Test meters
DCFirst Claim
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1. A test meter capable of testing and displaying a plurality of parameters and of reporting the results in a plurality of formats, comprising:
- first selector switch means responsive to an electrical signal on an electrical conductor, for changing the report format of the test meter through a plurality of report formats in a predetermined sequence;
second selector switch means responsive to an electrical signal on an electrical conductor for changing the test parameter formats of the test meter through a plurality of parameter formats in a predetermined sequence;
an independently locatable and movable probe having an extended multi-conductor lead detachably connected to the test meter;
one of the conductors in the multi-conductor lead being coupled to said first selector switch means and another one of the conductors in said multi-conductor lead being coupled to the second selector switch means;
said probe having a first control switch coupled to send an electrical signal on said one conductor in said lead so as to operate said first selector switch means to change to the report format of said test meter;
and, said probe having a second control switch coupled to send an electrical signal on said other conductor in said lead so as to operate said second selector switch means to change the test parameter format of said test meter.
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Abstract
Test meters, particularly of the type employed for testing electrical circuits, e.g. multimeters, are improved in operational efficiency. In one aspect, remote selection of test and/or report format frees the operators hands for concentration on a test piece. In another test results or format information are conveyed as synthesized speech in any of a number of selectable formats. By combining both aspects in a hand-held multimeter, a high degree of interaction between the operator and the meter is achieved.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A test meter capable of testing and displaying a plurality of parameters and of reporting the results in a plurality of formats, comprising:
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first selector switch means responsive to an electrical signal on an electrical conductor, for changing the report format of the test meter through a plurality of report formats in a predetermined sequence; second selector switch means responsive to an electrical signal on an electrical conductor for changing the test parameter formats of the test meter through a plurality of parameter formats in a predetermined sequence; an independently locatable and movable probe having an extended multi-conductor lead detachably connected to the test meter; one of the conductors in the multi-conductor lead being coupled to said first selector switch means and another one of the conductors in said multi-conductor lead being coupled to the second selector switch means; said probe having a first control switch coupled to send an electrical signal on said one conductor in said lead so as to operate said first selector switch means to change to the report format of said test meter; and, said probe having a second control switch coupled to send an electrical signal on said other conductor in said lead so as to operate said second selector switch means to change the test parameter format of said test meter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic multimeter having a plurality of selectable test and report formats comprising:
- selector means including first microprocessor means, operably responsive to a remote electronic stimulus as well as switching means on the meter, for causing the meter to operate in any one of a plurality of sequentially selectable desired test parameter formats and in any one of a plurality of separately sequentially selectable report formats;
an independently locatable and moveable probe means for receiving a test signal, said probe means being detachably coupled to said test meter by an extended multi-conductor lead for transmitting a test signal to said test meter through at least one of said conductors; said probe further having control switch means thereon for sending an electronic stimulus over a predetermined conductor of said multi-conductor lead to operate said selector means; an autoranging multimeter circuit capable of generating a meter output responsive to said test signal and indicative of a measured value of a parameter, and directing said meter output to a second microprocessor means; third microprocessor means for storing a plurality of selectable report formats and directing a selected one to a second microprocessor under direction of said selector means; a speech synthesizer means; and a second microprocessor means programmed to receive said meter output and a selected report format to cause the speech synthesizer means to audibly report test results in a selected format. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
- selector means including first microprocessor means, operably responsive to a remote electronic stimulus as well as switching means on the meter, for causing the meter to operate in any one of a plurality of sequentially selectable desired test parameter formats and in any one of a plurality of separately sequentially selectable report formats;
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14. A test meter for measuring and displaying a selected one of a plurality of different parameters and having speech generating means to produce audible speech of the selected parameter, comprising:
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first microprocessor means for generating a plurality of meter data signals related to the current operation of the meter and the measured value of the selected parameter; second microprocessor means operatively connected to the first microprocessor means, for storing words to be audibly reproduced in a desired language and representative of various measurements, functions and modes related to parameters that can be measured and displayed by the meter; and third microprocessor means effectively coupled between the first microprocessor means and the second microprocessor means for delivering, as determined by said plurality of meter data signals from the first microprocessor means, a plurality of command signals to the second means to cause the latter to generate audible reproductions of selected ones of said plurality of signals in conformance with rules applicable to the desired language. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification