US3750015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital logic test probe for indicating both signal levels as well as a count of changes in signal levels
Assignee: Comtec Industries Inc
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Filing: 1970-11-12
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1990-11-12
Abstract
Abstract The probe comprises a pencil-shaped housing having a pin in its pointed end for engagement with a test point in a digital circuit. A test circuit in the housing includes a light emitting diode viewable through an opening in the housing, and energizable when a signal, or logic 1 level, is present at the test point. A counter in the housing responds to intermittent signals at the test point to count and display in binary or decimal form the cumulative number of signals appearing at the test point, at least up to a count of nine before resetting to zero. A plurality of auxiliary terminals on the housing may be connected optionally to other test points in the circuit to sense other signals, which are anded with the signal from the primary test point to prevent the latter from energizing the diode and actuating the counter except when signals are present at all said other test points.
Inventors
- 👤 R Sheker
- 👤 R Ballou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/317; G01R31/3181; G01R31/319; G01R31/31917; G01R19/00; G01R19/165; G01R19/16533; G01R19/16557; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0751; G06F11/0754; G06F11/076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A device for testing signal levels in a digital circuit, comprising signal detecting means including a plurality of electrically conductive members adapted to be placed selectively in electrical contact with a plurality of points in a digital circuit to detect the signal levels at said points, a first electrical indicator connected to said detecting means and disposed to be energized when said members are not in contact with said points, said detecting means further including means operative, when any of said members are in contact with any of said points, to maintain said indicator energized when all of the contacted points are at a predetermined signal level, and to deenergize said indicator when the signal level at any of said contacted points differs from said predetermined level, and recording means connected to said detecting means for actuation thereby, said recording means including a plurality of additional indicators actuatable in response to changes in said signal level at one of said contacted points to record and indicate visually the cumulative number of times the signal at said one point reaches said predetermined level, and said additional indicators being responsive to said signal level changes at said one contacted point only while the remainder of said contacted points are at said predetermined signal level.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
212 words
A device for testing signal levels in a digital circuit, comprising signal detecting means including a plurality of electrically conductive members adapted to be placed selectively in electrical contact with a plurality of points in a digital circuit to detect the signal levels at said points, a first electrical indicator connected to said detecting means and disposed to be energized when said members are not in contact with said points, said detecting means further including means operative, when any of said members are in contact with any of said points, to maintain said indicator energized when all of the contacted points are at a predetermined signal level, and to deenergize said indicator when the signal level at any of said contacted points differs from said predetermined level, and recording means connected to said detecting means for actuation thereby, said recording means including a plurality of additional indicators actuatable in response to changes in said signal level at one of said contacted points to record and indicate visually the cumulative number of times the signal at said one point reaches said predetermined level, and said additional indicators being responsive to said signal level changes at said one contacted point only while the remainder of said contacted points are at said predetermined signal level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said additional indicators are arranged in side by side, spaced relation to each other to indicate visually a binary count of the cumulative number of times said predetermined signal level is reached at said one point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said additional indicators are positioned adjacent each other to indicate visually a decimal number count of the cumulative number of times said predetermined signal level is reached at said one point.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
323 words
A device for testing signal levels in a digital circuit, comprising signal detecting means including a first, electrically conductive member adapted to be placed in electrical contact with any one of a plurality of points in a digital circuit to detect the signal level of said one point, a first indicator connected to said detecting means and actuatable in response to the presence of a steady signal of predetermined level at said one point to indicate visually the presence of said steady signal, and recording means connected to said detecting means and actuatable in response to changes in said signal level of said one point to record the cumulative number of times the signal at said one point reaches said predetermined level, a second electrically conductive member adapted selectively to be placed in electrical contact with another of said points to detect the signal level thereat, and means connecting said first and second members to said first indicator and operative to actuate said first indicator only when both said one and said other points are at said predetermined signal level, said means connecting said first and second members to said first indicator comprises a plurality of multi-input gates, one of said gates having its inputs connected to said first member, and another of said gates having one of its inputs connected to said second member, said first indicator comprises an element operative to emit light, when energized, means including a first conductor is provided for connecting said element to a power supply to be energized thereby, when the voltage on said conductor exceeds a predetermined value, and a plurality of electronic switches connected in parallel with said element and responsive to the outputs of said gates, whereby when any input to any of said gates falls below said predetermined signal level, at least one of said switches will conduct to cause the voltage on said first conductor to fall below said predetermined value.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
