Terminal sensor array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12399196-B2
Application number	US-202318543117-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2023
Priority date	Aug 29, 2019
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus having a conducting probe configured to couple with an electrical conductor of an electrical terminal. The apparatus has a sensor in contact with the conducting probe. The apparatus has a controller electrically coupled to the sensor, where the controller is configured to monitor the sensor values, and when the sensor values comply with a monitoring rule associated with a hazardous condition, the controller is configured to initiate an action to mitigate the hazardous condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a terminal lug adapted to mechanically and electrically connect an electrical cable to an electrical terminal, wherein the terminal lug comprises:
a flange configured to attach and electrically connect the terminal lug to the electrical terminal,
a terminal recess in the flange configured to allow insertion of a bolt or screw of the electrical terminal,
a cable clamp configured to attach and electrically connect the terminal lug to the electrical cable, and
a sensor recess; and

a sensor configured to measure a physical property of the electrical terminal, wherein the sensor recess is configured to secure the sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor recess is located on the flange or the cable clamp.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the terminal lug comprises a dedicated body element protruding from the terminal lug, wherein the sensor recess is located on the dedicated body element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flange is configured as a ring lug, an eyelet lug, a fork lug, a pin lug, or a flange lug.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable clamp comprises a cable recess configured to receive the electrical cable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the physical property is a temperature and the sensor is a temperature sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the physical property is a voltage and the sensor is a voltage sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor recess is substantially smaller than the terminal recess.

9. A method comprising:
connecting an electrical cable mechanically and electrically to a cable clamp of a terminal lug;
inserting a sensor into a sensor recess of the terminal lug;
connecting a flange of the terminal lug electrically and mechanically to an electrical terminal; and
tightening a bolt or screw in a terminal recess in the flange of the electrical terminal to secure the terminal lug to the electrical terminal,
wherein the sensor is connected to a monitoring circuit, and wherein the sensor is configured to measure a physical property of the electrical terminal.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
measuring, using the monitoring circuit, sensor values from the sensor to monitor the physical property of the electrical terminal; and
determine that the sensor values comply with a monitoring rule; and
initiate, based on the determining, an action using the monitoring circuit.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the physical property is a temperature and the sensor is a temperature sensor.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the physical property is a voltage and the sensor is a voltage sensor.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensor recess is substantially smaller than the terminal recess.

14. A system comprising:
a plurality of solar panels connected in a serial string;
an inverter connected to ends of the serial string, wherein the inverter comprises a plurality of electrical terminals; and
a plurality of terminal lugs, each comprising:
a cable clamp configured to attach and electrically connect the terminal lug to an electrical cable;
a flange attached and electrically connected to a corresponding electrical terminal of the plurality of electrical terminals;
a terminal recess configured to allow insertion of a bolt or screw of the corresponding electrical terminal;
a sensor configured to receive a physical property of the corresponding electrical terminal; and
a sensor recess configured to receive the sensor.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the sensor recess is located on the flange or the cable clamp.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein each terminal lug of the plurality of terminal lugs further comprises a dedicated body element protruding from the terminal lug, wherein the sensor recess is located on the dedicated body element.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the flange of each terminal lug of the plurality of terminal lugs is configured as a ring lug, an eyelet lug, a fork lug, a pin lug, or a flange lug.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the physical property is a temperature and the sensor is a temperature sensor.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the physical property is a voltage and the sensor is a voltage sensor.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein, for each terminal lug of the plurality of terminal lugs, the sensor recess is substantially smaller than the terminal recess.

Assignees

• Solaredge Technologies Ltd

Inventors

• Polonsky Nimrod
• Har-Shai Liron
• Galin Yoav
• Gomberg Bryon
• Sella Guy

Classifications

• H01R9/24

  Terminal blocks · CPC title

• G01R31/3271

  of high voltage or medium voltage devices (G01R31/333 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/6683

  with built-in sensor · CPC title

• G01R15/125

  for digital multimeters · CPC title

• G01R31/50

  Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) · CPC title