Non-intrusive monitoring of power and other parameters
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring a circuit breaker of a circuit breaker unit, the circuit breaker unit comprising a ferromagnetic material separating an interior of the circuit breaker unit from an exterior of the circuit breaker unit, the system comprising:
- a field sensor configured to sense a field in a proximity of the circuit breaker; and
a coupler configured to transmit a signal from the interior of the circuit breaker unit such that the signal passes through the ferromagnetic material to the exterior of the circuit breaker unit, wherein the signal represents the field sensed by the field sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for non-intrusive power monitoring and current measurement in a circuit breaker without modification of the breaker panel or the circuit breaker itself. In one example, an inductive pickup sensor senses current from the breaker face, an inductive link transmits power through a steel breaker panel door, and a passive balanced JFET modulator circuit modulates a carrier signal on the inductive link with information regarding the sensed current. A demodulated breaker current signal is available outside of the breaker panel door. The JFET modulator circuit does not require DC power to modulate the carrier signal with the information regarding the sensed current from the breaker. Such methods and apparatus may be interfaced with a spectral envelope load detection system that can monitor multiple loads from a central location.
12 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring a circuit breaker of a circuit breaker unit, the circuit breaker unit comprising a ferromagnetic material separating an interior of the circuit breaker unit from an exterior of the circuit breaker unit, the system comprising:
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a field sensor configured to sense a field in a proximity of the circuit breaker; and a coupler configured to transmit a signal from the interior of the circuit breaker unit such that the signal passes through the ferromagnetic material to the exterior of the circuit breaker unit, wherein the signal represents the field sensed by the field sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification