INTERFACE MODULE FOR COMMUNICATION WITH AN ELECTRONIC OR AN ELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICE OF A MEDIUM VOLTAGE INTERRUPTION UNIT

• US 20100027687A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Mannino, Fabio, De Natale, Gabriele Valentino
• Granted Patent: US 8,379,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/259
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0076 by superposition on the watched current
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters

Abstract

An interface module for communication with at least a first electronic or electromechanical device of a medium voltage interruption unit which comprises at least a power supply port through which said first device receives electric power. The interface module further comprises first interface means that are electrically connected to said power supply port, said first interface means exchanging information with said first device through said power supply port.

Claims

1. An interface module for communication with at least a first electronic or electromechanical device of a medium voltage interruption unit, said first device comprising at least a power supply port, through which said first device receives electric power characterized in that it comprises first interface means that are electrically connected to said power supply port, said first interface means exchanging information (I1, I2) with said first device through said power supply port.

2. An interface module, according to claim 1, characterized in that said first interface means exchange information by means of a modulation of the electric power levels, which are supplied to said first device through said power supply port.

3. An interface module, according to claim 2, characterized in that said first interface means transmit information (I1) to said first device by modulating the supply voltage, which is supplied to said first device through said power supply port.

4. An interface module, according to claim 3, characterized in that said first interface means comprises a power audio amplifier for modulating the supply voltage, which is supplied to said first device through said power supply port.

5. An interface module, according to claim 3, characterized in that said first device comprises decoding means for decoding the information (I1), which is transmitted by said first interface means through said power supply port.

6. An interface module, according to claim 2, characterized in that said first device transmits information (I2) to said first interface means by modulating the power supply current, which is supplied to said first device through said power supply port.

7. An interface module, according to claim 6, characterized in that said first interface means comprises current sensor means for measuring the power supply current, which is consumed by said first device.

8. An interface module, according to claim 6, characterized in that said first device comprises encoding means for encoding the information (I2) to be transmitted to said first interface means.

9. An interface module, according to claim 1, characterized in that said first device comprises storage means for storing the information (I1) received from said first interface means and/or the information (I2) to be transmitted to said first interface means.

10. An interface module, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises second interface means for exchanging information (I1, I2) with at least a second electronic or electromechanical device.

11. An interface module, according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises transceiver means, which allows the exchange of information (I1, I2) between said first interface means and said second interface means.

12. An interface module, according to claim 1, characterized in that it is capable of executing a self learning procedure to measure the supply voltage and current values (Vp, Ip) that are supplied to the first device in normal conditions.

13. An interface module, according to claim 1, characterized in that said first device is an actuating device or a sensing device or a relay or a switch device or a locking device of said interruption unit.

14. An interface module, according to claim 10, characterized in that said second device is a computerized device for programming/configuring said first device.

15. An interface module, according to claim 1, characterized in that said medium voltage interruption unit is a medium voltage circuit breaker.

16. A medium voltage interruption unit characterized in that it comprises an interface module, according to claim 1.

17. An interface module, according to claim 4, characterized in that said first device comprises decoding means for decoding the information (I1), which is transmitted by said first interface means through said power supply port.

18. An interface module, according to claim 3, characterized in that said first device transmits information (I2) to said first interface means by modulating the power supply current, which is supplied to said first device through said power supply port.

19. An interface module, according to claim 4, characterized in that said first device transmits information (I2) to said first interface means by modulating the power supply current, which is supplied to said first device through said power supply port.

20. An interface module, according to claim 5, characterized in that said first device transmits information (I2) to said first interface means by modulating the power supply current, which is supplied to said first device through said power supply port.