Method and Apparatus for Communicating Power Distribution Event and Location

• US 20120046891A1
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Yaney, David S., Kehn, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,779,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/62
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/06 using power transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/58 Repeater circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/52 Outage or fault management, e.g. fault detection or location
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A system, device, and method of providing information for a power distribution system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of using a device that receives power from the low voltage power of the power distribution system and experiences a power loss during a local power outage may perform the processes of monitoring a voltage of the low voltage power line, detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period, storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage, and transmitting a notification to a remote computer system prior to the outage. The monitoring may comprise making a plurality of measurements of the voltage during a time interval and averaging the plurality of voltage measurements. In addition, the method may include transmitting an alert message upon power up after the outage to indicate a power restoration local to the device.

Claims

1. A method of using a device to provide power outage information for a power distribution system that includes a low voltage power line and wherein the device receives at least some power from the low voltage power line and experiences a power loss during a local power outage, comprising:

repeatedly measuring a voltage of the low voltage power line;

detecting a voltage reduction that remains below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period;

storing information of the voltage reduction, that remains below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period, in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage; and

in response to said detecting, transmitting a notification to a remote computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a source of stored energy; and

wherein said transmitting is performed via use of the stored energy when power to the device from the low voltage power line is insufficient for operation of the device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a shut down operation in response to said detecting the voltage reduction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes information sufficient for determining a location of the voltage reduction.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a moving window trailing average of the voltage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said repeatedly measuring comprises:

making a plurality of measurements of the voltage during a time interval; and

averaging the plurality of voltage measurements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the time interval moves over time.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a second notification to the remote computer system when power is restored after the power outage.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second notification includes information of the voltage reduction stored in the non-volatile memory.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a capacitor to store energy; and

wherein said transmitting is performed via use of the stored energy when power to the device from the low voltage power line is insufficient for operation of the device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device does not include a source of stored energy for said transmitting.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage reduction is indicative of a power outage,

wherein said transmitting the notification occurs after a power restoration;

and

wherein the notification includes data based on the information stored in the non-volatile memory.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising when power is restored after the power outage:

accessing the non-volatile memory to retrieve the information; and

transmitting a second notification to the remote computer system that includes data based on the retrieved information.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting.

14. A method of using a device to provide information about a power distribution system that includes a power line that carries a nominal voltage and that provides operating power to the device, comprising:

repeatedly measuring a voltage of the power line;

detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold value and wherein the voltage reduces to substantially zero volts;

determining that the voltage remains below the threshold value for a predetermined time period; and

in response to said determining, transmitting a first notification indicative of said determining.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a moving window trailing average for the measured voltage.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said repeatedly measuring comprises measuring the instantaneous voltage.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a source of stored energy; and

wherein said transmitting is performed via use of the stored energy when power to the device from the power line is insufficient for operation of the device.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising executing a shut down operation in response to said determining.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first notification includes information sufficient for determining a location of the voltage reduction.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said repeatedly measuring comprises:

making a plurality of measurements of the voltage during a time interval; and

averaging the plurality of voltage measurements.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the time interval moves over time.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the voltage reduction to substantially zero volts comprises a power outage, the method further comprising transmitting a second notification when power is restored after the power outage.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage; and

wherein the second notification includes data based on the information of the voltage reduction stored in the non-volatile memory.

25. A computer program product stored in one or more non-transitory tangible computer readable media having executable instructions to provide information about a power outage of a power distribution system and wherein said executable instructions are executable by a device that receives operating power from a power line of the power distribution system, comprising:

a code segment to receive data of a plurality of voltage measurements of the power line;

a code segment to determine whether the voltage of the power line satisfies a similarity threshold with a signature of a power outage;

wherein the similarity threshold comprises a voltage reduction that remains below a voltage threshold for a predetermined time period; and

a code segment to cause a transmission of a notification sufficient for determining the location of the device if the voltage satisfies the similarity threshold with the signature of a power outage.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

a code segment to store information in a non-volatile memory if the voltage satisfies the similarity threshold with the signature of a power outage, and

a code segment to retrieve the stored information after power up of the device.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising a code segment to initiate a shut down operation of the device if the voltage satisfies the similarity threshold with the signature of a power outage.

28. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising a code segment to average data of a plurality of voltage measurements over a timer interval.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the time interval moves over time.

30. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising a code segment to transmit a second notification when power is restored after the power outage.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, further comprising:

a code segment to store measurement data of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage; and

wherein the second notification includes the stored measurement data.

32. A device for providing information about a power outage of a power distribution system that includes a plurality of power lines, the device comprising:

a circuit configured to measure a voltage of a power line;

a power supply configured to receive power from the power line;

a non-volatile memory;

a processor in communication with said non-volatile memory and said circuit and configured to receive voltage data based on a plurality of measurements of the voltage from said circuit;

a communication interface in communication with said processor;

wherein said processor is configured to process the voltage data to detect a voltage reduction that remains below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period;

wherein said processor is configured to store first information of the voltage reduction in said non-volatile memory; and

wherein said processor is configured to cause said communication interface to transmit a notification in response to detecting a voltage reduction below the threshold voltage for the predetermined time period.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein said processor is configured:

to access said non-volatile memory upon power up; and

if the first information is stored in said non-volatile memory;

to transmit a second notification that includes data based on the first information.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein said communication interface comprises a wireless transmitter.