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US 7,253,636 B2Granted
Wire tracer receiver
AssigneeFluke Corporation
InventorsCharles Raymond Shambaugh, Jr., John Wesley Hyacinthe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus includes a signal generator, a power supply, a micro-controller, a transmitter and a receiver for determining the condition of a line. The signal is passed through the line and any reflection is used to determine varying characteristics of the line.
Claims21
An apparatus for detecting a signal present in a traced line, comprising:
- a controller;
- a receiver, linked to the controller, that detects a reflected signal regardless of its position relative to the reflected signal, wherein the reflected signal results from a transmitted signal that originates from a signal generator, wherein the receiver comprises a plurality of the sensors arranged to substantially form an arc and wherein one of the plurality of sensors is located approximately perpendicular to and at approximately a center point of the arc, further wherein said receiver is not within said traced line during the detection;
- a voltage detector, linked to the controller, configured to determine if the traced line is energized;
- a ground fault circuit linked to the voltage detector, wherein the ground fault circuit is configured to be activated in response to a detected energized line;
- and
- an output linked to the controller.
3 more elements
A method for detecting a signal in a traced line, comprising:
- determining if the traced line is energized;
- activating a ground fault circuit in response to a detected energized line;
- detecting the signal with a plurality of sensors, wherein the sensors are arranged in a manner such that a reflected signal can be detected regardless of their position relative to the reflected signal, wherein the reflected signal results from a transmitted signal that originates from a signal generator, wherein the plurality of the sensors are arranged to substantially form an arc and wherein one of the plurality of sensors is located approximately perpendicular to and at approximately a center point of the arc, further wherein said plurality of the sensors is not within said traced line during the detecting;
- and
- providing on an output an indication of the reflected signal that was detected, said output being perceived by a technician to determine whether said traced line is shorted, open, or terminated.
2 more elements
A system for detecting a signal in a traced line, comprising:
- means for determining if the traced line is energized;
- means for electrically grounding the system in response to a detected energized line;
- means for sensing a reflected signal regardless of a position of the means for sensing relative to the reflected signal, wherein the reflected signal results from a transmitted signal that originates from a signal generator, wherein the means for sensing comprises a plurality of sensors arranged to substantially form an arc and wherein one of the plurality of sensors is located approximately perpendicular to and at approximately a center point of the arc, further wherein said plurality of sensors is not within said traced during sensing of the reflected signal;
- means for analyzing the signal;
- and
- means for providing an indication of the reflected signal that was detected, said indication being perceived by a technician to determine whether said traced line is shorted, open, or terminated.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.