Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals

Claim 2

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals comprising a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test, detecting means comprising a first stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of a predetermined first level sensed by said probe, and a second stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of a predetermined second level sensed by said probe, detected signal converting means connected to said detecting means triggered in response to a variation of said logic electrical signal levels detected by said detecting means, oscillator means for providing an audio frequency signal, a plurality of gate means having inputs coupled selectively to an output of said oscillator means, outputs of said first and second stages of said detecting means, and an output of said detected signal converting means, electroacoustic transducer means coupled for being driven by said gate means, whereby a plurality of predetermined electrical conditions of the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of tones of different frequencies audible to an inspector, said cathode ray tube indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test, connecting means provided between an input of said cathode ray tube and an output of said probe, a switching means interposed between the probe and an input terminal of the detecting means in such a manner that the flowing of the sensed logic electrical signals into the detecting means is controlled by manually operating said switching means, whereby the oscillation sounds developed from the electroacoustic transducer means can be interrupted when not desired.

Claim 3

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electroacoustic transducer means comprises a loudspeaker.

Claim 4

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 1 wherein said oscillator means selectively provides a plurality of different oscillation frequencies at said electroacoustic transducer means.

Claim 5

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 1 wherein said detected signal converting means comprises a monostable multivibrator.

Claim 6

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 1 wherein said oscillator means comprises an astable multivibrator.

Claim 7

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a plug and a receptacle.

Claim 8

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information sIgnals as set forth in claim 1 wherein said detecting means comprises a comparator circuit for detecting said logic electrical signals from the logic circuit under test.

Claim 9

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals comprising a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test detecting means comprising a first stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of a predetermined first level sensed by said probe, and a second stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of a predetermined second level sensed by said probe, and a third stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of pulse trains, detected signal converting means connected to said detecting means triggered in response to a variation of said signal levels detected by said detecting means, oscillator means for providing an audio frequency signal, a plurality of gate means having inputs coupled selectively to an output of said oscillator means, outputs of said first and second stages of said detecting means, and an output of said detected signal converting means, electroacoustic transducer means coupled for being driven by said gate means, whereby a plurality of predetermined electrical conditions of the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of tones of different frequencies audible to an inspector, said cathode ray tube indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test, connecting means provided between an input of said cathode ray tube and an output of said probe, a first switching means interposed between the probe and an input terminal of the detecting means in such a manner that the flowing of the sensed logic electrical signals into the detecting means is controlled by manually operating said first switching means, whereby the oscillation sounds developed from the electroacoustic transducer means can be interrupted when not desired, a plurality of second switching means interposed between a plurality of output lines of the detecting means and an input terminal of said electroacoustic transducer in such a manner that the oscillation sounds developed from the electroacoustic transducer means can be interrupted by controlling the flowing of the detected logic electrical signals into the electroacoustic transducer when not desired.

Claim 10

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals comprising a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test detecting means comprising a first stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of a predetermined first level sensed by said probe, and a second stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of a predetermined second level sensed by said probe, and a third stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of pulse trains, detected signal converting means connected to said detecting means triggered in response to a variation of said signal levels detected by said detecting means, oscillator means for providing an audio frequency signal, a plurality of gate means having inputs coupled selectively to an output of said oscillator means, outputs of said first and second stages of said detecting means, and an output of said detected signal converting means, electroacoustic transducer means coupled for being driven by said gate means, whereby a plurality of predetermined electrical conditions of the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of tones of different frequencies audible to an inspector, said cathode ray tube indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test, connecting means provided between an input of said cathode ray tube and an output of said probe, a first switching means interposed between the probe and an input terminal of the detecting means in such a manner that the flowing of the sensed logic electrical signals into the detecting means is controlled by manually operating said first switching means, whereby the oscillation sounds developed from the electroacoustic transducer means can be interrupted when not desired, a plurality of second switching means interposed between a plurality of output lines of the detecting means and an input terminal of said electroacoustic transducer in such a manner that the oscillation sounds developed from the electroacoustic transducer means can be interrupted by controlling the flowing of the detected logic electrical signals into the electroacoustic transducer when not desired.

