System and method to use dynamic feedback of analog to digital converter sample rate to adaptively lock the sample rate to input frequency

• US 7,259,547 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monterey Research, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Summers, Kevin, Hastings, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Ha Tran
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENITEZ ROSARIO, JOSHUA
• Application Number:
  US11/165,726
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 324/141, 324/142, 324/76.11, 702/57, 702/60, 702/64, 341/166
• US Class Current: 324/142
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/00 Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D3/00 takes precedence; specially adapted for apparatus giving results other than momentary value of variable G01D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2509 Details concerning sampling, digitizing or waveform capturing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/04 of instruments for measuring time integral of power or current
• 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: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A system and method for dynamically lock the sample rate of an analog to digital (ADC) converter to an input frequency. Specifically, a system for measuring power is disclosed. The system includes an ADC converter, a measuring module, an ADC cycle counter, and a calculation block coupled together. The ADC converter samples an analog input line signal. The measuring module measures a predetermined number of line cycles of the analog input line signal. The ADC cycle counter measures an actual sample count of the analog input line signal by the ADC converter over the predetermined number of line cycles. The calculation block determines an error rate between the actual sample count and an ideal sample count that is based on a predetermined over sample rate.

Claims

1. A system for measuring power, comprising:

an analog to digital (ADC) converter for sampling an analog input line signal;

a measuring module coupled to said ADC converter for measuring a predetermined number of line cycles of said analog input line signal;

an ADC cycle counter coupled to said ADC converter for measuring an actual sample count by said ADC converter of said analog input line signal over said predetermined number of line cycles; and

a calculation block coupled to said ADC cycle counter and said measuring module for determining an error rate between said actual sample count and an ideal sample count of said analog input line signal over said predetermined number of line cycles, wherein said ideal sample count is based on a predetermined over sample rate.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said measuring module further comprises:

a zero crossing detector coupled to said ADC converter for detecting zero crossings of said analog input line signal;

a zero crossing counter for measuring said predetermined number of line cycles of said analog input line signal by counting a corresponding number of zero crossings associated with said predetermined number of line cycles.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an ADC cycle timer for driving said actual sample count to said ideal sample count by adjusting overall sample timing of said ADC by a factor proportional to said error rate.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an ADC cycle timer for adjusting an idle time of an ADC cycle for said ADC so that said ADC cycle is adjusted in proportion with said error rate.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said calculation block calculates said ideal sample count by multiplying said over sample rate by said predetermined number of line cycles to calculate said ideal sample count.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said calculation block further comprises:

a subtracting block for calculating an offset by subtracting said ideal sample count from said actual sample count; and

a dividing block for dividing said offset by said ideal sample count to determine said error rate.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said calculation block determines a frequency of said analog input line signal by counting a number of ADC cycles for a period of one second and dividing said number of ADC cycles by said predetermined over sample rate.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

another ADC converter, wherein said ADC converters combined measure power of said analog input line signal.

9. A system for measuring line frequency, comprising:

an analog to digital (ADC) converter for sampling an analog input line signal;

a timer for measuring a time period;

an ADC cycle counter coupled to said ADC converter for counting a number of ADC cycles of said analog input line signal over said time period;

a calculation block coupled to said timer and said ADC cycle counter for determining a line frequency of said analog input line signal by dividing said number of ADC cycles by said time period and by dividing said number of ADC cycles by a predetermined over sample rate.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said time period is one second.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a measuring module coupled to said ADC converter for measuring a predetermined number of line cycles of said analog input line signal;

said ADC cycle counter for measuring an actual sample count of said analog input line signal by said ADC converter over said predetermined number of line cycles;

said calculation block coupled to said measuring module for determining an error rate between said actual sample count and an ideal sample count of said analog input line signal over said predetermined number of line cycles, wherein said ideal sample count is based on said predetermined over sample rate; and

an ADC cycle timer for driving said actual sample count to said ideal sample count by adjusting overall sample timing of said ADC by a factor proportional to said error rate.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

another ADC converter, wherein said ADC converters combined measure power of said analog input line signal.

13. A method for measuring power, comprising:

measuring a predetermined number of line cycles of an analog input line signal;

calculating an ideal sample count by an analog to digital converter (ADC) of said analog input line signal over said predetermined number of line cycles, wherein said ideal sample count is based on a predetermined over sample rate;

measuring an actual sample count by said ADC of said analog input line signal of said analog input line signal over said predetermined number of line cycles;

determining an error rate between said actual sample count and said ideal sample count; and

driving said actual sample count to said ideal sample count by adjusting overall sample timing of said ADC by a factor proportional to said error rate.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said measuring a predetermined number of line cycles comprises:

detecting zero crossings of said analog input line signal; and

counting a corresponding number of zero crossings associated with said predetermined number of line cycles.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said calculating an ideal sample count comprises:

multiplying said over sample rate by said predetermined number of line cycles to calculate said ideal sample count.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining an error rate comprises:

calculating an offset by subtracting said ideal sample count from said actual sample count; and

dividing said offset by said ideal sample count to determine said error rate.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said adjusting overall sample timing comprises:

adjusting an idle time of an ADC cycle for said ADC so that said ADC cycle is adjusted by said factor in proportion with said error rate.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said adjusting overall sample timing comprises:

decreasing an idle time of an ADC cycle for said ADC so that said ADC cycle is reduced in proportion with said error rate when said error rate indicates a sample rate of said ADC is too high.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said adjusting overall sample timing comprises:

increasing an idle time of an ADC cycle for said ADC so that said ADC cycle is increased in proportion with said error rate when said error rate indicates a sample rate of said ADC is too low.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

after said actual sample count is driven to said ideal sample count, counting a number of ADC cycles for a period of one second;

dividing said number of ADC cycles by said predetermined over sample rate to determine a frequency of said analog input line signal.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining power of said analog input line signal.