US PATENT CLASS 324
Class Notes


Current as of: June, 1999
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324 /   HD   ELECTRICITY: MEASURING AND TESTING



DEFINITION

Classification: 324/

This is the residual home for all subject matter, not elsewhere classified, relating to the measuring, testing (or sensing) of electric properties, (e.g., determining ground resistivity, determining frequency of an alternating current, determining kilowatt hour demand), or the measuring, testing or sensing of nonelectric properties by electric means (e.g., determining moisture, a nonelectric property, by measuring conductance with a resistance bridge; determining speed, a nonelectric property by use of an electric tachometer).

(1) Note. Measuring and testing have been distinguished as being quantitative and qualitative, respectively, but in these definitions the terms are used synonymously.

(2) Note. This class was produced in 1953 by making official the unofficial digests which had been established by the Examiners of Class 175 (Division 48) during the period from about 1905 to 1952, and, in the case of subclasses 76+, by cursorily revising the unofficial digests which had been established by the Examiners of Classes 171 and 172 (Division 69) during the period from about 1902 to 1952. A caveat is given: While it is believed that the titles and definitions are reasonably correct, no assurance can be given that all of the patents, issued prior to the date of reclassification, are in the proper subclass, since only some of the individual

patents were read during the reclassification project. Consequently, in making a thorough search in this class, it is advisable to investigate every subclass which may possibly be pertinent and not, in order to shorten the search, to rely upon the principle of superiority of subclass subject matter because of position in schedule, since the principle is applicable only in classes where each patent has been analyzed and placed in the schedule in accordance with that portion of the disclosed subject matter which is claimed.

(3) Note. Measuring and testing requires sensing and signaling or indicating to exhibit the result of the sensing. Sensing is synonymous with condition responsive. Sensing merely detects the presence and/or magnitude of the condition.

(4) Note. Since many other classes include condition responsive subclasses, often entitled automatically responsive or automatic, the search for sensing, in order to be complete, must extend to the class which relates to the environment in which the sensing occurs. Some of these classes are listed below under SEARCH CLASS.

(5) Note. Since Class 324 takes, under the class definition, only measuring and testing not elsewhere classified, the search, in order to be complete, must in appropriate instances extend to the other classes listed below under SEARCH CLASS.

(6) Note. The combination of the subject matter of this class (324) and an art environment is generally classified with the art environment where that environment is significant, either by virtue of a significant disclosed relationship or by virtue of a claimed relationship, as where a test is made of the condition of a portion of a telephone system without making said portion of the telephone system unavailable for use. Where the art environment is recited by name only the combination may be classified, in some instances, with the art environment, and in others, in this class (324). For a list of some of the other classes which contain pertinent subject matter, see the classes referred to under SEARCH CLASS.

LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES Class 324, subclasses 870.01+ take telemetric-signaling means useful in transmitting a measured quantity, not limited to any particular measuring instrument provided for in other classes, while Class 324 takes such telemetric-signaling means in combination with a particular measuring means of the type provided for in Class 324.

LINE BETWEEN CLASS 340 AND CLASS 324

See Class 340, Communications: Electrical, appropriate subclasses, for subject matter sometimes similar to that in Class 324. Often, but not invariably, the line between these

two classes is as follows: If the testing system is permanently associated with the environment being tested, as in a machine monitoring device or in a burglar alarm, classification is in Class 340, while if it is temporarily associated, as in a portable test set, such as used by linemen, classification is in Class 324. Note particularly subclasses 870.01+ for telemetering and subclasses 500+ for signaling, automatically responsive to a condition.

LINE BETWEEN CLASS 429 AND CLASS 324

See Class 429, Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product and Process, subclasses 61+ for automatic battery control means combined with the battery, and subclasses 90+ for battery having measuring, testing, and indicating means. See Class 324, subclasses 20+ and Class 340, subclass 636 for this subject matter.

REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

29, Metal Working,

25.35, for the electrical measuring, testing or sensing of piezoelectric crystals combined with the manufacture thereof, and subclass 25.41 for the electrical measuring, testing or sensing of condensers combined with the manufacture thereof.

33, Geometrical Instruments,

125+, for the determination of distance, and subclasses 300+, for magnetic field direction sensing and indicating. 73, Measuring and Testing, appropriate subclasses for nonelectrical measuring and testing and for electrical measuring and testing of the following types:

26+, for gas analysis by electrical thermal determination,. subclass 75 for moisture determination by electrical thermal conductivity; subclass 760 for stress and strain gages, subclasses 104+ for surface and cutting edge determination by sliding pick-up, subclasses 116+ for motor and engine determinations (i.e., not merely ignition system). subclass 304 for liquid level gages; immersible electrode type; subclasses 305+for float type, subclass 755 for fluid pressure (e.g., Pirani type), subclasses 488+ for speed.

100, Presses,

99, for presses having electrical measuring, testing or sensing means.

156, Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture,

47+, for methods of making or joining conductors of

indefinite length.

178, Telegraphy, appropriate subclasses particularly

69, for telegraphy combined with electrical measuring, testing or sensing.

181, Acoustics,

101+, for geophysical or subsurface exploration involving mechanically transmitting or receiving sound waves, subclasses 123+ for mechanical sound echo systems in general, and subclass 125 for mechanical sound location means.

204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy, 400, for the analytical and testing apparatus related to the subject matter of that class, and subclass 242 for electrolytic cells, per se, (e.g., Beckmann cell).

205, Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions, appropriate subclasses for electrolysis utilized for electrochemistry and especially

775+, as the residual home for a process of electrolytic analysis or testing, per se.

209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids, for the subject matter of that class even if the basis of the separation is an electrical determination. Note

127.1+, for electrostatic separation and subclasses 212 and 213+ for magnetic separators, subclasses 511, 524+, 536, and 576 for photoelectric assorting.

250, Radiant Energy,

200+, for miscellaneous photoelectric cell circuits, subclass 250 for wave meters for measuring the wavelength or frequency of radio and microwaves, subclass 281 for methods and apparatus for ionic separation or analysis, subclasses 302+ for fluorescent and radioactive tracer methods, subclasses 336.1+ for the detection of invisible radiation or the examination of material by invisible radiation using radiant energy responsive electric signalling means, subclasses 428+ for fluent material containing, support or transfer means with or without an irradiating source or radiating fluent material, subclasses 453.11+ for supports for objects of irradiation, subclasses 458.1+ for luminophor irradiation, subclasses 472.1+ for nonelectric invisible radiation detectors, subclasses 493.1+ for radiant energy generation and sources, subclasses 505.1+ for radiation controlling means and subclasses 522.1+ for source supports.

273, Amusement Devices: Games, appropriate subclasses for games (e.g., pin-ball machines, target range) having

electrical indicators.

307, Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems,

111, for systems which are nonresponsive to frequency change and subclass 152 for systems which are responsive to rate of change.

313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices, 10, for the subject matter of that class with integral temperature indicators.

314, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Consumable Electrodes, appropriate subclasses (note particularly

9, ) for the subject matter of that class combined with measuring, testing or sensing.

315, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems, appropriate subclasses (note particularly

129+, ) for the subject matter of that class combined with measuring, testing or sensing.

318, Electricity: Motive Power Systems, appropriate subclasses for automatically responsive motor systems and

490, for motor systems having signals, meters, recorders or testing devices.

320, Electricity: Battery and Condenser Charging and Discharging,

48, for battery charging and discharging systems having indicating, signaling and/or testing means.

322, Electricity: Single Generator Systems,

17+, for the subject matter of that class automatically responsive to a condition.

323, Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems, 234, 303 for the subject matter of that class automatically responsive to a condition.

329, Demodulators, for amplitude frequency, phase or pulse demodulators which may include an indicator.

330, Amplifiers, appropriate subclasses, for amplifiers, generally, which may be used in electrical measuring and testing circuits, particularly

2, for amplifier condition testing or measuring. Where the amplifier is used merely as a part of an arrangement to measure or test a condition other than that of the amplifier,

itself, classification is not in Class 330 but in the appropriate subclass of Class 324.

331, Oscillators,

44, for oscillator systems provided with frequency calibrating or testing means, and subclass 64 for oscillator systems provided with indicator, signal or alarm.

332, Modulators, appropriate subclasses particularly

118, and 150 for the modulators having indicating, observing and/or signaling means.

333, Wave Transmission Lines and Networks, appropriate subclasses, particularly

2+, 14 and 17.1+ for the subject matter of that class automatically responsive to a condition.

336, Inductor Devices, 30+, for the subject matter of that class automatically responsive to a condition.

