US 8,552,709 B2Granted

Systems and methods for locating a circuit

AssigneeTasco S.p.A.

InventorsSteven Thomas McCasland, Thomas A. McCasland

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Abstract

Systems and methods presented herein locate and/or identify a circuit within an electrical system. In one embodiment, a transmitter is configured for inducing signals upon a plurality of circuit lines (e.g., power lines, communication lines, lighting circuits, etc.) with each circuit line having a unique signal to identify it from other circuit lines. Each signal may be induced upon an individual circuit line by a inductive coupling clip coupled about the circuit line. The transmitter may be used at a distribution point of the circuit lines, such as circuit breaker box. A receiver can then receive a signal from a distal point on the circuit line to acquire the unique signal induced thereon and identify determine which inductive coupling clip is coupled thereto. For example. the signal may be decoded to display a number of the circuit line being tested.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A system operable to correlate a plurality of electrical lines at a central distribution point with a plurality of electrical line outlets, wherein the central distribution point is operable to receive three-phase power and to distribute single-phase power through each of the electrical lines, the system comprising:

a transmitter having a plurality of outputs, wherein each output comprises a coupling clip that is operable to inductively couple to a corresponding one of the electrical lines at the central distribution point of the electrical lines, wherein the transmitter is operable to generate a plurality of unique identifiers, and to inductively transmit each unique identifier from a corresponding output of the transmitter along its corresponding electrical line to inductively label its corresponding electrical line with a corresponding unique identifier;
a three-phase balancer operable to couple to the central distribution point of the electrical lines to filter noise associated with the three-phase power from the each of the electrical lines;
and
a mobile receiver operable to detect a first unique identifier of the unique identifiers at a first outlet of the electrical line outlets when the mobile receiver is positioned proximate to the first outlet, wherein the first outlet is connected to a first electrical line of the plurality of electrical lines, and to detect a second unique identifier of the unique identifiers at a second outlet of the electrical line outlets when the mobile receiver is positioned proximate to the second outlet, wherein the second outlet is connected to a second electrical line of the plurality of electrical lines.

1 more element

A method for correlating a plurality of electrical lines at a central distribution point with a plurality of electrical line outlets, wherein the central distribution point is operable to receive three-phase power and to distribute single-phase power through each of the electrical lines, the method comprising:

inductively coupling a plurality of transmitter outputs, each output comprising a coupling clip, to corresponding ones of the electrical lines at the central distribution point of the electrical lines,
generating a unique identifier for each output;
inductively transmitting each unique identifier from its corresponding output along its corresponding electrical line to inductively label its corresponding electrical line with a corresponding unique identifier;
filtering noise associated with the three-phase power from the each of the electrical lines with a three-phase balancer coupled to the central distribution point of the electrical lines;
and
positioning a mobile receiver at a first outlet of the electrical line outlets to detect a first unique identifier of the unique identifiers at the first outlet, wherein the first outlet is connected to a first electrical line of the plurality of electrical lines;
and
positioning the mobile receiver at a second outlet of the electrical line outlets to detect a second unique identifier of the unique identifiers at the second outlet, wherein the second outlet is connected to a second electrical line of the plurality of electrical lines.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/052,340Filed 7 Feb 2005 · us provisional application
Priority: 18 Feb 2004
Published: US 2013/0082679 A14 Apr 2013
Granted: 8 Oct 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G01R 31/58
Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections: testing…
G01R 31/66
Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections: testing…
G01R 31/67
Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints: testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits
G01R 15/18
Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks: using inductive devices, e.g. transformers