Having A Light Or Sound Indicator Patents (Class 324/542)
  • Patent number: 11454678
    Abstract: An electrical plug for testing an electrical mains socket is provided. The plug comprises a pin for engagement with a pin receptor of the mains socket. The pin comprises first and second electrical contacts, each comprising a surface portion to engage with a different respective region of the receptor. The first and second contacts are electrically isolated from one another at the pin. An electrical testing system and a method of testing an electrical mains socket is provided. The testing system comprises the electrical plug and a first circuit connected to the contacts and configured to measure an electrical resistance therebetween. The method includes providing the electrical plug and measuring an electrical resistance between the electrical contacts. A further method is provided for testing an electrical mains plug comprising a pin, by providing an electrical socket with a pin receptor having first and second regions electrically isolated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Megger Instruments Ltd
    Inventors: Stanislaw Zurek, Mark Hadley, Jeffrey Jones
  • Patent number: 11333815
    Abstract: An apparatus including a first light pipe, a second light pipe and a tracing fiber. The first light pipe may comprise slot features and may be configured to receive light. The second light pipe may comprise the slot features and may be configured to emit the light. The tracing fiber may be configured to propagate the light from the first light pipe to the second light pipe. The first light pipe may focus the light by refraction into the tracing fiber. The slot features of the second light pipe may be configured to scatter the light to provide omnidirectional emission of the light. The tracing fiber may be bundled with one or more data carrying lines in a cable. Each of the data carrying lines may be configured to enable a communication of data. The tracing fiber may be configured to propagate the light without interrupting the communication of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Eminent Technologies Company, LLC
    Inventor: Jamyuen Ko
  • Patent number: 11156652
    Abstract: A reflectometry system for the analysis of faults in a transmission line into which a complex signal, generated then modulated, has been injected, includes a means for measuring the modulated complex signal propagating in the transmission line, a demodulator of the measured signal designed to produce a demodulated complex signal, a complex correlator configured for correlating the demodulated complex signal with a copy of the generated complex signal, in order to produce a first time-domain reflectogram corresponding to the real part of the complex correlation and a second time-domain reflectogram corresponding to the imaginary part of the complex correlation, a module for joint analysis of the first time-domain reflectogram and of the second time-domain reflectogram for identifying the presence of faults in the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Esteban Cabanillas, Christophe Layer
  • Patent number: 10838017
    Abstract: A cable, an associated monitoring system and methods are provided which monitor the continuity of current of electrical components such as sensor signals from sensors used in connection with a medical apparatus. The cable includes a proximal end for coupling with a processing unit and a distal end with or for coupling to sensors. The processing unit generates a continuity signal that travels through the cable via an inductor coil conductor to a distal end inductor coil which imparts the signal to sensor signal conductors of the cable. The continuity signal is carried back to the processing unit with signals from the sensors. Circuitry of the processing unit can detect the returning continuity signals to indicate proper connectivity of the sensor signals. The connection status information of the sensors can be displayed to inform a doctor or other operator of the medical apparatus of sensor signal continuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD.
