US6236949B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital sensor apparatus and system for protection, control and management of electricity distribution systems
Assignee: Power Measurement Ltd
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Filing: 1999-10-07
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Granted: 2001-05-22
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Expires: 2019-10-07
Abstract
Abstract A sensor apparatus for monitoring voltage and/or current in an electric circuit and a system for monitoring voltages and currents in a system wherein electricity is distributed in a plurality of circuits. A sensor apparatus is associated with each phase conductor in each of the circuits. The sensor apparatus senses the electricity in the phase conductor and provides a digital output that is representative of the sensed electricity in the phase conductor. The digital output preferably includes phasor data for the sensed phase conductor. The monitoring system includes a plurality of such sensor apparatuses. The plurality of sensor apparatuses are coupled to a digital data network that provides for the exchange of sensed data among nodes on the digital data network. On a node of the network, phasor data from some of the plurality of sensor apparatuses are summed or otherwise processed to obtain phasor data representative of a plurality of the circuits.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald G. Hart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:00
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H7/00; H02H7/26; H02H7/261; G; G01; G01R; G01R15/00; G01R15/14; G01R15/18; G01R15/183; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E40/00; Y02E40/70; Y02E60/00; Y04; Y04S; Y04S10/00; Y04S10/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A protection device for protecting a multi-phase multi-conductor electric circuit from fault conditions on said electric circuit, the device comprising: a plurality of digital sensors coupled to said electric circuit, each of said plurality of digital sensors generating digital data representative of a current in each of phase conductors of said electric circuit; a data transmission network, coupled to said plurality of digital sensors, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said plurality of digital sensors; a communications port that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said data transmission network; a processors coupled to said communications port, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit and executes one or more protection algorithms to determine whether the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds a predetermined safe operating limit; and a trip apparatus, coupled to said processor, that outputs a trip signal if the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds said predetermined safe operating limit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A protection device for protecting a multi-phase multi-conductor electric circuit from fault conditions on said electric circuit, the device comprising: a plurality of digital sensors coupled to said electric circuit, each of said plurality of digital sensors generating digital data representative of a current in each of phase conductors of said electric circuit; a data transmission network, coupled to said plurality of digital sensors, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said plurality of digital sensors; a communications port that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said data transmission network; a processors coupled to said communications port, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit and executes one or more protection algorithms to determine whether the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds a predetermined safe operating limit; and a trip apparatus, coupled to said processor, that outputs a trip signal if the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds said predetermined safe operating limit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The protection device of claim 1 wherein said protection algorithms include an inverse time function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protection device of claim 1 wherein said protection algorithms include a current summation function of said digital data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The protection device of claim 1 wherein said protection algorithms include a current differential function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protection device of claim 1 wherein said data transmission network is a multi-point local area network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The protection device of claim 1 wherein said trip apparatus is remote from said protection device and is coupled to said processor through said data transmission network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protection device of claim 1 wherein said digital data received from said digital sensors is phasor data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protection device of claim 1 wherein said digital data received from said digital sensors is waveform sample data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The protection device of claim 1 wherein said protection algorithms are implemented as software objects which may reside on any node of said data transmission network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
194 words
A protection device for protecting a multi-phase multi-conductor electric circuit from fault conditions on said electric circuit, the device comprising: a plurality of digital sensors coupled to said electric circuit, each of said plurality of digital sensors generating digital data representative of a current in each of phase conductors of said electric circuit; a data transmission network, coupled to said plurality of digital sensors, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said plurality of digital sensors; a communications port that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said data transmission network; a processor, coupled to said communications port, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit and executes one or more protection algorithms to determine whether the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds a predetermined safe operating limit; and a circuit breaker, coupled to said processor, that opens said electric circuit if the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds said predetermined safe operating limit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
194 words
A protection device for protecting a multi-phase multi-conductor electric circuit from fault conditions on said electric circuit, the device comprising: a plurality of digital sensors coupled to said electric circuit, each of said plurality of digital sensors generating digital data representative of a current in each of phase conductors of said electric circuit; a data transmission network, coupled to said plurality of digital sensors, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said plurality of digital sensors; a communications port that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said data transmission network; a processor, coupled to said communications port, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit and executes one or more protection algorithms to determine whether the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds a predetermined safe operating limit; and a circuit breaker, coupled to said processor, that opens said electric circuit if the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds said predetermined safe operating limit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The protection device of claim 10 wherein said protection algorithms include an inverse time function.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protection device of claim 10 wherein said protection algorithms include a current summation function of said digital data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The protection device of claim 10 wherein said protection algorithms include a current differential function.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protection device of claim 10 wherein said data transmission network is a multi-point local area network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The protection device of claim 10 wherein said trip apparatus is remote from said protection device and is coupled to said processor through said data transmission network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protection device of claim 10 wherein said digital data received from said digital sensors is phasor data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protection device of claim 10 wherein said digital data received from said digital sensors is waveform sample data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The protection device of claim 10 wherein said protection algorithms are implemented as software objects which may reside on any node of said data transmission network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
227 words
A protection device for protecting a multi-phase multi-conductor electric circuit from fault conditions on said electric circuit, the device comprising: a plurality of digital sensors coupled to said electric circuit, each of said plurality of digital sensors generating digital data representative of a current in each of phase conductors of said electric circuit; a data transmission network, coupled to said plurality of digital sensors, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said plurality of digital sensors; a communications port that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said data transmission network; a processor, coupled to said communications port, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit and executes one or more protection algorithms to determine whether the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds a predetermined safe operating limit; a trip apparatus, coupled to said processor, that outputs a trip signal if the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds said predetermined safe operating limit; and a circuit breaker, coupled to said trip apparatus, that opens said electric circuit if said trip signal indicates that the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds said predetermined safe operating limit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
227 words
A protection device for protecting a multi-phase multi-conductor electric circuit from fault conditions on said electric circuit, the device comprising: a plurality of digital sensors coupled to said electric circuit, each of said plurality of digital sensors generating digital data representative of a current in each of phase conductors of said electric circuit; a data transmission network, coupled to said plurality of digital sensors, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said plurality of digital sensors; a communications port that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit from said data transmission network; a processor, coupled to said communications port, that receives said digital data representative of the current in each of said phase conductors of said electric circuit and executes one or more protection algorithms to determine whether the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds a predetermined safe operating limit; a trip apparatus, coupled to said processor, that outputs a trip signal if the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds said predetermined safe operating limit; and a circuit breaker, coupled to said trip apparatus, that opens said electric circuit if said trip signal indicates that the current through any of said phase conductors exceeds said predetermined safe operating limit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The protection device of claim 19 wherein said protection algorithms include an inverse time function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protection device of claim 19 wherein said protection algorithms include a current summation function of said digital data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The protection device of claim 19 wherein said protection algorithms include a current differential function.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protection device of claim 19 wherein said data transmission network is a multi-point local area network.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The protection device of claim 19 wherein said trip apparatus is remote from said protection device and is coupled to said processor through said data transmission network.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protection device of claim 19 wherein said digital data received from said digital sensors is phasor data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protection device of claim 19 herein said digital data received from said digital sensors is waveform sample data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The protection device of claim 19 wherein said protection algorithms are implemented as software objects which may reside on any node of said data transmission network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4415968A
Cited
US4709339A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |