Method and apparatus for remotely changing signal characteristics of a signal generator
First Claim
1. Apparatus for connection to electrical conductor means at a first location on the electrical conductor means for locating or identifying the electrical conductor means at a second location on said electrical conductor means without introducing a signal into said electrical connector means at said second location, said apparatus comprising in combination:
- versatile signal generator means comprising a time domain reflectometer pulse generator for connection to electrical conductor means at a first location on the electrical conductor means and capable of producing different signal characteristics;
detector means comprising a time domain reflectometer pulse receiver operatively associated with said versatile signal generator means at said first location for detecting a change in the load impedance of said electrical conductor means created at a second location spaced from said first location; and
control means for receiving signals from said detector means at said first location and responsive thereto to change the characteristics of the signal produced by said versatile signal generator means at said first location responsive to the change in load impedance created at said second location, said change in the characteristics of said versatile signal generator means being non-transient, said control means including software for controlling the application of control signals from said control means to said versatile signal generator means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A detector and a variable signal generator are coupled so that one or more specific changes in the output of the detector will cause a change in the characteristics of the generated signal. This change in signal characteristics is non-transient, the change remaining in effect until such time that another change in the detector output causes another change in the signal characteristic. The system can provide remote-end positive wire identification with no additional instrumentation at the remote end. When this invention is embodied in an already existing piece of test equipment, such as a multimeter or time domain reflectometer, there need be no additional hardware instrumentation at either end.
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Citations
1 Claim
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1. Apparatus for connection to electrical conductor means at a first location on the electrical conductor means for locating or identifying the electrical conductor means at a second location on said electrical conductor means without introducing a signal into said electrical connector means at said second location, said apparatus comprising in combination:
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versatile signal generator means comprising a time domain reflectometer pulse generator for connection to electrical conductor means at a first location on the electrical conductor means and capable of producing different signal characteristics;
detector means comprising a time domain reflectometer pulse receiver operatively associated with said versatile signal generator means at said first location for detecting a change in the load impedance of said electrical conductor means created at a second location spaced from said first location; and
control means for receiving signals from said detector means at said first location and responsive thereto to change the characteristics of the signal produced by said versatile signal generator means at said first location responsive to the change in load impedance created at said second location, said change in the characteristics of said versatile signal generator means being non-transient, said control means including software for controlling the application of control signals from said control means to said versatile signal generator means.
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Specification