US 11,749,984 B2
Output contact failure monitor for protection relays in electric power systems
Evan J. Penberthy, Moscow, ID (US); and Brian James Peterson, Moscow, ID (US)
Assigned to Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc., Pullman, WA (US)
Filed by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc., Pullman, WA (US)
Filed on May 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/316,939.
Prior Publication US 2022/0368125 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. H02H 3/00 (2006.01); H02H 7/22 (2006.01); H02H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02H 7/22 (2013.01) [H02H 1/0007 (2013.01); H02H 1/0092 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An output circuit device for use in an electric power system, comprising:
an output port to transmit signals to and to be in communication with a component of the electric power system;
a first output subsystem for transmitting a first signal output via the output port to the component of the electric power system that is in communication with the output circuit device at the output port;
an input subsystem for receiving and monitoring the first signal output transmitted by the first output subsystem at the output port, the input subsystem to verify that the first signal output transmitted by the first output subsystem is within a selected signal range; and
a second output subsystem for transmitting another signal output via the output port to the component of the electric power system, the second output subsystem to transmit the signal output in response to an indication from the input subsystem that the first signal output transmitted by the first output subsystem is outside of the selected signal range; and
wherein each of the first output subsystem, the input subsystem, and the second output subsystem are housed within an output device and the component of the electrical power system is separate from the output device.