340, Communications: Electrical, appropriate subclasses, for subject matter sometimes similar to that in Class 324. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class for a further discussion of the line)

343, Communications: Radio Wave Antennas,

5+, for reflected and/or otherwise returned radio wave energy wave measuring, testing and sensing systems, such as RADAR and ponder systems, and subclasses 350+ for direction finding radio systems.

346, Recorders, for recorders which record the operation of machines or workmen. Many of these recorders, especially in

33+, record the result of a measurement, test or sensing operation. Generally, but not invariably, a Class 324 disclosure, when combined with a recorder, is classified in Class 324.

348, Television,

180+, for monitoring, testing, or measuring television signals or apparatus.

356, Optics: Measuring and Testing, for measuring and testing light, materials and articles by means of visible light particularly

23+, for optical stroboscopes, subclasses 27+ for velocity or velocity and height measurements, subclasses 213+ for photometers, subclasses 237.1+ for apparatus for flaw

detection subclasses 300+ for spectroscopic examination, subclasses 432+ for light transmission tests and subclasses 445+ for light reflection tests.

361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices, 1+, for safety systems responsive to an unsafe condition, such as circuit breaker systems, and subclasses 236+ for speed responsive electrical systems.

363, Electric Power Conversion Systems,

74, 164 and 165 for the subject matter of that class automatically responsive to a condition.

364, Electrical Computers and Data Processing Systems, appropriate subclasses for data processing systems or calculating computers which are utilized for testing, measuring, or monitoring the operation of an external device or quantity. The external device or quantity must be only nominally claimed. Subclass areas relative to electrical testing and measuring are as follows:

421, Seismology, subclass 422 for well-logging,; subclass 482 for Impedance, subclass 483, for Voltage, current or power, subclass 484 for Frequency, subclass 456 for pulse, subclass 487, Waveform, subclass 489 for Circuit analysis, subclass 490 for Integrated circuit, subclass 527 for Atomic or nuclear physics; subclass 555 for Particle counting,. subclass 565 for speed or velocity, subclass 566, for Acceleration, subclass 569 for Time or time interval, subclass 571 for Calibration, subclass 574 for Noise reduction, subclass 576 for Fourier analysis, subclass 579 with control of testing or measuring apparatus, subclass 580 for programmed test conditions, subclass 802 for simulation of electrical phenomenon,

365, Static Information Storage and Retrieval,

200, wherein a defective memory device is used to store information, subclass 201 for specifics of a memory device which is tested for defects or erroneous information.

368, Horology: Time Measuring Systems or Devices,

155+, for time measuring by clocks having electrical features.

374, Thermal Measuring and Testing, appropriate subclasses for a measurement or test of a thermal quantity, whether performed electrically or nonelectrically, except for a measurement or test involving a particle spin determination.

376, Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements,

245+, for processes or device for testing, measuring, etc., of a condition of a nuclear reactor during its operation.

378, X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices, appropriate subclasses, particularly

44+, 51+ and 70+ for X-ray systems used in testing.

379, Telephonic Communications, appropriate subclasses, particularly

1+, for telephony combined with electrical measuring, testing or sensing.

422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing,

50+, and 105+ for apparatus for electrical measuring, testing, or sensing combined with significant chemical reaction or control.

429, Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product and Process,

61+, for automatic battery control means combined with the battery, and subclasses 90+ for battery having measuring, testing, and indicating means. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class for further discussion of the line between Class 429 and Class 324.)

434, Education, and Demonstration appropriate subclasses, for electrical measuring, testing or sensing in combination with education.

436, Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing,

1+, for processes of electrical measuring, testing, or sensing combined with significant chemical reaction or control. 439, Electrical Connectors,

488+, for a connector having indicating means or identifying means.

455, Telecommunications, appropriate subclasses for radio systems having electrical measuring testing or sensing means for indicating the operative condition of the radio system.

473, Amusement Devices: Games, and its incorporated class (273, Amusement Devices: Games), for a game device or apparatus (e.g., a pin-ball machine, target range, aerial projectile target device, bowling alley apparatus, golfing apparatus, simulated game apparatus, chance device, etc.) which may have an electrical indicator.

505, Superconductor Technology: Apparatus, Material, Process,

150+, for high temperature (Tc greater than 30 K) superconducting device, and particularly subclasses 160+ for measuring or testing system or device; and subclass 310 for a process of measuring or testing a superconductive property.

714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery, appropriate subclasses for error detection, correction, recovery or prevention in pulse code data or computers.