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US4032841A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for measuring the capacitance of telephone cable pairs

Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1975-11-28
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Granted: 1977-06-28
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Expires: 1995-11-28
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Abstract

Abstract Improved method and apparatus for measuring the capacitance of telephone cable pairs utilizes the technique of charging and discharging the cable pair being measured to respective predetermined voltage levels and integrating the discharge current while observing certain specified parameter requirements. This technique provides an output which is a linear function of the capacitance of the cable pair being measured and has the property of substantially infinite rejection of a predetermined (interference) frequency and its harmonics, and yet permits the apparatus to have requisite simplicity and economy.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gary H. Knippelmier

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 10:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/24; G; G01; G01R; G01R27/00; G01R27/02; G01R27/26; G01R27/2605; G01R31/00; G01R31/50; G01R31/58

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
Apparatus for measuring the capacitance of telephone cable pairs, comprising: a. means for charging through a charging resistance a selected cable pair, the capacitance of which is to be measured, to a first predetermined voltage; b. means for discharging said cable pair through a discharge resistance from said first predetermined voltage to a second predetermined voltage; c. said charging resistance being substantially equal to said discharge resistance, and the discharge time being substantially equal to a period of an interference frequency to be rejected; d. means for integrating the discharge current, whereby there is produced an output voltage which is a substantially linear function of the capacitance of said selected cable pair.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
Apparatus for measuring the capacitance of telephone cable pairs, comprising: a. means for charging through a charging resistance a selected cable pair, the capacitance of which is to be measured, to a first predetermined voltage; b. means for discharging said cable pair through a discharge resistance from said first predetermined voltage to a second predetermined voltage; c. said charging resistance being substantially equal to said discharge resistance, and the discharge time being substantially equal to a period of an interference frequency to be rejected; d. means for integrating the discharge current, whereby there is produced an output voltage which is a substantially linear function of the capacitance of said selected cable pair.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said charging resistance is also said discharging resistance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said charging means includes a first switch means controlled by a first gating device and second switch means controlled by a second gating device, said discharging means includes third switch means controlled by said second gating device, and said integrating means comprises an operational amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 208 words
Apparatus for measuring the capacitance of telephone cable pairs, comprising: a. a charging circuit for connection to a cable pair the capacitance of which is to be measured and including in series a charging resistance, a contact of a first relay and a first contact of a second relay; b. a discharging circuit for said cable pair including said first relay contact, a second contact of said second relay, and a discharging resistance having a value substantially equal to that of said charging resistance; c. a first gating device for controlling said first relay and a second gating device for controlling said second relay, said first gating device operating to close said first relay contact to initiate charging of said cable pair, said second gating device operating to open said second relay first contact after said cable pair has charged to a predetermined voltage and close said second relay contact to initiate discharge of said cable pair and to maintain said second contact closed for a time period substantially equal to the period of an interference frequency to be rejected; d. means for integrating the discharge current, whereby there is produced an output voltage which is a substantially linear function of the capacitance of said selected cable pair.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 208 words
Apparatus for measuring the capacitance of telephone cable pairs, comprising: a. a charging circuit for connection to a cable pair the capacitance of which is to be measured and including in series a charging resistance, a contact of a first relay and a first contact of a second relay; b. a discharging circuit for said cable pair including said first relay contact, a second contact of said second relay, and a discharging resistance having a value substantially equal to that of said charging resistance; c. a first gating device for controlling said first relay and a second gating device for controlling said second relay, said first gating device operating to close said first relay contact to initiate charging of said cable pair, said second gating device operating to open said second relay first contact after said cable pair has charged to a predetermined voltage and close said second relay contact to initiate discharge of said cable pair and to maintain said second contact closed for a time period substantially equal to the period of an interference frequency to be rejected; d. means for integrating the discharge current, whereby there is produced an output voltage which is a substantially linear function of the capacitance of said selected cable pair.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 161 words
The method of measuring the capacitance of telephone cable pairs comprising the steps of: a. selecting a cable pair the capacitance of which is to be measured; b. charging said cable pair through a charging resistance for a first time period which is at least five times the time constant of said charging resistance plus the resistance and capacitance of said cable pair; c. beginning at the end of said first time period, discharging said cable pair through a discharging resistance, which has substantially the same value as said charging resistance, for a second time period which is substantially equal to the period of an interference frequency to be rejected and at least five times the time constant of said discharging resistance plus the resistance and capacitance of said cable pair d. integrating the discharge current over said second time period; whereby there is produced an output voltage which is a substantially linear function of the capacitance of said cable pair.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 161 words
The method of measuring the capacitance of telephone cable pairs comprising the steps of: a. selecting a cable pair the capacitance of which is to be measured; b. charging said cable pair through a charging resistance for a first time period which is at least five times the time constant of said charging resistance plus the resistance and capacitance of said cable pair; c. beginning at the end of said first time period, discharging said cable pair through a discharging resistance, which has substantially the same value as said charging resistance, for a second time period which is substantially equal to the period of an interference frequency to be rejected and at least five times the time constant of said discharging resistance plus the resistance and capacitance of said cable pair d. integrating the discharge current over said second time period; whereby there is produced an output voltage which is a substantially linear function of the capacitance of said cable pair.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said charging resistance is also said discharging resistance.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2208655A Cited
US3452272A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-06-27 1980-12-27 1981-06-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-06-27 1984-12-27 1985-06-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-06-27 1988-12-27 1989-06-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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