Patent ID: 6218824
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A digital multimeter, comprising:a rotary switch having a plurality of positions, each of said positions selecting a respective basic kind of measurement function to be performed;a segmented LCD display device for displaying a value determined by performing one of said measurement functions, and for displaying along an edge of said display device at least one group comprising a plurality of legends;a key mounted on a housing of said multimeter substantially at said edge of said display device and proximate to said plurality of legends, said key being operable by a user to further define said measurement function to be performed;a single input terminal for receiving current for measurement in a plurality of measurement ranges, wherein said measurement ranges occupy a range extending from nanoamperes to amperes;a controller for generating control signals for selecting said measurement ranges; anda plurality of controlled switches for selecting said measurement ranges, said plurality of controlled switches operating under control of said controller; whereineach of said plurality of controlled switches is an FET switch; and whereinfor a particular measurement range, a pair of said FET switches is operated substantially simultaneously, and one of said pair of FET switches is connected in a reverse orientation with respect to the other.