Claim 11

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals comprising a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test, detecting means coupled to said probe and comprising a first stage for detecting logic electrical signals of a predetermined first level coupled thereto from said probe, a second stage for detecting logic electrical signals of a predetermined second level coupled thereto from said probe, and a third stage for detecting pulses coupled thereto from said probe, a first detected signal converting means coupled to said third pulse detecting stage for providing an output signal in response to the variation in level of the output from said third pulse detecting stage, a second detected signal converting means coupled to said first detected signal converting means for providing an output in response to a variation in level of the output from said first detected signal converting means, a first oscillator means for providing an audio frequency output signal when the output from said detecting means is at said first level, a second oscillator means for providing an audio frequency output signal when the output from said detecting means is at said second level, a plurality of gate means having inputs coupled selectively to the outputs of said first and second oscillator means, said first and second stages of said detecting means, and the outputs of said first and second detected signal converting means, a firSt gate circuit having a plurality of inputs coupled respectively to said plurality of gate means for providing a drive signal output including said audio frequency signals from said first and second oscillators and different sequences of said audio frequency signals, electroacoustic transducer means coupled for being driven by said gate circuit, whereby a plurality of predetermined electrical conditions of the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of tones of different frequencies audible to an inspector, said cathode ray tube indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test, connecting means provided between an input of said cathode ray tube and an output of said probe, whereby a measurement as to whether the detected logic electrical signals are at the first level or at the second level can be effected by hearing the sounds developed from said electroacoustic transducer means without the inspector turning his eyes on the displaying surface of the cathode ray tube.

Claim 12

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals comprising a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test, detecting means coupled to said probe and comprising a first stage for detecting logic electrical signals of a predetermined first level coupled thereto from said probe, a second stage for detecting logic electrical signals of a predetermined second level coupled thereto from said probe, and a third stage for detecting pulses coupled thereto from said probe, a first detected signal converting means coupled to said third pulse detecting stage for providing an output signal in response to the variation in level of the output from said third pulse detecting stage, a second detected signal converting means coupled to said first detected signal converting means for providing an output in response to a variation in level of the output from said first detected signal converting means, a first oscillator means for providing an audio frequency output signal when the output from said detecting means is at said first level, a second oscillator means for providing an audio frequency output signal when the output from said detecting means is at said second level, a plurality of gate means having inputs coupled selectively to the outputs of said first and second oscillator means, said first and second stages of said detecting means, and the outputs of said first and second detected signal converting means, a firSt gate circuit having a plurality of inputs coupled respectively to said plurality of gate means for providing a drive signal output including said audio frequency signals from said first and second oscillators and different sequences of said audio frequency signals, electroacoustic transducer means coupled for being driven by said gate circuit, whereby a plurality of predetermined electrical conditions of the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of tones of different frequencies audible to an inspector, said cathode ray tube indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test, connecting means provided between an input of said cathode ray tube and an output of said probe, whereby a measurement as to whether the detected logic electrical signals are at the first level or at the second level can be effected by hearing the sounds developed from said electroacoustic transducer means without the inspector turning his eyes on the displaying surface of the cathode ray tube.

Claim 13

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plurality of gate means comprises a first gate means having a plurality of inputs coupled respectively to said first stage of said detecting means, the output of said first oscillator means, and the output of said second detectd signal converting means; a second gate means having a pair of inputs coupled respectively to the output of said first oscillator means, and the output of said first detected signal converting means; and a third gate means having a pair of inputs coupled respectively to said second stage of said detecting means, and to the output of said first detected signal converting means.

Claim 14

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals comprising a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test, detecting means comprising a first stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of a predetermined first level sensed by said probe, and a second stage for detecting logic electrical signals of a predetermined second level sensed by said probe, detected signal converting means connected to said detecting means for producing an output having a stretched pulse width of a pulsed logic electrical signal detected by said detecting means, oscillator means for providing a plurality of audio frequency signals, a plurality of gate means having inputs coupled selectively to the output of said oscillator means, said first and second stages of said detecting means, and the output of said detected signal converting means, an OR gate circuit having a pair of inputs coupled respectively to said first and second stage of said detecting means for receiving the detected logic electrical signal from said detecting means, electroacoustic transducer means coupled for being driven by said gate means and said OR gate circuit, whereby a plurality of predetermined electrical conditions of the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of tones and tone sequences audible to an inspector, said cathode ray tube indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test, connecting means provided between an input of said cathode ray tube and an output of said probe, whereby a measurement as to whether the logic electrical signals are at the first level or at the second level can be effected by hearing the sounds developed from the electroacoustic transducer means without the inspector turning his eyes on the displaying surface of the cathode ray tube.

Claim 15

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals comprising a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test, detecting means comprising a first stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of a predetermined first level sensed by said probe, and a second stage for detecting logic electrical signals of a predetermined second level sensed by said probe, detected signal converting means connected to said detecting means for producing an output having a stretched pulse width of a pulsed logic electrical signal detected by said detecting means, oscillator means for providing a plurality of audio frequency signals, a plurality of gate means having inputs coupled selectively to the output of said oscillator means, said first and second stages of said detecting means, and the output of said detected signal converting means, an OR gate circuit having a pair of inputs coupled respectively to said first and second stage of said detecting means for receiving the detected logic electrical signal from said detecting means, electroacoustic transducer means coupled for being driven by said gate means and said OR gate circuit, whereby a plurality of predetermined electrical conditions of the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of tones and tone sequences audible to an inspector, said cathode ray tube indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test, connecting means provided between an input of said cathode ray tube and an output of said probe, whereby a measurement as to whether the logic electrical signals are at the first level or at the second level can be effected by hearing the sounds developed from the electroacoustic transducer means without the inspector turning his eyes on the displaying surface of the cathode ray tube.

