Lighting tester
First Claim
1. A lighting tester for testing one or more types of lamps, the lighting tester comprising:
- a housing;
an antenna coupled to the housing and including a first pull-out shaft and a second pull-out shaft that are pulled out and extended away from the housing of the lighting tester, at least one of the first pull-out shaft and the second pull-out shaft being coated with an electrically insulating material, the first pull-out shaft configured to be in electrical communication with the second pull-out shaft,wherein the first pull-out shaft is the first of the first and second pull-out shafts to be extended from the lighting tester, and the first pull-out shaft is the last of the first and second pull-out shafts to retract into the lighting tester;
the housing containinga first test circuit configured to generate a test voltage signal, the test voltage signal capable of being applied via the antenna to a lamp and ionizing a gas within the lamp,a second test circuit configured to receive a signal associated with a lighting ballast, the signal capable of being received without contacting the lighting ballast, and determine whether the signal is indicative of a high-frequency voltage generated by the lighting ballast, anda third test circuit configured to receive a first terminal and a second terminal of the lamp and test a filament of the lamp for continuity;
a worklight configured for use in conjunction with at least one of the first test circuit, the second test circuit, and the third test circuit; and
at least one output device configured to provide a signal indicative of the operation of at least one of the first test circuit, the second test circuit, and the third test circuit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A combination lighting tester tool. The combination lighting tester tool includes at least three independent testing tools for identifying and diagnosing a problem in a lighting system. For example, the tester includes a lamp testing function in which a high voltage test signal is generated and transmitted using an antenna. When the test signal is in proximity to a gas filled lamp, the voltage is of sufficient magnitude to ionize the gas inside the lamp, causing the lamp to illuminate. The tester also includes a ballast testing function in which the power lines or wires connecting a ballast to a lamp or lighting fixture are tested, and a filament tester for testing the filaments in a lamp for continuity or resistance. The tester also includes a worklight for illuminating an area under test and one or more display devices (e.g., LEDs, an LCD display, or the like) which provide an indication of, for example, a test being performed or a result of a test.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A lighting tester for testing one or more types of lamps, the lighting tester comprising:
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a housing; an antenna coupled to the housing and including a first pull-out shaft and a second pull-out shaft that are pulled out and extended away from the housing of the lighting tester, at least one of the first pull-out shaft and the second pull-out shaft being coated with an electrically insulating material, the first pull-out shaft configured to be in electrical communication with the second pull-out shaft, wherein the first pull-out shaft is the first of the first and second pull-out shafts to be extended from the lighting tester, and the first pull-out shaft is the last of the first and second pull-out shafts to retract into the lighting tester; the housing containing a first test circuit configured to generate a test voltage signal, the test voltage signal capable of being applied via the antenna to a lamp and ionizing a gas within the lamp, a second test circuit configured to receive a signal associated with a lighting ballast, the signal capable of being received without contacting the lighting ballast, and determine whether the signal is indicative of a high-frequency voltage generated by the lighting ballast, and a third test circuit configured to receive a first terminal and a second terminal of the lamp and test a filament of the lamp for continuity; a worklight configured for use in conjunction with at least one of the first test circuit, the second test circuit, and the third test circuit; and at least one output device configured to provide a signal indicative of the operation of at least one of the first test circuit, the second test circuit, and the third test circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A lighting tester for testing one or more types of lamps, the lighting tester comprising:
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a housing containing a first test circuit configured to generate a test voltage signal, the test voltage signal capable of being applied to a lamp and ionizing a gas within the lamp, a second test circuit configured to receive a signal associated with a lighting ballast and determine whether the signal is indicative of a high-frequency voltage generated by the lighting ballast, and a third test circuit configured to receive a first terminal and a second terminal of the lamp and test a filament of the lamp for continuity; and an antenna coupled to the housing and including a first pull-out shaft and a second pull-out shaft that are pulled out and extended away from the housing of the lighting tester, at least one of the first pull-out shaft and the second pull-out shaft being coated with an electrically insulating material, the first pull-out shaft configured to be in electrical communication with the second pull-out shaft, wherein the first pull-out shaft is the first of the first and second pull-out shafts to be extended from the lighting tester, and the first pull-out shaft is the last of the first and second pull-out shafts to retract into the lighting tester. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A lighting tester for testing one or more types of lamps, the lighting tester comprising:
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a housing; an antenna coupled to the housing and including a first pull-out shaft and a second pull-out shaft that are pulled out and extended away from the housing of the lighting tester, at least one of the first pull-out shaft and the second pull-out shaft being coated with an electrically insulating material, wherein the first pull-out shaft is in electrical communication with the second pull-out shaft, wherein the first pull-out shaft is the first of the first and second pull-out shafts to be extended from the lighting tester, and the first pull-out shaft is the last of the first and second pull-out shafts to retract into the lighting tester; the housing containing a first test circuit configured to generate a test voltage signal, the test voltage signal capable of being applied via the antenna to a lamp and ionizing a gas within the lamp, a second test circuit configured to receive a signal associated with a lighting ballast and determine whether the signal is indicative of a high-frequency voltage generated by the lighting ballast, and a third test circuit configured to receive a first terminal and a second terminal of the lamp and test a filament of the lamp for continuity; and a worklight configured for use in conjunction with at least one of the first test circuit, the second test circuit, and the third test circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A lighting tester for testing a lamp, the lighting tester comprising:
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a housing; an antenna coupled to the housing and including a first pull-out shaft and a second pull-out shaft that are pulled out and extended away from the housing of the lighting tester, at least one of the first pull-out shaft and the second pull-out shaft being coated with an electrically insulating material, the first pull-out shaft configured to be in electrical communication with the second pull-out shaft, wherein the first pull-out shaft is the first of the first and second pull-out shafts to be extended from the lighting tester, and the first pull-out shaft is the last of the first and second pull-out shafts to retract into the lighting tester; the housing including a first test circuit configured to generate a test voltage signal, the test voltage signal capable of being applied via the antenna to the lamp and ionizing a gas within the lamp, wherein the antenna is detachably coupled to the housing, a second test circuit configured to receive a signal associated with a voltage generated by a lighting ballast, the signal capable of being received without contacting the lighting ballast, and a third test circuit configured to receive a first terminal and a second terminal of the lamp and test a filament of the lamp for continuity; a control button configured to activate at least one of the first test circuit, the second test circuit, and the third test circuit; and an output device operable to provide a signal indicative of a test result of at least one of the first test circuit, the second test circuit, and the third test circuit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification