Electronic switching transient detector and method for locating electrical power supply noise sources

Claim 2

A direction-finding noise probe for locating the source of electrical noise in an electrical network having a plurality of branch circuits comprising an insulated housing having a fixed arrow marking on said housing, a voltage pickup probe on said housing for coupling directly to said noise voltage at a selected point in said network so as to produce a reference noise voltage polarity, an electromagnetic coil within said housing inductively coupled to the magnetic field of the noise pulse current present in said network at said selected point in the network so as to induce a voltage polarity of said noise current pulse in said coil, means for sensing said reference voltage polarity, means for sensing the polarity of said induced noise current pulse, and means for comparing said two polarities whereby said fixed arrow points in the direction of noise source in said network when said polarities are equal and away from said noise source when said polarities are unequal.

Claim 3

A direction-finding noise probe for locating the source of electrical noise in an electrical network having a plurality of branch circuits comprising an insulated housing having a fixed arrow marking thereon, an electromagnetic coil within said housing for being inductively coupled to the magnetic field created by a noise current pulse present in a conductor of one of said branch circuits so as to produce a noise voltage pulse of a given polarity in said coil; means for sensing the polarity of said noise-induced voltage in said coil, a voltage pickup lead on said housing for sensing the voltage polarity of said electrical noise pulse, and means for displaying said two polarities whereby said fixed arrow points in the direction of origin of said noise pulse in said conductor when said polarities are equal and away from the origin of said noise pulse when said polarities are unequal.

Claim 4

A direction-finding noise probe for locating the source of electrical noise in an electrical network having a plurality of branch circuits comprising an insulated housing having a fixed arrow marking thereon, an electromagnetic coil within said housing for being inductively coupled to the magnetic field created by a noise current pulse present in a conductor of one of said branch circuits so as to produce a noise voltage pulse of a given polarity in said coil; means for sensing the polarity of said noise-induced voltage in said coil, a voltage pickup lead on said housing for sensing the voltage polarity of said electrical noise pulse, and means for displaying said two polarities whereby said fixed arrow points in the direction of origin of said noise pulse in said conductor when said polarities are equal and away from the origin of said noise pulse when said polarities are unequal.

Claim 5

A direction-finding noise probe for locating the source of electrical noise in an electrical network having a plurality of branch circuits comprising an insulated housing having a fixed direction-pointing marker thereon, a voltage pickup probe on said housing for coupling directly to said noise voltage at a selected point in said network so as to produce a reference voltage polarity, an electromagnetic coil within said housing inductively coupled to the magnetic field of the noise pulse current present in said network at said selected point in the network so as to induce a voltage polarity of said noise current pulse in said coil, means for sensing both the polarity of said reference voltage and said induced noise current pulse, an oscilloscope, having a triggering circuit, for displaying said two polarities on its screen, and a differentiating network connected between said voltage probe and said triggering circuit so that the noise voltage pulse is emphasized and the normal sine wave voltage on said conductor is diminished in the display of said polarities.

Claim 6

A direction-finding noise probe for locating the source of electrical noise in an electrical network having a plurality of branch circuits comprising an insulated housing having a fixed direction-pointing marker thereon, a voltage pickup probe on said housing for coupling directly to said noise voltage at a selected point in said network so as to produce a reference voltage polarity, an electromagnetic coil within said housing inductively coupled to the magnetic field of the noise pulse current present in said network at said selected point in the network so as to induce a voltage polarity of said noise current pulse in said coil, means for sensing both the polarity of said reference voltage and said induced noise current pulse, an oscilloscope, having a triggering circuit, for displaying said two polarities on its screen, and a differentiating network connected between said voltage probe and said triggering circuit so that the noise voltage pulse is emphasized and the normal sine wave voltage on said conductor is diminished in the display of said polarities.

Claim 7

In a method for detecting the source of electrical noise in an electrical network having a plurality of branch circuits comprising the steps of: a. simultaneously sensing the current and voltage of that electrical noise on a given branch circuit, wherein similar polarities of the noise voltage and noise current indicate that the source of noise is coming from a given direction, b. continuing sensing said noise pulse in said branch circuit, while moving said probe in said given direction, until the polarity of the noise current pulse reverses with respect to the polarity of the noise voltage pulse, said reversal of polarity indicating a first branch circuit that is a source of electrical noise, c. continuing sensing said noise pulse along said first branch circuit until the polarity of the induced noise current pulse is opposite to the polarity of the induced noise voltage pulse so as to locate a second branch circuit that is a source of electrical noise, and d. continuing similar sensing of the noise pulse until a final circuit, having no further branches associated therewith, is located as the generator of such electrical noise.

Claim 8

In a method for detecting the source of electrical noise in an electrical network having a plurality of branch circuits comprising the steps of: a. simultaneously sensing the current and voltage of that electrical noise on a given branch circuit, wherein similar polarities of the noise voltage and noise current indicate that the source of noise is coming from a given direction, b. continuing sensing said noise pulse in said branch circuit, while moving said probe in said given direction, until the polarity of the noise current pulse reverses with respect to the polarity of the noise voltage pulse, said reversal of polarity indicating a first branch circuit that is a source of electrical noise, c. continuing sensing said noise pulse along said first branch circuit until the polarity of the induced noise current pulse is opposite to the polarity of the induced noise voltage pulse so as to locate a second branch circuit that is a source of electrical noise, and d. continuing similar sensing of the noise pulse until a final circuit, having no further branches associated therewith, is located as the generator of such electrical noise.