ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY ANALYZER

• US 20110282607A1
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ST. Clair Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ST. Clair Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Tunell, Aaron Anderw
• Application Number:
  US13/107,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/65
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/60 Identification of wires in a multicore cable

Abstract

A wireless electrical continuity analyzer of the present invention is used for testing the continuity of an electrical network having a plurality of testing points, each testing point including a plurality of pins. The analyzer includes a plurality of remote testers each having a wireless transceiver, a plurality of pin connectors, and a microcontroller. The pin connectors of each of the plurality of remote testers are configured for connection to pins of respective ones of the plurality of testing points. The continuity analyzer further includes a central computer system wirelessly connected to each of the plurality of remote testers. The central computer system sends a first wireless signal to a first of the remote testers activating at least one pin of the testing point associated with said first remote tester, and sends a second wireless message to all other remote testers to cause the other remote testers to sense voltages received at each pin.

Claims

1. A wireless electrical continuity analyzer for testing the continuity of an electrical network having a plurality of testing points, each testing point including a plurality of pins, the analyzer comprising:

a plurality of remote testers each including a wireless transceiver, a plurality of pin connectors, and a microcontroller, said pin connectors of each of said plurality of remote testers being configured for connection to pins of respective ones of the plurality of testing points;

at least one power source connected to each of said remote testers; and

a central computer system wirelessly connected to each of said plurality of remote testers, the central computer system sending a first wireless message to a first of said plurality of remote testers activating at least one pin of the testing point associated with said first remote tester, the central computer further sending a second wireless message to all others of said plurality of remote testers causing said other remote testers to sense voltages received at each pin.

2. The wireless electrical continuity analyzer of claim 1, wherein said central computer system is configured to store testing information specifying a configuration of the electrical network, identifying the testing points of the network to be analyzed, and associating one of said plurality of remote testers with each of the testing points.

3. The wireless electrical continuity analyzer of claim 2, wherein said central computer develops a series of tests to be performed on the electrical network and corresponding expected results based on said testing information.

4. The wireless electrical continuity analyzer of claim 3, wherein said others of said plurality of remote testers transmit response messages to said central computer in response to said second wireless message.

5. The wireless electrical continuity analyzer of claim 4, wherein said central computer compares said response messages to said expected results.

6. The wireless electrical continuity analyzer of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of remote testers is connected to a common ground.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing an electrical continuity analyzer program for operating a central computer in wireless communication with a plurality of remote testers, each remote tester connected to one of a plurality of testing points of an electrical network, each testing point including a plurality of pins, the program, when executed by the central computer, causing the computer to perform steps comprising:

receiving testing information specifying a configuration of the electrical network, identifying the testing points of the network to be analyzed, and associating one of the plurality of remote testers with each of the testing points;

transmitting a first wireless message to a first of the plurality of remote testers, said first wireless message causing the first of the remote testers to activate at least one pin of the testing point associated with the tester;

transmitting a second wireless message to all others of the plurality of remote testers, said second wireless message causing the remote testers to sense voltages received at each pin of the associated testing point; and

waiting to receive a response message from one or more of the other remote testing units, said response message indicating at least at which pin a voltage was sensed and information indicating the voltage level sensed at the pin.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, the electrical continuity analyzer program further causing the central computer to develop a series of tests to be performed on the electrical network based on said testing information.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, the electrical continuity analyzer program further causing the central computer to develop expected results for said series of tests.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, the electrical continuity analyzer program further causing the central computer to compare said expected results to said response messages.

11. A continuity analysis method for testing the continuity of an electrical network having a plurality of testing points, each testing point including a plurality of pins, using a central computer in wireless communication with a plurality of remote testers, each remote tester connected to one of the plurality of testing points of the electrical network, comprising:

receiving testing information specifying a configuration of the electrical network at the central computer, said testing information identifying the testing points of the network to be analyzed, and associating one of the plurality of remote testers with each of the testing points;

transmitting a first wireless message from the central computer to a first of the plurality of remote testers, said first wireless message causing the first of the remote testers to activate at least one pin of the testing point associated with the tester;

transmitting a second wireless message from the central computer to all others of the plurality of remote testers, said second wireless message causing the remote testers to sense voltages received at each pin of the associated testing point; and

receiving a response message from one or more of the other remote testing units, said response message indicating at least at which pin a voltage was sensed and information indicating the voltage level sensed at the pin.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising developing a series of tests to be performed on the electrical network based on said testing information.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising developing expected results for said series of tests.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing said expected results to said response messages.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the others of the plurality of remote testers transmit an acknowledgement message to the central computer in response to receiving said second wireless message.