Claim 16

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 11 wherein said oscillator means comprises an astable multivibRator.

Claim 17

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 11 wherein said oscillator means comprises a switching circuit actuatable in response to the electrical signal detected by said detecting means and means for providing an output signal which varies in frequency in response to a variation in output voltage from said switching circuit.

Claim 18

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 11 wherein said detecting means comprises a ternary logic circuit for detecting three discrete levels of the logic electrical signals by said probe.

Claim 19

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a probe housing for supporting said probe, and illumination means disposed within said probe housing and connected to the output of said OR gate circuit to illuminate a desired check point in the logic circuit under test and to inform the inspector whether the probe is actually in contact with said check point.

Claim 20

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 15 further comprising manual switching means for energizing and de-energizing said illumination means.

Claim 21

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals comprising a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test, detecting means comprising a first stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of a predetermined first level sensed by said probe, a second stage for detecting logic electrical signals of a predetermined second level sensed by said probe, a switching circuit actuatable in response to the electrical signal by said detecting means to provide different output voltages dependent on said actuation, oscillator means coupled to said switching circuit for providing an output signal which varies in frequency in response to a variation in output voltage from said switching circuit, OR gate means having an output terminal, and a pair of inputs coupled to said detecting means, AND gate means having an output, a first input coupled to said oscillator means, and a second input coupled to the output of said OR gate means, so that said oscillator means output is presented at said AND gate means output in response to the presence of logic electrical signals detected by said detecting means, electroacoustic transducer means connected for being driven by said AND gate means, whereby a plurality of electrical conditions in the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of tones of different frequencies audible to an inspector, said cathode ray tube indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test, connecting means provided between an input of said cathode ray tube and an output of said probe, whereby a measurement, as to whether the logic electrical signals are at the first level or at the second level, can be effected by hearing the sounds developed from the electroacoustic transducer means without the inspector turning his eyes on the displaying surface of the cathode ray tube.

Claim 22

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals comprising a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test, detecting means comprising a first stage for detecting said logic electrical signals of a predetermined first level sensed by said probe, a second stage for detecting logic electrical signals of a predetermined second level sensed by said probe, a switching circuit actuatable in response to the electrical signal by said detecting means to provide different output voltages dependent on said actuation, oscillator means coupled to said switching circuit for providing an output signal which varies in frequency in response to a variation in output voltage from said switching circuit, OR gate means having an output terminal, and a pair of inputs coupled to said detecting means, AND gate means having an output, a first input coupled to said oscillator means, and a second input coupled to the output of said OR gate means, so that said oscillator means output is presented at said AND gate means output in response to the presence of logic electrical signals detected by said detecting means, electroacoustic transducer means connected for being driven by said AND gate means, whereby a plurality of electrical conditions in the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of tones of different frequencies audible to an inspector, said cathode ray tube indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test, connecting means provided between an input of said cathode ray tube and an output of said probe, whereby a measurement, as to whether the logic electrical signals are at the first level or at the second level, can be effected by hearing the sounds developed from the electroacoustic transducer means without the inspector turning his eyes on the displaying surface of the cathode ray tube.

Claim 23

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 17 further comprising illumination means connected to be energized by the output of said OR gate means.

Claim 24

Electronic circuit test equipment including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto using a plurality of information signals as set forth in claim 18 further comprisiNg a manually operable switch mounted on said probe and connected to said illumination means to permit energization and de-energization of said illumination means.

Claim 25

Electronic circuit test equipment, including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto, for displaying a plurality of information signals, comprising: a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test; detecting means comprising a first stage for detecting a predetermined first level of said logic electrical signals sensed by said probe and a second stage for detecting a predetermined second level of said logic electrical signals; a first detected signal converting means coupled to said detecting means for being triggered in response to a variation in level of the output from said detecting means; a second detected signal converting means coupled to said first detected signal converting means for being triggered in response to a variation in level of the output from said first detected signal converting means; a switching circuit actuatable in response to the detection of one of the detected signals from said detecting means to provide different output signals dependent on said actuation, said switching circuit being interconnected to said detecting means; oscillator means coupled to said switching circuit for providing an output signal which varies in frequency in response to a variation in output voltage from said switching circuit; electroacoustic transducer means coupled to said oscillator means so that a plurality of electrical conditions in the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of audible signal tones of the different frequencies, whereby a measurement as to whether the logic electrical signals are at the first level or at the second level can be effected by hearing the sounds from said electroacoustic transducer means; a cathode ray tube for indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test; and means for connecting an output of said probe to an input of said cathode ray tube.

Claim 26

Electronic circuit test equipment, including a cathode ray tube detachably connected thereto, for displaying a plurality of information signals, comprising: a probe for sensing logic electrical signals from a logic circuit under test; detecting means comprising a first stage for detecting a predetermined first level of said logic electrical signals sensed by said probe and a second stage for detecting a predetermined second level of said logic electrical signals; a first detected signal converting means coupled to said detecting means for being triggered in response to a variation in level of the output from said detecting means; a second detected signal converting means coupled to said first detected signal converting means for being triggered in response to a variation in level of the output from said first detected signal converting means; a switching circuit actuatable in response to the detection of one of the detected signals from said detecting means to provide different output signals dependent on said actuation, said switching circuit being interconnected to said detecting means; oscillator means coupled to said switching circuit for providing an output signal which varies in frequency in response to a variation in output voltage from said switching circuit; electroacoustic transducer means coupled to said oscillator means so that a plurality of electrical conditions in the logic circuit under test can be converted into a plurality of audible signal tones of the different frequencies, whereby a measurement as to whether the logic electrical signals are at the first level or at the second level can be effected by hearing the sounds from said electroacoustic transducer means; a cathode ray tube for indicating logic electrical signal waveforms from said logic circuit under test; and means for connecting an output of said probe to an input of said cathode ray tube.

Claim 27

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 20, wherein said oscillator means comprises an astable-multivibrator.

Claim 28

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 20, wherein said switching circuit includes a primary time delay circuit connected to said oscillator means for continuously varying the oscillating frequency of said oscillator means in response to predetermined signals sensed by said probe.

Claim 29

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 20 further comprising a switching means interposed between said probe and an input terminal of said detecting means in such a manner that the flow of the sensed logic electrical signals into said detecting means is controlled by manually operating said switching means, whereby the oscillation sounds developed from said electroacoustic transducer means can be interrupted when not desired.

Claim 30

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 20 further comprising a switching means interposed between said detecting means and said electroacoustic transducer means in such a manner that the flow of the sensed logic electrical signals into said detecting means is controlled by manually operating said switching means, whereby the oscillation sounds developed from the electroacoustic transducer means can be interrupted when not desired.

Claim 31

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 20 further comprising a first gate means having an output, a pair of inputs interconnected to said detecting means output and said first detected signal converting means, respectively, and a second gate means having an output, a pair of inputs connected to the output of said first gate means and said second detected signal converting means, respectively, the output of said second gate means being connected to said switching circuit.

Claim 32

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 20 further compRising, OR gate means having an output terminal and a pair of inputs coupled to the outputs of said detecting means, respectively, said OR gate controlling energization and de-energization of said electroacoustic transducer means in accordance with the condition as to whether or not said probe is in contact with the logic circuit under test.

Claim 33

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 26 further comprising, AND gate means having an output, a first input coupled to said oscillator means, a second input coupled to the output of said OR gate means, so that the output of said oscillator means appears at said AND gate means output at the time of the presence of an electrical signal detected by said detecting means.

Claim 34

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 27 further comprising a switching means interposed between said detecting means and said AND gate means in such a manner that the flow of the sensed electrical signals into said detecting means is controlled by manually operating said switching means, whereby the oscillation sounds developed from said electroacoustic transducer means can be interrupted when not desired.

Claim 35

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 20 further comprising a probe housing for supporting said probe, and indicating means disposed within said probe housing and connected to said detecting means to indicate said electrical conditions in the logic circuit under test.

Claim 36

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 29 further comprising manual switching means for manually switching between energization and de-energization of said indicating means.

Claim 37

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 29 wherein said indicating means comprises a first indicating means and a second indicating means adapted to identify the first and the second levels of the logic electrical signals, respectively, said two indicating means are connected to said first and second stages of the detecting means, respectively.

Claim 38

Electrical circuit test equipment as defined in claim 31 wherein said probe is provided with color codes having a plurality of colors corresponding to the lights emitted from said two indicating means, whereby a duty cycle or a pulse train can be measured according to said color codes.

Claim 39

Electrical circuit test equipment as defined in claim 26 further comprising indicating means to be energized by the output of said OR gate means.

Claim 40

Electronic circuit test equipment as defined in claim 33 further comprising a manually operable switch mounted on said probe and connected to said indicating means to permit control of the energization and deenergization of said indicating means.