    Inventors: Yochai Parchak, Eyal Rotman
  • Patent number: 10359462
    Abstract: A method and a system are described for monitoring a condition of an electrical cable. The method comprises applying a broadband signal wave to a first end of the electrical cable, wherein the broadband signal wave is phase and amplitude modulated and acquiring the phase and amplitude modulated broadband signal wave transmitted and reflected by the electrical cable. Signal analyses is performed which results in establishing a relationship between a real and an imaginary part of a phase impedance spectrum Fourier transform of the power spectrum in an interval around at least one of the locations along the cable, and identifying impedance changes in these locations. Analyzing a second order reflection of the broadband signal in said identified fault locations may establish a local degradation severity of an identified fault in the cable insulation in at least one of the locations along the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: WIRESCAN AS
    Inventor: Paolo Franco Fantoni
  • Patent number: 10310130
    Abstract: An apparatus that uses harmonics of the power line frequency at which electrical power is distributed is presented. The apparatus includes a sensor antenna to detect an electromagnetic field produced by a cable. The output of the sensor is fed to a mixer together with a signal from a sine wave generator at less than the fundamental power frequency to frequency shift the signals from the sensor. The mixed output is then amplified to provide an audible output. A single comb filter receives signals from the mixer and outputs a filtered signal removing non-harmonic frequencies but preferably passing both odd and even harmonics. The output of the comb filter is then integrated at and displayed to indicate the detection of a cable based on the filtered signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Metrotech Corporation
    Inventors: Johan Overby, John Mark Royle
  • Patent number: 10101545
    Abstract: A connector for a traceable cable having a tracing optical fiber, and a cable assembly having the same. The connector includes a connector housing and a light pipe positioned at least partially within the connector housing. The light pipe has at least one tracing optical fiber interface configured to be optically coupled to the tracing optical fiber. The light pipe also has at least one tracer light interface optically accessible from outside of the connector housing. The light pipe defines an optical path configured to direct tracer light from the at least one tracing optical fiber interface to the at least one tracer light interface. The at least one tracer light interface is configured to receive and emit the tracer light directed by the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: Micah Colen Isenhour, Jerald Lee Overcash
  • Patent number: 9953555
    Abstract: A driving circuit for a touch screen, an in-cell touch screen and a display apparatus. A timing controller of the driving circuit controls a power supply circuit to output a clock signal with a first amplitude to an (N+1?n)th-stage to an Nth-stage shift registers (SR(n)) in a first time period at a display stage, and controls the power supply circuit to output a clock signal with a second amplitude to each stage of shift register (SR(n)) in a second time period at the display stage; and then levels of scanning signals output by the (N+1?n)th-stage to the Nth-stage shift registers (SR(n)) are higher than levels of scanning signals output by other stages of shift registers (SR(n)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Weibiao Geng, Yichiang Lai, Chunbing Zhang, Liang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9654233
    Abstract: A method includes determining a total forward power using a frequency domain version of a forward signal transmitted over a cable/connector system to one or more antennas. The method includes determining a total reflected power using a frequency domain version of a reflected signal including a reflected version of the forward signal. The method also includes determining a condition of the cable/connector system using the total forward power and the total reflected power. The method may include determining an estimated reflection coefficient based on the total forward power and the total reflected power and associating the estimated reflection coefficient with the condition of the cable/connector system. Apparatus, program products, and software are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
    Inventors: Darrell Barabash, Russell Morris
  • Patent number: 9316677
    Abstract: Methods and devices for testing flex cable shielding of a consumer electronic device are provided. In one example, a method may include applying a signal across a first portion of the flex cable shielding and a second portion of the flex cable shielding. The method may also include detecting a parameter associated with the signal. The method may include determining a health of the flex cable shielding based at least partially on the detected parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin P. Grunthaner, Jean-Marie Bussat, Benjamin B. Lyon, Steven P. Hotelling, Albert Lin
  • Patent number: 9297860
    Abstract: A high voltage service disconnect assembly is provided. The battery pack has an enclosure, first and second battery modules, and positive and negative pack voltage terminals. The assembly includes a housing securing first and second conductive pins thereon. The first conductive pin is coupled to a negative voltage terminal of the first battery module. The second conductive pin is coupled to a positive voltage terminal of the second battery module. The assembly further includes a detection circuit electrically coupled to the first and second conductive pins. The detection circuit outputs a first isolation resistance fault signal when a first isolation resistance fault is detected between the negative pack voltage terminal and the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph Bertrand, Daniel K. McNeill
  • Patent number: 9235460
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms are provided to monitor signals including critical signals at the endpoints, or leaves, of one or more signal trees in an integrated circuit device. Sensors or layers of sensors may be configured in fault detection circuitry to monitor signals and compare them to static or dynamically varying values. The fault detection circuits may include OR-gate daisy chains that output a fault detection signal to control circuitry if any signal at a particular leaf deviates from an expected signal. Fault detection circuits may also be configured to identify instances where two or more or N or more signals deviate from an expected signal. Mechanisms may also be provided to assure the reliability of fault detection circuitry itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ALTERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bruce B. Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9161813
    Abstract: A RF energy console controls RF energy output from a RF generator for sealing blood vessels. The energy console includes a processor that executes routines and a controller feedback circuit that, in combination, control the RF generator. Operation includes a heating stage outputting a RF ramping voltage and determining a decrease in measured current to less than a predetermined % percentage of a maximum measured and stored current value to advance to a sealing stage. Then, the voltage is controlled to maintain an increasing change in impedance until a change in current value approaches a flat curve indicating seal completion, which stops the RF generator output. To reseal or enhance a blood vessel seal, the energy console executes the same routines as in the initial sealing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steffan Benamou
  • Patent number: 8754629
    Abstract: An audio tone probe is used by a technician to identify a conductor carrying an applied tracing tone signal. A probe tip is positioned proximate a conductor. A mains warning circuit and a tracing circuit are provided in communication with the probe tip and a speaker is provided in communication with the mains warning and tracing circuits. Signals detected by the probe tip are provided to the mains warning circuit and the tracing circuit. The mains warning circuit determines whether a mains signal is present in the detected signal and activates a warning generator if a mains signal is present. The tracing circuit filters mains signals from the detected signals. A tracing circuit output provides a tone generating signal to the speaker for use in identifying the presence of the applied tracing tone. The probe incudes a test tone generator to verify that the probe is operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Greenlee Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Samuel Govier, Sandeep Nagaraj Kabadi, Benjamin Vijay Visuvasam
  • Patent number: 8706837
    Abstract: An SAS domain map is automatically generated at an SAS concentrator switch by a virtual mapping device that presents itself as a target for discovery by SAS devices interfaced with the concentrator, such as information handling systems and storage devices. During the SAS protocol discovery process, the virtual mapping device generates the SAS domain map by acquiring the device name and the device port for each concentrator port that interfaces with a device. A management application running on the concentrator applies the SAS domain map to provide network functions, such as zoning or diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Rohit Chawla, Gaurav Chawla, Farzad Khosrowpour
  • Patent number: 8604802
    Abstract: A checking circuit for a serial port connector includes a first inverter, a second inverter, a third inverter, and a first light emitting diode (LED) and a second LED with different colors. An input of the first inverter is connected to a transmitted data pin of the serial port connector. An output of the first inverter is connected to an anode of the first LED. An input of the second inverter is connected to the transmitted data pin of the serial port connector. An output of the second inverter is connected to an input of the third inverter. An output of the third inverter is connected to an anode of the second LED. Cathodes of the first and second LEDs are grounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Sen Hu, Ting Ge
  • Patent number: 8593157
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an imager, preferably portable, that includes a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of generating radiation with one or more frequencies in a range of about 1 GHz to about 2000 GHz. An optical system that is optically coupled to the source focuses radiation received therefrom onto an object plane, and directs at least a portion of the focused radiation propagating back from the object plane onto an image plane. The imager further includes a scan mechanism coupled to the optical system for controlling thereof so as to move the focused radiation over the object plane. A detector optically coupled to the lens at the image plane detects at least a portion of the radiation propagating back from a plurality of scanned locations in the object plane, thereby generating a detection signal. A processor that is in communication with the detector generates an image of at least a portion of the object plane based on the detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Walleye Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Adams, David S. Holbrook
