Non-contact voltage detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016273718-A1
Application number	US-201615073939-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 18, 2016
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A voltage detector includes a cylindrical hollow body housing including an open end and a tool end. An internal circuit assembly includes a voltage sensing loop, a flashlight, and a microprocessor. The internal circuit assembly is disposed inside the cylindrical hollow body housing. The voltage sensing loop is configured to detect voltage without contacting a detected voltage, and the microprocessor is configured to control power to the flashlight via a flashlight power button independently from power to the voltage sensing loop via a voltage detector button.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A voltage detector comprising:
a cylindrical hollow body housing including an open end and a tool end; and an internal circuit assembly including a voltage sensing loop, a flashlight, and a microprocessor, the internal circuit assembly disposed inside the cylindrical hollow body housing, wherein the voltage sensing loop is configured to detect voltage without contacting a detected voltage, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to control power to the flashlight via a flashlight power button independently from power to the voltage sensing loop via a voltage detector button.

2 . The voltage detector of claim 1 , wherein when the microprocessor senses a low battery level, the microprocessor is configured to allow the voltage sensing loop to activate but prevent the flashlight from activating.

3 . The voltage detector of claim 1 , wherein the power to the voltage sensing loop deactivates when a first predetermined period of time expires, and the power to the flashlight deactivates when a second predetermined period of time expires.

4 . The voltage detector of claim 3 , wherein if bath the power to the voltage sensing loop and the power to the flashlight are activated, the power to the voltage sensing loop deactivates when the second predetermined period of time expires.

5 . The voltage detector of claim 1 , wherein the flashlight power button and the voltage detector button are both positioned on a user interface panel, the user interface panel extending outwardly from the cylindrical hollow body housing.

6 . The voltage detector of claim 5 , wherein the user interface panel includes a voltage power indicator light, the voltage power indicator light configured to at least one of activate and change color when a voltage is detected.

7 . The voltage detector of claim 5 , wherein the user interface panel includes a voltage detector intensity readout, the voltage detector intensity readout configured to indicate an intensity of a detected voltage.

8 . The voltage detector of claim 7 , wherein the voltage detector intensity readout includes multiple illumination devices arranged in a series, wherein a higher detected voltage corresponds with a greater number of activated illumination devices.

9 . The voltage detector of claim 1 , wherein a visual indication of battery power level is activated when the power to the voltage sensing loop is activated.

10 . The voltage detector of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage detection speaker disposed within the cylindrical hollow body housing and in electrical communication with the internal circuit assembly, the voltage detection speaker configured to provide an audible indication.

11 . A control system for a voltage detector having a voltage detector circuit and a flashlight Circuit comprising:
a first stage, the first stage corresponding with a deactivated voltage detector circuit and a deactivated flashlight circuit; a second stage, the second stage corresponding with an activated voltage detector circuit and a deactivated flashlight circuit; a third stage, the third stage corresponding with a deactivated voltage detector circuit and an activated flashlight circuit; and a fourth stage, the fourth stage corresponding with an activated voltage detector circuit and an activated flashlight circuit, wherein the first stage is a default stage, and wherein user action is required to transition from the first stage to any one of the second stage, the third stage, and the fourth stage.

12 . The control system of claim 11 , wherein the voltage detector automatically enters the first stage from the second stage after a first predetermined period of time, and
wherein the voltage detector automatically enters the first stage from the third stage after a second predetermined period of time, the voltage detector issuing an audible alert via a voltage detection speaker before the second predetermined period of time expires.

13 . The control system of claim 12 , wherein the voltage detector automatically enters the first stage from the fourth stage after the second predetermined period of time expires.

14 . The control system of claim 12 , wherein the second predetermined period of time is greater than the first predetermined period of time.

15 . The control system of claim 11 , wherein a timer starts when the voltage detector enters at least one of the second stage, the third stage, and the fourth stage.

16 . The control system of claim 15 , wherein if the voltage detector is in at least one of the second stage and the fourth stage, the timer resets when a voltage is detected.

17 . The control system of claim 11 , wherein when the microprocessor detects a low battery level, the voltage detector is able to enter the second stage but prevented from entering the third stage or the fourth stage.

18 . A method of controlling a voltage detector comprising the steps of:
holding a voltage detector; pressing a flashlight power button to activate a flashlight disposed on the voltage detector; and pressing a voltage detector button to activate a voltage detection circuit disposed within the voltage detector.

19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:
pressing the flashlight power button to deactivate the flashlight; and
pressing the voltage detector button to deactivate the voltage detection circuit.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein when the voltage detector has a low battery level, the voltage detector is configured to allow the voltage detection circuit to activate but prevent the flashlight from activating.

21 . A voltage detector comprising:
a cylindrical hollow body housing including an open end and a tool end; and an internal circuit assembly including a voltage sensing loop, a flashlight, and a microprocessor, the internal circuit assembly disposed inside the cylindrical hollow body housing, wherein the voltage sensing loop is configured to detect voltage without contacting a voltage source, and wherein a visual indication of battery power level is activated when the power to the voltage sensing loop is activated.

Assignees

• Klein Tools Inc

Inventors

• Kuhn Bruce

Classifications

• G01R1/07

  Non contact-making probes · CPC title

• G01R29/0857

  Dosimetry, i.e. measuring the time integral of radiation intensity; Level warning devices for personal safety use (nuclear radiation dosimetry G01T) · CPC title

• G01R19/155

  Indicating the presence of voltage · CPC title

• G01R1/06788 Primary

  Hand-held or hand-manipulated probes, e.g. for oscilloscopes or for portable test instruments (end pieces terminating in a probe H01R11/18) · CPC title

• G01R31/3835 Primary

  involving only voltage measurements · CPC title