MULTIPLE CABLE CONDUCTOR IDENTIFICATION APPARATUS

• US 3,867,692 A
• Filed: 08/02/1973
• Issued: 02/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry Esch
• Original Assignee: Henry Esch
• Inventors: Esch, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Application Number:
  US05/384,931
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 324/66 340/166R,176,147P,147T
• US Class Current: 324/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/60 Identification of wires in a multicore cable

Abstract

A cable conductor identification apparatus is provided having an electrical power source sequentially connectable to each of predetermined number of conductors in a cable at a first terminal end and a readout device connectable to any selected one of the conductors at a second terminal end. The electrical power source includes a sequentially pulsed diode matrix formed with dual sets of inputs which provide a discrete number of pulses at each of a predetermined number of terminals that are each connected to a respective conductor of the cable. The readout device is responsive to the number of pulses that are received during a test cycle and operative to provide a readout indicative of the particular conductor to which it may be connected.

Claims

1. A conductor identification apparatus for a multi-conductor cable comprising:

an electrical power source having;

a plurality of output terminals with each output terminal selectively connectable to a respective conductor Of the multi-conductor cable, a voltage source, a signal generator circuit including a diode matrix having a plurality of outputs interconnected respectively with said plurality of power source output terminals to provide a discrete electrical signal at each said output terminal, said diode matrix further including at least one set of plurality of input terminals, switch means connected with each of said matrix input terminals, said switch means operable to sequentially apply an electrical signal from said voltage source to each input terminal in succession, said diode matrix cumulatively adding to the electrical signal applied to each input terminal all electrical signals applied to each preceding input terminal forming a pulse train of electrical signals at each output terminal in succession with each such pulse train related to the respective input terminal, said identification apparatus further including a readout apparatus connectable to each output terminal independent of the others through the conductors of the cable and responsive to said discrete electrical signals to form an output display indicative of the signal applied to any selected conductor thereby identifying that conductor.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said diode matrix includes at least one other set of input terminals and said switch means is connected with each of said other set of input terminals and sequentially applies an electrical signal to each input terminal of said other set subsequent to said first mentioned set.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said readout apparatus includes at least two display devices and a device selector circuit for alternatively enabling each of said display devices.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said device selector circuit is voltage polarity responsive to selectively enable said display devices and said electrical power includes a polarity reversing circuit supplying a polarized voltage to said device selector circuit, said polarity reversing circuit responsive to said signal generator circuit to reverse the polarity in accordance with application of an electrical signal to one or the other of said sets of input terminals to said diode matrix.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal generator circuit applies a number of voltage pulses to a conductor being identified in accordance with the sequential position of that conductor'"'"''"'"'s connection to said set of output terminals, said readout apparatus responsive to the number of voltage pulses received to indicate the number identification of a conductor connected thereto.