Power extraction for a medium voltage sensor using a capacitive voltage divider
First Claim
1. A power line sensor unit configured for connection to a power line, the sensor unit comprising:
- a housing;
a first capacitor disposed within the housing;
the first capacitor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode;
at least one port, defined by a wall of the housing, configured to receive a connection to a second capacitor external to the housing, wherein the first electrode of the first capacitor is connected to the port and the second electrode of the first capacitor is configured for connection to the power line;
a voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage at the port, whereby the measured voltage is indicative of the voltage of the power line; and
a power unit comprising a power harvesting circuit engaged to a charge storage device;
wherein the power unit is the sole power source for the sensor unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor unit coupled to a first wire of a power line for measuring power-related parameters of the power line. The sensor unit contains a first capacitor and makes voltage measurements relative to another wire, to which the sensor unit is coupled by a second capacitor. The captors form a voltage divider such that the sensor unit may measure a voltage in a range much lower than the voltage on the power line. Additionally, the capacitive voltage divider yields a voltage that can be used to power the sensor unit, including by charging an energy storage device. The sensor unit may also supply power to other nearby devices, such as other devices that form a mesh sensor network.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A power line sensor unit configured for connection to a power line, the sensor unit comprising:
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a housing; a first capacitor disposed within the housing;
the first capacitor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode;at least one port, defined by a wall of the housing, configured to receive a connection to a second capacitor external to the housing, wherein the first electrode of the first capacitor is connected to the port and the second electrode of the first capacitor is configured for connection to the power line; a voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage at the port, whereby the measured voltage is indicative of the voltage of the power line; and a power unit comprising a power harvesting circuit engaged to a charge storage device;
wherein the power unit is the sole power source for the sensor unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of measuring parameters of a medium-voltage power line with a sensor unit, the method comprising:
measuring a voltage across a first capacitor, wherein; the first capacitor is disposed within the sensor unit; the first capacitor is connected to a hot wire of the power line; the first capacitor is coupled to a first electrode of a second capacitor through a port of a sensor unit housing, the second capacitor being external to the sensor unit and connected between the sensor unit and a neutral wire of the power line, the first capacitor being smaller than the second capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A power line monitoring system for making at least one power-related measurement on a poly-phase line comprising at least a first wire and a second wire, the system comprising:
a sensor unit attached to the first wire, the sensor unit comprising; a housing; a first capacitor disposed within the housing, the first capacitor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the second electrode of the first capacitor being coupled to the first wire; and a voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage across the first capacitor; a second capacitor external to the housing, the second capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode of the second capacitor being coupled to the first electrode of the first capacitor through at least one port defined by the housing, and the second electrode of the second capacitor being coupled to the second wire. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification