Timer calibration method and apparatus

Claim 1

A method for generating a calibrating time for an interval timer, of the type having a first and a second input channel in which an initial signal arriving over one input channel initiates a timing cycle while a subsequent signal arriving over the other input channel terminates the timing cycle, the method comprising the steps of: a. interconnecting remote ends of the first and second input channels by interconnecting means, b. placing a first signal on the remote end of the first input channel such that said first signal initiates a first timing cycle after passing over said first input channel, and terminates the first timing cycle after passing over said channel interconnecting means and said second channel; and c. placing a second signal on the remote end of the second input channel such that said second signal intiates a second timing cycle after passing over said second input channel, and terminates the second timing cycle after passing over said channel interconnecting means and said first input channel.

Claim 2

A method for generating a calibrating time for an interval timer, of the type having a first and a second input channel in which an initial signal arriving over one input channel initiates a timing cycle while a subsequent signal arriving over the other input channel terminates the timing cycle, the method comprising the steps of: a. interconnecting remote ends of the first and second input channels by interconnecting means, b. placing a first signal on the remote end of the first input channel such that said first signal initiates a first timing cycle after passing over said first input channel, and terminates the first timing cycle after passing over said channel interconnecting means and said second channel; and c. placing a second signal on the remote end of the second input channel such that said second signal intiates a second timing cycle after passing over said second input channel, and terminates the second timing cycle after passing over said channel interconnecting means and said first input channel.

Claim 5

A method for generating a calibrating time for an interval timer, of the type having a first and a second input channel in which a first signal, arriving over one input channel, initiates a timing cycle, while a second signal, arriving over the other input channel, terminates the timing cycle, the first and second signals having been transported to the first and second input channels from remote sources by means of first and second input conductors, the method comprising the steps of: a. interconnecting external ends of the first and second input channels by interconnecting means, b. connecting the second input conductor to the external end of the second input channel, and c. placing a first test signal on the remote end of the first input channel such that said first test signal initiates a first timing cycle, after passing over said first input channel, and terminates said first timing cycle, after passing over said channel interconnecting means, traveling to a remote end of the second input conductor, reflecting back over said second input conductor after reaching a remote end of said second conductor, and then passing over the second input channel.

Claim 6

A method for generating a calibrating time for an interval timer, of the type having a first and a second input channel in which a first signal, arriving over one input channel, initiates a timing cycle, while a second signal, arriving over the other input channel, terminates the timing cycle, the first and second signals having been transported to the first and second input channels from remote sources by means of first and second input conductors, the method comprising the steps of: a. interconnecting external ends of the first and second input channels by interconnecting means, b. connecting the second input conductor to the external end of the second input channel, and c. placing a first test signal on the remote end of the first input channel such that said first test signal initiates a first timing cycle, after passing over said first input channel, and terminates said first timing cycle, after passing over said channel interconnecting means, traveling to a remote end of the second input conductor, reflecting back over said second input conductor after reaching a remote end of said second conductor, and then passing over the second input channel.

Claim 7

A method as in claim, 4 further comprising the steps of: d. connecting the first input conductor to the remote end of the first input channel, and e. placing a second test signal on the remote end of the second input channel such that said second signal initiates a second timing cycle, after passing over said second input channel, and terminates said second timing cycle, after passing over said interconnecting means, traveling to a remote end of said first conductor, reflecting back over said first conductor after reaching said remote end of said first conductor, and then passing over the first input channel.

Claim 10

An apparatus for calibrating a timer of the type having a first and a second input channel in which an initial signal, arriving over one input channel, initiates a timing cycle, while a subsequent signal, arriving over the other input channel, terminates the timing cycle, the apparatus comprising: a commoning conductor, a test signal source, first signal routing means to selectively connect a remote end of said first input channel to one end of said commoning conductor, and to said test signal source, and second signal routing means to selectively connect a remote end of said second input channel to another end of said commoning conductor, such that by placing a first test signal from the test signal source on said remote end of the first input channel, said first test signal initiates a first timing cycle after passing over said first input channel, and terminates said first timing cycle after passing over said commoning conductor and said second channel.

Claim 11

An apparatus for calibrating a timer of the type having a first and a second input channel in which an initial signal, arriving over one input channel, initiates a timing cycle, while a subsequent signal, arriving over the other input channel, terminates the timing cycle, the apparatus comprising: a commoning conductor, a test signal source, first signal routing means to selectively connect a remote end of said first input channel to one end of said commoning conductor, and to said test signal source, and second signal routing means to selectively connect a remote end of said second input channel to another end of said commoning conductor, such that by placing a first test signal from the test signal source on said remote end of the first input channel, said first test signal initiates a first timing cycle after passing over said first input channel, and terminates said first timing cycle after passing over said commoning conductor and said second channel.

Claim 20

An apparatus for calibration for a timer of the type having a first and a second input channel in which an initial signal arriving over one input channel initiates a timing cycle, while a subsequent signal arriving over the other input channel terminates the timing cycle, the apparatus comprising: a commoning conductor, a test signal source, first signal routing means to selectively connect a remote end of said first input channel to one end of said commoning conductor and to said test signal source, and second signal routing means, to selectively connect a remote end of said second input channel to another end of said commoning conductor and to said test signal source, such that by placing a first test signal from the test signal source on the remote end of the first input channel, said first test signal initiates a first timing cycle, after passing over said first input channel, and terminates said first timing cycle after passing over said commoning conductor and said second channel, and such that by placing a second test signal from said test signal source on said remote end of said second input channel, said second signal initiates a second timing signal, after passing over said second input channel, and terminates the second timing cycle, after passing over said commoning conductor and said first input channel.

Claim 21

An apparatus for calibration for a timer of the type having a first and a second input channel in which an initial signal arriving over one input channel initiates a timing cycle, while a subsequent signal arriving over the other input channel terminates the timing cycle, the apparatus comprising: a commoning conductor, a test signal source, first signal routing means to selectively connect a remote end of said first input channel to one end of said commoning conductor and to said test signal source, and second signal routing means, to selectively connect a remote end of said second input channel to another end of said commoning conductor and to said test signal source, such that by placing a first test signal from the test signal source on the remote end of the first input channel, said first test signal initiates a first timing cycle, after passing over said first input channel, and terminates said first timing cycle after passing over said commoning conductor and said second channel, and such that by placing a second test signal from said test signal source on said remote end of said second input channel, said second signal initiates a second timing signal, after passing over said second input channel, and terminates the second timing cycle, after passing over said commoning conductor and said first input channel.

Claim 22

An apparatus for calibrating a timer of the type having a first and a second input channel in which an initial signal arriving over one input channel initiates a timing cycle, while a subsequent signal arriving over the other input channel terminates the timing cycle, said initial and subsequent signals being transported to remote ends of said first and second input channels from remote sources by means of first and second signal conductors, the apparatus comprising: a commoning conductor, a test signal source, first signal routing means to selectively connect said remote end of said first input channel to one end of said commoning conductor, and to said test signal source, and second signal routing means, to selectively connect said remote end of said second input channel to another end of said commoning conductor, to a first end of said second signal conductor, and to said test signal source, such that by placing a first test signal from the test signal source on said remote end of said first input channel, said first test signal initiates a first timing cycle, after passing over said first input channel, and terminates said first timing cycle after passing over said commoning conductor, traveling to a remote end of said second signal conductor where said first test signal is reflected, passing back over said second conductor and passing over said second input channel.

Claim 23

An apparatus for calibrating a timer of the type having a first and a second input channel in which an initial signal arriving over one input channel initiates a timing cycle, while a subsequent signal arriving over the other input channel terminates the timing cycle, said initial and subsequent signals being transported to remote ends of said first and second input channels from remote sources by means of first and second signal conductors, the apparatus comprising: a commoning conductor, a test signal source, first signal routing means to selectively connect said remote end of said first input channel to one end of said commoning conductor, and to said test signal source, and second signal routing means, to selectively connect said remote end of said second input channel to another end of said commoning conductor, to a first end of said second signal conductor, and to said test signal source, such that by placing a first test signal from the test signal source on said remote end of said first input channel, said first test signal initiates a first timing cycle, after passing over said first input channel, and terminates said first timing cycle after passing over said commoning conductor, traveling to a remote end of said second signal conductor where said first test signal is reflected, passing back over said second conductor and passing over said second input channel.

Claim 24

An apparatus for calibrating a timer of the type having a first and a second input channel in which an initial signal arriving over one input channel initiates a timing cycle, while a subsequent signal arriving over the other input channel terminates the timing cycle, said initial and subsequent signals being transported to remote ends of said first and second input channels from remote sources by means of first and second signal conductors, the apparatus comprising: a commoning conductor, a test signal source, first signal routing means to selectively connect said remote end of said first input channel to one end of said commoning conductor, to a first end of said first signal conductor, and to said test signal source, and second signal routing means, to selectively connect said remote end of said second input channel to another end of said commoning conductor, to a first end of said second signal conductor, and to said test signal source, such that by placing a first test signal from the test signal source on said remote end of said first input channel, said first test signal initiates a first timing cycle, after passing over said first input channel, and terminates said first timing cycle, after passing over said commoning conductor, traveling to a remote end of said second signal conductor where said first test signal is reflected, passing back over said second conductor and then passing over said second input channel, and such that by placing a second test signal from the test signal source on said remote end of said second input channel, said second test signal initiates a second first timing cycle, after passing over said second input channel, and terminates said second timing cycle, after passing over said commoning conductor, traveling to a remote end of said first signal conductor, where said second test signal is reflected, passing back over said first conductor, and then passing over said second input channel.

Claim 25

An apparatus for calibrating a timer of the type having a first and a second input channel in which an initial signal arriving over one input channel initiates a timing cycle, while a subsequent signal arriving over the other input channel terminates the timing cycle, said initial and subsequent signals being transported to remote ends of said first and second input channels from remote sources by means of first and second signal conductors, the apparatus comprising: a commoning conductor, a test signal source, first signal routing means to selectively connect said remote end of said first input channel to one end of said commoning conductor, to a first end of said first signal conductor, and to said test signal source, and second signal routing means, to selectively connect said remote end of said second input channel to another end of said commoning conductor, to a first end of said second signal conductor, and to said test signal source, such that by placing a first test signal from the test signal source on said remote end of said first input channel, said first test signal initiates a first timing cycle, after passing over said first input channel, and terminates said first timing cycle, after passing over said commoning conductor, traveling to a remote end of said second signal conductor where said first test signal is reflected, passing back over said second conductor and then passing over said second input channel, and such that by placing a second test signal from the test signal source on said remote end of said second input channel, said second test signal initiates a second first timing cycle, after passing over said second input channel, and terminates said second timing cycle, after passing over said commoning conductor, traveling to a remote end of said first signal conductor, where said second test signal is reflected, passing back over said first conductor, and then passing over said second input channel.