Cable diagnostics using time domain reflectometry and applications using the same
View Patent ↗A system and method are used to determine connectivity and/or cable faults of a cable. A signal transmitting and receiving system is coupled to the cable. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the signal transmitting and receiving system. A TDR system coupled to the ADC and a memory, and a controlling system coupled to at least one of the ADC, the TDR system, and the signal receiving and transmitting system. The controlling system includes a controller and one or more state machines that are used to control the TDR system.
1. A system, comprising:
a signal transmitting system that transmits signals into a cable;
a signal receiving system that receives return signals from the cable that correspond to the transmitted signals:
an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts the return signals into digital signals;
a time domain reflectometry (TDR) system that receives the digital signals from the ADC and signals from a memory, wherein the TDR system uses the digital signals and the signals from the memory to determine whether the cable is a in a connected without energy state, as well as whether the cable is connected or not connected; and
a controlling system that controls the signal transmitting and receiving systems, the ADC, or the TDR system, the controlling system including a controller and a state machine that are used to control operation for the TDR system.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface device coupled to at least one of the TDR system, the controlling system, and the memory.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the user interface device includes an input device and an output device.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the user interface device is used to program values in the memory.
5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the user interface device is used to initiate a detection operation in the TDR system.
6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the user interface device is used to place the TDR system in one of manual mode, self trigger mode, or cable disconnect mode.
7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the user interface device is used to indicate at least one of a state and the connectivity of the cable.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the state of the cable is one of op en, short, or no fault.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more state machines comprise a cable disconnect state machine and a TDR self trigger state machine.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the TDR system also determines whether the cable is in open, short, or no fault state.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the one or more state machines.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controlling system is used to enable and initiate a detection operation in the TDR system.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controlling system is used to place the TDR system in one of manual mode, self trigger mode, or cable disconnect mode.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more state machines comprise a cable disconnect state machine.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more state machines comprise a TDR self trigger state machine.
16. A system, comprising:
a signal transmitting system that transmits signals into a cable;
a signal receiving system that receives return signals from the cable that correspond to the transmitted signals;
an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts the return signals into digital signals;
a time domain reflectometry (TDR) system that receives the digital signals from the ADC and signals from a memory to determine a state of the cable or a connectivity of the cable; and
a controlling system that controls the signal transmitting and receiving systems, the ADC, or the TDR system to place the TDR system in a cable disconnect mode, as well as a manual mode or a; self trigger mode, the controlling system including a controller and a state machine that are used to control operation for the TDR system.
17. A system, comprising:
a signal transmitting system that transmits signals into a cable;
a signal receiving system that receives return signals from the cable that correspond to the transmitted signals;
an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts the return signals into digital signals;
a time domain reflectometry (TDR) system that receives the digital signals from the ADC and signals from a memory, wherein the TDR system uses the digital signals and the signals from the memory to determine whether the cable is in a connected without energy state, as well as whether the cable is connected or not connected; and
a controlling system that controls the signal transmitting and receiving systems, the ADC, or the TDR system to place the TDR system in a cable disconnect mode, as well as a manual mode or a; self trigger mode, the controlling system including a controller and one or more state machines that are used to control operation for the TDR system.