323 words
A device for testing signal levels in a digital circuit, comprising signal detecting means including a first, electrically conductive member adapted to be placed in electrical contact with any one of a plurality of points in a digital circuit to detect the signal level of said one point, a first indicator connected to said detecting means and actuatable in response to the presence of a steady signal of predetermined level at said one point to indicate visually the presence of said steady signal, and recording means connected to said detecting means and actuatable in response to changes in said signal level of said one point to record the cumulative number of times the signal at said one point reaches said predetermined level, a second electrically conductive member adapted selectively to be placed in electrical contact with another of said points to detect the signal level thereat, and means connecting said first and second members to said first indicator and operative to actuate said first indicator only when both said one and said other points are at said predetermined signal level, said means connecting said first and second members to said first indicator comprises a plurality of multi-input gates, one of said gates having its inputs connected to said first member, and another of said gates having one of its inputs connected to said second member, said first indicator comprises an element operative to emit light, when energized, means including a first conductor is provided for connecting said element to a power supply to be energized thereby, when the voltage on said conductor exceeds a predetermined value, and a plurality of electronic switches connected in parallel with said element and responsive to the outputs of said gates, whereby when any input to any of said gates falls below said predetermined signal level, at least one of said switches will conduct to cause the voltage on said first conductor to fall below said predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said recording means comprises a counter having an input terminal connected to said first conductor and operative to produce a signal count at its output each time the voltage on said first conductor drops below said predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
294 words
A test probe for testing signal levels in digital circuits and the like, comprising a hand manipulative, generally pencil-shaped housing having a pointed end and a generally blunt end, a first electrical contact mounted on the pointed end of said housing and adapted to be connected releasably and selectively to any one of a plurality of test points in a digital circuit to detect the signal level of said one point, a further plurality of electrical contacts secured on said housing intermediate its ends for connection selectively by separate wire leads to additional test points in said digital circuits, a plurality of electrically energizable indicators mounted in said housing to register with a plurality of openings formed in said housing, and operative, when energized, to emit light viewable at the exterior of said housing through said openings, and circuit means in said housing including a pair of wire leads projecting exteriorly of said housing for connecting said indicators to an electrical power supply to be energized thereby, said circuit means further including signal responsive means connecting all of said electrical contacts to one of said indicators and operative to cause said one indicator to be energized by said power supply only when the signals detected by all of said contacts reach a predetermined level, and operative to deenergize said one indicator whenever one or more of said detected signals fall below said predetermined level, and means connecting the remaining indicators to said signal responsive means and operative to cause selective energization of said remaining indicators each time any one of said detected signals falls below said predetermined level, said remaining indicators being disposed to provide a visual record of the cumulative number of times said detected signals appear simultaneously over an interval of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
294 words
A test probe for testing signal levels in digital circuits and the like, comprising a hand manipulative, generally pencil-shaped housing having a pointed end and a generally blunt end, a first electrical contact mounted on the pointed end of said housing and adapted to be connected releasably and selectively to any one of a plurality of test points in a digital circuit to detect the signal level of said one point, a further plurality of electrical contacts secured on said housing intermediate its ends for connection selectively by separate wire leads to additional test points in said digital circuits, a plurality of electrically energizable indicators mounted in said housing to register with a plurality of openings formed in said housing, and operative, when energized, to emit light viewable at the exterior of said housing through said openings, and circuit means in said housing including a pair of wire leads projecting exteriorly of said housing for connecting said indicators to an electrical power supply to be energized thereby, said