Self-powered measuring apparatus and measurement method

• US 10,514,397 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2016
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Maier, Martin, Weiss, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): McAndrew, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/753,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20180299492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 324127
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/04 Voltage dividers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/08 Circuits for altering the measuring range
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/18 using inductive devices, e.g. transformers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/257 using analogue/digital converters of the type with comparison of different reference values with the value of voltage or current, e.g. using step-by-step method

Abstract

The present embodiments relate to a measuring apparatus and an associated measurement method. The measuring apparatus is installed on a line and includes a sensing unit having a first and a second voltage divider for producing a first and a second measurement signal with a measurement transducer. The first and second measurement signals are each forwardable via a measurement line directly to a signal transducer. The signal transducer is supplied with power via a supply line by being switchably connected to the measurement transducer.

Claims

1. A measuring device for determining a current intensity on a line, the measuring device comprising:

a measuring transformer;

a signal converter; and

a determining unit having a first voltage divider and a second voltage divider configured to generate a first measurement signal and a second measurement signal, respectively, from a primary measurement signal provided by the measuring transformer,

wherein the first voltage divider is configured to determine the current intensity on the line within a first value range, and, at a same time, the second voltage divider is configured to determine the current intensity on the line within a second, different value range,

wherein the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal are configured to be passed directly, over a measurement line, to the signal converter,

wherein the signal converter is configured to identify a more precise measurement signal for a prevailing value range of the current intensity,

wherein, for supplying current to the signal converter, the signal converter is switchably connected to the measuring transformer by a supply line.

2. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the signal converter is an analog-to-digital converter.

3. The measuring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first switch element configured to actuate a switchable power supply to the signal converter; and

a second switch element configured to provide a reference voltage to at least one of the first voltage divider and the second voltage divider,

wherein the first switch element is connected to the second switch element by an adjustable coupling.

4. The measuring device of claim 3, further comprising:

a clock generator configured to actuate at least one of the first or second switch elements.

5. The measuring device of claim 3, wherein, with the adjustable coupling, a duration of a delay between a switch signal of a clock generator and the actuation of the first switch element is adjustable.

6. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the determining unit further comprises a third voltage divider configured to generate a third measurement signal.

7. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second voltage dividers comprises two resistors connected in series.

15. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the signal converter is immediately and directly switchably connected to the measuring transformer.

16. The measuring device of claim 5, wherein the duration of the delay is adjustable to a value between 0 ms and 20 ms.

8. A method for measuring a current intensity on a line, the method comprising:

generating a primary measurement signal using a measuring transformer;

generating a first measurement signal and a second measurement signal by processing the primary measurement signal by a first voltage divider and a second voltage divider, respectively;

determining the current intensity on the line within a first value range using the first voltage divider, and determining, at a same time, the current intensity on the line within a second, different value range using the second voltage divider; and

determining and evaluating the first measurement signal, the second measurement signal, or the first and the second measurement signals to generate a measured value using a signal converter, wherein the signal converter is configured to identify a more precise measurement signal for a prevailing value range of the current intensity,

wherein power is switchably supplied to the signal converter through the measuring transformer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal converter is an analog-to-digital converter.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

actuating a first switch element in a supply line to the signal converter by a clock generator having an adjustable clock signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the clock signal is output at a same time as an actuation of a second switch element configured to supply at least one of the first or second voltage dividers with a reference voltage.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the higher the current intensity on the line, the shorter a duration of inactive phases between active phases of the power supply to the signal converter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, within an operating interval, a ratio of the duration of inactive phases to a duration of active phases is between zero and ten.

14. A method for measuring a current intensity on a line, the method comprising:

generating a primary measurement signal using a measuring transformer;

generating a first measurement signal and a second measurement signal by processing the primary measurement signal by a first voltage divider and a second voltage divider, respectively, and

evaluating only the first measurement signal when the current intensity is below a first threshold value, evaluating both the first and the second measurement signals when the current intensity is between the first threshold value and a second threshold value, and evaluating only the second measurement signal when the current intensity is above the second threshold value, and

wherein power is switchably supplied to the signal converter through the measuring transformer.