Continuity checker for allocating individual cores of multi-core cables

• US 5,627,474 A
• Filed: 05/17/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ch. Beha GmbH Technische Neuentwicklungen
• Original Assignee: Ch. Beha GmbH Technische Neuentwicklungen
• Inventors: Baudisch, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, Diep
• Application Number:
  US08/442,678
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 324/66, 324/539, 324/540, 379/10, 379/12, 379/25, 379/26
• US Class Current: 324/539
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/60 Identification of wires in a multicore cable

Abstract

Proposed is a continuity tester for a plurality of electric conductors. For this purpose, a signal transmitter for admitting different individual identification signals to such conductors is connected to one of the ends of the conductors, whereby an identification is allocated to each signal transmitter connection. A signal receiver (10) for decoding the different identification signals by means of a decoding device (15) for indicating the allocated identification on a display (16) is connected to the other ends of the conductors. The signal receiver (10) has a sequence switchgear (30) supplying the connected conductors individually and successively with a reference potential in a repeated cycle, whereby the decoding device (15) for decoding the identification signals is formed at least on the one other conductor in each case. The signal transmitter has a signal generator generating for each of the signal transmitter connections the allocated identification signals multiple times, in a way such that no signal overlappings occur overall. A separate reference line can be completely omitted in this way, and the connected conductors to be tested can be simultaneously checked by means of the signal receiver (10), i.e., the respective identifications of said conductors are simultaneously indicated on the display (16).

Claims

1. A continuity checker for allocating individual cores of multi-core cables having a plurality of conductors, each conductor having a first end and a second end, said continuity checker comprising:

a signal transmitter means for applying different identification signals into each of said plurality of conductors, said signal transmitter means including a signal generator for generating said identification signals and applying said signals to each first end of said plurality of conductors multiple times with no signal overlapping; and

signal receiver means capable of being connected to the second ends of said plurality of conductors for decoding the different identification signals, said signal receiver means including a decoding device for representing an allocated identification signal on a visual display, said signal receiver further including a sequential switching device for supplying the connected conductors individually and successively with a reference potential in a repeated cycle.

2. Continuity tester according to claim 1, characterized in that the signal receiver (10) has two conductor connections (11, 12), and that the sequential switching device (30) has two switches (31, 32) controllable in the push-pull mode, by which one of the conductor connections (11, 12) is in each case supplied with the reference potential, the reference potential being preset especially by the negative pole of the supply voltage.

3. Continuity tester according to claim 1 characterized in that the conductor connections (11, 12) of the signal receiver (10) are connected to the positive pole (29) of the supply voltage via resistors (27, 28).

4. Continuity tester according to claim 3, characterized in that the signal transmitter (33) has a voltage supply device (42), the voltage supply device receiving electric energy via the conductors connected to the signal receiver (10).

5. Continuity tester according to claim 4, characterized in that the voltage supply device (42) is substantially designed as a multiple bridge rectifier (43).

6. Continuity tester according to claim 4 characterized in that the voltage supply device (42) has a storage capacitor (50).

7. Continuity tester according to claim 1, characterized in that the signal generator (44) for generating the identification signals for the individual signal transmitter connections (34 to 37) is connected to a corresponding number of controllable semi-conductor switches (49), by which the signal transmitter connection (34 to 37) is in each case applicable to a signal potential changing the signal level, particularly to the reference potential, namely synchronously with the control signals of the signal generator (44) presetting the identification signals.

8. Continuity tester according to claim 7, characterized in that each identification signal is designed as a digital signal sequence.

9. Continuity tester according to claim 8, characterized in that the digital signal sequence contains at least one identification for the allocated signal transmitter connection (34 to 37) and one identification for the respective signal transmitter (33).

10. Continuity tester according to claim 9, characterized in that the signal receiver (10) has a reversing switch (21) by which, in one switching position, the identification for the signal transmitter connections (34 to 37) are decoded and indicated on the display (16), and the identifications for the allocated signal transmitters (33) in another switching position.

11. Continuity tester according to claim 1, characterized in that the display (16) has a number of display windows conforming to the number of conductor connections (11, 12) of the signal receiver (10).

12. Continuity tester according to claim 11, characterized in that the decoding device (15) has means for recognizing on a conductor connection (11, 12) different signal sequences allocated to more than one conductor, and control means for switching on a short-circuit light (18) for detecting a short circuit between said conductors, and for alternately displaying the respective identifications in a display window of the display.

13. Continuity tester according to claim 1, characterized in that the decoding device (15) has means for detecting the missing of any signal sequences on the conductor connections (11, 12), and control means for switching on a break light (19).

14. Continuity tester according to claim 1, characterized in that the decoding device (15) has means for detecting a constant signal level, in particular the reference potential level on the conductor connections (11, 12) and control means for switching on a test circuit light (17).

15. Continuity tester according to claim 1, characterized in that the connections (34 to 37;

11,

     12) of the signal transmitter (3) and/or the signal receiver (10) are equipped with overvoltage protection devices (38 to 41;

     13).

16. Continuity tester according to claim 15, characterized in that provision is made for an overvoltage indicator (26) and an overvoltage light (25;

51) for detecting an overvoltage on one of the conductors to be tested.

17. Continuity tester according to claim 1, characterized in that the signal generator (44) of the signal transmitter (33) and/or the decoding device (15) of the signal receiver (10) is/are designed as microcomputer(s).