Passive station power distribution for cable reduction

• US 7,602,192 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries Incorporated (MKS Instruments Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries Incorporated (MKS Instruments Incorporated)
• Inventors: Almonte, Kenneth V.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, DIEGO F
• Application Number:
  US11/565,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 324/548, 324/522, 324/158.1
• US Class Current: 324/548
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/016 Testing of capacitors measuring capacitance G01R27/2605
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/46 Monitoring; Testing

Abstract

A power distribution system for a rotary capacitor electrical tester includes a power source, an active station having plurality of test channels powered by the power source through cables connected to one side an upper contact module of the active station, and an opposition side a lower contact module of the active station being connectable to a test measurement device. A separate additional cable conductor inlet is located on the active station for receiving power from the power source. The power supplied through the extra additional cable is passed through the upper contact module of the active station without connecting to test channel and presents a power conductor outlet interface to a passive station immediately adjacent to the active station in order to reduce the number of cables required to connect between the power source and the various passive stations incorporated into the rotary capacitor electrical tester.

Claims

1. A power distribution system for a rotary capacitor electrical tester comprising:

a power source;

an active station having a plurality of test channels powered by the power source through cabling connectible to one side of the active station, and an opposite side of the active station being connectible to a test measurement device; and

a separate additional cable conductor inlet located on the active station for receiving power from the power source, the power passing through a contact module of the station without connecting to a test channel and presenting a power conductor outlet to a passive station immediately adjacent to the active station.

2. The power distribution system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one passive station, each passive station including a single cable conductor inlet for receiving power indirectly from the power source, the supplied power passing through the contact module of an immediately adjacent station, the cable conductor passing through the contact module of each passive station and presenting a power conductor outlet to a station immediately adjacent to each passive station.

3. The power distribution system of claim 1 further comprising:

a passive station connectible to the power source indirectly through a single cable attached to the power conductor outlet located on the active station.

4. The power distribution system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power conductor inlet located on a first passive station, the power source connectible to the first passive station indirectly through a single cable attachable between the power conductor outlet of the active station and the power conductor inlet of the first passive station.

5. The power distribution system of claim 4 further comprising:

the power source connectible indirectly to a power conductor inlet of a second passive station through a single cable attached through the power conductor outlet of the first passive station.

6. The power distribution system of claim 4 further comprising:

an opposite side of each passive station looped back through a passive channel resistor.

7. The power distribution system of claim 1 further comprising:

a single power cable attachable to a power conductor outlet located on the active station for supplying power indirectly from the power source to a power conductor inlet located on a passive station.

8. The power distribution system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of passive stations, each passive station powered indirectly by the power source with a connection through the power conductor outlet located on the active station.

9. The power distribution system of claim 8 further comprising:

each passive station powered indirectly from by the power source through a single power cable connected to an adjacent station located upstream in a process sequence up to the active station.

10. In a power distribution system for a group of stations defining a rotary capacitor electrical tester including at least an active station, a power source connectible to feed power through cabling to one side of the active station and an opposite side of the active station being connected to a test measurement device, the improvement comprising:

the active station including a separate additional cable conductor inlet for receiving power from the power source, the power passing through the contact module of the active station without connecting to a test channel contact and presenting a power conductor outlet to a passive station immediately adjacent to the active station.

11. The improvement of claim 10 further comprising:

at least one passive station, each passive station including a single cable conductor inlet for receiving power indirectly from the power source, the supplied power passing through the contact module of an immediately adjacent station, the cable conductor passing through the contact module of each passive station and presenting a power conductor outlet to a station immediately adjacent to each passive station.

12. The improvement of claim 10 further comprising:

a passive station connectible to the power source indirectly through a single cable attached to the power conductor outlet located on the active station.

13. The improvement of claim 10 further comprising:

a power conductor inlet located on a first passive station, the power source connectible to the first passive station indirectly through a single cable attachable between the power conductor outlet of the active station and the power conductor inlet of the first passive station.

14. The improvement of claim 13 further comprising:

the power source connectible indirectly to a power conductor inlet of a second passive station through a single cable attached through the power conductor outlet of the first passive station.

15. The improvement of claim 13 further comprising:

an opposite side of each passive station looped back through a passive channel resistor.

16. The improvement of claim 10 further comprising:

a single power cable attachable to a power conductor outlet located on the active station for supplying power indirectly from the power source to a power conductor inlet located on a passive station.

17. The improvement of claim 10 further comprising:

a plurality of passive stations, each passive station powered indirectly by the power source with a connection through the power conductor outlet located on the active station.

18. The improvement of claim 17 further comprising:

each passive station powered indirectly by the power source through a single power cable connected to an adjacent station located upstream in a process sequence up to the active station.

19. A power distribution system for a rotary capacitor electrical tester comprising:

a power source;

an active station having a plurality of test channels powered by the power source through cabling connectible to one side of the active station, and an opposite side of the active station being connectible to a test measurement device;

a separate additional cable conductor inlet located on the active station for receiving power from the power source, the power passing through a contact module of the station without connecting to a test channel and presenting a power conductor outlet to a station immediately adjacent to the active station;

at least one passive station, each passive station including a single cable conductor inlet for receiving power indirectly from the power source, the supplied power passing through the contact module of an immediately adjacent station, the cable conductor passing through the contact module of each passive station and presenting a power conductor outlet to a passive station immediately adjacent to each passive station, an opposite side of each passive station looped back through a passive channel resistor; and

a single power cable attachable to a power conductor outlet located on the active station for supplying power indirectly from the power source to a power conductor inlet located on a passive station.