  • Patent number: 8395393
    Abstract: A cable testing method includes a tester that includes at least one connector electrically coupled, such as by conductive traces, to a computer. Both ends of the cable are connected to the at least one connector. The computer then sends a signal to one of the conductive traces of the conductor, at one of the ends of the cable, while at the same time monitoring for a signal at the other contacts of the conductor that are in contact with conductive traces of the cable. The process of sending power while monitoring may then be repeated for other of the conductive traces of the cable, for example until substantially all of the conductive traces of the cable are tested. The process of testing multiple of the conductive traces sequentially may be performed automatically by the computer, allowing performance of the cable to be tested quickly, completely, and accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: James R. Betz, Michael D. Ambrose, Brett A. Anderson, Bryan J. Wallace, Edward G. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8314603
    Abstract: A network cable includes a data cable with cable connectors at opposing ends. A tracer optical waveguide is connected to the data cable, e.g., within the same jacket or by connectors such as heat shrink tubing. The ends of the tracer optical waveguide are physically separate from corresponding ends of the optical waveguide, e.g., the ends of the tracer optical waveguide furcate from the data cable. In use, a light signal is introduced into one end of the tracer optical waveguide, e.g., by Visual Fault Locator, and the light signal is emitted and can be observed from the opposing end, thereby identifying corresponding ends of the tracer optical waveguide, and thus, opposing ends of the connected data cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Realm Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventor: John B. Russell
  • Publication number: 20120176243
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are cables, cable systems, security systems, and detection components. According to an implementation, a cable may have a first portion and a second portion. The second portion may be further distant from a central axis of the cable than the first portion. The second portion is configured to provide notification when the second portion has been damaged or severed. The second portion may be a sheath and the first portion a pre-existing or conventional cable or wire such that the sheath provides notification when the sheath has been damaged or severed prior to the underlying cable or wire being damaged or severed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Andersen Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Jacob Andersen
  • Publication number: 20120146661
    Abstract: The present invention provides, in at least one embodiment, a fault indicator powered by a capacitive power source. The capacitive power source can be a charged capacitor which can be charged by an electrostatic field and an electromagnetic field around a power line being monitored. The charged capacitor can be an electrochemical double-layer capacitor, a supercapacitor, or an ultracapacitor. These capacitors provide superior energy storage compared to conventional battery power sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Kirk Thomas
  • Patent number: 8074961
    Abstract: Proposed is a magnetic valve with manual override, through the actuating element of which a magnetic core that serves as a valve element or that is connected to a valve element can be shifted from an off position into an operating position without excitation of a magnetic coil system assigned to it. To detect the position of the magnetic core that is held in the operating position by the manual override there is provided a coil current monitoring device that monitors the rise of the coil current after the magnetic coil system has been switched on, which device has a detection device for detection of the absence of a drop in current as formed by movement of the magnetic core after being switched on and a signaling device for electrical signaling of a position of the magnetic core that is held in the operating position by the manual override if said drop in current is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Carsten Clauss, Ralf Forcht, Thomas Lederer, Christian Waldeck
  • Patent number: 8050878
    Abstract: A device and method for dynamically determining an impedance of a network is disclosed. The device includes at least a processing system for measuring a network voltage and network current when said network is determined to be in a first state, measuring a network voltage when said network is determined to be in a second state, estimating said impedance value dependent upon said measured voltages and current, adapting said estimated impedance based on at least one prior impedance value and storing at least said adapted impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John James Dougherty, Dale Finney, Senthoor Navaratnam
  • Patent number: 7881890
    Abstract: A method of prioritizing anomalies in a linear conductor buried under a ground surface includes the steps of obtaining prioritization values for a plurality of anomalies along a linear conductor, and ranking the prioritization values according to magnitude. For each anomaly, a prioritization value is obtained by: locating an anomaly; for each anomaly, determining a current, a depth of cover, and a voltage gradient using spaced voltage probes; using the depth of cover and the voltage gradient, calculating an effective probe spacing of the first and second voltage probes relative to the anomaly on the conductor; and determining the prioritization value of the anomaly based on a linear relationship between the voltage gradient and the product of the current and the effective probe spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Spectrum External Line Inspection Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shamus McDonnell, Mike Westman, Chijioke Ukiwe
