Power relay or switch contact tester
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a device having a first transfer function between an input and an output in response to a first frequency, and a second transfer function between the input and the output in response to a second frequency;
a first signal coupled to the input to generate the first frequency;
a signal generator coupled to the input to generate at the input a signal having the second frequency, which is different from the first frequency; and
a detector to detect the second frequency at the output, wherein the detector comprises a filter and a sensor, the filter to filter out the first frequency from reaching the sensor, wherein the filter comprises a high Q circuit at the second frequency and a low Q circuit at the first frequency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include a test circuit having an auxiliary low power test signal generator, filters, and a detector to test a power switch. The generator sends an auxiliary low power test signal having a different frequency than a power signal for the switch to an input of the switch. The detector detects the auxiliary low power test signal at an output of the switch. Test circuit filters are used to filter out the power signal from reaching the auxiliary low power test signal generator or the detector circuit. A circuit of the test circuit is tuned to the test signal'"'"'s different frequency to ensure that the detector only detects the test signal when the switch is in one position. Thus, by detecting or sensing the test signal across the switch, the detector can detect whether the switch is operating properly.
29 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a device having a first transfer function between an input and an output in response to a first frequency, and a second transfer function between the input and the output in response to a second frequency; a first signal coupled to the input to generate the first frequency; a signal generator coupled to the input to generate at the input a signal having the second frequency, which is different from the first frequency; and a detector to detect the second frequency at the output, wherein the detector comprises a filter and a sensor, the filter to filter out the first frequency from reaching the sensor, wherein the filter comprises a high Q circuit at the second frequency and a low Q circuit at the first frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatuas comprising:
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a device having a first transfer function between an input and an output in response to a first frequency, and a second transfer function between the input and the output in response to a second frequency; a first signal coupled to the input to generate the first frequency; a signal generator coupled to the input to generate at the input a signal having the second frequency, which is different from the first frequency; and a detector to detect the second frequency at the output, wherein the device is a switch having a first position and a second position, and the detector is to detect whether the second frequency is at the output when the switch is in the first position or the second position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a device having a first transfer function between an input and an output in response to a first frequency, and a second transfer function between the input and the output in response to a second frequency; a first signal coupled to the input to generate the first frequency; a signal generator coupled to the input to generate at the input a signal having the second frequency, which is different from the first frequency; and a detector to detect the second frequency at the output, wherein the first transfer function and the second transfer function comprise a contact closure impedance, and the detector detects the contact closure impedance.
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a device having a first transfer function between an input and an output in response to a first frequency, and a second transfer function between the input and the output in response to a second frequency; a first signal coupled to the input to generate the first frequency; a signal generator coupled to the input to generate at the input a signal having the second frequency, which is different from the first frequency; and a detector to detect the second frequency at the output, wherein the detector comprises a filter to filter out the first signal from reaching a voltage output, and a sensor to sense the voltage output, the voltage output depending upon a contact closure impedance. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A machine implemented method comprising:
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applying a power signal to an input of a relay that outputs a signal from the input to an output of the relay when the relay is in a first position and does not output the signal to the output when the relay is in a second position; initiating a high frequency signal applied to the input; activating a switch signal to switch the relay from the second position to the first position, after said initiating; filtering the power signal from the high frequency signal output from the output; and detecting the high frequency signal at the signal output from the output. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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a relay having an input, an output, a first position that outputs a signal at the input to the output, and a second position that does not output at the input to the output; a power signal at the input having a first frequency; a signal generator coupled to the input to generate at the input a test signal having a second frequency, the second frequency at least 100 times greater than the first frequency; a sensor to detect the second frequency at the output; and a filter coupled between the output and the sensor to filter out the first frequency from reaching the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification