Current measuring apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring an A.C. distribution line having A.C. current which flows therethrough and which is characterized by an RMS value and a magnitude, comprising:
- (a) a current transformer having means for removably clamping it about said line while being inductively coupled to and electrically insulated from said line; and
(b) encoding means, carried and powered by said current transformer, for producing a train of voltage signals having a duration which is characteristic of said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line and for producing a train of light pulses from said voltage signals which characterize said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line, said encoding means comprising;
(1) zero-crossing detector means for producing a starting pulse reference to the positive zero-crossing of the A.C. current through the distribution line;
(2) A.C. to D.C. converter means for converting the output of said current transformer to a D.C. voltage signal level which is proportional to said magnitude of said A.C. current;
(3) comparison means, charging a capacitor from a constant current source upon the receipt of said starting pulse, for producing an off-signal when said capacitor is charged to said D.C. voltage signal level; and
(4) means, operatively connected to said zero-crossing detector means and said comparison means, for producing a light pulse which begins upon the receipt of said starting pulse and which ends upon the receipt of said off-signal and for discharging said capacitor upon the receipt of said off-signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for monitoring an A.C. distribution line comprising a novel split transformer core which may be inserted remotely about a distribution feeder line without de-energizing of that line, an encoder for producing a train of voltage signals whose duration are characteristic of the magnitude of the A.C. current flowing through the line and for producing a train of light pulses from the voltage levels which characterize the magnitude of the A.C. current flowing through the line, a decoder which is opticlaly linked to the encoder for measuring the time intervals of the light pulses and for converting the time intervals into a numerical value representing the current flowing through the line.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring an A.C. distribution line having A.C. current which flows therethrough and which is characterized by an RMS value and a magnitude, comprising:
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(a) a current transformer having means for removably clamping it about said line while being inductively coupled to and electrically insulated from said line; and (b) encoding means, carried and powered by said current transformer, for producing a train of voltage signals having a duration which is characteristic of said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line and for producing a train of light pulses from said voltage signals which characterize said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line, said encoding means comprising; (1) zero-crossing detector means for producing a starting pulse reference to the positive zero-crossing of the A.C. current through the distribution line; (2) A.C. to D.C. converter means for converting the output of said current transformer to a D.C. voltage signal level which is proportional to said magnitude of said A.C. current; (3) comparison means, charging a capacitor from a constant current source upon the receipt of said starting pulse, for producing an off-signal when said capacitor is charged to said D.C. voltage signal level; and (4) means, operatively connected to said zero-crossing detector means and said comparison means, for producing a light pulse which begins upon the receipt of said starting pulse and which ends upon the receipt of said off-signal and for discharging said capacitor upon the receipt of said off-signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7)
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5. Apparatus for monitoring an A.C. distribution line having A.C. current which flows therethrough and which is characterized by an RMS value and a magnitude, comprising:
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(a) a current transformer having means for removably clamping it about said line while being inductively coupled to and electrically insulated from said line; and (b) encoding means, carried and powered by said current transformer, for producing a train of voltage signals having a duration which is characteristic of said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line and for producing a train of light pulses from said voltage signals which characterize said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line, said encoding means comprising; (a) D.C. level means, operated in response to said current transformer, for producing a generally fixed D.C. voltage which is dividable into at least four D.C. voltage levels; (b) first half-cycle means, operated in response to the output of said current transformer, for producing a first voltage which is proportional to the current flowing through said line over one-half of the period of said A.C. current; (c) second half-cycle means, operated in response to the output of said current transformer, for producing a second voltage which is proportional to the current flowing through said line over the remaining half of the period of said A.C. current; and (d) sequential comparison means, comparing said first voltage and at least two of said four D.C. voltage levels and comparing said second voltage and at least the remaining two of said four D.C. voltage levels, for producing said train of voltage signals which are characteristic of said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line. - View Dependent Claims (6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for monitoring an A.C. distribution line having A.C. current which flows therethrough and which is characterized by an RMS value and a magnitude, comprising:
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(a) a current transformer having means for removably clamping it about said line while being inductively coupled to and electrically insulated from said line; (b) encoding means, carried and powered by said current transformer, for producing a train of voltage signals having a duration which is characteristic of said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line and for producing a train of time separated light pulses from said voltage signals which characterize said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line; and (c) decoding means, spaced apart and electrically isolated from said encoding means, for measuring said time intervals between said light pulses and for converting said train of light pulses into a numerical value representing the current flowing through said line, said decoding means including a pulse forming network for converting said train of light pulses to a train of voltage pulses, said pulse forming network including an exclusive-OR gate having an output to drive a microprocessor; and (d) a fiber optic link for transmitting said train of light pulses from said encoding means to said decoding means.
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18. Apparatus for monitoring an A.C. distribution line having A.C. current which flows therethrough and which is characterized by an RMS value and a magnitude, comprising:
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(a) a current transformer having means for removably clamping it about said line while being inductively coupled to and electrically insulated from said line; (b) encoding means, carried and powered by said current transformer, for producing a train of voltage signals having a duration which is characteristic of said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line and for producing a train of time separated light pulses from said voltage signals which characterize said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line; and (c) decoding means, spaced apart and electrically isolated from said encoding means, for measuring said time intervals between said light pulses and for converting said train of light pulses into a numerical value representing the current flowing through said line, said decoding means including; (1) a pulse forming network for converting said train of light pulses to a train of voltage pulses; (2) a microprocessor which has been programmed to accept said train of voltage pulses, to count said voltage pulses, to determine the time intervals between said voltage pulses, to compare said time intervals against a look-up table stored in said microprocessor, and to calculate said RMS value of said A.C. current in said line; and (3) a flip-flop having a RESET-input driven by said train of voltage pulses, a SET-input triggered by an output from said microprocessor, and an OUTPUT which is connected to an input port of said microprocessor, said microprocessor having been programmed to provide an INTERRUPT-output signal which goes to said SET-input which is gated by said OUTPUT of said flip-flop. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. Apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a clamp-on transformer which is configured to be removably attached and electrically insulated from an A.C. distribution line having current flowing therethrough, said transformer having a magnetic core and a secondary winding with a primary winding of said transformer being formed by said A.C. distribution line; (b) encoding means, comparing a voltage which is derived from said secondary of said transformer and which is a function of the magnitude of said A.C. current to one reference voltage which is derived from said secondary of said transformer, for producing a coded sequence of light pulses which are characteristic of said A.C. current flowing through said line, said one reference voltage being produced by a capacitor which is charged by a constant current source beginning at a zero-crossing of said A.C. line current; (c) microprocessor means, which is physically remote from said transformer and said encoding means, which has been programmed with a look-up table to compute, from the duration of said light pulses, said electrical current flowing through said line; and (d) means for sending light pulses from said encoding means to said microprocessor means and for converting said light pulses to digital values readable by said microprocessor means. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. Apparatus for monitoring an A.C. distribution line having A.C. current which flows therethrough and which is characterized by an RMS value and a magnitude, comprising:
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(a) a current transformer having means for removably clamping it about said line while being inductively coupled to and electrically insulated from said line; and (b) encoding means, carried and powered by said current transformer, for producing a train of voltage signals having a duration which is characteristic of said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line and for producing a train of light pulses from said voltage signals which characterize said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line, each of said voltage signals being initiated at a positive zero-crossing of said A.C. current and only one voltage signal being produced for each cycle of said A.C. current.
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35. Apparatus for monitoring an A.C. distribution line having A.C. current which flows therethrough and which is characterized by an RMS value and a magnitude, comprising:
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(a) a current transformer having means for removably clamping it about said line while being inductively coupled to and electrically insulated from said line; and (b) encoding means, carried and powered by said current transformer, for producing a train of voltage signals having a duration which is characteristic of said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line and for producing a train of light pulses from said voltage signals which characterize said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line, said encoding means comprising; (a) a zero-crossing detector powered by said current transformer; (b) an A.C. to D.C. converter for producing a voltage level which is proportional to the current flowing through said A.C. distribution line; (c) a capacitor and means for producing a constant current to charge said capacitor and establish a threshold voltage, whereby a time to reach said threshold voltage is established; and (d) signaling means, operating in response to said zero-crossing detector, for turning ON a light source at the beginning of said A.C. current wave form and for shutting OFF said light source when said threshold voltage is generally equal to said voltage level, whereby the duration that said light source was ON is a characteristic of said magnitude of said A.C. current flowing through said line. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. Apparatus for metering the A.C. current flowing through a line conductor, said current being characterized by a magnitude, a period, and an RMS value, comprising:
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(a) a current transformer removably carried by the line; (b) D.C. level means, operated in response to said current transformer, for producing a D.C. voltage level; (c) voltage means, operated in response to said current transformer for producing a voltage level characteristic of the current through said line; (d) first half-cycle means, operated in response to said voltage means, for producing a current signal through a first resistor and thereby a first voltage, said current signal being proportional to the current flowing through said line over the one half of said period of said A.C. current; (e) second half-cycle means, operated in response to said voltage means, for producing a current signal through a second resistor and thereby a second voltage, said current signal being proportional to the current flowing through said line over the remaining half of said period of said A.C. current; (f) voltage dropping means, across said D.C. level means, for producing at least four levels of voltage; (g) sequential comparison means, comparing said first voltage with two of said four level voltages and comparing said second voltage with the remaining two of said four level voltages, for producing a train of light pulses whose duration is characteristic of said magnitude of said current flowing through said line; (h) a pulse forming network for taking said train of light pulses and converting them to a train of voltage pulses; (i) a flip-flop characterized by transitions and having an OUTPUT, a RESET-input driven by said pulse forming network and having a SET-input; and (j) a microprocessor which has been programmed to provide for an interrupt which is gated by the OUTPUT of said flip-flop, said microprocesor having an output which is connected to said SET-input of said flip-flop and being programmed to gate said flip-flop to an ON condition for at least one electrical cycle, to count the number of transitions of said flip-flop which are gated into said microprocessor by said interrupt, to determine time intervals between transitions of said train of pulses, and to calculate said RMS value of said current flowing through said line using said time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. Apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a current transducer having means for removably connecting it around an A.C. current conducting line while remaining electrically insulated from said line, said transducer having two output terminals and an iron core comprising two parts which are movable between an open position to accept said line and a closed position around said line; (b) a D.C. power supply, connected to the output terminals of said transducer, for producing at least four D.C. voltage levels, said D.C. power supply including a bridge rectifier and a parallel combination of a zener diode and a capacitor connected to output terminals of said bridge rectifier; (c) first half-cylce means, operated in response to the output of said current transducer, for producing a first voltage which is proportional to said A.C. electrical current flowing through said line over one-half of the period of said A.C. electrical current; (d) second half-cycle means, operated in response to the output of said current transducer, for producing a second voltage which is proportional to said A.C. current flowing through said line over the remaining half of the period of said A.C. electrical current; (e) comparison means for comparing said first voltage and at least two of said four D.C. voltage levels, for comparing said second voltage and at least the remaining two of said four D.C. voltage levels, and for producing a train of pulses whose separation in time is a characteristic of said A.C. current flowing through said line; and (f) a microprocessor which has been programed to receive said train of time separated pulses from said comparison means, to count said pulses, to determine time intervals between said pulses, and to calculate an RMS value of the current flowing through said line using said time intervals.
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45. Apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a clamp-on transformer which is configured to be removably attached and electrically insulated from an A.C. distribution line having current flowing therethrough, said transformer having a magnetic core and a secondary winding with a primary winding of said transformer being formed by said A.C. distribution line; (b) encoding means, carried by said clamp-on transformer, for comparing a voltage which is derived from said secondary of said transformer and which is a function of the magnitude of said A.C. current to one reference voltage which is derived from said secondary of said transformer, and for producing a coded sequence of light pulses which are characteristic of said A.C. current flowing through said line and which are initiated at the zero-crossing of said A.C. current flowing through said line; (c) a microprocessor, which is physically remote from said transformer and said encoding means, which has been programmed with a look-up table to compute, from the duration of said light pulses, said electrical current flowing through said line; and (d) means for sending light pulses from said encoding means to said microprocessor and for converting said light pulses to digital values readable by said microprocessor.
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46. Apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a clamp-on transformer which is configured to be removably attached and electrically insulated from an A.C. distribution line having current flowing therethrough, said transformer having a magnetic core and a secondary winding with a primary winding of said transformer being formed by said A.C. distribution line; (b) encoding means, comparing a voltage which is derived from said secondary of said transformer and which is a function of the magnitude of said A.C. current to at least four generally constant reference voltages which are derived from said secondary of said transformer, for producing a coded sequence of light pulses which are characteristic of said A.C. current flowing through said line; (c) microprocessor means, which is physically remote from said transformer and said encoding means, which has been programmed with a look-up table to compute, from the duration of said light pulses, said electrical current flowing through said line; and (d) means for sending light pulses from said encoding means to said microprocessor means and for converting said light pulses to digital values readable by said microprocessor means.
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Specification