  • Patent number: 7880476
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new technique for solving the problem of detecting and locating soft faults, such as frays, in electrical conductor wires. This new technique utilizes the nonlinear ferroelectric capacitive properties of piezoelectric ceramic elements, such as PZT, in conjunction with an antenna coil, to realize a tuned antenna receiver circuit with significantly increased reception sensitivity. The present invention consists of a battery powered, hand-held transmitter, with an output terminal for physical connectors, and a battery powered, hand-held receiver. Soft faults are detected and accurately located, to within a half inch distance of the actual soft fault, as the receiver is passed along the path of the electrical conductor wire, by the operator, who determines a reduction or cessation of the visible and audible indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Fiona A. M. McKenzie, Charles S. Richardson
  • Patent number: 7872464
    Abstract: A testing system includes a hand-held transmitter that plugs into a receptacle electrically coupled to a selected branch circuit. The transmitter includes a circuit effective to test an arc fault circuit interrupter electrically coupled to the branch circuit by creating a first pulse on the branch circuit that is effective to trip the arc fault circuit interrupter. The transmitter can perform at least one additional test including: determining whether the receptacle is wired properly; determining a location of a circuit interrupting device electrically coupled to the branch circuit by creating a second pulse on the branch circuit that can be sensed by a receiver located proximately to the respective circuit interrupting device and broadly tuned about a frequency of the second pulse; and testing a ground fault circuit interrupter electrically coupled to the branch circuit by creating a third pulse on the branch circuit that is effective to trip the ground fault circuit interrupter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Unique Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kerry Berland, Mitchell Budniak, Paul Berland, Ronald Coia, Thomas McGann
  • Patent number: 7847562
    Abstract: A resistive fault condition detector for conducting one or more tests of a circuit to detect a resistive fault condition. The detector includes means for determining changes in current through a load during the test, and means for measuring changes in first and second voltages respectively between the circuit's live and neutral conductors and between the circuit's neutral and ground conductors during the test, the changes in the first and second voltages corresponding to the changes in the current respectively. The detector also includes means for calculating apparent source impedances for the live and neutral conductors respectively, based on the changes in current and the measured changes in the first and second voltages respectively, and means for calculating an estimated source impedance for each of the live and neutral conductors for the test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: 2D2C, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Montgomery, Nicolas Jones
  • Patent number: 7719287
    Abstract: A port width module operating in association with SAS controllers determines the operational state of communication across an SAS cable by comparing the number of links at opposing controllers that are capable of supporting communication with the number of links in DWord synchronization. For example, an information handling system capable of communication of four links at an SAS connector communicates in a normal state across two links where the opposing device is a switch that supports only two links at an SAS connector. An LED at the information handling system indicates normal operations with two links in DWord synchronization by receiving the port width of the opposing device, retrieving its own port width, and comparing the port widths with the number of links in DWord synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Marks, Farzad Khosrowpour
  • Patent number: 7660893
    Abstract: A method and an associated system for monitoring and instantly identifying faults in a data communication cable are disclosed. A fault monitoring program learns a reference data traffic pattern communicated through the data communication cable by reading inputs from a sensor. The reference data traffic pattern is stored and is used for determining normalcy of data traffic through the data communication cable. The fault monitoring program monitors for a fault in a data traffic, and, if a fault is detected, activates a fault indicator sending out fault signals to notify users of the fault. If the fault is not recovered within a predefined recovery period, the fault monitoring program deactivates the fault indicator and shuts down a power source for later use of the data communication cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Clark Brillhart, Christopher James Dawson, Michael David Kendzierski
  • Publication number: 20090160425
