Electro-optical device for measuring the voltage on a high-voltage conductor

Claim 1

A device for measuring voltage on a high-voltage line producing a rotational magnetic field in response to the current conducted therethrough and radiating an electric field having an intensity indicative of the value of the voltage on the line, the device comprising polarized light supply means for providing polarized light having a polarization plane, an optical fiber light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means, at least a portion of said light-wave conductor being disposed in the electric field of the voltage for exposing the polarized light thereto whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light is rotated in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field, said portion of said light-wave conductor being arranged with respect to the direction of the magnetic field so as to preclude the same from effecting an undesired rotation of the polarization plane, and evaluation means optically connected to said light-wave conductor for translating the rotation of the polarization plane into an electric quantity proportional to the voltage on the line.

Claim 2

A device for measuring voltage on a high-voltage line producing a rotational magnetic field in response to the current conducted therethrough and radiating an electric field having an intensity indicative of the value of the voltage on the line, the device comprising polarized light supply means for providing polarized light having a polarization plane, an optical fiber light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means, at least a portion of said light-wave conductor being disposed in the electric field of the voltage for exposing the polarized light thereto whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light is rotated in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field, said portion of said light-wave conductor being arranged with respect to the direction of the magnetic field so as to preclude the same from effecting an undesired rotation of the polarization plane, and evaluation means optically connected to said light-wave conductor for translating the rotation of the polarization plane into an electric quantity proportional to the voltage on the line.

Claim 8

A device for measuring voltage on a high-voltage line producing a rotational magnetic field in response to the current conducted therethrough and radiating an electric field having an intensity indicative of the value of the voltage on the line, the device comprising polarized light supply means for providing polarized light having a polarization plane, a light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means, at least a portion of said light-wave conductor being disposed in the electric field of the voltage for exposing the polarized light thereto whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light is rotated in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field, said portion of said light-wave conductor being arranged with respect to the direction of the magnetic field so as to preclude the same from effecting an undesired rotation of the polarization plane, and evaluation means optically connected to said light-wave conductor for translating the rotation of the polarization plane into an electric quantity proportional to the voltage on the line, said light-wave conductor being connected to said evaluation means whereby said evaluation means is electrically isolated from the voltage on the high-voltage line, said evaluation means comprising a magnetic-optical modulator having a light-wave conductor wound into a coil and optically connected to said first-mentioned light-wave conductor, an electrical winding disposed on said coil, amplifier circuit means electrically connected to said electrical winding, transducer means optically connected to said coil for supplying an electrical signal to said amplifier circuit means indicative of the rotation of the polarization plane of said polarized light, whereby said amplifier circuit means drives a current through said electrical winding sufficient to cancel said rotation, said current being said electrical quantity proportional to the value of the voltage on the high-voltage line.

Claim 9

A device for measuring voltage on a high-voltage line producing a rotational magnetic field in response to the current conducted therethrough and radiating an electric field having an intensity indicative of the value of the voltage on the line, the device comprising polarized light supply means for providing polarized light having a polarization plane, a light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means, at least a portion of said light-wave conductor being disposed in the electric field of the voltage for exposing the polarized light thereto whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light is rotated in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field, said portion of said light-wave conductor being arranged with respect to the direction of the magnetic field so as to preclude the same from effecting an undesired rotation of the polarization plane, and evaluation means optically connected to said light-wave conductor for translating the rotation of the polarization plane into an electric quantity proportional to the voltage on the line, said light-wave conductor being connected to said evaluation means whereby said evaluation means is electrically isolated from the voltage on the high-voltage line, said evaluation means comprising a magnetic-optical modulator having a light-wave conductor wound into a coil and optically connected to said first-mentioned light-wave conductor, an electrical winding disposed on said coil, amplifier circuit means electrically connected to said electrical winding, transducer means optically connected to said coil for supplying an electrical signal to said amplifier circuit means indicative of the rotation of the polarization plane of said polarized light, whereby said amplifier circuit means drives a current through said electrical winding sufficient to cancel said rotation, said current being said electrical quantity proportional to the value of the voltage on the high-voltage line.

