Device and method for detecting anomolies in a wire and related sensing methods

1. A device for measuring a characteristic of a wire comprising:

a sensor configured to measure a bulk electrical inductance of said wire to produce a measurement result, wherein said sensor comprises

a voltage source configured to produce a varying output voltage, and

a reference component having a known inductance and having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to said voltage source and the second end connected to the wire to supply said varying output voltage to the wire to provide a measurement result corresponding to a voltage present at the second end whereby said voltage is proportional to bulk inductance of said wire; and

a processor configured to extract a length of the wire from the measurement result of the sensor.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said wire length is determined as a linear function of said measurement result.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said wire length is determined as a non-linear function of said measurement result.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein said non-linear function is determined by calibration against a known length wire.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is added to a preexisting system component.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is included in a multi-function measurement device.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is included in a laptop computer.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is included in a desktop personal computer.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is disposed within the insulation of the wire.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is disposed in a connector.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is disposed in an integrated package configured as an add on device for a multi-function meter.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is configured to be installed in a circuit breaker.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is configured to be installed in an arc-fault breaker.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is configured to be installed in a battery.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is integrated into a probe.

16. A device for measuring a characteristic of a wire comprising:

a sensor configured to measure a bulk electrical inductance of said wire to produce a measurement result; and

a processor configured to extract a length of the wire from the measurement result of the sensor,

wherein said sensor comprises an oscillator circuit configured such that a frequency of oscillation is controlled by the bulk inductance of said wire and wherein said frequency of oscillation is provided as the measurement result to be used by said processor.

17. The device of claim 16 , further comprising a filter configured to separate said frequency of oscillation from a signal present on said wire.

18. The device of claim 16 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one frequency to voltage converter configured to convert a frequency measurement result to a voltage measurement result.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the sensor comprises at least two frequency to voltage converters capable of operation in different frequency ranges configured so that one of said at least two frequency to voltage converters is configured for operation at a given time.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein said wire length is determined as a linear function of said measurement result.

21. The device of claim 16 , wherein said wire length is determined as a non-linear function of said measurement result.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein said non-linear function is determined by calibration against a known length wire.

23. The device of claim 16 , wherein said device is added to a preexisting system component.

24. The device of claim 16 , wherein said device is included in any one of: a multi-function measurement device, a laptop computer, and a desktop personal computer.

25. The device of claim 16 , wherein said device is disposed within the insulation of the wire.

26. The device of claim 16 , wherein said device is disposed in a connector.

27. The device of claim 16 , wherein said device is disposed in an integrated package configured as an add on device for a multi-function meter.

28. The device of claim 16 , wherein said device is configured to be installed in a circuit breaker.

29. The device of claim 16 , wherein said device is configured to be installed in an arc-fault breaker.

30. The device of claim 16 , wherein said device is configured to be installed in a battery.

31. The device of claim 16 , wherein said device is integrated into a probe.

32. A device for measuring a characteristic of a wire comprising:

a sensor configured to measure a bulk electrical inductance of said wire to produce a measurement result; wherein said sensor comprises:

a voltage source configured to output a varying voltage;

a first amplifier coupled to said voltage source and configured to be coupled to said wire and configured to amplify said varying voltage with a gain proportional to the bulk inductance of said wire to produce an amplified voltage; and

a second amplifier;

(i) coupled to said voltage source and configured to accept said varying voltage and

(ii) coupled to said first amplifier and configured to accept said amplified voltage and

(iii) configured to generate a difference voltage proportional to a difference of said varying voltage and said amplified voltage wherein said difference voltage is provided as said measurement result whereby said difference voltage has an amplitude and a phase related to the bulk impedance of said wire; and

a processor configured to extract a length of the wire from the measurement result of the sensor.

33. A device for measuring a characteristic of a wire comprising:

a sensor configured to measure a bulk electrical inductance of said wire to produce a measurement result, wherein said sensor comprises at least two frequency to voltage converters capable of operation in different frequency ranges configured so that one of said at least two frequency to voltage converters is configured for operation at a given time; and

a processor configured to extract a length of the wire from the measurement result of the sensor.