Power line communication and power distribution parameter measurement system and method
First Claim
1. A power line communication device for providing information related to a un-insulated medium voltage power line carrying power with a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:
- a first current sensor device configured to be physically attached to the un-insulated medium voltage power line and to measure the current of the un-insulated medium voltage power line;
said first current sensor device including a data interface, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a memory;
said first current sensor device including a processor in communication with said memory, said ADC and said data interface;
wherein said processor is programmed to receive data representing the measured current carried by the un-insulated medium voltage power line;
wherein said processor is programmed to store data of a plurality of current measurements in said memory;
wherein said processor is programmed to retrieve the plurality of measurements from memory and to cause said data interface to transmit the data representing the plurality of measurements in a single transmission;
a second device configured to be mounted to a utility pole and comprising;
a sensor interface configured to communicate with said data interface of said first current sensor device;
a modem configured to transmit data related to the measured current;
a controller communicatively coupled to said modem and said sensor interface and having a memory with executable program code stored in said memory; and
wherein said first current sensor device is electrically isolated from said second device.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power line communication device is provided that in one embodiment includes a parameter sensor device configured to measure a parameter of a power line, a modem configured to transmit parameter data over a power line, and a controller communicatively coupled to the current sensor device and modem. The parameter sensor device may include a current sensor device that includes a Rogowski coil. For measuring the current or other parameter of a higher voltage power line conductor, the parameter sensor device may be configured to provide data to the controller via a non-conductive communication link, such as via a wireless, fiber optic, or radio frequency transponder link. In addition, the parameter sensor device may include an isolated power source and receive power via a fiber optic conductor or inductively from the power line.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A power line communication device for providing information related to a un-insulated medium voltage power line carrying power with a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:
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a first current sensor device configured to be physically attached to the un-insulated medium voltage power line and to measure the current of the un-insulated medium voltage power line; said first current sensor device including a data interface, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a memory; said first current sensor device including a processor in communication with said memory, said ADC and said data interface; wherein said processor is programmed to receive data representing the measured current carried by the un-insulated medium voltage power line; wherein said processor is programmed to store data of a plurality of current measurements in said memory; wherein said processor is programmed to retrieve the plurality of measurements from memory and to cause said data interface to transmit the data representing the plurality of measurements in a single transmission; a second device configured to be mounted to a utility pole and comprising; a sensor interface configured to communicate with said data interface of said first current sensor device; a modem configured to transmit data related to the measured current; a controller communicatively coupled to said modem and said sensor interface and having a memory with executable program code stored in said memory; and wherein said first current sensor device is electrically isolated from said second device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A power line communication device for communicating over an un-insulated medium voltage power line carrying voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:
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a parameter sensor device configured to be physically attached to the un-insulated medium voltage power line and to measure a parameter of the un-insulated medium voltage power line; wherein said parameter sensor device comprises a sensor; an integrator circuit connected to said sensor; and an analog-to-digital converter connected to said integrator circuit; a modem configured to transmit data of the measured parameter; a controller communicatively coupled to said sensor device and said modem; said controller is programmed to receive data representing the measurement data from said analog-to-digital converter; wherein said controller is programmed to store data of a plurality of measurements in a memory; wherein said controller is programmed to retrieve the plurality of measurements from said memory and to cause said modem to transmit the data representing the plurality of measurements in a single transmission to a second device; and wherein said parameter sensor device is electrically isolated from said the second device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of determining electrical parameter data of a power distribution system that includes an uninsulated medium voltage power line, comprising:
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operating a current sensor device in a reduced power state; initiating a timer; upon an expiration of said timer, operating said current sensor device in a second state that is not a reduced power state; while operating said current sensor device in said second state, measuring the current of the un-insulated medium voltage power line with the current sensor device; while operating said current sensor device in said second state, storing a plurality of current measurements in a memory; while operating said current sensor device in said second state, transmitting data of the plurality current measurements stored in the memory in a single transmission to a communication device; wherein the current sensor device is electrically isolated from the communication device; and wirelessly transmitting data of the measured current with the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A power line communication device, comprising:
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a current sensor device configured to be physically attached to an un-insulated medium voltage power line and to measure the current of the un-insulated medium voltage power line; wherein said current sensor device includes a first wireless transceiver; a second device comprising; a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with said first wireless transceiver; a voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage of a low voltage power line; a modem configured to transmit data related of the measured current; a controller communicatively coupled to said modem, said voltage sensor, and said second wireless transceiver and having a memory with executable program code stored in said memory; wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said controller to cause said modem to transmit data of the measured current received from said current sensor device and voltage data received from said voltage sensor; wherein said current sensor device is electrically isolated from said second device; wherein said current sensor device is configured to store data of a plurality of current measurements in a memory and, subsequent to storing data of the plurality of measurements, transmit data of the plurality of current measurements to said second device in a single transmission; and wherein said current sensor device and said second device are co-located at a utility pole. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A power line communication device for providing information related to a medium voltage power line carrying power with a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:
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a first current sensor device configured to be physically attached to the medium voltage power line and to measure the current of the medium voltage power line; said first current sensor device including an isolated power source for supplying operating power to one or more components of said current sensor device; wherein said power source is configured to inductively draw power from the medium voltage power line; said first current sensor including a first wireless modem; a second device comprising; a second wireless modem configured to communicate with said first wireless modem; a third modem configured to transmit data related to the measured current; a controller communicatively coupled to said second wireless modem and said third modem and having a memory with executable program code stored in said memory; wherein said first current sensor device and said second device are co-located at a utility pole; and wherein said first current sensor device is configured to store data of a plurality of current measurements in a memory and, subsequent to storing data of the plurality of measurements, transmit data of the plurality of current measurements to said second device in a single transmission. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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Specification