Lightning or other surge detection for wireless transmitters and other devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019265665-A1
Application number	US-201815904881-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2018
Priority date	Feb 26, 2018
Publication date	Aug 29, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method includes obtaining a voltage or current signal associated with a component of a device and isolating and conditioning the voltage or current signal to generate an output signal. The method also includes processing the output signal to identify one or more surge events, where each surge event is associated with an excessive voltage or current experienced by the device. The method further includes generating information associated with the one or more surge events and transmitting or storing the information. The voltage or current signal could be obtained from a case or housing of the device, a cable coupled to the device, or an antenna coupled to the device. The information associated with the one or more surge events could include a date/time stamp, a severity, a duration, or a shape or profile of each surge event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
obtaining a voltage or current signal associated with a component of a device; isolating and conditioning the voltage or current signal to generate an output signal; processing the output signal to identify one or more surge events, each surge event associated with an excessive voltage or current experienced by the device; generating information associated with the one or more surge events; and transmitting or storing the information.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the one or more surge events comprises a date/time stamp identifying when each surge event occurred.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the one or more surge events comprises at least one of: a severity of each surge event, a duration of each surge event, and a shape or profile of each surge event.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein isolating and conditioning the voltage or current signal comprises converting the voltage or current signal into a form for input to a digital processor.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the voltage or current signal comprises obtaining the voltage or current signal from a case or housing of the device, a cable coupled to the device, or an antenna coupled to the device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting or storing the information comprises at least one of:
storing the information in a removable memory device; and transmitting the information over a wired or wireless connection.

7 . An apparatus comprising:
a voltage/current isolator configured to receive and isolate a voltage or current signal associated with a component of a device; a signal conditioner configured to condition the voltage or current signal and generate an output signal; at least one processor configured to process the output signal, identify one or more surge events, and generate information associated with the one or more surge events, each surge event associated with an excessive voltage or current experienced by the device; and an interface configured to transmit or store the information.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the information associated with the one or more surge events comprises a date/time stamp identifying when each surge event occurred.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the information associated with the one or more surge events comprises at least one of: a severity of each surge event, a duration of each surge event, and a shape or profile of each surge event.

10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a signal pick-up configured to obtain the voltage or current signal from a case or housing of the device, a cable coupled to the device, or an antenna coupled to the device.

11 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the interface is configured to at least one of:
store the information in a removable memory device; and transmit the information over a wired or wireless connection.

12 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the voltage/current isolator and the signal conditioner form a module configured to be coupled to the at least one processor.

13 . The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
at least one visual indicator configured to visually identify that the one or more surge events have been detected.

14 . The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a power supply configured to provide operating power to at least the apparatus.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the power supply is configured to provide the operating power to the apparatus and to provide operating power to one or more other components of the device.

16 . A method comprising:
receiving information identifying one or more surge events associated with one or more devices in an industrial process control and automation system; and changing a mode of operation of at least one process controller based on the information, wherein the change to the mode of operation of the at least one process controller alters how at least one industrial process is controlled by the at least one process controller.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein changing the mode of operation comprises changing the mode of operation from a control mode to a supervisory or monitoring mode.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the one or more devices comprise the at least one process controller; and the information identifies at least one surge event associated with the at least one process controller.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
processing the information to at least one of:
determine whether existing surge protection for the one or more devices is adequate, is needed, or is degrading over time; and
determine whether maintenance of the one or more devices is needed.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising
processing the information to create a map of surges for a given area.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Andronic Cristian

Classifications

• G05B19/0428

  Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B23/0283

  Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] (preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06) · CPC title

• G05B2219/24015

  Monitoring · CPC title

• G05B19/048 Primary

  Monitoring; Safety · CPC title

• G05B2219/25413

  Interrupt, event, state change triggered · CPC title