Method and apparatus for power theft prevention based on TDR or FDR signature monitoring on LV and MV power lines
First Claim
1. A method of detecting an unauthorized tap on an electrical power line which supplies electrical power for electrical apparatus at the premises of electrical power consumers, said method comprising:
- supplying electrical reflectometry signals to a portion of the power line;
receiving reflectometry signals from the power line which have been reflected by taps on the power line; and
comparing the received reflected signals with reflected signals reflected by authorized taps on the power line to determine whether or not unauthorized taps are present on the power line.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for detecting an authorized tap on an electrical power line in which electrical reflectometry signals are supplied to a portion of the power line by a transmitter, reflected such signals are received from the power line by a receiver and the reflected signals are compared in a comparator with signals reflected by authorized taps on the power line to determine whether or not unauthorized taps are present. In a preferred embodiment, the transmitter and receiver are part of power line communication apparatus and, if desired, such apparatus can transmit signals indicating tap changes to a remote control center.
57 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method of detecting an unauthorized tap on an electrical power line which supplies electrical power for electrical apparatus at the premises of electrical power consumers, said method comprising:
-
supplying electrical reflectometry signals to a portion of the power line;
receiving reflectometry signals from the power line which have been reflected by taps on the power line; and
comparing the received reflected signals with reflected signals reflected by authorized taps on the power line to determine whether or not unauthorized taps are present on the power line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. Apparatus for detecting an unauthorized tap on an electrical power line which supplies electrical power for electrical apparatus at the premises of electrical power consumers, said apparatus comprising:
-
a reflectometry signal transmitter for supplying reflectometry signals to the power line;
a reflectometry signal receiver for receiving reflectometry signals reflected by taps on the power line;
a comparator coupled to the receiver for comparing the signals reflected by the taps with signals previously reflected by taps on the power line and for providing a change signal output when the signals reflected by the taps change. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
Specification