Multimeter with a Meter Probe Module and Phasing Probe Module Capable of Wireless Communication and Taking Measurements Proximally

• US 20190324062A1
• Filed: 04/02/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STB Electrical Test Equipment, Inc.
• Original Assignee: STB Electrical Test Equipment, Inc.
• Inventors: Brehm, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 11,175,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/402 using active, i.e. light-emitting display devices, e.g. electroluminescent display G01R13/36 and G01R13/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/125 for digital multimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 25/005 Circuits for comparing several input signals and for indicating the result of this comparison, e.g. equal, different, greater, smaller, or for passing one of the input signals as output signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

The invention involves a multimeter with a meter probe module and phasing probe module capable of wireless communication, proximity measurements, and accurately reading phase degrees. The meter probe module and the phasing probe module can communicate wirelessly, via a wired cable interface, or any combination thereof. The meter probe module and phasing probe module have unique radio frequency serial numbers that allow the probe modules to only communicate with its paired partner probe module while ignoring all other probe modules. The multimeter has a measurement point capable of taking direct contact measurements. The multimeter also has a measurement point capable of taking a voltage measurement without directly contacting the object to be measured. This is accomplished by taking voltage readings from the electric field of the air surrounding said object. The improved multimeter may allow an operator to more safely gather accurate information about an object being measured.

Claims

1. A multimeter, comprising:

a first module including a first enclosure housing;

a first wireless communication interface, a first wired communication interface, a first measurement point, a second measurement point, and a first microcontroller configured to generate a first electrical signal from a first electrical quantity measured via the first measurement point or the second measurement point; and

a second module including a second enclosure housing;

a second wireless communication interface, a second wired communication interface, a third measurement point, and a second microcontroller configured to generate a second electrical signal from a second electrical quantity measured via the third measurement point, wherein;

the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller are configured to execute a wired pairing protocol that establishes an exclusive communication between the first module and the second module;

the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller are configured to communicate wirelessly after establishing the exclusive communication;

the first microcontroller is configured to receive the second electrical signal from the second microcontroller to determine a first electrical parameter; and

a display controller of the first module is configured to generate an output associated with the first electrical parameter.

2. The multimeter of claim 1, wherein the first measurement point of the first module comprises a resistor configured for direct contact measurements of electrical quantities.

3. The multimeter of claim 1, wherein the second measurement point of the first module comprises a resistor configured for non-contact proximity measurements of electrical quantities.

4. The multimeter of claim 1, wherein the third measurement point of the second module comprises a resistor configured for direct contact measurements of electrical quantities.

5. The multimeter of claim 1, wherein the first module further includes an LED indicator coupled to the display controller for displaying a visual output associated with the first electrical parameter.

6. The multimeter of claim 1, wherein the first module further includes a audio signaling device coupled to the display controller for displaying an audio output associated with the first electrical parameter.

7. The multimeter of claim 1, wherein the first module further includes display coupled to the display controller for displaying an alphanumeric output associated with the first electrical parameter.

8. The multimeter of claim 1, wherein the second module further includes an LED indicator coupled to a display controller of the second module for displaying a visual output associated with the first electrical parameter.

9. The multimeter of claim 1, wherein the first and second wired communication interfaces comprise of wired duplex drivers and receivers configured to communicate via cable connecting the first wired communication interface to the second wired communication interface.

10. The multimeter of claim 1, wherein the first module is configured to execute a mode selected from the group consisting of:

a voltage, single probe, direct contact mode;

a phasing voltage, direct contact mode;

a voltage, single probe, capacitive mode;

a phasing voltage, capacitive mode;

a voltage, single probe, non-contact mode;

a current, single probe non-contact mode; and

a phasing degree, direct contact mode.

11. A meter probe module, comprising:

a wired communication interface configured to establish an exclusive communication protocol with a phasing probe module;

a wireless communication interface configured to wirelessly facilitate the exclusive communication protocol with the phasing probe module;

a first measurement point configured to generate a first electrical signal indicative of a first electrical quantity;

a second measurement point configured to generate a second electrical signal indicative of a second electrical quantity; and

a microcontroller configured to;

receive the first electrical signal and determine a first electrical parameter;

receive the second electrical signal and determine a second electrical parameter, wherein the first and second electrical parameters is selected from the group consisting of a voltage measurement;

a current measurement; and

a phase measurement; and

receive a third electrical signal from the phasing probe module and determine a differential measurement, wherein the differential measurement is selected from the group consisting of;

a voltage differential;

a current differential; and

a phase differential.

12. The meter probe module of claim 11, wherein the first measurement point comprises a resistor configured for direct contact measurements of electrical quantities.

13. The meter probe module of claim 11, wherein the second measurement point comprises a resistor configured for non-contact proximity measurements of electrical quantities.

14. The meter probe module of claim 11, further comprising:

a display controller configured to generate an output associated with the first electrical parameter, the second electrical parameter, or the differential measurement.

15. The meter probe module of claim 14, further comprising an LED indicator coupled to the display controller for displaying a visual output associated with the first electrical parameter.

16. A phasing probe module, comprising:

a wired communication interface configured to establish an exclusive communication protocol with a meter probe module;

a wireless communication interface configured to wirelessly facilitate the exclusive communication protocol with the meter probe module;

a measurement point configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of an electrical quantity; and

a microcontroller configured to;

receive the electrical signal and determine an electrical parameter; and

send the electrical parameter to the meter probe module, wherein the electrical parameter is selected from the group consisting of a voltage measurement;

a current measurement; and

a phase measurement.

17. The phasing probe module of claim 16, wherein the measurement point of the phasing probe module comprises a resistor configured for direct contact measurements of electrical quantities.

18. The meter probe module of claim 16, further comprising:

a display controller configured to generate an output associated with the electrical parameter.

19. The phasing probe module of claim 16, further comprising:

an LED indicator coupled to the display controller for displaying a visual output associated with the electrical parameter.

20. The phasing probe module of claim 16, further comprising a battery pack for supplying power to the microcontroller.