Cable tester for locating shorts discontinuities and reversals in multi-conductor cables

Claim 2

A cable tester for a multi-conductor cable comprising a substantially constant-current power supply; connector means for connecting at least one end of said cable to said tester; circuit means for connecting all of the conductors of said cable in series with one another to form a circuit across said power supply; said circuit means including a plurality of "open" detector lines, one connected in parallel with each cable conductor, each of said "open" detector lines having a substantially higher resistance than the cable conductor with which it is connected in parallel, each of said "open" detector lines having therein a light source activatable upon the occurrence of an "open" in its associated cable conductor; said circuit means further including a plurality of "short" detector lines, one connected in series between each cable conductor and the next adjacent cable conductor each of said "short" detector lines having therein a light source activatable in the absence of a "short" in its associated cable conductor; and said "open" detector light sources and said "short" detector light sources being arranged in a display in a seclected pattern with both of the light sources associated with a given cable conductor in predetermined spaced relationship to each other.

Claim 3

A cable tester in accordance with claim 1 in which said selected display pattern of "open" and "short" detector light sources comprises: at least one row comprising a plurality of "open" detector light sources; and at least another row comprising a plurality of "short" detector light sources aligned parallel to and extending coextensive with said row of "open" detector light sources, the "open" and "short" light sources associated with a given cable wire being aligned with each other transverse to said rows.

Claim 4

A cable tester in accordance with claim 2 in which said "open" detector light sources are arranged in two rows and said "short" detector light sources are arranged in two rows.

Claim 5

A cable tester in accordance with claim 1 in which said light sources are light emitting diodes.

Claim 6

A cable tester in accordance with claim 1 in which the light sources for said "open" detectors are of a color different than the light sources for said "short" detectors.

Claim 7

A cable tester in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising connector means for connecting both ends of said cable to the tester.

Claim 8

A cable tester in accordance with claim 1 in which said power supply includes a jumper line at least partially thereacross, said jumper line having a selected resistance and having a light source therein actuatable upon the passage of a selected current therethrough.

Claim 9

A cable tester in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising block means for connecting the conductors of said cables in selected series pairs with one another at a cable end remote from said tester so that access to only a single end of said cable by said tester is required; and means for connecting said series pairs to said tester.

Claim 10

A cable tester in accordance with claim 8 in which said block means comprises means for alternately connecting series pairs of conductors in a first selected pattern and in a second selected pattern by conductor number, said second selected pattern being displaced from said first selected pattern by one conductor number.

Claim 11

A cable tester for a multi-conductor cable comprising: a substantially constant-current power supply; connector means for connecting at least one end of said cable to said tester; circuit means for connecting all of the conductors of said cable in series with one another to form a circuit across said power supply; said circuit means including a plurality of "open" detector lines, one connected in parallel with each cable conductor, each of said "open" detector lines having a substantially higher resistance than the cable conductor with which it is connected in parallel, each of said "open" detector lines having therein a light source activatable upon the occurrence of an "open" in its associated cable conductor; said circuit means further including a plurality of "short" detector lines, one connected in series between each cable conductor and the next adjacent cable conductor each of said "short" detector lines having therein a light source activatable in the absence of a "short" in its associated cable conductor; and said "open" detector light sources and said "short" detector light sources being arranged in a display in a selected pattern which comprises: at least one row comprising a plurality of "open" detector light sources; and at least another row comprising a plurality of "short" detector light sources aligned parallel to and extending coextensive with said row of "open" detector light sources, and "open" and "short" light sources associated with a given cable wire being aligned with each other transverse to said rows; said power supply including a jumper line at least partially thereacross, said jumper line having a selected resistance and having a light source therein actuatable upon the passage of a selected current therethrough; block means for connecting the conductors of said cables in selected series pairs with one another at a cable end remote from said tester so that access to only a single end of said cable by said tester is required; said block means further comprising means for alternately connecting series pairs of conductors in a first selected pattern and in a second selected pattern by conductor number, said second selected pattern being displaced from said first selected pattern by one conductor number; and means for connecting said series pairs to said tester.

Claim 12

A cable tester for a multi-conductor cable comprising: a substantially constant-current power supply; connector means for connecting at least one end of said cable to said tester; circuit means for connecting all of the conductors of said cable in series with one another to form a circuit across said power supply; said circuit means including a plurality of "open" detector lines, one connected in parallel with each cable conductor, each of said "open" detector lines having a substantially higher resistance than the cable conductor with which it is connected in parallel, each of said "open" detector lines having therein a light source activatable upon the occurrence of an "open" in its associated cable conductor; said circuit means further including a plurality of "short" detector lines, one connected in series between each cable conductor and the next adjacent cable conductor each of said "short" detector lines having therein a light source activatable in the absence of a "short" in its associated cable conductor; and said "open" detector light sources and said "short" detector light sources being arranged in a display in a selected pattern which comprises: at least one row comprising a plurality of "open" detector light sources; and at least another row comprising a plurality of "short" detector light sources aligned parallel to and extending coextensive with said row of "open" detector light sources, and "open" and "short" light sources associated with a given cable wire being aligned with each other transverse to said rows; said power supply including a jumper line at least partially thereacross, said jumper line having a selected resistance and having a light source therein actuatable upon the passage of a selected current therethrough; block means for connecting the conductors of said cables in selected series pairs with one another at a cable end remote from said tester so that access to only a single end of said cable by said tester is required; said block means further comprising means for alternately connecting series pairs of conductors in a first selected pattern and in a second selected pattern by conductor number, said second selected pattern being displaced from said first selected pattern by one conductor number; and means for connecting said series pairs to said tester.