Hand-held voltage detection probe
First Claim
1. A probe for alerting a user to the presence of electrical energy on a conductive member, the probe comprising:
- an antenna adapted to sense the electrical energy radiated from the member when the probe is positioned adjacent the member;
an indicator adapted to alert a user when activated;
detector circuitry connected to the antenna and adapted to provide a signal when the sensed electrical energy satisfies a measurement threshold; and
activation circuitry connected to the detector circuitry and adapted to activate the indicator when a number of signals are received during a period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switchless, hand-held probe and method for detecting and alerting a user to the presence of an AC voltage on a conductor that minimizes the intermittent activation of the probe'"'"'s indicator due to static charge build-up. The probe comprises an antenna, an indicator, detector circuitry and activation circuitry. The probe alerts a user through the use of an indicator to the presence of electrical energy on a conductor. The antenna senses the electrical energy radiated from the conductor. When the electrical energy sensed by the antenna satisfies a particular measurement threshold, a signal is generated by the detector circuitry and received by the activation circuitry. The activation circuitry activates the indicator after a sufficient number of signals are received from the detector circuitry during a given period of time.
8 Citations
79 Claims
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1. A probe for alerting a user to the presence of electrical energy on a conductive member, the probe comprising:
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an antenna adapted to sense the electrical energy radiated from the member when the probe is positioned adjacent the member;
an indicator adapted to alert a user when activated;
detector circuitry connected to the antenna and adapted to provide a signal when the sensed electrical energy satisfies a measurement threshold; and
activation circuitry connected to the detector circuitry and adapted to activate the indicator when a number of signals are received during a period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A probe for alerting a user to the presence of electrical energy on a conductive member, the probe comprising:
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an antenna adapted to sense the electrical energy radiated from the member when the probe is positioned adjacent the member;
an indicator adapted to alert a user when activated;
a first inverter, connected to the antenna, adapted to respond to a range of voltages sensed on the antenna;
a second inverter, connected to the first inverter, adapted to respond with a signal each time the output voltage of the first inverter changes; and
activation circuitry connected to the second inverter for activating the indicator when a number of signals are received during a period of time. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A probe for alerting a user to the presence of electrical energy on a conductive member, the probe comprising:
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an antenna adapted to sense the electrical energy radiated from the member when the probe is positioned adjacent the member;
an indicator adapted to alert a user when the voltage on its input is greater than a certain voltage;
detector circuitry connected to the antenna and adapted to provide a signal when the sensed electrical energy satisfies a measurement threshold;
a capacitor, connected to the detector circuitry and indicator, adapted to charge on receipt of the signal from the detector circuitry for activating the indicator when the capacitor is charged sufficiently; and
an oscillator adapted to periodically discharge the capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A probe for alerting a user to the presence of electrical energy on a conductive member, the probe comprising:
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an antenna adapted to sense the electrical energy radiated from the member when the probe is positioned adjacent the member;
an indicator adapted to alert a user when activated;
a first inverter, connected to the antenna, adapted to respond to a range of voltages sensed on the antenna;
a second inverter, connected to the first inverter, adapted to respond each time the output voltage of the first inverter changes;
a capacitor, connected to the second inverter and indicator, adapted to charge on receipt of the signal from the second inverter for activating the indicator when the capacitor is charged sufficiently; and
an oscillator adapted to periodically discharge the capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method for alerting a user to the presence of electrical energy on an electrically conductive member, comprising:
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sensing the electrical energy radiated from the member;
providing a signal when the sensed electrical energy satisfies a measurement threshold;
charging a capacitor on receipt of the signal;
powering an indicator when the capacitor is sufficiently charged;
discharging the capacitor periodically; and
alerting the user when the indicator is activated. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79)
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Specification