Expanded capabilities for wireless two-way packet communications for intelligent electronic devices (IEDs)

• US 6,766,143 B1
• Filed: 01/08/2000
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Beckwith
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Beckwith
• Inventors: Beckwith, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks-Harold, Marsha D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ GUTIERREZ, RAFAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/479,650
• Time in Patent Office: 1,655 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/517, 455/66.1, 455/67.11, 455/8, 455/9, 455/423, 455/424, 361/64, 361/66, 361/68, 361/69, 361/35, 700/298, 700/297, 700/286, 700/292, 343/761, 343/781.R, 343/781.P, 343/784
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0061 concerning transmission of signals transmission of measured quantities or switching orders; sectionalised protection involving signal transmission between at least two stations H02H7/261; comparison of the voltage or current values at two spaced portions of a single system H02H3/28; transferring the output of a sensing member to another variable G01D5/00; electrical measuring arrangements using modulation of electromagnetic waves, e.g. light beams G01R15/24, G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

In an independent basic service set (IBSS) of IEDs, using wireless communications devices to provide license-free two-way wireless peer to peer communications of digital data between pairs of IEDs, and also to provide wireless peer to peer communications between ones of said IEDs and a common access port to the IBSS.

Claims

1. Digital communications devices for use at stations of an independent basic service set (IBSS) of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and a common access port (AP) to the IBSS comprising in combination:

a) means for providing control and protection of electric power apparatus by use of said intelligent electronic devices (IEDs),

b) wireless communications means for providing license-free two-way wireless peer to peer communications of digital data between pairs of said IEDs,

c) said wireless communications means providing license-free two-way wireless peer to peer communications between ones of said IEDs and said common AP,

d) said wireless communications means utilizing spread spectrum technology,

e) said spread spectrum technology utilizing direct-sequence-spread-spectrum (DSSS) technology,

f) three regulators controlling three-phase voltages,

g) IED means for each of said regulators,

h) keep track means for each of said three IEDs to each keep track of the tap position of the related regulator,

i) each of said three IEDs utilizing said wireless communications means to exchange tap position information with the other two LEDs when a tapchange is about to be made,

j) blocking means for any first IED to block any raise operation of said tapchange about to be made if either or both said exchanged tap positions are lower than the tap position of the regulator controlled by said first IED, and

k) blocking means for any first IED to block any lower operation of said tapchange about to be made if either or both said exchanged tap positions are higher than the tap position of the regulator controlled by said first IED, whereby differences in regulator tap positions are minimized.

2. Digital communications devices for use at stations of an independent basic service set (IBSS) of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and a common access port (AP) to the IBSS comprising in combination:

a) means for providing control and protection of electric power apparatus by use of said intelligent electronic devices (IEDs),

b) wireless communications means for providing license-free two-way wireless peer to peer communications of digital data between pairs of said IEDs,

c) said wireless communications means providing license-free two-way wireless peer to peer communications between ones of said IEDs and said common AP,

d) said wireless communications means utilizing spread spectrum technology,

e) said spread spectrum technology utilizing direct-sequence-spread-spectrum (DSSS) technology,

f) connection means for connecting servers to said APs,

g) server means for said server determining when back-up protective tripping of breakers is required,

h) server means for said server tripping breakers when required,

i) identification means for said server identifying IEDs as out of service due to failures to communicate, and

j) contingency criteria means for said server using contingency criteria for circuit breaker tripping with said identified IEDs out of service,

thereby providing back-up protection in the event of failed IEDs.

3. Digital communications devices for use at stations of an independent basic service set (IBSS) of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and a common access port (AP) to the IBSS comprising in combination:

a) means for providing control and protection of electric power apparatus by use of said intelligent electronic devices (IEDs),

b) wireless communications means for providing license-free two-way wireless peer to peer communications of digital data between pairs of said IEDs,

c) said wireless communications means providing license-free two-way wireless peer to peer communications between ones of said IEDs and said common AP,

d) said wireless communications means utilizing spread spectrum technology,

e) said spread spectrum technology utilizing direct-sequence-spread-spectrum (DSSS) technology,

f) antenna means for use with wireless communications means,

g) reflector means for said antennae having a vertical parabolic shape,

h) reflector means for said antennae having a straight horizontal shape,

i) closing means for ends of said antenna reflectors, and

j) said antennae means consisting of horizontal wires at the focus of said parabolas, whereby the antenna reflectors direct wireless energy away from the ground and sky.

4. Devices as in claim 3 further comprising in combination

a) said means for said closed ends being an even integer number of half cycle periods of the wireless frequency apart, and

b) connection means for connecting ends of said antennas to said closed ends for

providing resonance of the antennae for greater effective power toward IEDs and reduced receiver sensitivity to signals from the back of the reflector.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising

a) mounting means for mounting said IEDs in substations, and

b) mounting means for mounting said wireless communications devices off the ground in locations in which said IEDs are within a 180 degree horizontal range of said antennas

whereby wireless power is effectively directed toward IEDs and interference from outside the substation is minimized.

6. Digital communications devices for use at stations of an independent basic service set (IBSS) of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and a common access port (AP) to the IBSS comprising in combination:

a) means for providing control and protection of electric power apparatus by use of said intelligent electronic devices (IEDs),

b) wireless communications means for providing license-free two-way wireless peer to peer communications of digital data between pairs of said IEDs,

c) said wireless communications means providing license-free two-way wireless peer to peer communications between ones of said IEDs and said common AP,

d) said wireless communications means utilizing spread spectrum technology,

e) said spread spectrum technology utilizing direct-sequence-spread-spectrum (DSSS) technology,

f) controlling means for IEDs controlling LTC transformers connected in parallel,

g) keep track means for IEDs finding tap positions of said LTC transformers,

h) communication means for IEDs to exchange tap positions, and

i) blocking means for IEDs blocking tapswitch operations capable of causing more than one tap difference in tap positions, whereby transformers are properly controlled when in parallel.

7. Devices as in claim 6 further comprising in combination:

a) detection means for determining open/close condition of transformer paralleling circuit breakers,

b) wireless communication means for communicating said open/close condition to said IEDs, and

c) switching means for said IED means switching between independent/parallel mode of LTC transformer control in response to said open/closed condition,

assuring proper control action as transformers are required to alternate between independent and parallel operation.