Integrated tool with circuit tracer, receptacle tester, and/or load continuity tester
AssigneeIDEAL Industries, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Gerard Forthaus, Timothy Tunnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods, as described herein, relate to a circuit tracer transmitter including an integrated continuity test. In addition, systems and methods, as described herein, relate to communicating data over a conductor that is being tested with a circuit tracer, load continuity tester, and/or an integrated circuit tracer with load continuity tester. In addition, systems and methods, as described herein, relate an integrated receptacle tester in circuit tracing hardware through circuitry and/or logic.
Claims20
A circuit tracer transmitter with integrated continuity testing for locating electrical wiring faults, comprising:
- a line coupling transformer;
- a current sense circuit configured to sense a current on a primary driver side of the line coupling transformer and input data indicative of the current;
- an indicator;
- an output driver configured to drive the line coupling transformer;
- and
- a microcontroller configured to conduct a continuity test by automatically comparing the input data to a threshold level of current and generating an alert using the indicator when the threshold level of current is met or exceeded unless inhibited,
- wherein the alert indicates continuity on test leads on a secondary driver side of the line coupling transformer.
A method of performing a continuity test using a circuit tracer transmitter with integrated continuity testing for locating electrical wiring faults, comprising:
- sensing, by a current sense circuit, a current on a primary driver side of a transformer;
- receiving, by a microcontroller, input data indicative of the current;
- comparing, by the microcontroller, the input data to a threshold level of current;
- and
- generating, by the microcontroller and using an indicator, an alert if the threshold level of current is met or exceeded, wherein the alert indicates continuity on test leads on a secondary driver side of the transformer.
A circuit tracer kit with integrated continuity testing for locating electrical wiring faults, the circuit tracer kit comprising:
- a circuit tracer receiver;
- and
- a circuit tracer transmitter apart from the circuit tracer receiver, wherein circuit tracer transmitter comprises at least:
- a line coupling transformer comprising a primary driver side and a secondary driver side;
- a current sense circuit configured to sense a current on the primary driver side of the line coupling transformer and input data indicative of the current;
- a voltage detection circuit on the secondary driver side of the line coupling transformer, wherein the voltage detection circuit is configured to detect if the circuit tracer transmitter is live, then inhibit a continuity test;
- an indicator;
- an output driver configured to drive the line coupling transformer;
- and
- a circuit component configured to trigger execution of the continuity test by automatically comparing the input data to a threshold level of current and generating an alert using the indicator when the threshold level of current is satisfied absent the continuity test having been inhibited,
- wherein the alert indicates continuity on test leads on a secondary driver side of the line coupling transformer.
A circuit tracer kit with integrated continuity testing for locating electrical wiring faults in a conductor being tested, the circuit tracer kit comprising:
- an induction device equipped with an induction unit comprising circuitry configured to induce a sequence of data signals in a tracing signal onto the conductor being tested, wherein the induction unit is further equipped with circuitry configured to measure current flowing in the conductor;
- and
- a circuit tracer receiver equipped with a communication interface to receive the sequence of data signals in the tracing signal on the conductor and process the sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.