IP Library Granted Patent US 8,473,246
Granted Patent B1
US 8,473,246 · App. 12/613,645 · Granted Jun 25, 2013

Cable measurement device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,473,246
App. No.
12/613,645
Granted
Jun 25, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

A length of a cable may be measured. First, a wave may be transmitted in a cable. Then, the transmitted wave may be received. Next, a length of the cable between a first end of the cable and a second end of the cable may be calculated based upon a time the transmitted wave took to travel in the cable.

Claims (32)

1. A system for measuring a length of a cable, the system comprising:

a stationary two-dimensional transducer array configured to transmit a plurality of waves in a conical fashion, each of the plurality of waves diverging from a generation point and impinging onto a volume of the cable to be measured;

a receiver configured to receive the plurality of reflected waves; and

a component configured to calculate the length of the cable based upon the plurality of reflected waves received at the receiver and to display the calculated length.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wave comprises an elastic wave.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wave comprises an ultrasonic wave.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a frequency and wavelength of the wave is optimized to material properties of the cable to minimize attenuation of the wave.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stationary two-dimensional transducer array transmitter is further configured to generate the plurality of waves using a vibrating member.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component being configured to calculate the length of the cable comprises the component being configured to calculate the length of the cable based upon a conductor type associated with the cable.

7. A system of claim 6 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive user input indicating the conductor type.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component being configured to calculate the length of the cable comprises the component being configured to calculate the length of the cable based upon based on a conductor type associated with the cable wherein the conductor type comprises one of the following: aluminum conductor steel reinforced (ACSR), all aluminum conductor (AAC), all aluminum alloy conductor (AAAC), medium voltage direct bury cable, high voltage direct bury cable, secondary duplex, and secondary triplex.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the component being configured to calculate the length of the cable comprises the component being configured to consider material properties of the conductor type associated with the cable.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component being configured to calculate the length of the cable comprises the component being configured to calculate the length of the cable based upon one of the following processes: laser interferometers, and holographic interferometers.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component being configured to calculate the length of the cable comprises the component being configured to calculate the length of the cable based upon Time-domain transmissometry.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display configured to indicate the calculated length of the cable.

13. A system for measuring a length of a cable, the system comprising:

a two-dimensional stationary transducer array configured to transmit a plurality of waves in a conical fashion, each of the plurality of waves diverging from a generation point and impinging onto a volume of the cable;

a stationary sensor array configured to receive the plurality of reflected waves; and

a component comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to:

receive cable construction type data,

calculate the length of the cable based upon the plurality of reflected waves received at the stationary sensor array and the received cable construction type data, and

display the calculated length.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive user input indicating the cable construction type data.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the cable construction type data comprises data indicating one of the following: aluminum conductor steel reinforced (ACSR), all aluminum conductor (AAC), all aluminum alloy conductor (AAAC), medium voltage direct bury cable, high voltage direct bury cable, secondary duplex, and secondary triplex, the component being configured to consider material properties of the conductor type associated with the cable.

16. A method for measuring a length of a cable, the method comprising:

receiving, through a user interface, user input indicating a conductor type associated with the cable, the conductor type indicating how the cable is constructed;

transmitting, by a stationary two-dimensional transducer array, a plurality of waves in a conical fashion, each of the plurality of waves diverging from a generation point and impinging onto a volume of the cable, the plurality of waves, each comprising an ultrasonic wave, a frequency of each of the plurality of waves being optimized to material properties of the cable to minimize attenuation of the wave, the stationary two-dimensional transducer array being configured to generate the wave using a vibrating member;

receiving, by a receiver, the plurality of reflected waves;

calculating the length of the cable between a first end and a second end based upon the plurality of reflected waves received at the receiver, wherein calculating the length of the cable comprises calculating the length of the cable based on the conductor type associated with the cable; and

indicating, on a display, the calculated length of the cable.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; NOVINIUM HOLDINGS, INC.; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 072299/0141 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Oct 23, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC (F/K/A COLEMAN CABLE, INC.); TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC (F/K/A TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION); SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 069235/0104 →
CONVERSION Recorded Jun 26, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 033244/0787 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 21, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, INC.; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032308/0469 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 12, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, INC.; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032251/0277 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2009
From: THORN, STUART W.; MANCHIRAJU, VENKATA KIRAN
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 023652/0173 →