Dynamic electric power line monitoring system
First Claim
1. A device configured to attach to an electrical power line at a fixed location along a length of the electrical power line, the device comprising:
- a distance sensor configured to measure a distance of a nearest object to the device at the fixed location;
a wireless transmitter;
a processor adapted to;
interpret the measured distance from the distance sensor to the nearest object; and
transmit a message related to the interpreted distance through the transmitter; and
a power supply configured to supply power to the distance sensor, the transmitter, and the processor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method of precise distance measurement of a transmission line to any object below it is disclosed, along with a network of such devices. The technique employs ultrasonic or laser sensor technology to measure the distance to the nearest object, be it vegetation or a crossing conductor below, and reports that distance wirelessly to the system operator or transmission asset owner. The ultrasonic measurement package may be part of a Transmission Line Security Monitor, which mounts to a transmission line conductor and is powered by the transmission line, transmitting the data by radio links. The technology is equally applicable to encroachment of objects from the side (for example, other transmission lines), as well as to other electrical lines, such as distribution lines, or to other sensing. A built-in transceiver allows the device to communicate with other devices and forward alerts from these devices in a daisy-chain fashion to the intended recipient.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A device configured to attach to an electrical power line at a fixed location along a length of the electrical power line, the device comprising:
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a distance sensor configured to measure a distance of a nearest object to the device at the fixed location; a wireless transmitter; a processor adapted to; interpret the measured distance from the distance sensor to the nearest object; and transmit a message related to the interpreted distance through the transmitter; and a power supply configured to supply power to the distance sensor, the transmitter, and the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 58, 59)
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11. A method of automated measuring and alerting of a nearest object in a proximity of an electrical power line using a distance sensor configured in a device attached to the power line at a fixed location along a length of the power line and comprising a wireless transmitter and a processor, the method comprising:
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measuring a distance of the nearest object to the device at the fixed location using the distance sensor; interpreting the measured distance to the nearest object using the processor; and transmitting a message based on the interpreted distance using the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 60, 61)
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16. A network of devices, each configured to attach to an electrical power line at a respective fixed location along a length of the electrical power line and communicate with an intended recipient, each device of the network of devices comprising:
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a distance sensor configured to measure a distance of a nearest object to the device at the respective fixed location; a wireless transceiver; an inductive power generator configured to generate electrical power inductively from the power line for use by the device; and a processor adapted to; interpret the measured distance from the distance sensor to the nearest object; transmit a message related to the interpreted distance through the transceiver; receive another such message through the transceiver from another device in the network of devices; and retransmit the other message from the other device through the transceiver, wherein the network of devices is configured to wirelessly communicate the message from the device to the intended recipient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 62, 63)
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21. A device configured to attach to an electrical power line, the device comprising:
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a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a conductor of the power line when the device is attached to the power line; a wireless transmitter; a processor configured to; interpret the measured temperature from the temperature sensor; and transmit a message related to the interpreted temperature through the transmitter; and a power supply configured to supply power to the temperature sensor, the transmitter, and the processor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of automated measuring and alerting of a temperature of a conductor of an electrical power line using a temperature sensor configured in a device attached to the power line and comprising a wireless transmitter and a processor, the method comprising:
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measuring the temperature of the object using the temperature sensor; interpreting the measured temperature using the processor; and transmitting a message based on the interpreted temperature using the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A network of devices, each configured to attach to an electrical power line and communicate with an intended recipient, each device of the network of devices comprising:
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a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a conductor of the power line when the device is attached to the power line; a wireless transceiver; an inductive power generator configured to generate electrical power inductively from the power line for use by the device; and a processor configured to; interpret the measured temperature from the temperature sensor; transmit a message related to the interpreted temperature through the transceiver; receive another such message through the transceiver from another device in the network of devices; and retransmit the other message from the other device through the transceiver, wherein the network of devices is configured to wirelessly communicate the message from the device to the intended recipient. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A device configured to attach to an electrical power line, the device comprising:
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a sensor for sensing a vicinity of the power line; a wireless transceiver for interconnecting the device with other devices in a wireless network by receiving messages from the other devices and retransmitting those ones of the messages not intended for the device; a processor for; interpreting a sensor reading from the sensor, and transmitting a message related to the interpreted sensor reading through the transceiver; and a power supply for supplying power to the sensor, the transceiver, and the processor, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a conductor of the power line when the device is attached to the power line or a distance sensor configured to measure a distance of a nearest object to the device. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of automated sensing of a proximity of an electrical power line using a sensor configured in each of a wireless network of devices attached to and inductively powered by the power line and each comprising a transceiver and a processor for communicating with a transceiver-equipped base station, the method comprising:
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sensing a vicinity of the power line using the sensor in one of the devices; interpreting a sensor reading from the sensor using the processor of the one of the devices; transmitting a first message based on the interpreted sensor reading using the transceiver of the one of the devices; and receiving and retransmitting the first message using the transceiver of others of the devices to forward the message to the base station, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a conductor of the power line or a distance sensor configured to measure a distance of a nearest object to the one of the devices. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A wireless network of devices, each configured to attach to an electrical power line and communicate with a transceiver-equipped base station, each device of the network of devices comprising:
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a sensor for sensing a vicinity of the power line; a wireless transceiver for interconnecting the device with others of the devices and with the base station by receiving messages from the others of the devices and retransmitting those ones of the messages not intended for the device; an inductive power generator for generating electrical power inductively from the power line for use by the device; and a processor for; interpreting the sensor reading from the sensor; transmitting a message related to the interpreted sensor reading through the transceiver; receiving another such message through the transceiver from another of the devices; and retransmitting the other message from the other device through the transceiver only if the device is closer to the base station than the other device is to the base station, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a conductor of the power line when the device is attached to the power line or a distance sensor configured to measure a distance of a nearest object to the device. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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Specification