Non-contact voltage probe apparatus

• US 5,949,230 A
• Filed: 04/04/1996
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Ryuichi, Hattori, Mitsuo, Ideguchi, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US08/627,280
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 324/72.5, 324/515, 324/544, 324/750, 324/758, 324/754
• US Class Current: 324/72.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/07 Non contact-making probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/16 using capacitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 23/16 Spectrum analysis; Fourier analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/08 Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/001 Measuring interference from external sources to, or emission from, the device under test, e.g. EMC, EMI, EMP or ESD testing measuring electromagnetic fields G01R29/08; circuits for generating HV pulses in dielectric strength testing G01R31/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/002 where the device under test is an electronic circuit

Abstract

A non-contact voltage probe is used to measure the voltage of electromagnetic interference developed in a cable or the like electrically connected to pieces of electronic equipment. The non-contact voltage probe has double coaxial cylindrical-type inner and outer electrodes through which a cable or the like is passed. The inner electrode is electrically connected to a voltage detector, which measures the voltage induced by the capacitance between the inner electrode and the cable passing there through, and the outer electrode is grounded.

Claims

1. A non-contact voltage probe apparatus comprising:

a cylindrical inner electrode;

a coaxial cylindrical outer electrode coaxially provided outside said cylindrical inner electrode so as to surround said cylindrical inner electrode;

a cable fixing member disposed inside said cylindrical inner electrode, said cable fixing member for allowing a cable to be measured to penetrate therein and holding the cable therein;

means for detecting voltage having a high input impedance and a ground, said voltage detecting means being attached to said coaxial cylindrical outer electrode, and said voltage detecting means being electrically connected to said cylindrical inner electrode, thereby reducing a measurement error caused by parastitic elements in a high frequency range;

means for connecting said coaxial cylindrical outer electrode to the ground of said voltage detecting means; and

a material having a low dielectric constant disposed between said cylindrical inner electrode and said coaxial cylindrical outer electrode.

2. A non-contact voltage probe apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said material is plastic or a foamed material having a low dielectric constant.

3. A non-contact voltage probe apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer electrodes and said cable fixing member are made up of two half portions having semi-cylindrical shapes obtained by dividing an integral construction of said inner and outer electrodes and said cable fixing member into two and wherein said two half portions are capable of being electrically and mechanically coupled to each other so as to allow said cable to be interposed inside said cable fixing member.

4. A non-contact voltage probe apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein portions of said two half portions, which constitute said cylindrical inner electrode and portions of said two half portions, which constitute said coaxial cylindrical outer electrode, are connected to one another by a repetitive flexion-resistant conductor.

5. A non-contact voltage probe apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said two half portions are electrically and mechanically coupled to each other with hinges or electrical contacts.

6. A non-contact voltage probe apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voltage detecting means is a high input impedance voltage probe having active elements.