Claim 13

A device for measuring voltage on a high-voltage line producing a rotational magnetic field in response to the current conducted therethrough and radiating an electric field having an intensity indicative of the value of the voltage on the line, the device comprising polarized light supply means for providing polarized light having a polarization plane, a light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means, at least a portion of said light-wave conductor being disposed in the electric field of the voltage fOr exposing the polarized light thereto whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light is rotated in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field, said portion of said light-wave conductor being arranged with respect to the direction of the magnetic field so as to preclude the same from effecting an undesired rotation of the polarization plane, evaluation means optically connected to said light-wave conductor for translating the rotation of the polarization plane into an electric quantity proportional to the voltage on the line, said light-wave conductor being connected to said evaluation means whereby said evaluation means is electrically isolated from the voltage on the high-voltage line, and a reference light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means and positioned so as to be subjected to the same temperature as said first-mentioned light-wave conductor, whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light conducted in said reference light-wave conductor is rotated in dependence upon the temperature, and shielding means surrounding said reference light-wave conductor to prevent the electrical and magnetic fields of the high-voltage line from introducing unwanted rotations of the polarization plane of the light conducted therein, said evaluation means comprising determination means optically connected to said reference light-wave conductor for translating the rotation of the polarization plane produced by the temperature into an electrical reference quantity.

Claim 14

A device for measuring voltage on a high-voltage line producing a rotational magnetic field in response to the current conducted therethrough and radiating an electric field having an intensity indicative of the value of the voltage on the line, the device comprising polarized light supply means for providing polarized light having a polarization plane, a light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means, at least a portion of said light-wave conductor being disposed in the electric field of the voltage fOr exposing the polarized light thereto whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light is rotated in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field, said portion of said light-wave conductor being arranged with respect to the direction of the magnetic field so as to preclude the same from effecting an undesired rotation of the polarization plane, evaluation means optically connected to said light-wave conductor for translating the rotation of the polarization plane into an electric quantity proportional to the voltage on the line, said light-wave conductor being connected to said evaluation means whereby said evaluation means is electrically isolated from the voltage on the high-voltage line, and a reference light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means and positioned so as to be subjected to the same temperature as said first-mentioned light-wave conductor, whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light conducted in said reference light-wave conductor is rotated in dependence upon the temperature, and shielding means surrounding said reference light-wave conductor to prevent the electrical and magnetic fields of the high-voltage line from introducing unwanted rotations of the polarization plane of the light conducted therein, said evaluation means comprising determination means optically connected to said reference light-wave conductor for translating the rotation of the polarization plane produced by the temperature into an electrical reference quantity.

Claim 15

A device for measuring voltage on a high-voltage line producing a rotational magnetic field in response to the current conducted therethrough and radiating an electric field having an intensity indicative of the value of the voltage on the line, the device comprising polarized light supply means for providing polarized light having a polarization plane, a light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means, at least a portion of said light-wave conductor being disposed in the electric field of the voltage for exposing the polarized light thereto whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light is rotated in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field, said portion of said light-wave conductor being arranged with respect to the direction of the magnetic field so as to preclude the same from effecting an undesired rotation of the polarization plane, evaluation means optically connected to said light-wave conductor for translating the rotation of the polarization plane into an electric quantity proportional to the voltage on the line, said light-wave conductor being connected to said evaluation means whereby said evaluation means is electrically isolated from the voltage on the high-voltage line, and a reference light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means and positioned so as to be subjected to the same temperature as said first-mentioned light-wave conductor, whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light conducted in said reference light-wave conductor is rotated in dependence upon the temperature, and shielding means surrounding said reference light-wave conductor to prevent the electrical and magnetic fields of the high-voltage line from introducing unwanted rotations of the polarization plane of the light conducted therein, said evaluation means comprising a first magneto-optical modulator including a light-wave conductor wound into a coil and optically connected to said first-mentioned light-wave conductor, and an electric winding disposed on said coil, a second magneto-optical modulator including a light-wave conductor wound into a coil and optically connected to said reference light-wave conductor, and an electric winding disposed on said last-mentioned coil, amplifier circuit means electrically connected to said electrical windings, first transducer means and second transducer means optically connected to said coil of said first modulator and to said coil of said second modulator respectively for providing respective electrical signals to said amplifier circuit means indicative of the rotation of the polarization plane in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field and indicative of the rotation of the polarization plane in dependence upon the temperature respectively, whereby said amplifier circuit means drives a current through said electric windings sufficient to cancel said rotations, said current being an electrical, temperature compensated quantity proportional to the value of the voltage on the high-voltage line.

Claim 16

A device for measuring voltage on a high-voltage line producing a rotational magnetic field in response to the current conducted therethrough and radiating an electric field having an intensity indicative of the value of the voltage on the line, the device comprising polarized light supply means for providing polarized light having a polarization plane, a light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means, at least a portion of said light-wave conductor being disposed in the electric field of the voltage for exposing the polarized light thereto whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light is rotated in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field, said portion of said light-wave conductor being arranged with respect to the direction of the magnetic field so as to preclude the same from effecting an undesired rotation of the polarization plane, evaluation means optically connected to said light-wave conductor for translating the rotation of the polarization plane into an electric quantity proportional to the voltage on the line, said light-wave conductor being connected to said evaluation means whereby said evaluation means is electrically isolated from the voltage on the high-voltage line, and a reference light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means and positioned so as to be subjected to the same temperature as said first-mentioned light-wave conductor, whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light conducted in said reference light-wave conductor is rotated in dependence upon the temperature, and shielding means surrounding said reference light-wave conductor to prevent the electrical and magnetic fields of the high-voltage line from introducing unwanted rotations of the polarization plane of the light conducted therein, said evaluation means comprising a first magneto-optical modulator including a light-wave conductor wound into a coil and optically connected to said first-mentioned light-wave conductor, and an electric winding disposed on said coil, a second magneto-optical modulator including a light-wave conductor wound into a coil and optically connected to said reference light-wave conductor, and an electric winding disposed on said last-mentioned coil, amplifier circuit means electrically connected to said electrical windings, first transducer means and second transducer means optically connected to said coil of said first modulator and to said coil of said second modulator respectively for providing respective electrical signals to said amplifier circuit means indicative of the rotation of the polarization plane in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field and indicative of the rotation of the polarization plane in dependence upon the temperature respectively, whereby said amplifier circuit means drives a current through said electric windings sufficient to cancel said rotations, said current being an electrical, temperature compensated quantity proportional to the value of the voltage on the high-voltage line.

Claim 17

A device for measuring voltage on a high-voltage line radiating an electric field having an intensity indicative of the value of the voltage on the line which comprises: polarized light supply means for providing polarized light having a polarization plane; light-conductive detection means optically connected to said supply means and disposed in the electric field of the voltage for exposing the polarized light thereto whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light is rotated in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field; evaluation means operatively connected to said detection means for translating the rotation of the polarization plane into an electrical quantity proportional to the voltage on the line, said detection means being optically connected to said evaluation means by light transmission means whereby said evaluation means is electrically isolated from the voltage on the high-voltage line, said light-conductive detection means including a light-wave conductor disposed in the electric field of the line; a reference light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means and positioned so as to be subjected to the same temperature as said first-mentioned light-wave conductor whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light conducted in said reference light-wave conductor is rotated in dependence upon the temperature; and shielding means surrounding said reference light-wave conductor to prevent the electrical and magnetic fields of the high-voltage line from introducing unwanted rotations of the polarization plane of the light conducted therein; said evaluation means comprising: a first magneto-optical modulator including a light-wave conductor wound into a coil and optically connected to said light-wave conductor of said detection means; and an electric winding disposed on said coil; a second magneto-optical modulator including a light-wave conductor wound into a coil and optically connected to said reference light-wave conductor, and an electric winding disposed on said last-mentioned coil; amplifier circuit means electrically connected to said electrical windings; first transducer means and second transducer means optically connected to said coil of said first modulator and to said coil of said second modulator respectively for providing respective electrical signals to said amplifier circuit means indicative of the rotation of the polarization plane in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field and indicative of the rotation of the polarization plane in dependence upon the temperature respectively whereby said amplifier circuit means drives a current through said electric windings sufficient to cancel said rotations, said current being an electrical, temperature compensated quantity proportional to the value of the voltage on the high-voltage line; said amplifier circuit means comprising a load resistor electrically connected to said electrical windings, first and second differential amplifiers, and an additional differential amplifier connected to the respective outputs of said first and second amplifiers, a power amplifier connected to the output of said additional amplifier for supplying a current to said load and said electric windings, said first transducer means comprising an optical analyzer optically connected to said coil of said first modulator for splitting the polarized light conducted in said last-mentioned coil into two component beams having respective polarization planes perpendicular to each other and having respectivE intensities that change in opposition relative to each other, and two photo-cells disposed in the paths of said beams respectively, said photo-cells being connected to respective inputs of said first differential amplifier, and said second transducer means likewise comprising an optical analyzer optically connected to said coil of said second modulator for splitting the polarized light conducted in said last-mentioned coil into two component beams having respective polarization planes perpendicular to each other and having respective intensities that change in opposition relative to each other, and two photo-cells disposed in the paths of said last-mentioned beams respectively, said last-mentioned photo-cells being connected to respective inputs of said second differential amplifier, whereby said current supplied by said power amplifier is sufficient to cancel said rotations and is an electrical, temperature compensated quantity proportional to the value of the voltage on the high-voltage line.

