Leadless probe

• US 3,919,631 A
• Filed: 07/05/1973
• Issued: 11/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Brown
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krawczewicz, Stanley T.
• Application Number:
  US05/376,540
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 324/51,53,133
• US Class Current: 324/556
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06788 Hand-held or hand-manipulated probes, e.g. for oscilloscopes or for portable test instruments end pieces terminating in a probe H01R11/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/155 Indicating the presence of voltage

Abstract

A self-contained continuity checker is hand-held and includes batteries for placing the conductive exterior of a probe at a voltage capable of actuating an amplifier within the probe via the probe'"'"''"'"'s input terminal. A circuit is completed through the hand and body of the user and the component being tested. The triggering of the amplifier energizes a light-emitting diode mounted near the probe tip, or a device integral with the probe for supplying an audible output.

Claims

1. A probe for indicating electrical continuity comprising:

a hand-held body, said body comprising an outer tubular electrically conductive portion for making electrical connection with the hand of a user;

an electrical connecting member supported by said body and electrically insulated from said outer tubular electrically conductive portion, said electrical connecting member including a threadably received removable tip connection;

a high input impedance amplifier housed in said body, said amplifier comprising a Darlington transistor amplifier having an input directly coupled to the electrical connecting member;

an output means integral with said body and responsive to said amplifier for producing an output; and

a power supply housed in said body and directly electrically connected to said outer tubular electrically conductive portion, said power supply acting alone to energize said output means through an electrically continuous path, said path including, in electrical series, said power supply means, said outer tubular electrically conductive portion, the hands and body of the user, a device under test, said electrical connecting member, said high impedance amplifier, and said output means, whereby the electrical continuity of said device under test may be indicated.

2. The device of claim 1 further including an adaptor for providing an input to said probe, said adaptor including a contact for making a connection with said electrical connecting member, and a clip member for making contact with the outer tubular electrically conductive portion of said probe, whereby an input to said probe is provided from said adaptor.