# US 7,612,552 B2 · Electrical phase checking apparatus and method of metering > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,552 B2 - Document ID: US7612552B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/888,765 - Filed: 2007-08-01 - Published: 2008-02-14 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2007-08-01 - Inventors: Christopher L. Dent - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612552B2 ## CPC - G01R 25/005: {Circuits for comparing several input signals and for indicating the result of this comparison, e.g. equal, different, greater, smaller, or for passing one of the input signals as output signal} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract An electrical phase checking apparatus includes a first voltage sensor, a first current sensor, a first binary indicator corresponding to the first voltage and current sensors, a second voltage sensor, a second current sensor, and a second binary indicator corresponding to the second voltage and current sensors. The first binary indicator is configured to indicate when a phase separation between a voltage waveform measured by the first voltage sensor and a current waveform measured by the first current sensor is not more than a first value, and the second binary indicator is configured to indicate when a phase separation between a voltage waveform measured by the second voltage sensor and a current waveform measured by the second current sensor is not more than a second value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of metering an electrical characteristic of a system, comprising in the following order: a) providing an electrical phase checking apparatus, the electrical phase checking apparatus comprising: a first voltage sensor; a first current sensor; a first binary indicator connected to said first voltage sensor and first current sensor, said first binary indicator configured to indicate when a phase separation between a voltage waveform measured by said first voltage sensor and a current waveform measured by said first current sensor is not more than a first value; a second voltage sensor; a second current sensor; and a second binary indicator connected to said second voltage sensor and second current sensor, said second binary indicator configured to indicate when a phase separation between a voltage waveform measured by said second voltage sensor and a current waveform measured by said second current sensor is not more than a second value, wherein the apparatus further comprises a first voltage probe connected to the first voltage sensor, a first current probe connected to the first current sensor, a second voltage probe connected to the second voltage sensor, and a second current probe connected to the second current sensor; b) attaching at least two of said probes to at least one wire in said system; c) reading a binary indication output by at least one of said binary indicators; and d) detaching at least one of said at least two of said probes and attaching it to a different wire in said system in response to said reading. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical phase checking apparatus further comprises: a third voltage sensor; a third current sensor; and a third binary indicator connected to said third voltage sensor and third current sensor, said third binary indicator configured to indicate when a phase separation between a voltage waveform measured by said third voltage sensor and a current waveform measured by said third current sensor is not more than a third value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first, second, and third values are not more than 60°, and wherein at least one of said first, second, and third binary indicators comprises at least one of a light and a sound-producing device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first, second, and third binary indicators each comprises a red light-emitting diode and a green light-emitting diode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second values are not more than 60°. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second binary indicators comprises a light. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical phase checking apparatus further comprises: a third voltage sensor; a third voltage probe connected to the third voltage sensor; a third current sensor; a third current probe connected to the third current sensor; and a third binary indicator connected to said third voltage sensor and third current sensor, said third binary indicator configured to indicate when a phase separation between a voltage waveform measured by said third voltage sensor and a current waveform measured by said third current sensor is not more than a third value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second values are not more than 60°. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reading comprises viewing a binary light output. ### Claim 10 A method of metering an electrical characteristic of a system, comprising in the following order: a) providing an electrical phase checking apparatus, the electrical phase checking apparatus comprising: a first voltage sensor; a first current sensor; a first processor configured to determine a first power factor based at least in part on a voltage waveform measured by said first voltage sensor and a current waveform measured by said first current sensor; a first binary indicator connected to said first processor and configured to indicate when said first power factor is not less than a first value; a second voltage sensor; a second current sensor; a second processor configured to determine a second power factor based at least in part on a voltage waveform measured by said second voltage sensor and a current waveform measured by said second current sensor; and a second binary indicator connected to said second processor and configured to indicate when said second power factor is not less than a second value, wherein the apparatus further comprises a first voltage probe connected to the first voltage sensor, a first current probe connected to the first current sensor, a second voltage probe connected to the second vo1tage sensor, and a second current probe connected to the second current sensor; b) attaching at least two of said probes to at least one wire in said system; c) reading a binary indication output by at least one of said binary indicators; and d) detaching at least one of said at least two of said probes and attaching it to a different wire in said system in response to said reading. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electrical phase checking apparatus further comprises: a third voltage sensor; a third current sensor; a third processor configured to determine a third power factor based at least in part on a voltage waveform measured by said third voltage sensor and a current waveform measured by said third current sensor; and a third binary indicator connected to said third processor and configured to indicate when said third power factor is not less than a third value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first, second, and third values are not less than 0.5, and wherein at least one of said first, second, and third binary indicators comprises at least one of a light and a sound-producing device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first, second, and third binary indicators each comprises a red light-emitting diode and a green light-emitting diode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first and second values are not less than 0.5. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of said first and second binary indicators comprises a light. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electrical phase checking apparatus further comprises: a third voltage sensor; a third voltage probe connected to the third voltage sensor; a third current sensor; a third current probe connected to the third current sensor a third processor configured to determine a third power factor based at least in part on a voltage waveform measured by said third voltage sensor and a current waveform measured by said third current sensor; and a third binary indicator connected to said third processor and configured to indicate when said third power factor is not less than a third value. ### Claim 17 The method as claimed in 10, wherein said first and second values are not less than 0.5. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said reading comprises viewing a binary light output.