Hand-held non-contacting electric field detection tool
US5363045A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 1992 |
| Grant date | Nov 8, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/006
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A portable hand held diagnostic tool which non-invasively detects an electric field when placed adjacent a component of a spark plug firing portion of an ignition system and provides a positive indication of the detected electric field. A printed circuit board containing a control circuit, a replaceable battery supply, an ON/OFF switch, an indicator such as an LED, and a pickup antenna, is slidably mounted within the hollow interior of a dielectric tubular case. The antenna is located adjacent a pickup end of the case and detects the electric field generated by an ignition system during firing of a spark plug which actuates the LED in response to the detected firing. The dielectric case is free of external metal parts adjacent the pickup end to help minimize arcing. A battery test circuit may be incorporated into the control circuitry to ensure an adequate power supply for operation of the control circuitry. A fixed or variable resistor enables the sensitivity of the firing pickup to be selected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.