1. A portable computer comprising:
a processor;
a housing including a front panel on which a platform is provided;
a plurality of contacts provided on the platform; and
an integrated input mechanism comprising a plurality of components, wherein the input mechanism is configured to be operatively positionable on and removeable from the platform so that, (i) when operatively positioned on the platform, each of the plurality of components overlays at least one of the plurality of contacts, and (ii) when each component in the plurality of components is pressed, the one or more contacts that that component overlays signal a corresponding input that is received by the processor.
2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein each component is formed from a material that biases when pressed.
3. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein when pressed, each component is directed from an original position to an actuated position, and while in the actuated position, each component is biased to return to the original position.
4. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein each component in the plurality of components is actuatable to signal the user-input as a digital signal.
5. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein each component in the plurality of components is actuatable to signal the user-input as an analog signal.
6. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein one or more components of the integrated input mechanism corresponds to a button.
7. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the integrated input mechanism includes a switch that is pivotal between a first actuating position, a second actuating position, and a neutral position.
8. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the integrated input mechanism includes a multi-directional control.
9. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein when each component is pressed, that component is inserted towards the platform.
10. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the corresponding input of each component in the integrated input mechanism is an alphanumeric entry.
11. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising a display provided on the front panel of the housing.
12. The portable computer of claim 11, wherein the display is positioned to be apart from the platform.
13. The portable computer of claim 12, wherein the platform is recessed on the front panel in relation to the display.
14. The portable computer of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to provide on the display an output that is based on the corresponding input signaled by one of the components of the integrated input mechanism being pressed.
15. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein one or more of the components of the integrated input mechanism is individually removeable from the platform.
16. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts include at least a set of four contacts distributed on the platform, wherein the set is distributed linearly in a first direction extending across the platform.
17. The portable computer of claim 12, wherein the display is contact-sensitive.
18. The portable computer of claim 12, further comprising an input member that extends from the front panel and is moveable in a plurality of directions to cause an input to be processed by the processor, wherein the input of the input member corresponds to a direction in which the member is moved.
19. The device of claim 17, wherein the integrated input mechanism overlays at least a portion of the contact-sensitive display.
20. The device of claim 19, wherein the integrated input mechanism further comprises a mechanism that overlays the contact-sensitive display and is pressable to cause a contact with the display that signals an analog input to the processor.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A high voltage detection device comprising:
a probe comprising an electrode for contacting a high voltage electrical line, the electrode being connected in series with a resistor; and
a meter comprising a housing enclosing an electrical circuit for measuring line voltage, the electrical circuit comprising an input circuit for connection to the probe, the input circuit being adapted to suppress high frequency noise pick up by the probe and developing a bipolar voltage representing measured line voltage, a voltage detection circuit comprising a differential amplifier circuit for converting the bipolar voltage to a proportionate voltage signal, a signal processing circuit receiving the proportionate voltage signal and driving a display for displaying the measured line voltage.
2. The high voltage detection device of claim 1 wherein the input circuit comprises a low pass filter circuit.
3. The high voltage detection device of claim 1 wherein the input circuit comprises ferrite beads to suppress high frequency noise.
4. The high voltage detection device of claim 1 wherein the input circuit comprises a bipolar protection circuit to protect the electrical circuit form high voltage transients.
5. The high voltage detection device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuit comprises an anti aliasing filter connected to an analog to digital converter.
6. The high voltage detection device of claim 1 wherein the voltage detector circuit comprises a low power instrumentation amplifier with high common-mode rejection ratio.
7. The high voltage detection device of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a zero crossing circuit between the voltage detection circuit and the processing circuit.
8. The high voltage detection device of claim 7 wherein the processing circuit compares time difference between zero crossings for different high voltage electrical lines for phase angle measurement.
9. The high voltage detection device of claim 1 further comprising a transceiver circuit operatively associated with the processing circuit for communicating with another high voltage detection device.
10. The high voltage detection device of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuit comprises a battery powered circuit.
11. A high voltage phasing voltmeter comprising:
a first high voltage probe comprising an electrode connected in series with a resistor, and a housing enclosing an electrical circuit for measuring line voltage of a first high voltage line, the electrical circuit comprising an input circuit for connection to the probe, the input circuit being adapted to suppress high frequency noise pick up by the probe and developing a voltage representing measured line voltage, an amplifier circuit with high common-mode rejection ratio connected to the input circuit, a signal processing circuit connected to the amplifier circuit for detecting measured line voltage and detecting zero crossings of the measured line voltage, and a communication circuit for transmitting the measured line voltage and detected zero crossings of the measured line voltage;
a second high voltage probe comprising an electrode connected in series with a resistor, and a housing enclosing an electrical circuit for measuring line voltage of a second high voltage line, the electrical circuit comprising an input circuit for connection to the probe, the input circuit being adapted to suppress high frequency noise pick up by the probe and developing a voltage representing measured line voltage, an amplifier circuit with high common-mode rejection ratio connected to the input circuit, a signal processing circuit connected to the amplifier circuit for detecting measured line voltage and detecting zero crossings of the measured line voltage, and a communication circuit for receiving the measured line voltage and detected zero crossings of the measured line voltage from the first high voltage probe, the processing circuit determining phase relationships between the first and second high voltage lines and being connected to a display for displaying the phase relationships and measured line voltages.
12. The high voltage phasing voltmeter of claim 11 wherein each input circuit comprises a low pass filter circuit.
13. The high voltage phasing voltmeter of claim 11 wherein each input circuit comprises ferrite beads to suppress high frequency noise.
14. The high voltage phasing voltmeter of claim 11 wherein each input circuit comprises a bipolar protection circuit to protect the electrical circuit form high voltage transients.
15. The high voltage phasing voltmeter of claim 11 wherein each processing circuit comprises an anti aliasing filter connected to an analog to digital converter.
16. The high voltage phasing voltmeter of claim 11 wherein each voltage detector circuit comprises a low power instrumentation amplifier with high common-mode rejection ratio.
17. The high voltage phasing voltmeter of claim 11 wherein the second probe processing circuit compares time difference between zero crossings for the first and second high voltage electrical lines for phase angle measurement.
18. The high voltage phasing voltmeter of claim 11 wherein each electrical circuit comprises a battery powered circuit.
19. The high voltage phasing voltmeter of claim 11 wherein each communication circuit comprises a wireless transceiver circuit.
20. The high voltage phasing voltmeter of claim 11 wherein each communication circuit comprises an RF module.