Claim 18

A device for measuring voltage on a high-voltage line radiating an electric field having an intensity indicative of the value of the voltage on the line which comprises: polarized light supply means for providing polarized light having a polarization plane; light-conductive detection means optically connected to said supply means and disposed in the electric field of the voltage for exposing the polarized light thereto whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light is rotated in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field; evaluation means operatively connected to said detection means for translating the rotation of the polarization plane into an electrical quantity proportional to the voltage on the line, said detection means being optically connected to said evaluation means by light transmission means whereby said evaluation means is electrically isolated from the voltage on the high-voltage line, said light-conductive detection means including a light-wave conductor disposed in the electric field of the line; a reference light-wave conductor optically connected to said supply means and positioned so as to be subjected to the same temperature as said first-mentioned light-wave conductor whereby the polarization plane of the polarized light conducted in said reference light-wave conductor is rotated in dependence upon the temperature; and shielding means surrounding said reference light-wave conductor to prevent the electrical and magnetic fields of the high-voltage line from introducing unwanted rotations of the polarization plane of the light conducted therein; said evaluation means comprising: a first magneto-optical modulator including a light-wave conductor wound into a coil and optically connected to said light-wave conductor of said detection means; and an electric winding disposed on said coil; a second magneto-optical modulator including a light-wave conductor wound into a coil and optically connected to said reference light-wave conductor, and an electric winding disposed on said last-mentioned coil; amplifier circuit means electrically connected to said electrical windings; first transducer means and second transducer means optically connected to said coil of said first modulator and to said coil of said second modulator respectively for providing respective electrical signals to said amplifier circuit means indicative of the rotation of the polarization plane in dependence upon the intensity of the electric field and indicative of the rotation of the polarization plane in dependence upon the temperature respectively whereby said amplifier circuit means drives a current through said electric windings sufficient to cancel said rotations, said current being an electrical, temperature compensated quantity proportional to the value of the voltage on the high-voltage line; said amplifier circuit means comprising a load resistor electrically connected to said electrical windings, first and second differential amplifiers, and an additional differential amplifier connected to the respective outputs of said first and second amplifiers, a power amplifier connected to the output of said additional amplifier for supplying a current to said load and said electric windings, said first transducer means comprising an optical analyzer optically connected to said coil of said first modulator for splitting the polarized light conducted in said last-mentioned coil into two component beams having respective polarization planes perpendicular to each other and having respectivE intensities that change in opposition relative to each other, and two photo-cells disposed in the paths of said beams respectively, said photo-cells being connected to respective inputs of said first differential amplifier, and said second transducer means likewise comprising an optical analyzer optically connected to said coil of said second modulator for splitting the polarized light conducted in said last-mentioned coil into two component beams having respective polarization planes perpendicular to each other and having respective intensities that change in opposition relative to each other, and two photo-cells disposed in the paths of said last-mentioned beams respectively, said last-mentioned photo-cells being connected to respective inputs of said second differential amplifier, whereby said current supplied by said power amplifier is sufficient to cancel said rotations and is an electrical, temperature compensated quantity proportional to the value of the voltage on the high-voltage line.