Conductor tracer with improved open circuit detection, close-range discrimination and directionality
First Claim
1. In an apparatus for tracing and identifying an electrical conductor or the like, comprising generator means in combination with detector means, the generator means operatively generating a predetermined tracer signal and applying the tracer signal to the conductor, the predetermined tracer signal having a high frequency component wherein the voltage fluctuates at a predetermined high frequency, the tracer signal creating corresponding fluctuating electromagnetic and electrostatic fields from the conductor when the tracer signal is applied to the conductor, the detector means operatively detecting at least one of the electromagnetic or electrostatic fields when the detector means is placed in operative proximity with the conductor, and an improvement comprising:
- electromagnetic transducer means of said detector means, the electromagnetic transducer being responsive to electromagnetic fields and being operative for supplying an output signal related to the electromagnetic field from the conductor created by the tracer signal when said detector means is placed in operative proximity to the conductor carrying the tracer signal;
electrostatic transducer means of said detector means, the electrostatic transducer being responsive to electrostatic fields and being operative for supplying an output signal related to the electrostatic field from the conductor created by the tracer signal when said detector means is placed in operative proximity to the conductor carrying the tracer signal;
first filter detector means responsive to the output signal from the electromagnetic transducer means and operative for detecting signals substantially only at the predetermined high frequency and for supplying a first detector output signal related to the magnitude of the signal at the predetermined high frequency detected by the electromagnetic transducer means;
second filter detector means responsive to the output signal from the electrostatic transducer means and operative for detecting signals substantially only at the predetermined high frequency and for supplying a second detector output signal related to the magnitude of the signal at the predetermined high frequency detected by the electrostatic transducer means;
combining means receptive of the detector output signals and operative for combining the first and second detector output signals to thereby obtain a composite signal; and
means for including a display responsive to the composite signal and operative for supplying a display indication related to the composite signal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conductor tracer apparatus includes a tracer signal generator and a detector for detecting electromagnetic and electrostatic fields created by the tracer signal in the conductor. Two electromagnetic transducers in the detector obtain an omnidirectional flux reception pattern. The separate signals from the two electromagnetic transducers are both added and compared, and the comparison obtains a directionality relationship which controls the magnitude of a display indication related to the summed signal representative of the omnidirectional flux reception. An electrostatic transducer is also provided in the detector. The signal from the electrostatic transducer is added to the signals from the electromagnetic transducers to obtain reliable conductor detection even when one of the electromagnetic or electrostatic fields is adversely influenced. The tracer signal includes a low-frequency component which may be selectively sensed by the electrostatic detector in order to distinguish the single conductor of a closely adjacent group of conductors which carry the tracer signal.
50 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. In an apparatus for tracing and identifying an electrical conductor or the like, comprising generator means in combination with detector means, the generator means operatively generating a predetermined tracer signal and applying the tracer signal to the conductor, the predetermined tracer signal having a high frequency component wherein the voltage fluctuates at a predetermined high frequency, the tracer signal creating corresponding fluctuating electromagnetic and electrostatic fields from the conductor when the tracer signal is applied to the conductor, the detector means operatively detecting at least one of the electromagnetic or electrostatic fields when the detector means is placed in operative proximity with the conductor, and an improvement comprising:
-
electromagnetic transducer means of said detector means, the electromagnetic transducer being responsive to electromagnetic fields and being operative for supplying an output signal related to the electromagnetic field from the conductor created by the tracer signal when said detector means is placed in operative proximity to the conductor carrying the tracer signal; electrostatic transducer means of said detector means, the electrostatic transducer being responsive to electrostatic fields and being operative for supplying an output signal related to the electrostatic field from the conductor created by the tracer signal when said detector means is placed in operative proximity to the conductor carrying the tracer signal; first filter detector means responsive to the output signal from the electromagnetic transducer means and operative for detecting signals substantially only at the predetermined high frequency and for supplying a first detector output signal related to the magnitude of the signal at the predetermined high frequency detected by the electromagnetic transducer means; second filter detector means responsive to the output signal from the electrostatic transducer means and operative for detecting signals substantially only at the predetermined high frequency and for supplying a second detector output signal related to the magnitude of the signal at the predetermined high frequency detected by the electrostatic transducer means; combining means receptive of the detector output signals and operative for combining the first and second detector output signals to thereby obtain a composite signal; and means for including a display responsive to the composite signal and operative for supplying a display indication related to the composite signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. In an apparatus for tracing and identifying an electrical conductor or the like, said apparatus comprising generator means in combination with detector means, the generator means operatively generating a predetermined tracer signal and applying the tracer signal to the conductor, the tracer signal creating predetermined electromagnetic and electrostatic fields about the conductor, the detector means operatively detecting at least one of the electromagnetic or electrostatic fields when the detector means is placed in operative proximity with the conductor, and an improvement in combination therewith comprising:
-
tracer signal generating means of the said generator means which is operative for generating a tracer signal characterized by repetitious cycle envelopes repeating at a predetermined repetition frequency, each cycle envelope including a first portion and a second portion, the tracer signal having a voltage level during the first portion which fluctuates at a predetermined high frequency and which is substantially different by a predetermined offset voltage amount that the voltage present during the second portion of the cycle envelope, the predetermined repetition frequency being substantially less than radio frequency, and the predetermined high frequency being a radio frequency;
PG,40electromagnetic transducer means of said detector means, the electromagnetic transducer responding to the predetermined electromagnetic field about the conductor and supplying an output signal related to the electromagnetic field about the conductor when said detector means is placed in operative proximity to the conductor carrying the tracer signal; electrostatic transducer means of said detector means, the electrostatic transducer means responding to the predetermined electrostatic field about the conductor and supplying an output signal related to the electrostatic field about the conductor when said detector means is placed in operative proximity to the conductor carrying the tracer signal; means responsive to the output signals from the transducer means and operative for creating a composite signal related to the combination of the detector output signals; and means including a display responsive to the composite signal and operative for supplying the display indication related to the composite signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification