System and method for digital protection and control device for a power distribution network

• US 7,159,054 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Di Maio, Luciano, Andenna, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US10/432,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,225 Days
• Field of Search: 710 8- 10, 710/72, 361/683, 361/93.2, 700/219, 700/291, 700/9, 700/83, 700/295
• US Class Current: 710/72
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/04 with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned watching of pilot wires H02H1/0084; protection of protective arrangements H02H7/008; indication of the state of electronic switches H03K17/18

Abstract

A digital protection and control (P & C) device for a power distribution network, which comprises a computerized control unit comprising a microprocessor. The P & C device, according to the present invention, further comprises an external computerized palmtop computerized device, including a human-machine interface (HMI), which comprises a software communication platform. This software communication platform is aimed at exchanging, by means of a predefined communication channel, data/information related to the software configuration of the HMI and data/information related to the operating status of the P & C device.

Claims

1. A digital P&

C device for a power distribution network comprising;

a computerized control unit further comprising;

a microprocessor; and

a software communication module for supporting communication with devices external to said computerized control unit; and

an external computerized apparatus for exchanging data/information with said computerized control unit, said external computerized apparatus further comprising;

at least a palmtop computerized device provided with a human-machine interface further comprising;

a software communication platform that communicates with said software communication module by means of a predefined communication channel, said software communication platform uploading to and downloading from said software communication module predefined data/information related to the software configuration of said human-machine interface and predefined data/information related to the operating status of said P&

C device, said software communication platform communicating with said software communication module according to a master-slave communication procedure, which involves the following subsequent steps;

a waiting step, in which said software communication module waits for a command from said software communication platform;

a receiving step, in which said software communication module receives a command from said software communication platform;

an executing step, in which said software communication module executes the command received from said software communication platform;

a response step, in which software communication module communicates the execution of the received command to said software communication platform;

said communication procedure being at least one of preceded and followed by at least one of the following phases;

a download phase, in which said software communication platform automatically downloads data/information related to the operating status of said P&

C device, from said computerized control unit; and

an upload phase, in which said software communication platform automatically uploads data/information related to the operating status of said P&

C device, into said computerized control unit.

2. A method for locally operating a digital P&

C device for a power distribution network according to claim 1, further comprising;

a connecting phase, wherein said palmtop computerized device establishes a communication with said computerized control unit;

a configuration phase, wherein said palmtop computerized device exchanges, with said computerized control unit data/information related to the software configuration of said human-machine interface; and

a run-time phase, wherein said palmtop computerized device exchanges, with said computerized control unit, data/information related to the operating status of said P&

C device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said connecting phase further comprises:

an interrogation step, in which the software communication platform of said palmtop computerized device checks if the software communication module of said computerized control unit is ready to exchange data/information; and

a response step, in which the software communication module of said computerized control unit communicates its availability to exchange data/information.

4. A method, according to claim 3, wherein said configuration phase further comprises:

a starting step, in which the software communication platform of said palmtop computerized device sends a start command to the software communication module of said computerized control unit; and

a download step, in which the software communication module of said human-machine interface downloads data/information related to the software configuration of said human-machine interface to the software communication platform of said palmtop computerized device.

5. A method, according to claim 2, further comprising at least one of the following phases;

a download phase, in which said software communication platform automatically downloads data/information related to the operating status of said P&

C device, from said computerized control unit; and

/or

an upload phase, in which said software communication platform automatically uploads data/information related to the operating status of said P&

C device, into said computerized control unit.

6. A method, according to claim 3, further comprising at least one of the following phases;

a download phase, in which said software communication platform automatically downloads data/information related to the operating status of said P&

C device, from said computerized control unit; and

/or

an upload phase, in which said software communication platform automatically uploads data/information related to the operating status of said P&

C device, into said computerized control unit.

7. A method, according to claim 4, further comprising at least one of the following phases:

a download phase, in which said software communication platform automatically downloads data/information related to the operating status of said P&

C device, from said computerized control unit; and

/or

an upload phase, in which said software communication platform automatically uploads data/information related to the operating status of said P&

C device, into said computerized control unit.

8. A digital P&

C device, according to claim 1, wherein said predefined communication channel is a wireless channel.

9. A digital P&

C device, according to claim 1, wherein said predefined communication channel is a wired channel.

10. A digital P&

C device, according to claim 8, wherein the wireless channel is at least one of a radio-frequency, infrared and GSM communication channel.

11. A digital P&

C device, according to claim 9, wherein the wired channel is a RS-232 communication port.