Patent · US Expired

Test contact connection checking method and circuit

US5886530A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
5References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 15, 1997
Grant dateMar 23, 1999
Priority date—
Expiry dateAug 15, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R27/205
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A contact resistance check circuit and method for verifying that a sufficient electrical connection is established between a source and a sense lead of a Kelvin connection. The circuit includes a microprocessor for driving a transformer that is connected to the source/sense probe (i.e., contact resistance) with an input pulse. The input pulse is altered in relation to the magnitude of the contact resistance to produce a check pulse. A comparator is used to compare the check pulse with a threshold voltage and for generating a fault indication signal. A flip flop then stores the fault indication signal so that the fault indication signal may be monitored by the microprocessor.

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