Remote load data acquisition and control system for a power network

• US 4,589,075 A
• Filed: 02/23/1983
• Issued: 05/13/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Summit Business Capital Corp. (Bank of America Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Regency Electronics Incorporated (BK Technologies Corp.)
• Inventors: Buennagel, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US06/469,083
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.06, 340/310 A, 340/825.69, 455/7, 455/17, 455/18, 455/22, 179/2 EB, 179/2 DP, 179/2 EC, 364/493, 364/492
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A load management system for a power network which both addresses remote load controllers and acquires load data through a retransmission network. A central controller processes power load a data and generates digital messages which address loads and command the selective connection and disconnection of loads. The central controller transmits the generated digital messages via radio frequency transmissions. Programmable retransmission stations receive, decode and directionally retransmit the digital messages. Addressable remote load controllers receive and decode transmitted digital messages and operate to connect and disconnect loads in response to command messages received by the addressed load controllers. Addressable data acquisition units sense loads at points in the power network and operate to generate digital load data messages. Retransmission stations receive load data messages from the addressable data acquisition units and retransmit load data messages through the retransmission network to the central controller. Yet other digital messages are translated into paging signals and disseminated to remote paging units.

Claims

1. A remote load data acquisition and control system for a power network, the power network including a power generating source and a plurality of separately controllable loads, said system comprising:

(a) a plurality of addressable remote load controllers, at least some of said addressable load controllers including;

(1) radio receiver means;

(2) decoder means for decoding radio transmissions received into digital messages;

(3) an address identifier; and

(4) means for connecting and disconnecting a load to and from the power generating source in response to received commands when the load controller receives and decodes the address identifier of that load controller;

(b) a plurality of addressable power load monitors, at least some of said addressable power load monitors including;

(1) radio receiver means;

(2) decoder means for decoding received radio transmissions into digital messages;

(3) an address identifier;

(4) load sensing means for sensing the extent of load on the power network at a point in the power network;

(5) means for accessing said load sensing means and generating digital load data messages indicating the extent of load on the power network at a point in the power network when the power load monitor receives and decodes the address identifier of that power load monitor;

(6) means for encoding and transmitting said load data messages;

(c) a central controller, said central controller including;

(1) central controller processor means for processing power load data and generating digital messages, said central controller generated digital messages including retransmission network messages and load management messages, said load management messages including

(i) load control messages which address said addressable remote controllers and command the selective connection and disconnection of loads connected to addressed remote load controllers, and

(ii) data aquisition messages which address power load monitors;

(2) central radio frequency transmitter means for transmitting said digital messages; and

(3) central controller receiver means for receiving power load data messages;

(d) a network of retransmission stations, said retransmission stations including;

(1) receiver means for receiving radio transmissions;

(2) a radio frequency transmitter;

(3) decoder means for decoding radio transmissions received into digital messages;

(4) a plurality of directional antennas connectable to said receiver and transmitter means; and

(5) retransmission network processing means for processing received retransmission network messages, said retransmission network processing means including;

(i) means for selectively retransmitting received radio transmissions within said retransmission network in response to received retransmission network messages;

(ii) means for selectively retransmitting received load control messages in response to other received retransmission network messages; and

(iii) means for selectively retransmitting received data acquisition messages in response to yet other received retransmission network messages;

(iv) means for retransmitting received load data messages within said retransmission network toward said central controller receiver means; and

(v) means for selectively controlling the connection and disconnection of said directional antennas to said receiver and transmitter means in response to certain retransmission network messages.

2. The remote load data acquisition and control system for a power network of claim 1, additionally including a plurality of remote paging units, said remote paging units including:

(1) radio receiver means;

(2) an address identifier; and

(3) signalling means for signalling a paging signal in response to received remote paging messages which include the address identifier of that remote paging unit;

in which said load management messages additionally includes remote paging messages which address remote paging units; and

in which said retransmission network processing means includes means for selectively retransmitting received remote paging messages in response to certain received retransmission network messages.

3. A remote load data acquisition and control system for a power network, the power network including a power generating source and a plurality of separately controllable loads, said system comprising:

(a) a central controller, said central controller including;

(1) central processor means for processing power network load data and generating digital messages to address loads in the power system and to command the connection and disconnection of addressed loads to and from the power generating source;

(2) central radio frequency transmitter means for transmitting said digital messages; and

(3) central controller receiver means for receiving radio frequency messages;

(b) a plurality of addressable remote load controllers, each of said addressable load controllers including;

(1) radio receiver means;

(2) decoder means for decoding radio transmissions received into digital messages;

(3) an address identifier; and

(4) means for connecting and disconnecting a load to and from the power generating source in response to command messages when the load controller receives and decodes the address identifier of that load controller;

(c) at least one load sensing means for sensing the load on the power network at a point in the power network remote from said central controller, said load sensing means including means for generating digital load data messages indicating the extent of load on the power network at a point in the power network;

(d) a network of retransmission stations, said retransmission station including;

(1) receiver means for receiving radio transmissions;

(2) a radio frequency transmitter;

(3) decoder means for decoding radio transmissions recieved into digital messages;

(4) a plurality of directional antennas connectable to said receiver and transmitter means; and

(5) retransmission network processing means for means for selectively retransmitting received radio transmissions within said retransmission network, said retransmission network processing means including means for selectively controlling the connection and disconnection of said directional antennas to said receiver and transmitter means in response to certain received digital message;

(6) means for selectively transmitting addressed command messages to at least one of said addressably remote load controllers;

(7) data acquisition means for receiving load data messages from one of said load sensing means; and

(8) means for transmitting load data messages received from one of said load sensing means, said load data messages being receivable by said controller receiver means.

4. The remote load data acquisition and control system for a power network of claim 3, in which at least some of said retransmission stations include a plurality of directional antennas connectable to said receiver and transmitter means;

and in which at least some of said retransmission stations include means for selectively controlling the connection of said directional antennas in response to certain received digital messages.

5. The remote load data acquisition and control system for a power network of claim 3, additionally including a plurality of remote paging units, said remote paging units including:

(1) radio receiver means;

(2) an address identifier; and

(3) signalling means for signalling a paging signal in response to received messages which include the address identifier of that remote paging unit;

and in which at least some of said retransmission network stations include means for selectively transmitting the address identifier of a remote paging unit.