Non-contact cable state testing
First Claim
1. A method of determining the state of a cable at least one electrical conductor, in which method a test signal is generated and applied to at least one conductor of the cable by a non-contact electrical coupling transmitter, propagating the resulting signal along the at least one conductor and using a non-contact electrical coupling receiver to pick up a reflected signal, and comparing the reflected signal to expected state signal values for the cable to determine its current state, wherein at least one expected state signal value is stored in memory means, wherein the at least one expected state signal value is the signature for the ‘
- empty’
state of the line under test, wherein the expected state signals include port connected and operating, outlet device connected and working, cable damaged, cable disconnected from port and device connected to outlet but not powered up, and wherein the signatures, other than for the ‘
empty’
state, are derived signal values rather than measured reference values.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of determining the state of a cable including at least one electrical conductor, uses a generated test signal and applies it to at least one conductor by a non-contact coupling transmitter. The resulting signal is propagated along the at least one conductor and a non-contact electrical coupling receiver picks up a reflected signal, and compares the reflected signal to expected state signal values for the cable to determine its current state.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of determining the state of a cable at least one electrical conductor, in which method a test signal is generated and applied to at least one conductor of the cable by a non-contact electrical coupling transmitter, propagating the resulting signal along the at least one conductor and using a non-contact electrical coupling receiver to pick up a reflected signal, and comparing the reflected signal to expected state signal values for the cable to determine its current state, wherein at least one expected state signal value is stored in memory means, wherein the at least one expected state signal value is the signature for the ‘
- empty’
state of the line under test, wherein the expected state signals include port connected and operating, outlet device connected and working, cable damaged, cable disconnected from port and device connected to outlet but not powered up, and wherein the signatures, other than for the ‘
empty’
state, are derived signal values rather than measured reference values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- empty’
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19. A method of determining the state of a cable at least one electrical conductor, in which method a test signal is generated and applied to at least one conductor of the cable by a non-contact electrical coupling transmitter, propagating the resulting signal along the at least one conductor and using a non-contact electrical coupling receiver to pick up a reflected signal, and comparing the reflected signal to expected state signal values for the cable to determine its current state, wherein the propagating and comparing are performed using apparatus, which is permanently installed as part of a network system, and using remote network system evaluation;
- and said method is performed off site using a data link, or from a central location on site; and
, wherein a calibration procedure is carried out to arrive at a set of expected state signal signatures representing the various cable states.
- and said method is performed off site using a data link, or from a central location on site; and
Specification