US-20260126500-A1 - ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENT DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

US20260126500A1US 20260126500 A1US20260126500 A1US 20260126500A1US-20260126500-A1

Abstract

Electrical measurement devices, systems, and methods receive user input(s) selecting an electrical element from a list of electrical elements, each electrical element of the list of electrical elements having an impedance associated therewith. Impedance data of the electrical element's impedance is accessed from a data storage location. Voltage drop across an in-circuit electrical path passing through the electrical element is measured in response to a first conductive probe element of an electrical measurement device being in contact with a first terminal of the electrical element and a second conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device being in contact with a second terminal of the electrical element. Amperage of the electrical element is determined by the processor of the electrical measurement device from the voltage drop and the impedance, and a signal is transmitted to one or more indicators for indicating a status of the electrical element.

Inventors

David Douglas Barden

Assignees

POWER PROBE GROUP, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241104

Claims (20)

1 . A method, comprising: receiving, by a processor of an electrical measurement device, one or more user inputs selecting an electrical element from a list of electrical elements, each electrical element of the list of electrical elements having an impedance associated therewith; accessing, from a data storage location, impedance data of the electrical element's impedance; measuring voltage drop across an in-circuit electrical path passing through the electrical element in response to a first conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device being in contact with a first terminal of the electrical element and a second conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device being in contact with a second terminal of the electrical element; determining, using the processor of the electrical measurement device and from the voltage drop and the impedance, amperage of the electrical element; and transmitting a signal to one or more indicators for indicating a status of the electrical element.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element includes a vehicle fuse, and the first terminal is a first fuse terminal, the second terminal is a second fuse terminal.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data storage location includes a database internal to the electrical measurement device.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying, via a user interface of the electrical element, a numerical value of the amperage of the electrical element.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more indicators include indicator lights that provide a visual indication of the status of the electrical element, the status being selected from the group consisting of “Inactive,” “Active,” and “Broken.”
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device and the second conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device are both at least partially integrated with the electrical measurement device itself.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical measurement device includes a first input for selecting a mode associated with the electrical element, a second input for turning on or off a light emitting diode (LED), and a third input for adjusting the brightness of the backlight of the display screen.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a front face of a housing of the electrical measurement device includes a lighting element directed towards the first conductive probe element and the second terminal of the electrical element.
9 . An electrical measurement device, comprising: a first conductive probe element; a second conductive probe element; a processor in electrical communication with the first conductive probe element and the second conductive probe element; a communication interface communicatively coupled to the processor; and a data storage location communicatively coupled to the processor and storing executable code that, when executed, causes the processor to: receive one or more user inputs selecting an electrical element from a list of electrical elements, each electrical element of the list of electrical elements having an impedance associated therewith; access, from the data storage location, impedance data of the electrical element's impedance; measure voltage drop across an in-circuit electrical path passing through the electrical element in response to the first conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device being in contact with a first terminal of the electrical element and the second conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device being in contact with a second terminal of the electrical element; determine, from the voltage drop and the impedance, amperage of the electrical element; and transmit a signal to one or more indicators for indicating a status of the electrical element.
10 . The electrical measurement device of claim 9 , wherein the electrical element includes a vehicle fuse, the first terminal is a first fuse terminal, and the second terminal is a second fuse terminal.
11 . The electrical measurement device of claim 9 , wherein the communication interface includes a user interface, and the executable code, when executed, further causes the processor to display, via the user interface, a numerical value of the amperage of the electrical element.
12 . The electrical measurement device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more indicators include indicator lights that provide a visual indication of the status of the electrical element, the status being selected from the group consisting of “Inactive,” “Active,” and “Broken.”
13 . The electrical measurement device of claim 9 , wherein the first conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device and the second conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device are both at least partially integrated with the electrical measurement device itself.
14 . The electrical measurement device of claim 9 , wherein the electrical measurement device includes a first input for selecting a mode associated with the electrical element, a second input for turning on or off a light emitting diode (LED), and a third input for adjusting the brightness of the backlight of the display screen.
