Time-domain reflectometer for testing terminated network cable
AssigneeFluke Corporation
InventorThomas K. Bohley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A time domain reflectometer having a first impedance when in a first test mode and a second impedance when in a second test mode. The first impedance is substantially the same as the nominal characteristic impedance of a network link cable not connected to a network and the second impedance is substantially different from the impedance of a network link cable that is terminated into a network. A method for measuring the length of a terminated network cable includes the steps of determining that the network cable is terminated at a network, selecting a test mode suitable for testing the terminated network cable, and performing time domain reflectometry testing on the terminated network cable.
Claims7
A time domain reflectometer (TDR) comprising:
- (a) a TDR circuit having a first test mode and a second test mode;
- (b) a first impedance associated with the first test mode and a second impedance associated with the second test mode;
- (c) means for switching the TDR circuit between the first test mode and second test mode.
A method for applying time domain reflectometry testing of a network cable, comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining that the network cable is disconnected from a network;
- (b) selecting a first time domain reflectometry test mode suitable for testing the network cable disconnected to the network;
- (c) applying a first test signal to the network cable that is disconnected connected from the network;
- and,
- (d) receiving a reflected signal associated with the first test signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.