Method and system for identifying damage to a wire

Abstract

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention determine the type of damage to a wire, the amount of damage, and the location of the damage based on the wire's broadband impedance measured from a single measurement point. The type of damage is determined by comparing the wire's calculated dielectric function, resistance and inductance to known values that correspond to types of wire damage. The amount of damage is determined by comparing the wire's low-frequency impedance phase to known low-frequency impedance phase information that corresponds to a known amount of wire damage. The location of damage is determined by comparing the wire's high-frequency impedance phase to known high-frequency impedance phase information that corresponds to a known location of wire damage.

1 . A method in a data processing system having a program for identifying damage to a wire, the method comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a broadband impedance information for the wire from a single measurement point;    determining a type of damage to the wire based on the broadband impedance information; and    determining a location of damage along the wire by comparing a high-frequency phase information of the obtained broadband impedance information to at least one known high-frequency phase information corresponding to a known location of damage.    
   
   
       2 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the broadband impedance information is obtained from a single measurement point on the wire.  
   
   
       3 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the type of damage comprises: 
 calculating a frequency-dependent dielectric function of the wire based on the obtained broadband impedance information; and    comparing the calculated frequency-dependent dielectric function to at least one known frequency-dependent dielectric function corresponding to a known type of damage.    
   
   
       4 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the type of damage comprises: 
 calculating a frequency-dependent resistance of the wire based on the obtained broadband impedance information; and    comparing the calculated frequency-dependent resistance to at least one known frequency-dependent resistance corresponding to a known type of damage.    
   
   
       5 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the type of damage comprises: 
 calculating a frequency-dependent inductance of the wire based on the obtained broadband impedance information; and    comparing the calculated frequency-dependent inductance to at least one known frequency-dependent inductance corresponding to a known type of damage.    
   
   
       6 . A method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of determining an amount of damage to the wire by comparing a low-frequency phase information of the obtained broadband impedance information to at least one known low-frequency phase information corresponding to a known amount of damage.  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions that cause a data processing system having a program to perform a method for identifying damage to a wire, the method comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a broadband impedance information for the wire from a single measurement point;    determining a type of damage to the wire based on the broadband impedance information; and    determining a location of damage along the wire by comparing a high-frequency phase information of the obtained broadband impedance information to at least one known high-frequency phase information corresponding to a known location of damage.    
   
   
       9 . A computer-readable medium of  claim 8  wherein the broadband impedance information is obtained from a single measurement point on the wire.  
   
   
       10 . A computer-readable medium of  claim 8  wherein the step of determining the type of damage comprises: 
 calculating a frequency-dependent dielectric function of the wire based on the obtained broadband impedance information; and    comparing the calculated frequency-dependent dielectric function to at least one known frequency-dependent dielectric function corresponding to a known type of damage.    
   
   
       11 . A computer-readable medium of  claim 8  wherein the step of determining the type of damage comprises: 
 calculating a frequency-dependent resistance of the wire based on the obtained broadband impedance information; and    comparing the calculated frequency-dependent resistance to at least one known frequency-dependent resistance corresponding to a known type of damage.    
   
   
       12 . A computer-readable medium of  claim 8  wherein the step of determining the type of damage comprises: 
 calculating a frequency-dependent inductance of the wire based on the obtained broadband impedance information; and    comparing the calculated frequency-dependent inductance to at least one known frequency-dependent inductance corresponding to a known type of damage.    
   
   
       13 . A computer-readable medium of  claim 8  further comprising the step of determining an amount of damage to the wire by comparing a low-frequency phase information of the obtained broadband impedance information to at least one known low-frequency phase information corresponding to a known amount of damage.  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A data processing system for identifying damage to a wire, the data processing system comprising: 
 a memory having a program that obtains a broadband impedance information for the wire from a single measurement point, determines a type of damage to the wire based on the broadband impedance information, and determines a location of damage along the wire by comparing a high-frequency phase information of the obtained broadband impedance information to at least one known high-frequency phase information corresponding to a known location of damage; and    a processing unit that runs the program.    
   
   
       16 . A data processing system of  claim 15  wherein the broadband impedance information is obtained from a single measurement point on the wire.  
   
   
       17 . A data processing system of  claim 15  wherein the program determines an amount of damage to the wire by comparing a low-frequency phase information of the obtained broadband impedance information to at least one known low-frequency phase information corresponding to a known amount of damage.  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A wire analyzer for identifying damage to a wire, the wire analyzer comprising: 
 means for obtaining a broadband impedance information for the wire from a single measurement point;    means for determining a type of damage to the wire based on the broadband impedance information; and    means for determining a location of damage along the wire by comparing a high-frequency phase information of the obtained broadband impedance information to at least one known high-frequency phase information corresponding to a known location of damage.