Electrostatic protection testing, monitoring, and human-machine visual interface system and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9927482-B2
Application number	US-201514928600-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2015
Priority date	May 22, 2015
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

Various electrostatic protection testing, monitoring, and human-machine visual interface systems and methods are provided. Embodiments include systems and methods for implementing an automated grounding wrist strap assembly test system and visual interface. Embodiments include a test station interface section, a computer system coupled with the test station interface section, software operable to control the test station and computer system, and a user interface that tracks dates of testing a ground strap or system and generates color coding associated with various status of testing of each tracked strap. Additional embodiments include access control systems that allow or deny access to entryways, access points, equipment stations as well as disabling operation of equipment. Embodiments also include a variety of warning systems that trigger based on pass or fail conditions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrostatic protection testing, monitoring, and human-machine visual interface system comprising:
a processor configured to operate said electrostatic protection testing, monitoring, and human-machine visual interface system based on a plurality of machine readable instructions stored on a memory;
a user input device, said user input device being in communication with said processor;
said memory in communication with said processor;
a display in communication with said processor;
a main graphical user interface (GUI) generated by at least some of said plurality of machine readable instructions configured to generate and display said main GUI on said display, wherein said main GUI comprises a profile list including at least one selectable user identification element and at least one GUI colored grounding wrist strap assembly status indicator configured to selectively display a plurality of colors within said at least one said GUI colored grounding wrist strap assembly status indicator;
a grounding wrist strap assembly including an adjustable wristband, a metal plate coupled to said adjustable wristband on an interior side of said adjustable wristband configured to provide an electrical connection with a user's wrist area's skin, an electrical terminal connector positioned on an external side of said adjustable wristband configured to connect with an electrical quick disconnect grounding wire connector, and a conductive coupler that connects said metal plate with said electrical terminal connector;
an electrical resistance measuring device, the electrical resistance measuring device being in communication with the processor, wherein said electrical resistance device includes a conductive contact surface fitted to make contact with said metal plate of said grounding wrist strap that can allow the transmission of electrical signals, and a receiving receptacle designed to receive said electrical quick disconnect connector of said grounding wrist strap assembly and transmit electrical signals;
wherein said plurality of machine readable instructions further comprise:
instructions to generate an initial version of said main GUI;
instructions that selectively enable a user selection of an element of said main GUI via said user input device comprising said selectable user identification element and to initiate electrical resistance testing of said grounding wrist strap assembly;
instructions configured for controlling said processor to initiate operation of a timer or clock until a first stored instruction condition associated with a maximum time value of waiting for a user to perform said electrical resistance testing, wherein said first stored instruction comprises a condition where said grounding wrist strap assembly is detected by said electrical resistance measuring device as in contact with said metal plate and with said electrical quick disconnect connector secured within said receiving receptacle, wherein said system terminates said electrical resistance testing when said clock or timer exceeds said time value;
instructions configured for controlling said processor to obtain a series of measured electrical resistance measurement values of said grounding wrist strap using said electrical resistance measuring device after said first stored instruction condition is met;
instructions configured for controlling said processor to terminate said obtaining said series of measured electrical resistance measurement values when a second stored instruction condition is met;
instructions configured for controlling said processor to store said plurality of consecutively measured said electrical resistance measurement values in said memory associated with said user and said electrical resistance testing of said grounding wrist strap;
instructions configured for controlling said processor to determine an average of said series of consecutively measured said electrical resistance measurement values;
instructions configured for controlling said processor to compare said average to a stored predetermined range of allowed measured electrical resistance measurement values;
instructions configured for controlling said processor to graphically show a pass condition on said main GUI by displaying a pass color on said GUI colored grounding wrist strap assembly status indicator if said average value falls within said stored predetermined range of allowed measured electrical resistance measurement values;
instructions configured for controlling said processor to graphically indicate a fail condition on said main GUI by displaying a second color on said GUI colored grounding wrist strap assembly status indicator if said average value falls outside said stored predetermined range of allowed measured electrical resistance measurement values;
instructions configured for controlling said processor to record said average in a data file in said memory;
instructions configured for controlling said processor to record a time and date of said electrical resistance testing of said grounding wrist strap associated with said user in said data file in said memory; and
instructions configured for controlling said processor to record said pass condition or said fail condition associated with said electrical resistance testing of said grounding wrist strap and said user in said data file in said memory.

2. A system as in claim 1 , wherein said electrical resistance measuring device comprises a digital multi-meter.

3. A system as in claim 1 , wherein said recorded average is compared to a subsequent recorded average and a difference of at least two said recorded averages is taken by said processor and recorded in said data file in said memory.

4. A system as in claim 1 , wherein said series of measured electrical resistance measurement values comprises three measured electrical resistance measurement values.

5. A system as in claim 1 , wherein said first stored instruction condition comprises said clock or timer reaching ten seconds.

6. A system as in claim 1 , wherein said second stored instruction condition comprises a condition where said processor detects that said series of consecutively measured electrical resistance measurement values are within a predetermined percentage of each other.

7. A system as in claim 1 , wherein said stored predetermined range of allowed measured electrical resistance measurement values comprises from 1 to 1.4 MΩ.

8. A system as in claim 1 , wherein said memory further comprises another plurality of machine readable instructions configured to operate said processor to control said system comprising:
instructions that, at predetermined time intervals, operate said processor to check stored said data file to determine whether passed electrical resistance tests have occurred for all predetermined user profiles having said selectable user identification elements shown on said main GUI within at least a first predetermined time range; and
instructions that display a third color on said main GUI's GUI colored grounding wrist strap assembly status indicator if said processor detects that no passed test has occurred within said first predetermined time range.

9. A system as in claim 8 , wherein said first predetermined time range comprises at least four hours.

10. A system as in claim 8 , further comprising instructions that display another color on said GUI colored grounding wrist strap assembly status indicator if said processor detects that another predetermined condition has not occurred within a second predetermined time range.

11. A system as in claim 10 , wherein said second predetermined time range comprises at least six hours.

12. An electr

Assignees

• Us Navy
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Halter Mark

Classifications

• G01R31/52

  Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults · CPC title

• G01R31/001

  Measuring interference from external sources to, or emission from, the device under test, e.g. EMC, EMI, EMP or ESD testing (measuring electromagnetic fields G01R29/08; circuits for generating HV pulses in dielectric strength testing G01R31/14) · CPC title

• G01R27/025

  Measuring very high resistances, e.g. isolation resistances, i.e. megohm-meters · CPC title

• G01R31/58

  Testing of lines, cables or conductors (testing of electric windings G01R31/72) · CPC title

• G08B21/00

  Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for · CPC title