Pulse train method and apparatus for locating and identifying conductors in a cable

Claim 1

A method of distinguishing and identifying one member from a plurality of identical members, such as a conductor in a cable having at least ten identical conductors, comprising: generating successive trains of eight identical electrical pulses and applying said successive pulse trains to each member; labeling each member at one end thereof by superimposing on said pulses a signal peculiar to that member, said signal comprising at least one additional pulse having a pulse width greater than the width of the pulses in said trains whereby to achieve a binary coding for each member; and positively identifying each member at a position therealong remote from said one end by detecting the superimposed signal and converting same into a permanent visible display; wherein said labeling step includes counting the pulses of each train with a counter producing binary coded parallel outputs, decoding said binary coded outputs to produce a series of said additional pulses in synchronism with said train of eight pulses, each said additional pulse of said series appearing at a corresponding one of eight binary decoder terminals, separately decimally decoding the outputs on each of two separate groups of four each of said binary decoder terminals to produce on nine ''''units'''' decimal decoder terminals nine individual patterns of said additional pulses superimposed on the first occurring four pulses of said train and to thereafter produce on nine ''''tens'''' decimal decoder terminals nine individual patterns of said additional pulses superimposed on the last occurring four pulses of said train, connecting each member to at least one of said decimal decoder terminals but no more than one of each of said ''''units'''' terminals and ''''tens'''' terminals, each member being uniquely connected to said decimal decoder terminals whereby to enable supplying of unique composite signal to each of 99 members.

Claim 2

A method of distinguishing and identifying one member from a plurality of identical members, such as a conductor in a cable having at least ten identical conductors, comprising: generating successive trains of eight identical electrical pulses and applying said successive pulse trains to each member; labeling each member at one end thereof by superimposing on said pulses a signal peculiar to that member, said signal comprising at least one additional pulse having a pulse width greater than the width of the pulses in said trains whereby to achieve a binary coding for each member; and positively identifying each member at a position therealong remote from said one end by detecting the superimposed signal and converting same into a permanent visible display; wherein said labeling step includes counting the pulses of each train with a counter producing binary coded parallel outputs, decoding said binary coded outputs to produce a series of said additional pulses in synchronism with said train of eight pulses, each said additional pulse of said series appearing at a corresponding one of eight binary decoder terminals, separately decimally decoding the outputs on each of two separate groups of four each of said binary decoder terminals to produce on nine ''''units'''' decimal decoder terminals nine individual patterns of said additional pulses superimposed on the first occurring four pulses of said train and to thereafter produce on nine ''''tens'''' decimal decoder terminals nine individual patterns of said additional pulses superimposed on the last occurring four pulses of said train, connecting each member to at least one of said decimal decoder terminals but no more than one of each of said ''''units'''' terminals and ''''tens'''' terminals, each member being uniquely connected to said decimal decoder terminals whereby to enable supplying of unique composite signal to each of 99 members.

Claim 5

An apparatus for distinguishing and identifying one member from a plurality of identical members, such as a conductor in a cable having a substantial number of conductors, comprising: transmitter means for generating a uniform series of identical pulses having superimposed thereon a signal peculiar to each member to form a unique composite signal for each member, said transmitter means including master generator means for generating a series of master timing pulses each marking a first time period, clock generating means responsive to said generator means for generating said series of pulses, said series of pulses comprising a fixed number of regularly spaced clock pulses and occurring during each said first time period, said number of clock pulses being related in a preselected manner to the number of members, said number of clock pulses being sufficient to establish a number of unique binary code groups at least equal to the number of members, and identifying pulse producing means responsive to said clock generating means for producing said signals peculiar to each member, said signals comprising identifying pulses to be superimposed on said clock pulse series, each such identifying pulse having a fixed time relation to a different one of said clock pulses in said series, said identifying pulse producing means including a parallel output binary counter which counts in timed relation to said clock pulses and means responsive to said clock pulses for periodically actuating said counter, said transmitter means further including means applying said composite signals to respective ones of said members for uniquely labeling same, said applying means including means imposing the same clock pulse series on each of said members but with at least one of said identifying pulses superimposed on such series and with the combined pattern of clock and identifying pulses imposed on each member being unique, said imposing means including a set of binary decoding gates each responsive to a different combination of counter outputs and at least one set of decimal decoding gates each responsive to a different combination of binary decoding gate outputs and means for connecting outputs of said decimal decoding gates in unique combinations to corresponding ones of said members whereby each member carries a unique multibit binary coded identifying pulse signal; and receiver means responsive to the composite signal on a member for detecting and recording the superimposed signal whereby to positively identify such member, said receiver means including means connectible to at least one said member and means coupled thereto and responsive to said combined pattern for uniquely identifying said member, said connectible means comprising a probe, said pattern responsive means including shift register means having a plurality of binary outputs and decimal decoder means connected to said binary outputs and having a plurality of decimal output lines, the pattern of actuation of which uniquely identifies the one of said members contacted by said probe.

Claim 6

An apparatus for distinguishing and identifying one member from a plurality of identical members, such as a conductor in a cable having a substantial number of conductors, comprising: transmitter means for generating a uniform series of identical pulses having superimposed thereon a signal peculiar to each member to form a unique composite signal for each member, said transmitter means including master generator means for generating a series of master timing pulses each marking a first time period, clock generating means responsive to said generator means for generating said series of pulses, said series of pulses comprising a fixed number of regularly spaced clock pulses and occurring during each said first time period, said number of clock pulses being related in a preselected manner to the number of members, said number of clock pulses being sufficient to establish a number of unique binary code groups at least equal to the number of members, and identifying pulse producing means responsive to said clock generating means for producing said signals peculiar to each member, said signals comprising identifying pulses to be superimposed on said clock pulse series, each such identifying pulse having a fixed time relation to a different one of said clock pulses in said series, said identifying pulse producing means including a parallel output binary counter which counts in timed relation to said clock pulses and means responsive to said clock pulses for periodically actuating said counter, said transmitter means further including means applying said composite signals to respective ones of said members for uniquely labeling same, said applying means including means imposing the same clock pulse series on each of said members but with at least one of said identifying pulses superimposed on such series and with the combined pattern of clock and identifying pulses imposed on each member being unique, said imposing means including a set of binary decoding gates each responsive to a different combination of counter outputs and at least one set of decimal decoding gates each responsive to a different combination of binary decoding gate outputs and means for connecting outputs of said decimal decoding gates in unique combinations to corresponding ones of said members whereby each member carries a unique multibit binary coded identifying pulse signal; and receiver means responsive to the composite signal on a member for detecting and recording the superimposed signal whereby to positively identify such member, said receiver means including means connectible to at least one said member and means coupled thereto and responsive to said combined pattern for uniquely identifying said member, said connectible means comprising a probe, said pattern responsive means including shift register means having a plurality of binary outputs and decimal decoder means connected to said binary outputs and having a plurality of decimal output lines, the pattern of actuation of which uniquely identifies the one of said members contacted by said probe.

Claim 9

An apparatus for distinguishing and identifying one member from a plurality of identical members, such as a conductor in a cable having a substantial number of conductors, comprising transmitter means for generating a uniform series of identical pulses having superimposed thereon a signal peculiar to each member to form a unique composite signal for each member, said transmitter means including means applying said composite signals to respective ones of said members for uniquely labeling same, the number of pulses in said series being at least equal to the number of members, said superimposed signal comprising an identifying pulse superimposed on said series adjacent a different one of said first mentioned pulses for each member to produce a different composite pulse series applied to each such member, and receiver means responsive to the composite signal on a member for detecting and recording the superimposed signal whereby to positively identify such member, said receiver means including a first detector means for detecting the first occurring identifying pulse in said composite series carried by a given member and means responsive thereto for displaying the identity of such member, said receiver means further including a second detector means responsive to occurrence of a second identifying pulse in such composite series for indicating a fault in the cable.

