment, the semi-conductor switch may be a transistor.

Further, in one embodiment, the voltage source may include, but not limited to, at least one of a battery, solar cell, biofuel cell, super capacitors, thermo electric generators, piezo electric generators, triboelectric generators, and radio frequency energy harvesters. In an exemplary embodiment, the voltage source may be a lithium ion battery. In such an embodiment, the lithium ion battery may be charged via a charging port associated with the lithium ion battery.

The method (500) also includes providing an oscillatory signal at a predefined frequency upon receiving the supply voltage switched by the switching unit in step 540. In one embodiment, providing an oscillatory signal at a predefined frequency upon receiving the supply voltage switched by the switching unit includes providing an oscillatory signal at a predefined frequency upon receiving the supply voltage switched by the switching unit by an oscillator unit. In one embodiment, the predefined frequency of the oscillator unit may be adjusted by means of a variable resistor connected across terminals of the oscillator unit. In a specific embodiment, the oscillator unit may include a voltage stabilizer connected across the terminals of the oscillator unit. In such an embodiment, the voltage stabilizer may be adapted to provide stable voltage to the oscillator unit. In one embodiment, the voltage stabilizer may include a capacitor. In an exemplary embodiment, the oscillator unit may include an oscillator chip.

The method (500) further includes providing one or more alerts to an operator by modulating output of one or more transducers corresponding to the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit, thereby alerting presence of the electric field in step 550. In one embodiment, providing one or more alerts to an operator by modulating output of one or more transducers corresponding to the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit, thereby alerting presence of the electric field includes providing one or more alerts to an operator by modulating output of one or more transducers corresponding to the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit, thereby alerting presence of the electric field by an alert unit.

Further, in a specific embodiment, the alert unit may be adapted to receive the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit via a booster unit adapted to boost signal strength of the oscillatory signal. In such an embodiment, the booster unit may include one or more transistors adapted to be operated in active region. In one embodiment, the one or more transducers may include an audio speaker adapted to provide an audio alert corresponding the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit. In some embodiments, the one or more transducers may include one or more light emitting diodes adapted to provide a visual alert corresponding the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit. In a specific embodiment, the one or more transducers may include a vibration motor adapted to provide a vibration alert corresponding the oscillatory signal provided by the oscillator unit.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, the alert unit may include a control switch adapted to disable the one or more transducers for a predefined time. In such an embodiment, the predefined time may be administered by a timer circuit. In some embodiments, the alert unit may include a test button adapted to test operational readiness of the one or more transducers. In some embodiments, the antenna unit may be capable of sensing the electric field generated by alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). In one embodiment, the one or more light emitting diodes may constitute a display for providing visual alerts. In some embodiments, the amplifier unit, the switching unit, the oscillator unit, the stabilizer, and the booster unit may be embedded in a printed circuit board. In such an embodiment, the printed circuit board may be provided on a platform coupled to the one or more fasteners along with the antenna unit, the audio speaker and the voltage source. Various embodiments of the device and a method for alerting presence of an electric field described above enable various advantages. Provision of the antenna unit, the amplifier unit, the switching unit, the oscillator unit and the alert unit capable of detecting the electric field generated by either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) thereby making the device efficient. Provision of the one or more fasteners to secure the device to the body parts of the operator provides portability to the device. Provision of the inbuilt voltage source provides standalone functionality to the device. The device is compact, and durable. Various components used to fabricate the device is readily available and cheap thereby making the device cost effective. Provision of the alert unit provides situational awareness to the operator by providing one or more alerts upon detecting the electric field. Also, the components are energy efficient thereby ensuring extended operation of the device.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof. While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended.

The figures and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, the order of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all the acts need to be necessarily performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples.