Detection circuit for measurement of test lead and using the same

• US 7,408,361 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Escort Instruments Corporation (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wu, James, Tsai, Larry, Hsiao, Winston
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Vincent Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOAI AN D
• Application Number:
  US11/546,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 324/527, 324/512, 324/500, 324/503, 324/507, 324/508, 324/509, 324/526, 324/538, 324/539, 324/543, 324/550, 324/506, 324/756, 324/761, 439/638, 439/676, 439/862
• US Class Current: 324/527
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/69 of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances

Abstract

A detecting method of a detecting circuit with a plugged test lead. The method includes setting an operation mode of the detecting circuit by a recognizing unit, transmitting a signal to the recognizing unit by an oscillating unit when the test lead plugs or unplugs into a split contact jack, receiving the signal from the oscillating unit by the recognizing unit, and determining a condition of the detecting circuit, and sending a message to a user in accordance with the determining result of the recognizing unit. Further, the oscillating unit is stopped from oscillating and outputs a quiescent state voltage to the recognizing unit when the plugged test lead is inserted into the split contact jack.

Claims

1. A detecting method of a detecting circuit with a plugged test lead, comprising:

setting an operation mode of said detecting circuit by a recognizing unit;

transmitting a signal to said recognizing unit by an oscillating unit when said test lead plugs or unplugs into a split contact jack;

receiving said signal from said oscillating unit by said recognizing unit, and determining a condition of said detecting circuit; and

sending a message to a user in accordance with said determining result of said recognizing unit

wherein said oscillating unit is stopped from oscillating and outputs a quiescent state voltage to said recognizing unit when said plugged test lead is inserted into said split contact jack.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said operation mode of said detecting circuit includes a test lead detecting mode, a fuse open detecting mode and a current measurement mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said oscillating unit generates a pre-determined frequency pulse to said recognizing unit when said test lead is unplugged into said split contact jack.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said operation mode of said plugged test lead detecting circuit comprises a test lead detecting mode, and said recognizing unit sends the message to notice the user without inserting said test lead into said split contact jack.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said operation mode of said plugged test lead detecting circuit comprises a current measurement mode, said oscillating unit transmits a oscillating signal to said recognizing unit when said test lead is unplugged from said split contact jack, and said recognizing unit sends the message to notice the user inserting said test lead into said split contact jack or checking if a fuse is open or blown.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said operation mode of said plugged test lead detecting circuit comprises a fuse open detecting mode, and when said test lead is plugged into said split contact jack, said oscillating unit transmits the oscillating signal to said recognizing unit, said recognizing unit receives said oscillating signal from said oscillating unit to determine if said fuse is open or blown, and said recognizing unit sends the message to notice the user to replace said fuse.