Null detector devices and systems employing same

US10845394B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GUILDLINE INSTRUMENTS LIMITED · CA

Inventors

• Tomasz Barczyk · Ottawa, CA
• Richard Timmons · Forest, US
• Mark Evans · Troy, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 3, 2018
• Grant date: Nov 24, 2020
• Expiry date: May 28, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03F3/38
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Within electrical test equipment systems comparator bridges are employed to provide the required dynamic range, accuracy, and flexibility. However, whilst bridge based measurement configurations remove many of the issues associated with making measurements at accuracies of sub-parts, a part, or few parts per million they still require, in many instances, that a null point be determined where the bridge is balanced. However, this becomes increasingly difficult within electrically noisy environments, with modern digital multimeters, and where the desired measurement point within the electrical system is physically difficult to access particularly when improved accuracy in calibration, standards, and measurements on circuits and components means measurement systems must operate at 50 parts per billion (ppb) and below. In order to address this, a null detector design is provided supporting operation within such electrically noisy environments with physical separation of the null detector measurement circuit from the electrical test equipment.