Antenna protected from dielectric breakdown and sensor or switchgear apparatus including the same

• US 20060077114A1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rollmann, Paul J., Solveson, Mark G., Planning, Matthew F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,215,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/873
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence

Abstract

A switchgear apparatus includes a switchgear device, such as a circuit breaker, having a power bus, and an antenna element including an antenna member and one or more antenna leads. A material encapsulates the antenna member and is adapted to suppress dielectric breakdown through the material to the encapsulated antenna member from the power bus. The circuit breaker also includes a conductive housing having an opening receiving the antenna leads. The conductive housing is mounted on or proximate to the power bus. A sensor circuit is disposed in the conductive housing and is adapted to output a radio frequency signal to the antenna leads or to input a radio frequency signal from the antenna leads.

Claims

1. An antenna protected from external dielectric breakdown, said antenna comprising:

an antenna element comprising an antenna member and at least one antenna lead; and

a material encapsulating said antenna member, said material being adapted to suppress dielectric breakdown through said material to said encapsulated antenna member from an external voltage potential.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said material is a Cycloaliphatic epoxy.

3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said material has a dielectric strength of about 17 MV/m to about 18 MV/m.

4. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said antenna element is a patch antenna.

5. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said antenna element is a planar-inverted antenna.

6. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said antenna element is a loop antenna.

7. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said antenna element is adapted to communicate in a low-rate wireless network.

8. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said material encapsulates said antenna member at a depth of about 5.9 mm.

9. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said antenna element includes at least one square corner or square edge;

and wherein said material defines a surface which encapsulates said antenna member, said surface including a first planar surface and a second surface, said second surface excluding any square corner, excluding any square edge, and including a plurality of rounded corners and a plurality of rounded edges.

10. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said material is a casting and potting material.

11. A sensor comprising:

an antenna element comprising an antenna member and at least one antenna lead;

a material encapsulating said antenna member, said material being adapted to suppress dielectric breakdown through said material to said encapsulated antenna member from an external voltage potential;

a conductive housing including an opening receiving said at least one antenna lead; and

a sensor circuit disposed in said conductive housing, said sensor circuit adapted to output a radio frequency signal to said at least one antenna lead or to input a radio frequency signal from said at least one antenna lead.

12. The sensor of claim 11 wherein said material includes a surface which is substantially larger than said opening;

and wherein the surface of said material is mounted on said conductive housing and covers the opening thereof.

13. The sensor of claim 12 wherein the surface is a first surface;

wherein said material includes a second surface opposite said first surface; and

wherein said antenna element is disposed substantially intermediate said first and second surfaces.

14. The sensor of claim 12 wherein the surface is a first planar surface;

wherein said material includes a second planar surface opposite said first planar surface; and

wherein said antenna element is generally disposed a first distance from said first planar surface and a second greater distance from said second planar surface.

15. The sensor of claim 11 wherein said conductive housing is a corona discharge shield.

16. The sensor of claim 11 wherein said antenna element is adapted to communicate in a low-rate wireless network.

17. A switchgear apparatus comprising:

a switchgear device comprising a power bus;

an antenna element comprising an antenna member and at least one antenna lead;

a material encapsulating said antenna member, said material being adapted to suppress dielectric breakdown through said material to said encapsulated antenna member from said power bus;

a conductive housing including an opening receiving said at least one antenna lead, said conductive housing being mounted on or proximate to said power bus; and

a sensor circuit disposed in said conductive housing, said sensor circuit adapted to output a radio frequency signal to said at least one antenna lead or to input a radio frequency signal from said at least one antenna lead.

18. The switchgear apparatus of claim 17 wherein said switchgear device is a circuit breaker.

19. The switchgear apparatus of claim 18 wherein said circuit breaker includes an internal wireless circuit adapted to communicate with the sensor circuit through the antenna element.

20. The switchgear apparatus of claim 17 wherein said switchgear device is a bus structure;

and wherein said power bus is adapted to be electrically connected to a circuit breaker.