circuit means further including signal responsive means connecting all of said electrical contacts to one of said indicators and operative to cause said one indicator to be energized by said power supply only when the signals detected by all of said contacts reach a predetermined level, and operative to deenergize said one indicator whenever one or more of said detected signals fall below said predetermined level, and means connecting the remaining indicators to said signal responsive means and operative to cause selective energization of said remaining indicators each time any one of said detected signals falls below said predetermined level, said remaining indicators being disposed to provide a visual record of the cumulative number of times said detected signals appear simultaneously over an interval of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A test probe as defined in claim 6, including one further contact secured in said housing and electrically connected to said one indicator to be energized therewith, and to be deenergized whenever one or more of the signals detected by the first-mentioned contact falls below said predetermined level, said contact being accessible from outside the probe for providing said Energized or deenergized condition to points external to said probe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
281 words
A test probe for testing signal levels in digital circuits and the like, comprising a hand manipulative housing having thereon a first electrical contact adapted to be connected releasably and selectively to any one of a plurality of test points in a digital circuit to detect the signal level of said one point, an electrically energizable indicator mounted in said housing to register with a first opening formed in said housing, and operative, when energized, to emit light viewable at the exterior of said housing through said first opening, and circuit means in said housing including a pair of wire leads projecting exteriorly of said housing for connecting said indicator to an electrical power supply normally to be energized thereby, said circuit means including signal responsive means connecting said electrical contact to said indicator and operative to cause said indicator to remain energized by said power supply, when the signal detected by said contact at said one point is at a predetermined level, and operative to cause said indicator to be deenergized, when the last-named signal falls below said predetermined level, a counter mounted in said housing and having a signal input, and a signal output that changes each time a signal is applied to said input, means connecting the input of said counter to said indicator and operative to apply a signal to the input of said counter each time said indicator is switched from one to the other of its energized and deenergized states, respectively, and signal read out means connected to the output of said counter to be viewable from the exterior of said housing, and operative to indicate cumulatively the number of signals applied to said input.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
281 words
A test probe for testing signal levels in digital circuits and the like, comprising a hand manipulative housing having thereon a first electrical contact adapted to be connected releasably and selectively to any one of a plurality of test points in a digital circuit to detect the signal level of said one point, an electrically energizable indicator mounted in said housing to register with a first opening formed in said housing, and operative, when energized, to emit light viewable at the exterior of said housing through said first opening, and circuit means in said housing including a pair of wire leads projecting exteriorly of said housing for connecting said indicator to an electrical power supply normally to be energized thereby, said circuit means including signal responsive means connecting said electrical contact to said indicator and operative to cause said indicator to remain energized by said power supply, when the signal detected by said contact at said one point is at a predetermined level, and operative to cause said indicator to be deenergized, when the last-named signal falls below said predetermined level, a counter mounted in said housing and having a signal input, and a signal output that changes each time a signal is applied to said input, means connecting the input of said counter to said indicator and operative to apply a signal to the input of said counter each time said indicator is switched from one to the other of its energized and deenergized states, respectively, and signal read out means connected to the output of said counter to be viewable from the exterior of said housing, and operative to indicate cumulatively the number of signals applied to said input.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
A test probe as defined in claim 8, wherein said housing has intermediate its ends a plurality of aligned, axially spaced openings, said read out means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes each of which is mounted in said housing to register, respectively, with one of said axially spaced openings, said diodes are connected to the signal output of said counter selectively to be energized thereby in accordance with a binary representation of the cumulative number of signals applied to said input.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
A test probe as defined in claim 8, wherein said counter produces a binary signal output corresponding to the number of successive signals applied to its input, said read out means comprises seven selectively illuminative segments arranged selectively to denote the decimal numerals 0 through 9 upon selective energization thereof, and decoder means interposed between said counter output and said segments selectively to energize the latter to convert the binary representation of said cumulative count to a decimal representation. means including a firt conductor is provided for
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |