CAPACITANCE MEASUREMENT DEVICE

• US 20080042641A1
• Filed: 01/09/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmRad Manufacturing, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Radionic Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Stockman, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,619,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/157
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/12 Circuits for multi-testers , i.e. multimeters, e.g. for measuring voltage, current, or impedance at will
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

An apparatus includes a measurement device for measuring two capacitances. The apparatus also includes a display module that simultaneously displays at least two numerical values based on the measured capacitances.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a measurement device for measuring a first and second capacitance; and

a display module for simultaneously displaying at least two numerical values based on the measured capacitances.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display module comprises at least two displays.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a first of the at least two displays is configured to present a numerical value representative of the first capacitance.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a second of the at least two displays is configured to present a numerical value representative of the second capacitance.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display module comprises a liquid crystal display.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display module comprises a light emitting diode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display driver for processing the first measured capacitance and driving the display module to display one of the numerical values.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing comprises assigning a unit of measure to the first measured capacitance.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a selector for controlling the measurement device and display module.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the selector controls a capacitance range.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the selector controls display precision.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a first measurement device for measuring a first capacitance;

a second measurement device for measuring a second capacitance, different from the first capacitance;

a first display module for displaying a first numerical value representative of the first measured capacitance;

a second display module for displaying a second numerical value representative of the second measured capacitance, wherein the first and second numerical values are simultaneously displayed;

a first display driver for driving the first display module to display the first numerical value;

a second display driver for driving the second display module to display the second numerical value;

a selector for providing data to the first and second display drivers; and

at least two ports for connecting the first measurement device to a first capacitive element and connecting the second measurement device to a second capacitive element.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least two ports comprise:

a first port connected to the first measurement device;

a second port connected to the second measurement device; and

a common port connected to the first and second measurement devices.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the selector further controls the capacitance range of the first measurement device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the selector controls the displayed precision of the first and second numerical values.

16. A method comprising:

simultaneously displaying a first numerical value and a second numerical value on a single unit that includes a measurement device for measuring capacitance and a display module, wherein the numerical values respectively represent a first capacitance and a second capacitance measured by the single unit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

selecting the precision of at least one of the numerical values.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

selecting the capacitance range of the device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first capacitance is provided by a first capacitive element under measurement and the second capacitance is provided by a second capacitor element under measurement.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first capacitive element is included in an integrated package.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the integrated package is included in a Turbo 200™

motor-run capacitor.

22. A medium bearing instructions to cause a machine to

simultaneously displaying a first numerical value and a second numerical value on a single unit that includes a measurement device for measuring capacitance and a display module, wherein the numerical values respectively represent a first capacitance and a second capacitance measured by the single unit.

23. The medium of claim 22 further comprising instructions to cause the machine to assign a precision of at least one of the numerical values.

24. The medium of claim 22 wherein the first capacitance is provided by a first capacitive element under measurement and the second capacitance is provided by a second capacitor element under measurement.

25. The medium of claim 22 wherein the first capacitive element is included in an integrated package.

26. The medium of claim 25 wherein the integrated package is included in a Turbo 200™

motor-run capacitor.