CURRENT TESTER

• US 20140340094A1
• Filed: 05/07/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KMC Electronics LLC
• Original Assignee: Kevin M. Curtis
• Inventors: Curtis, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,494,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/503
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/15 Indicating the presence of current
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00

Abstract

A current tester includes: a probe, a computing device for converting a voltage drop across a component to a current, and an output device for signaling a presence or non-presence of current. The computing device stores a pre-determined voltage drop/current relationship for the component. A method for detecting current in a circuit includes: connecting a current tester to the component, measuring a voltage drop across the component, converting the voltage drop to a current via the current tester, and producing a signal by the current tester indicating a presence or non-presence of current in the circuit. A method for detecting current in a circuit may also comprises: connecting probes of a testing device to a component in the circuit; determining via whether the probes are properly connected to the component; and determining a voltage drop across the component to determine the presence or non-presence of current.

Claims

1. A current tester comprising:

a probe,

a computing device for converting a voltage drop across a component to a current, said computing device operatively associated with said probe, said computing device having a pre-determined voltage drop/current relationship for said component stored in said computing device, and

an output device for signaling a presence or non-presence of current, said output device operatively associated with said computing device.

2. The tester according to claim 1 further comprising:

an input device for selecting among multiple components, said input device operatively associated with said computing device, each component having a pre-determined voltage drop/current relationship stored in said computing device.

3. The tester according to claim 1 wherein said component being a fuse.

4. The tester according to claim 1 wherein said component being an automotive fuse.

5. The tester according to claim 1 wherein said output device being a visual display of current value, an audible tone indicating the presence or non-presence of current, or both.

6. The tester according to claim 1 wherein said pre-determined voltage drop/current relationship for said component stored in said computing device being:

an equation where current is a function of voltage drop, or a look-up table.

7. The tester according to claim 6 wherein said pre-determined voltage drop/current relationship comprising multiple voltage drop ranges.

8. The tester according to claim 1 wherein said probes clip-on said component.

9. A method for detecting current in a circuit comprising the steps of:

connecting probes of a testing device to a component in the circuit;

determining via the test device whether the probes are properly connected to the component, if the probes are properly connected, then the test device produces a first signal, and if the probes are improperly connected, then the test device produces a second signal, the first signal is different from the second signal; and

determining via the test device a voltage drop across the component, if the voltage drop is greater than a pre-determined threshold voltage drop, then current is present in the circuit and the test device produces a third signal, if the voltage drop is less than the pre-determined threshold voltage drop, then current is not present, the third signal is different from the first signal and the second signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the testing device includes a computing device, the computing device sequentially:

1) producing a signal at a first probe,

     2) sensing the signal at a second probe,

     3) measuring a voltage drop between each lead,

     4) comparing the measured voltage drop to the pre-determined threshold voltage drop, and

     5) producing a signal based on the comparison.

11. A method for detecting current in a circuit comprising the steps of:

connecting a current tester to the component,

measuring a voltage drop across the component with the current tester,

converting the voltage drop to a current via the current tester, and

producing a signal by the current tester indicating a presence or non-presence of current in the circuit.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the circuit is an automotive circuit.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the component is a fuse.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the component is an automotive fuse.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising inputting a parameter of the component into the circuit tester.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the parameter is a amperage, style, or both.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the signal is a visual display, an audible tone, or both.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein converting the voltage drop to current is accomplished by a pre-determined voltage drop/current relationship stored in the current tester.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the pre-determined voltage drop/current relationship for the component stored in the current tester is an equation where current is a function of voltage drop or a look-up table.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said pre-determined voltage drop/current relationship comprises multiple voltage drop ranges.