Intelligent sensor network in a load center

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9784773-B2
Application number	US-201315033973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2013
Priority date	Nov 6, 2013
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a system for monitoring a load center including a plurality of current sensors, a communication bus, a plurality of sensor circuits, a power module configured to be coupled to a load center input line and to receive input AC power from the input line, a collector, and a cable configured to be coupled between the power module and the collector, wherein the power module is further configured to provide power to the plurality of sensor circuits via the communication bus, provide power to the collector via the cable, measure at least one of voltage, frequency and phase of input AC power and provide signals related to the measured voltage, frequency or phase to the collector via the cable, receive current measurement signals from the plurality of sensor circuits and provide the received current measurement signals to the collector via the cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring a plurality of circuit branches coupled to an input line within a load center having a housing, the system comprising:
a plurality of current sensors, each current sensor of the plurality of current sensors being configured to be coupled to at least one of the plurality of circuit branches and to produce a signal having a level related to a current level of the at least one of the plurality of circuit branches;
a communication bus;
a plurality of sensor circuits, each coupled to an associated one of the plurality of current sensors and configured to be coupled to the communication bus, wherein each one of the plurality of sensor circuits is configured to convert the signal from the associated one of the plurality of current sensors to a digital current measurement signal and provide the digital current measurement signal to the communication bus;
a power module configured to be coupled to the input line and the communication bus and to receive input AC power from the input line;
a collector; and
a cable configured to be coupled between the power module and the collector;
wherein the power module comprises:
an analog interface configured to be coupled to the input line;
a digital interface configured to be coupled to the communication bus;
a digital output configured to be coupled to the cable; and
an AC/DC converter coupled to the analog interface, the digital interface and the digital output and configured to receive the input AC power from the input line, convert the received input AC power into DC power having a desired DC voltage level, and provide the DC power to the communication bus via the digital interface and to the cable via the digital output, and

wherein the power module is further configured to:
provide power to the plurality of sensor circuits via the communication bus;
provide power to the collector via the cable;
measure at least one of voltage, frequency and phase of the input AC power and provide signals related to the measured voltage, frequency or phase of the input AC power to the collector via the cable;
receive the digital current measurement signals from the plurality of sensor circuits and provide the received digital current measurement signals to the collector via the cable.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power module is further configured to:
convert the received input AC power into DC power;
provide the DC power to the plurality of sensor circuits via the communication bus; and
provide the DC power to the collector via the cable.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the collector is further configured to be located external the housing of the load center.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a terminal configured to pass through the housing of the load center and to allow the cable to pass through the housing of the load center.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the collector is configured to receive the digital current measurement signals and the signals related to the measured voltage, frequency or phase of the input AC power from the power module via the cable and calculate at least one of power and energy parameters of one of the plurality of circuit branches based on the digital current measurement signals and the signals related to the measured voltage, frequency or phase of the input AC power.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power module is further configured to calculate at least one of power and energy parameters of one of the plurality of circuit branches based on the digital current measurement signals and the measured voltage, frequency or phase of the input AC power.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the digital interface comprises a connector configured to couple with a mating connector at a terminus of the communication bus.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the analog interface comprises at least one of a terminal block configured to receive the input line and a mechanical strain relief configured to secure the input line to the power module.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the digital output comprises a mechanical strain relief configured to secure the cable to the power module, and wherein the cable is ruggedized.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power module further comprises a voltage sense circuit coupled to the analog interface, the digital interface and the digital output and configured to receive the input AC power from the input line, measure at least one of voltage, frequency and phase of the input AC power and provide signals related to the measured voltage, frequency or phase of the input AC power to the cable.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising an isolation circuit configured to be coupled to the digital output and configured to prevent high voltage signals from passing between the power module and the cable.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensor circuits are further configured to utilize a communication protocol to communicate with the power module over the communication bus and the power module is further configured to utilize the communication protocol to communicate with the collector over the cable.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power module is further configured to synchronize, via the communication bus, voltage measurements performed by the power module with current measurements performed by at least one of the plurality of sensor circuits.

14. A method for monitoring a plurality of circuit branches coupled to a power line within a load center having a housing, the method comprising:
coupling a current transformer to each one of the plurality of circuit branches;
coupling a plurality of sensor circuits to a communication bus, wherein each sensor circuit of the plurality of sensor circuits is coupled to one of the current transformers;
coupling a power module to the communication bus and a cable;
coupling a collector to the cable;
generating, in each current transformer, a reference signal having a level related to a current level of one of the plurality of circuit branches;
converting, with each of the plurality of sensor circuits, a reference signal from a corresponding current transformer to a digital current measurement signal and providing the digital current measurement signal to the communication bus;
receiving, with the power module, the digital current measurement signal from each sensor circuit via the communication bus;
receiving, with the power module, input AC power from the power line;
converting, with the power module, the received input AC power into DC power;
measuring, with the power module, at least one of voltage, frequency, and phase of the input AC power;
providing, with the power module, power to the plurality of sensor circuits via the communication bus; and
providing, with the power module, power, the received digital current measurement signals from the plurality of sensor circuits, and signals related to the measured at least one of voltage, frequency, and phase of the input AC power to the collector via the cable,
wherein providing power to the plurality of sensor circuits includes providing, with the power module, the DC power to the plurality of sensor circuits via the communication bus; and
wherein providing power, the received digital current measurement signals from the plurality of sensor circuits, and signals related to the measured at least one of voltage, frequency, and phase of the input AC power to the collector via the cable includes providing, with the power module, the DC power, the received digital current measurement signals from the plurality of sensor circuits, and s

Assignees

• Schneider Electric It Corp

Inventors

• Deokar Vishwas Mohaniraj
• Paik Namwook
• Young Jeffrey Steven

Classifications

• H02J13/1317

  using an auxiliary transmission line · CPC title

• H02J13/38

  the equipment being power outlets · CPC title

• G01R19/2513 Primary

  Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging · CPC title

• H01R25/142

  Their counterparts · CPC title

• H01R4/2433

  one part of the base being movable to push the cable into the slot · CPC title