    Abstract: A testing system includes a hand-held transmitter that plugs into a receptacle electrically coupled to a selected branch circuit. The transmitter includes a circuit effective to test an arc fault circuit interrupter electrically coupled to the branch circuit by creating a first pulse on the branch circuit that is effective to trip the arc fault circuit interrupter. The transmitter can perform at least one additional test including: determining whether the receptacle is wired properly; determining a location of a circuit interrupting device electrically coupled to the branch circuit by creating a second pulse on the branch circuit that can be sensed by a receiver located proximately to the respective circuit interrupting device and broadly tuned about a frequency of the second pulse; and testing a ground fault circuit interrupter electrically coupled to the branch circuit by creating a third pulse on the branch circuit that is effective to trip the ground fault circuit interrupter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Unique Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kerry Berland, Mitchell Budniak, Paul Berland, Ronald A. Coia, Thomas McGann
  • Patent number: 7471075
    Abstract: A testing system includes a hand-held transmitter that plugs into a receptacle electrically coupled to a selected branch circuit. The transmitter includes a circuit effective to test an arc fault circuit interrupter electrically coupled to the branch circuit by creating a first pulse on the branch circuit that is effective to trip the arc fault circuit interrupter. The transmitter can perform an additional test of determining whether the receptacle is wired properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Unique Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kerry Berland, Mitchell Budniak, Paul Berland, Ronald A. Coia, Thomas McGann
  • Publication number: 20080122447
    Abstract: A resistive fault condition detector for conducting one or more tests of a circuit to detect a resistive fault condition. The detector includes means for determining changes in current through a load during the test, and means for measuring changes in first and second voltages respectively between the circuit's live and neutral conductors and between the circuit's neutral and ground conductors during the test, the changes in the first and second voltages corresponding to the changes in the current respectively. The detector also includes means for calculating apparent source impedances for the live and neutral conductors respectively, based on the changes in current and the measured changes in the first and second voltages respectively, and means for calculating an estimated source impedance for each of the live and neutral conductors for the test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Steven R. Montgomery, Nicolas Jones
  • Patent number: 7336061
    Abstract: A group wiring system includes a hub of a server system, a distribution frame including a plurality of wire pair receptacles, a plurality of remote receptacles, a testing device, and a plurality of testing circuits. Each testing circuit is coupled between conductive wires of contacts of an associated wire pair receptacle. Each testing circuit includes a light emitting device and a filtering device. The light emitting device emits light when the testing device applies a testing voltage to the contacts. The testing voltage is a low-frequency voltage signal having a frequency higher than 200 Hz that creates a circuit impedance higher than an impedance of the filtering device when passing through the hub, thereby decaying and filtering the voltage signal and allowing locating test while the server system is on-line. A method for locating wire pairs in a group wiring system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: YFC-Boneagle Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying-Ming Ku, Yi-Huang Lee, Tien-Chi Tseng
  • Patent number: 7235980
    Abstract: A cable detection apparatus is disclosed having a filter, the filter transmitting components of a signal detected substantially at certain harmonics of a first frequency. The filter may also attenuate the signal at certain even harmonics thereof. A method of detecting and/or locating cables in the same manner is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
    Inventors: Richard D. Pearson, James Ian King
  • Patent number: 7116112
    Abstract: A cable test apparatus includes a power supply terminal, an open circuit indicator with an anode connected to the power supply terminal, a short circuit indicator, a first interface, a second interface, and a switch. The first interface and the second interface have a plurality of pins thereon. In the first interface, a first pin is connected to a cathode of the open circuit indicator, a second pin is connected to an anode of the short circuit indicator, a third pin is grounded, the other pins are shorted. The pins of the second interface are shorted as well. Therefore all wires of the cable are connected in series, even wires located at one side of the short circuit indicator, and odd wires are located at the other side of the short circuit indicator. In a short circuit test, the switch connects the second pin and a fourth pin; in an open circuit test, the switch connects the fourth pin and the cathode of the short circuit indicator and shorts the open circuit indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bin Shu
  • Patent number: 7030623
    Abstract: A vehicle testing apparatus and method which facilitates tracing and isolating of short circuits. The tester preferably provides a user-selected constant current level (i.e. 1, 3 and 6 amperes) for driving a vehicle short under test at a constant current level compatible with the circuit. Any significant changes in the conductance of the vehicle short under test are registered in response to circuit voltage changes. An annunciator is activated in response to sudden significant conductance changes (preferably conductance decreases) which exceed a threshold level. Annunciation (preferably including audio output) allows the operator to immediately correlate movements of specific regions of wiring, or other circuit elements, with changes in the detected short conductance for the shorted circuit being tested. By way of example and not of limitation the tester may be implemented inexpensively with low cost analog circuitry, and does not require incorporating a microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Kevin Carpenter
