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US 12,007,443 B2Granted
Contact arrangement having a measuring device for determining a contacting state of the contact arrangement by means of an acoustic signal
AssigneeTE Connectivity Germany GmbH
InventorStefan Kipp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A contact arrangement includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact and a measuring device for determining a contacting state between the first and second contacts. In a first contacting state the first and second contacts are electrically isolated from one another, and in a second contacting state the first and second contacts are electrically connected to one another. The measuring device includes an acoustic signal transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal into the first contact, and a signal receiver connected to the second contact in a sound-conducting manner.
Claims16
A contact arrangement, comprising:
- a first electrical contact;
- a second electrical contact;
- and
- a measuring device for determining a contacting state between the first and second contacts, in a first contacting state the first and second contacts are electrically isolated from one another and in a second contacting state the first and second contacts are electrically connected to one another, the measuring device including:
- an acoustic signal transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal into the first contact, the measuring device outputs a measurement signal representative of at least one of the parameters of running time, sound pressure, sound energy or sound intensity of the acoustic signal;
- and
- a signal receiver connected to the second contact in a sound-conducting manner, the measuring device outputs a first measurement signal representative of the sound intensity of the acoustic signal and a second measurement signal representative of the running time of the acoustic signal;
- and
- a processing unit includes at least one processor and a memory device, the processor responsive to a set of instructions stored on the memory device and adapted to:
- determine the contacting state between the first and second contacts according to at least one of the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal;
- and
- output an indication of the determined contacting state, the processing unit adapted to measure a running time of the second measurement signal, the running time being proportional to a travel path of the acoustic signal, associated with a zero crossing, output an indication of a determined distance between the first contact and the second contact according to the measured signal of the running time.
9 more elements
A method for measuring a contacting state of a contact arrangement having at least two electrical contacts which are electrically isolated from each other in a first contacting state and electrically connected to each other in a second contacting state, comprising the steps of:
- with a transmitter, transmitting an acoustic signal into a first electrical contact of the at least two electrical contacts;
- and
- with a receiver, receiving the acoustic signal at a second electrical contact of the at least two electrical contacts,
- with the receiver, outputting a first measurement signal representative of the sound intensity of the acoustic signal;
- and
- with the receiver, outputting a second measurement signal representative of the running time of the acoustic signal;
- and
- with a processing unit, outputting an indication of a determined distance between the first contact and the second contact measuring a running time of the second measurement signal, the running time being proportional to a travel path of the acoustic signal, associating with a zero crossing;
- and
- determining a distance between the first contact and the second contact according to the measured signal of the running time.
7 more elements
A contact arrangement, comprising:
- a first electrical contact;
- a second electrical contact;
- and
- a measuring device for determining a contacting state between the first and second contacts, in a first contacting state the first and second contacts are electrically isolated from one another and in a second contacting state the first and second contacts are electrically connected to one another, the measuring device including:
- an acoustic signal transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal into the first contact, the measuring device outputs a measurement signal representative of at least one of the parameters of running time, sound pressure, sound energy or sound intensity of the acoustic signal, the measuring device outputs a first measurement signal representative of the sound intensity of the acoustic signal and a second measurement signal representative of the running time of the acoustic signal;
- and
- a signal receiver connected to the second contact in a sound-conducting manner;
- and
- a processing unit, the processing unit includes at least one processor and a memory device, the processor responsive to a set of instructions stored on the memory device and adapted to:
- determine the contacting state between the first and second contacts according to at least one of the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal;
- and
- output an indication of the determined contacting state, the processing unit adapted to output an indication of a determined distance between the first contact and the second contact and measure a running time of the second measurement signal, the running time being proportional to a travel path of the acoustic signal, associated with a zero crossing;
- compare the measured running time to a predetermined value;
- output an indication of the first contacting state if the measured running time is above the predetermined threshold value;
- and
- output an indication of the second contacting state if the measured running time is below the predetermined threshold value.
13 more elements
A method for measuring a contacting state of a contact arrangement having at least two electrical contacts which are electrically isolated from each other in a first contacting state and electrically connected to each other in a second contacting state, comprising the steps of:
- with a transmitter, transmitting an acoustic signal into a first electrical contact of the at least two electrical contacts;
- and
- with a receiver, receiving the acoustic signal at a second electrical contact of the at least two electrical contacts;
- with the receiver, outputting a first measurement signal representative of the sound intensity of the acoustic signal;
- and
- with the receiver, outputting a second measurement signal representative of the running time of the acoustic signal;
- with a processing unit, outputting an indication of a determined distance between the first contact and the second contact, measuring a running time of the second measurement signal, the running time being proportional to a travel path of the acoustic signal, associating with a zero crossing;
- comparing the measured running time to a predetermined value;
- outputting an indication of the first contacting state if the measured running time is above the predetermined threshold value;
- and
- outputting an indication of the second contacting state if the measured running time is below the predetermined threshold value.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.