15 . A system for indicating amperage of an electrical element, the system comprising: a processor; a communication interface communicatively coupled to the processor; and a data storage location communicatively coupled to the processor and storing executable code that, when executed, causes the processor to: receive one or more user inputs selecting the electrical element from a list of electrical elements, each electrical element of the list of electrical elements having an impedance associated therewith; access, from the data storage location, impedance data of the electrical element's impedance; measure voltage drop across an in-circuit electrical path passing through the electrical element in response to a first conductive probe element of an electrical measurement device being in contact with a first terminal of the electrical element and a second conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device being in contact with a second terminal of the electrical element; determine, from the voltage drop and the impedance, amperage of the electrical element; and transmit a signal to one or more indicators for indicating a status of the electrical element.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the electrical element includes a vehicle fuse, the first terminal is a first fuse terminal, and the second terminal is a second fuse terminal.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the communication interface includes a user interface, and the executable code, when executed, further causes the processor to display, via the user interface, a numerical value of the amperage of the electrical element.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more indicators include indicator lights that provide a visual indication of the status of the electrical element, the status being selected from the group consisting of “Inactive,” “Active,” and “Broken.”
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device and the second conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device are both at least partially integrated with the electrical measurement device itself.
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the electrical measurement device includes a first input for selecting a mode associated with the electrical element, a second input for turning on or off a light emitting diode (LED), and a third input for adjusting the brightness of the backlight of the display screen.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to electrical measurements, and more particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to an electrical measurement devices, systems, and methods. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A fuse is designed to provide overcurrent protection of an electrical circuit such that when too much current passes through, a metal strip or wire filament will melt or otherwise break thereby interrupting the circuit. Thus, a fuse is designed to protect more costly and important devices in the circuit. Example fuse elements that are designed to melt or otherwise break can include aluminum, copper, zinc, silver, or alloys of these metals. Different fuses can have differing voltage and current ratings, breaking capacity, response times, etc. Automotive or vehicle fuses are used to protect various electrical equipment within a vehicle. A vehicle typically has two fuse boxes/panels that house a number of automotive or vehicle fuses. When an electrical component of a vehicle stops working, one method currently used to identify whether a fuse is “blown” such that the metal filament has melted/broken, each fuse may be removed and visually inspected to see if the metal filament is intact or broken. There may be black or gray discoloration as well that would indicate that the metal filament is broken. Another way to test a fuse is with a multimeter. A multimeter is a multi-purpose electronic measuring instrument that performs various functions including an ammeter, a voltmeter, an ohmmeter, etc. Typically, a fuse needs to be removed in order to check it with a multimeter, and a user uses one hand to hold a test probe that contacts one terminal of the fuse and uses another hand to hold a separate test probe that contacts the other terminal of the fuse. This process can be inefficient, cumbersome, and time consuming. This process can create unnecessary inefficiencies for vehicle technician that regularly test fuses. Thus, a need exists for improved devices, systems, and methods for performing measurements on fuses. BRIEF SUMMARY Shortcomings of the prior art are overcome, and additional advantages are provided, through the provision of a method that includes receiving, by a processor of an electrical measurement device, one or more user inputs selecting an electrical element from a list of electrical elements. Each electrical element of the list of electrical elements has an impedance associated therewith. The method also includes accessing, from a data storage location, impedance data of the electrical element's impedance. Voltage drop across an in-circuit electrical path passing through the electrical element is measured in response to a first conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device being in contact with a first terminal of the electrical element and a second conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device being in contact with a second terminal of the electrical element. Using the processor of the electrical measurement device, and from the voltage drop and the impedance, amperage of the electrical element is determined, and a signal is transmitted to one or more indicators for indicating a status of the electrical element. Also disclosed herein is an electrical measurement device that includes a first conductive probe element and a second conductive probe element. The electrical measurement device also includes a processor in electrical communication with the first conductive probe element and the second conductive probe element, a communication interface communicatively coupled to the processor, and a data storage location communicatively coupled to the processor. The data storage location stores executable code that, when executed, causes the processor to receive one or more user inputs selecting an electrical element from a list of electrical elements, each electrical element of the list of electrical elements having an impedance associated therewith. Impedance data of the electrical element's impedance are accessed from the data storage location, and voltage drop across an in-circuit electrical path passing through the electrical elements is measured in response to the first conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device being in contact with a first terminal of the electrical element and the second conductive probe element of the electrical measurement device being in contact with a second terminal of the electrical element. Amperage of the electrical element is determined from the voltage drop and the impedance, and a signal is transmitted to one or more indicators for indicating a status of the electrical element. In addition, a system for measuring amperage of an electrical element. The system includes a processor, a communication interface communicatively coupled to the processor, and a data storage location communicatively coupled to the processor and storing executable code that, when executed, causes the processor to receiv