Claim 10

An apparatus for distinguishing and identifying one member from a plurality of identical members, such as a conductor in a cable having a substantial number of conductors, comprising transmitter means for generating a uniform series of identical pulses having superimposed thereon a signal peculiar to each member to form a unique composite signal for each member, said transmitter means including means applying said composite signals to respective ones of said members for uniquely labeling same, the number of pulses in said series being at least equal to the number of members, said superimposed signal comprising an identifying pulse superimposed on said series adjacent a different one of said first mentioned pulses for each member to produce a different composite pulse series applied to each such member, and receiver means responsive to the composite signal on a member for detecting and recording the superimposed signal whereby to positively identify such member, said receiver means including a first detector means for detecting the first occurring identifying pulse in said composite series carried by a given member and means responsive thereto for displaying the identity of such member, said receiver means further including a second detector means responsive to occurrence of a second identifying pulse in such composite series for indicating a fault in the cable.

Claim 11

An apparatus for distinguishing and identifying one member from a plurality of identical members, such as a conductor in a cable having a substantial number of conductors, comprising transmitter means for generating a uniform series of identical pulses having superimposed thereon a signal peculiar to each member to form a unique composite signal for each member, said transmitter means including master generator means for generating a series of master timing pulses each marking a first time period, clock generating means responsive to said generator means for generating said series of pulses, said series of pulses comprising a fixed number of regularly spaced clock pulses of a first width and occurring during each said first time period; said number of clock pulses being related in a preselected manner to the number of members, and means responsive to said clock generating means for producing said signals peculiar to each member, said signals comprising identifying pulses at a second width greater than said first width to be superimposed on said clock pulse series, each such identifying pulse having a fixed time relation to a different one of said clock pulses in said series and extending therebeyond by a fixed duration, said transmitter means including means applying said composite signals to respective ones of said members for uniquely labeling same, said applying means including means imposing the same clock pulse series on each of said members but with at least one of said identifying pulses superimposed on such series and with the combined pattern of clock and identifying pulses imposed on each member being unique, and receiver means responsive to the composite signal on a member for detecting and recording the superimposed signal whereby to positively identify such member, said detecting and recording receiver means including a probe connectible to at least one said member and means coupled thereto and responsive to said combined pattern for uniquEly identifying said member, said pattern responsive means including detector means responsive to the greater width of said superimposed identifying pulses for detecting the occurrance thereof and distinguishing same from said clock pulses, display means and decoder means coupled between the output of said detector means and said display means for causing said display means to indicate the identity of the one of said members contacted by said probe.

Claim 12

An apparatus for distinguishing and identifying one member from a plurality of identical members, such as a conductor in a cable having a substantial number of conductors, comprising transmitter means for generating a uniform series of identical pulses having superimposed thereon a signal peculiar to each member to form a unique composite signal for each member, said transmitter means including master generator means for generating a series of master timing pulses each marking a first time period, clock generating means responsive to said generator means for generating said series of pulses, said series of pulses comprising a fixed number of regularly spaced clock pulses of a first width and occurring during each said first time period; said number of clock pulses being related in a preselected manner to the number of members, and means responsive to said clock generating means for producing said signals peculiar to each member, said signals comprising identifying pulses at a second width greater than said first width to be superimposed on said clock pulse series, each such identifying pulse having a fixed time relation to a different one of said clock pulses in said series and extending therebeyond by a fixed duration, said transmitter means including means applying said composite signals to respective ones of said members for uniquely labeling same, said applying means including means imposing the same clock pulse series on each of said members but with at least one of said identifying pulses superimposed on such series and with the combined pattern of clock and identifying pulses imposed on each member being unique, and receiver means responsive to the composite signal on a member for detecting and recording the superimposed signal whereby to positively identify such member, said detecting and recording receiver means including a probe connectible to at least one said member and means coupled thereto and responsive to said combined pattern for uniquEly identifying said member, said pattern responsive means including detector means responsive to the greater width of said superimposed identifying pulses for detecting the occurrance thereof and distinguishing same from said clock pulses, display means and decoder means coupled between the output of said detector means and said display means for causing said display means to indicate the identity of the one of said members contacted by said probe.