  • Patent number: 6995570
    Abstract: To provide protection for power supplies in which a plurality of paralleled identical DC power cables are provided between a source and a load, one aspect of the present invention provides a method for detecting conditions in parallel DC power cables. The method includes supplying current from a power supply to each of a plurality of DC power cables, determining an average current per cable flowing in the plurality of parallel DC power cables, comparing currents in each of the DC power cables with the determined average current, and signaling the existence of a condition in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: ENI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Halstead, Michael R. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 6977508
    Abstract: A cable detection apparatus is disclosed having a filter, the filter transmitting components of a signal detected substantially at certain harmonics of a first frequency. The filter may also attenuate the signal at certain even harmonics thereof. A method of detecting and/or locating cables in the same manner is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
    Inventors: Richard D. Pearson, James Ian King
  • Patent number: 6963192
    Abstract: A device for tracing electrical cable. The device allows a cable installer or service person not only to identify one wire or cable in a group, but to simultaneously remotely identify as many cables as he desires. The device requires only that the installer connect a test device to each of the cables which he wishes to identify. Additionally, this identification is extremely easy to accomplish, as the “Identifying label” is in the installers own spoken words, and can be heard at the remote end by using existing industry standard test equipment (i.e.: an installer's test set, phone, headset, or amplified probe).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: James A. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6906505
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for accurately locating ends of cords, wires cables or conduits, in particular in the fields of electricity, electronics, telephone and computer. The device includes an optical fiber disposed on a cord and extending from a first end to a second end of the cord. The optical fiber includes a first fiber end disposed at the first end of the cord and a second fiber end disposed at the second end of the cord. The device further includes a means for injecting light disposed proximate the first fiber end, the first fiber end being accessible so as to be illuminated by the means for injecting light and the second fiber end being accessible so as to recover the light injected at the first fiber end. Said device is useful for locating computer switching cords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventors: Patrice Brunet, Eric Tande
  • Patent number: 6844712
    Abstract: A system for locating a circuit interrupter associated with a selected branch circuit. The system includes a passive transmitter that creates a current spike at a predetermined frequency and a receiver broadly tuned about that predetermined frequency. The current spike signal has a sufficiently short spike duration and a sufficient amplitude so as to substantially minimize development of a sympathetic signal on other branch circuits adjacent to the selected branch circuit. The passive transmitter includes a voltage controlled switch in series with a charge storage device. The receiver drives a user-perceivable signaling device upon sensing the current spike. Related subsystems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Unique Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mitchell Budniak, Joachim Wottrich, Ronald A. Coia
  • Publication number: 20040189322
    Abstract: A cable detection apparatus is disclosed having a filter, the filter transmitting components of a signal detected substantially at certain harmonics of a first frequency. The filter may also attenuate the signal at certain even harmonics thereof. A method of detecting and/or locating cables in the same manner is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Richard D. Pearson, James Ian King
  • Publication number: 20040124847
    Abstract: A LAN tester has display and remote units each having a connector jack attached to an adapter board for connection to the plug of a patch cord. Both the display and remote units have circuits which are capable of measuring the phase between a drive signal voltage and the corresponding coupled or reflected signal due to the drive signal. Scattering parameters for the mated connector pairs and the patch cord itself are measured during a field calibration. A computer in one or both of the tester units stores the measured scattering parameters and uses the scattering parameters to move the reference plane to any desired location along the patch cord. The length of the patch cord can be determined through the use of phase by measuring the frequency difference between adjacent maxima of a plot of input impedance versus frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Gerald W. Renken
  • Patent number: 6744255
