System and method for communicating power system information through a radio frequency device

• US 8,059,006 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Inventors: Feight, Laurence Virgil, Anderson, Luthor S., Bosold, Mark J., Teller, Witold R., McMahon, Steven A., Kesler, James R., Park, Douglas A., Hicks, Donald C., Schweitzer, Edmund O. III
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/750,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/448, 340/539.22, 340/538, 340/445, 340/539.26, 340/539.3, 340/286.01, 340/521, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/635, 340/639, 340/643, 340/649, 340/650, 340/653, 455/41.1, 324/207.15, 324/207.19, 324/500, 324/522, 324/529
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system for communicating information between a detection device and a wireless device is provided. The system generally includes a detection device adapted to monitor a condition related to a power system. A radio interface unit is in communication with the detection device via a communication member. A wireless device is further provided which is in radio communication with the radio interface unit such that the detection device communicates information to the wireless device through a radio interface unit. The system'"'"'s components are further adapted to endure harsh conditions (e.g., prolonged exposure to water).

Claims

1. A system for communicating information between a detection device and a wireless device, comprising:

a detection device, said detection device adapted to monitor a condition related to a power system,

a communication member coupled to the detection device,

a radio interface unit in communication with said communication member, and

a wireless device in radio communication with said radio interface unit, such that said detection device communicates information to the wireless device via the radio interface unit, and the wireless device displays the information, including whether the communication member is in communication with the radio interface unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection device is a power system device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the power system device is a faulted circuit indicator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication member is substantially self-contained.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio interface unit is substantially self-contained.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication member communicates power system information to the radio interface unit without a mechanical connection therebetween.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication member communicates power system information to the radio interface unit without an electrical connection therebetween.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection device is located in an underground location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection device is located in proximity to an overhead power line.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio interface unit is generally submergible in water.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio interface unit is generally constructed to endure harsh conditions.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio interface unit is adapted to communicate information regarding the detection device between the detection device and the wireless device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the detection device includes one selected from the list consisting of devices for detecting:

CO, CO₂, SO_x, NO_x, Ammonia, Arsine, Bromine, Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, volatile organic compounds, Diborane, Ethylene Oxide, Fluorine, Formaldehyde, Germane, Hydrogen, Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrogen Cyanide, Hydrogen Fluoride, Hydrogen Selenide, Hydrogen Sulfide, Oxygen, Ozone, Methane, Phosgene, Phosphine, Silane, pressure, temperature, electromagnetic radiation, atomic radiation, smoke, particulate matter, pH, turbidity, Br⁻

, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻

, CN⁻

, Cu²⁺, F⁻

, I⁻

, K⁺, Na⁺, NH⁴⁺, NO³⁻

, Pb²⁺, S⁻

(AG⁺), conductivity, over voltage, under voltage, over current, under current, frequency, water, high voltage electric field, specific gravity, light, and sound.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio interface unit is adapted to communicate information regarding the radio interface unit to the wireless device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio interface unit is adapted to receive information from the wireless device and transmit the information received from the wireless device to the detection device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio interface unit is adapted to communicate information regarding the portion of the power system between the detection device and the wireless device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio interface unit is adapted to communicate to the wireless device information regarding a connection for the communication member and the radio interface unit.

18. A method of preserving battery life in a radio interface unit, said radio interface unit in communication with a detection device and having a radio for communicating with a portable terminal by transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals therebetween, said method comprising the steps of:

the radio interface unit remaining in a slow sleep mode most of the time;

the radio interface unit periodically waking to determine if a request command is received from the portable terminal;

the radio interface unit operating in a faster sleep mode when the detection device senses a select condition; and

when the radio is set in the faster sleep mode, the radio interface unit waking more frequently to determine if a request command is received from the portable terminal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the detection device is a faulted circuit indicator.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the select condition is a fault condition.

21. A method of claim 18, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit transmitting only upon receipt of a request command from the portable terminal.

22. A method of claim 18, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit returning to the slow sleep mode upon early termination of any communication from the portable terminal.

23. A method of claim 18, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit returning to the slow sleep mode at a predetermined time after the last communication from the portable terminal.

24. A method of claim 18, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit using multiple frequencies to communicate to the portable terminal.

25. A method of claim 18, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit using a communication protocol from the group consisting of FSK, PSK, CDMA and spread spectrum.

26. A method of communicating between a radio interface unit and a portable terminal, said radio interface unit having a radio for communicating with the portable terminal by transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals therebetween, said method comprising the steps of:

the radio interface unit and the portable terminal having a compact communication format for communications therebetween;

the radio interface unit and the portable terminal having an extended communication format for communications therebetween; and

the radio interface unit and the portable terminal using the compact communications format as a default communications mode.

27. The method of claim 26, said method comprising the additional step of:

the portable terminal using the compact communications format for interrogating a status of the radio interface unit.

28. The method of claim 26, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit and the portable terminal changing to the extended communications format when the radio interface unit receives a request command from the portable terminal.

29. The method of claim 26, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit and the portable terminal using the extended communications format for updating microprocessor parameters in the radio interface unit.

30. The method of claim 26, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit and the portable terminal using the extended communications format for performing diagnostic checks.

31. The method of claim 28, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit and the portable terminal resetting the communication format to the compact communication format at a predetermined time after the last communication from the portable terminal in the extended communication format.

32. The method of claim 28, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit and the portable terminal resetting the communication format to the compact communication format upon early termination of any communication from the portable terminal in the extended communication format.

33. The method of claim 26, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit and the portable terminal using multiple frequencies to communicate therebetween.

34. The method of claim 26, said method comprising the additional step of:

the radio interface unit and the portable terminal selecting the communication format from the group consisting of FSK, PSK, CDMA and spread spectrum.