Short circuit diagnostic tool
US7031132B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/52
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A device and method for diagnosing shorts and fault conditions in electrical circuits such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control circuits. The device includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) member to protect the electrical circuit from overcurrent conditions during diagnosis. The device also includes a light emitting diode (LED) and resistor electrically connected in parallel across the PTC member. An overcurrent condition causes the resistance of the PTC member to rise dramatically, creating a potential difference across the PTC member and lighting the LED. The invention also includes a method for locating a short in an HVAC control circuit using the short locating device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.