    Abstract: A grounding and testing device for power distribution systems includes an electrically insulated housing with a bore that extends from an aperture at a front of the housing towards a rear of the housing. An electrical contact is disposed at least partially within the bore, and the bore, aperture, and conductive contact are adapted to mate with a bushing. A current interrupter, such as a current limiting fuse, is electrically connected between the contact and a grounding cable. An annunciator is connected to the current interrupter such that the annunciator provides an indication when a current flows through the current interrupter. A lead is electrically connected to the contact to provide a connection point for a permanent ground connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: McGraw -Edison Company
    Inventors: Brian Todd Steinbrecher, Frank John Muench, Jr., John Mitchell Makal, David Charles Hughes
  • Patent number: 6737871
    Abstract: The present invention is a non-invasive cable tester. The cable tester comprises a sensor for detecting an electric field emitted by a live electric cable. The resulting signal from the sensor is then filtered, amplified, and compared to a threshold value to determine the energization status of the electric cable. A meter can be provided to get a reading of the amplified signal that can be compared to a predetermined threshold value. Also, a detector circuit can be provided that includes a comparator in electrical communication with a light-emitting device such as a light-emitting diode. The detector circuit processes the amplified signal and compares it to a predetermined threshold value. If the electric cable is energized, the output of the comparator either causes the light-emitting device to emit light or not emit light, as desired. This enables an operator to determine the status of the electric cable simply by determining whether the light-emitting device is lit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: American Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Schneider, James R. Booker, Edward J. Koegler, John D. Mandeville
  • Patent number: 6707305
    Abstract: The tone generator uses a highly accurate frequency signal to generate an accurate and stable tone signal. A cadence pattern may be used to output the tone signal onto a test cable in an easily distinguishable pattern. The tone signal may be selectively output at an in-band band frequency or an out-band frequency. A corresponding tone probe may be used to detect the tone signal. The tone probe uses a high-Q bandpass filter to reject all but the expected frequency of the tone signal. The signal passing the bandpass filter is proportional to the detected tone signal. The tone probe generates an audio signal unrelated to the frequency of the tone signal. The audio signal is modulated by the signal from the bandpass filter, and then broadcast through a speaker. Accordingly, the tone probe provides an audible sound proportional to the strength of the tone signal, but is unrelated in frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Psiber Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell J. Johnson, John C. McCosh
  • Patent number: 6639412
    Abstract: The present invention has a coaxial cable connection electrically connected to a voltage monitor circuit for discriminating between multiple voltage levels. A visual display is electrically connected to the voltage monitor circuit and which displays the measured voltage level. The entire circuit is powered from the input on the coaxial cable connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Lane Truett
  • Patent number: 6608487
    Abstract: A contact-connecting device connects more than two indicator fibers in an electrically conducting manner to create a conducting connection of the indicator fibers at the end of a safety-monitored synthetic fiber rope made from electrically insulating synthetic fibers and the electrically conducting indicator fibers. A fastener fixes the contact-connecting device and the indicator fibers relative to one another, which creates a low-cost and reliable contact-connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Claudio De Angelis
  • Publication number: 20030071634
    Abstract: The tone generator uses a highly accurate frequency signal to generate an accurate and stable tone signal. A cadence pattern may be used to output the tone signal onto a test cable in an easily distinguishable pattern. The tone signal may be selectively output at an in-band band frequency or an out-band frequency. A corresponding tone probe may be used to detect the tone signal. The tone probe uses a high-Q bandpass filter to reject all but the expected frequency of the tone signal. The signal passing the bandpass filter is proportional to the detected tone signal. The tone probe generates an audio signal unrelated to the frequency of the tone signal. The audio signal is modulated by the signal from the bandpass filter, and then broadcast through a speaker. Accordingly, the tone probe provides an audible sound proportional to the strength of the tone signal, but is unrelated in frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Darrell J. Johnson, John C. McCosh
  • Patent number: 6538452
    Abstract: A testing device provides pin height, continuity, and concentricity testing for coaxial connectors and cables. The testing device provides connector jacks with support shafts that properly align and stabilize the connectors during testing. Circuitry is provided to indicate if the pin height is sufficient, if the cable is an open circuit, a short circuit, or has an adequate continuity, and if the center pin of the connector is sufficiently concentric with the outer sleeve. The jacks may have an outer surface with slots providing a slip fit configuration that allows the coaxial connector to be easily inserted and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Madsen, Amy Witty