Patent · US Expired

Fault location methods and apparatus using current pulse injection

US4445085A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
6References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 14, 1982
Grant dateApr 24, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 14, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/2273
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A probe for sensing direction of flow of an injected current pulse along a conductor of a circuit under test is linked to an ATE, to be triggered to inject the pulse during a test sequence at a step previously found by the ATE to establish a faulty state in the circuit. Thus, the faulty one of several components connected to a circuit node can be identified. The probe itself can also be used independently, and injects an approximately triangular-waveform current pulse which has a steep rising edge and a less steep falling edge, thereby inducing a voltage pulse which is asymmetric about the zero voltage level and thus permits discrimination of the direction of current flow. The probe may have a single current injection contact disposed between the limbs of a bifurcated core for the pick-up coil.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.